Summer fun for free

We’ve put together details of some of the best local free events and activities coming up so you can enjoy a fun packed summer even on a tight budget!

Dates for the diary

Enjoy all the fun of the fair at the Community Fair which will be held in Riverside Park between 12 and 16 July 2023.

Celebrate modern and traditional Asian Culture at the popular Southampton Mela Festival in Hoglands Park on 15 July 2023. Entrance is free and you can enjoy world-class music, dance, art and music workshops alongside a huge array of pop-up activities, street theatre, local traders and stalls.

A free, open-to-all community festival in Riverside Park at Bitterne Park will be happening on 22 July 2023 from 12noon until 7pm. Tri Fest will include live music, local traders and even a dog show.

If you live in the Lordshill area and have any ideas on how the neighbourhood could be improved, pop along to the Love Where You Live free event that will be held on 16 July 2023 in the school grounds at Oasis Academy.

Children will love joining in Southampton Play Day at Hoglands Park on 28 July 2023, when there will be lots of fun activities including messy play, arts and crafts and sports. The free event will take place between 10am and 2pm.

We will be running a Love Where You live event in the field opposite The Saints pub in Millbrook on 5 August 2023 and on the same day the pub will hold their own community fun day.

Enjoy a live music event in Guildhall Square on 19 August 2023 between 1pm and 4pm when Covenant Church stage a free concert.

The Southampton Pride event on 26 August 2023 promises to be a celebration of identity and includes live music performances as well as the iconic march through the city centre. Going into its eighth year the day is the highest attended LGBTI+ event in the region and a highlight of the summer for all involved.

For lots more local events and activities taking place in Southampton just check the What’s On pages.

Free events in Southampton Art Gallery

As well as offering free entry, did you know that our city art gallery often runs free events and workshops too? This month you can join in free artist led portrait drawing sessions with Alys Scott Hawkins on Saturday 8 July 2023 and with Pete Codling on Saturday 22 July 2023. And next month there will be several free workshops for children as part of the Creative Connections Art School  for 11 to 16 year olds. Sessions will run on 2, 3 and 4 August 2023 between 10am and 2pm. All free events require a refundable £10 deposit to reserve your place.

If you know of a local free event or activity that is taking place in Southampton over the next few months, please let us know and we can promote it in Tenants’ Link.