Annual Events & Festivals

These are the fixtures of the Plymouth year - dates vary annually, so always check before travelling. Accommodation books up fast around the biggest ones.

🌸 Spring

• Plymouth Pirates Weekend (May) - the Barbican fills with pirates, sea shanties and family fun on the historic waterfront
• Plymouth Half Marathon (spring) - thousands of runners on a waterfront course

☀️ Summer

• Flavour Fest (early summer) - the South West's largest free food and drink festival takes over the city centre
• Armed Forces Day (June) - Plymouth's naval heritage on proud display, often with major national celebrations
• British Firework Championships (August) - the big one. Two nights of the UK's best professional firework teams competing over the Sound, watched by hundreds of thousands. Unmissable and free
• Ocean City events season - regattas, sailing events and waterfront festivals throughout the summer on Britain's first National Marine Park

🍂 Autumn

• Bonfire Night on the Hoe (November) - the city's traditional fireworks display in the most dramatic setting possible
• Plymouth Art Weekender (autumn) - galleries, studios and pop-ups across the city

🎄 Winter

• Christmas Market (November-December) - festive chalets, food and drink in the city centre
• Christmas lights switch-on - the start of the festive season, with entertainment through December
• New Year on the waterfront - welcoming the year in by the Sound