As we approach August, the finale in the trilogy of summer months, there’s plenty to look forward to. The season of revelry has so far delivered, the nation basking in its coronavirus afterglow, and with the events we’ve got below, it looks set to end on a high.
The Edinburgh Festival
5 August – 29 August
Oh baby she’s back. I know it existed last year, but it wasn’t the return, not really. This will be unbridled Fringe silliness, and whynow will be there to see some of it, along with millions of Americans looking for the castle only to accidentally end up in the depths of Cowgate.
Other than that, and the crowded streets, it’s a great time. With the way comedy has evolved over the last two years in particular, moving away from traditional stand up and into the world of social media and podcasts, it will be interesting to see how the Fringe adapts.
Notting Hill Carnival
27 Aug 2022 – 29 Aug 2022
Oh baby she’s back. You might be noticing a running theme here, but the long-awaited return of Britain’s cultural rituals deserves excitement. The Notting Hill Carnival is back after a two year hiatus at the end of the month. It’s also worth noting how much has happened during that time, with Britain forced to at least partly confront a troubled history. The carnival is a celebration, but it’s also part of a broader social tapestry, of which Britain is lucky to be a part.
London Craft Beer Festival – Tobacco Dock
12th – 13th August
This year’s two-day festival extravaganza features a stellar list of more than 100 of the UK’s best craft breweries showcasing over 1,000 different beers, alongside a knock-out food line-up from some of London’s best restaurants and chefs, including Fallow, Tacos Padre and Barcelona’s Bar Brutal.
Craft beer fans will be able to hone their hop knowledge, party until late and – most importantly – try unlimited samples of the world’s best and most interesting beers for an ‘all-in’ ticket price, and with live music, entertainment and fringe events aplenty running alongside the beer and food frenzy, this year’s 10th anniversary London Craft Beer Festival is sure to be one to remember.
This year’s tasty food line-up includes Soho’s 10 Greek Street, Fallow by ex-Fat Duck chef duo Jack Croft and Will Murray, and pizza courtesy of Napoli Gang, alongside music from DJ Greg Wilson and the legendary Cuban Brothers.
Friends Serene Art Fair – Moth Club
21 August
The Friends Serene Art Fair is back at the Moth Club on Sunday 21st August 2022, and will showcase the works of some of London’s most talented illustrators, painters and printers.
Sheringham Carnival – Sheringham
August 1-7
Image Credit: Sheringham Town Council
Carnivals aren’t all about Notting Hill. Did you never see Julia Robets fall in love with Hugh Grant on the coast of sunny Sheringham? He was a fisherman and she was starring in a big-budget, Hollywood drama about sea rescue. Their paths crossed. I don’t know where I’m going with this…
So Sheringham Carnival. “A week of seaside fun for all the family” – is what they promise, and if you’re in the area, it does look rather quaint. Carnival Day is Wednesday, August 3, with the parade from 6.30pm. Good, old-fashioned, wholesome family fun.
Commonwealth Games – Birmingham
Until August 8
The Commonwealth Games gets underway in Birmingham this evening. Nadine Dorries – the nation’s sweetheart and I suppose technically the person overseeing this event in her endless capacity – marked the occasion this morning, saying:“We haven’t had a sporting event like this in the UK since the 2012 Olympics.” Turns out, Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Anyhow, we’re not going to let Nads get in the way of enjoying a bit of summer sport. It’s not the Olympics, admittedly, but they’ve already sold over 1.25 million tickets for the event. For those not going, I find it’s still a solid bit of television entertainment when there’s nothing else on.
Football: Designing the Beautiful Game – Design Museum,
Until 29 August 2022
It’s been underway for a while now, but it comes to a close at the end of the month. It’s also 50 per cent off at the Design Museum, in case you need another incentive to get down there. We went back when it first started, and our resident Tottenham fan Teddy Coward had himself a good time, despite being reminded of the lack of silverware Spurs have achieved. You can read more about it, here.
