Nottingham bank holiday: 10 events from free to £47: what residents need to know
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s August Bank Holiday programme runs from Thursday 27 to Monday 31 August 2026, taking in venues such as Nottingham Arboretum, Sherwood Forest, Southwell Minster and Wollaton Hall & Deer Park.
The ten-event selection has options for families, music fans, filmgoers, shoppers and amateur detectives. Confirmed prices range from free entry to £47, although parking charges apply at two free events and the outdoor cinema price has not been stated. Visit Nottinghamshire advises visitors to consult the individual event listings for booking details.
Ten dates, venues and prices at a glance
| Event | Confirmed details |
|---|---|
| Murder Mystery: Don’t Look Back in Anger | 29 August, National Justice Museum; £29 including an arrival cocktail or mocktail |
| Robin Hood Festival | 29–31 August, Sherwood Forest; free entry, with a parking charge |
| Day Fever Festival | 29 August, Nottingham Arboretum; £46 |
| Foolhardy Folk Festival | 30 August, Nottingham Arboretum; £45 |
| Southwell Music Festival | 28–31 August, venues across Southwell; £5–£47 |
| Biscuit Baking | 27–28 August, Green’s Windmill & Science Centre; £4 per child |
| Abbey Artisan Market | Last Sunday of August, Rufford Abbey Country Park; free entry, with parking charges |
| Marvin Humes Noughties Baby | 30 August, Binks Yard; from £25.30 |
| Superheroes and Princesses Family Fun Raceday | 31 August, Southwell Racecourse; from £21 |
| Outdoor Cinema | 28–30 August, Wollaton Hall & Deer Park; price not supplied |
Nottingham Arboretum hosts two contrasting festivals
Day Fever brings a daytime disco to Nottingham Arboretum on Saturday, with Paddy McGuinness appearing as a special guest alongside Vicky McClure and Jonny Owen. Live music from the Bandarama Brass Band and crowd singalongs form part of the programme.
The park changes pace on Sunday for Foolhardy Folk Festival. Badly Drawn Boy is the headline guest, joined by Skinny Lister, 3 Daft Monkeys, K.O.G, Gecko, Nuala and King Killership. Local street food, a bar showcasing Nottingham breweries and a family-friendly setting accompany the music.
Elsewhere, Southwell Music Festival runs across the long weekend. Southwell Minster is its main venue, while concerts and performances extend around the town. The programme also includes a free Fringe event for local musicians and the returning Come and Sing gathering.
At Binks Yard, Marvin Humes leads the Noughties Baby event on Sunday, built around music from the 2000s.
Sherwood Forest, baking and outdoor films for families
The 40th Robin Hood Festival reaches its grand finale at Sherwood Forest from Saturday to Monday. The Outlaws return with storytelling and combat displays, while the wider programme includes puppetry, live music, falconry and magic. A separate evening spectacular is scheduled for Saturday.
Green’s Windmill & Science Centre offers chocolate-chip biscuit workshops for children on Thursday and Friday. Ingredients are supplied, and children can select from different cookie cutters. A free Games Day also takes place at the mill on Friday 28 August.
Rufford Abbey Country Park’s monthly artisan market brings handmade crafts, gifts and food from independent traders to the area in front of the Cistercian abbey ruins. Entry is free, but visitors should account for the parking charge.
Monday’s Superheroes and Princesses Family Fun Raceday combines live flat racing with character appearances, interactive experiences and activities aimed at children. At Wollaton Hall & Deer Park, the outdoor cinema programme runs from Friday to Sunday with family films, singalong favourites and blockbusters; visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and snacks.
A 1990s murder mystery inside the former courthouse
The National Justice Museum hosts the weekend’s most participatory event. Don’t Look Back in Anger begins with fictional magazine editor Rex Wright found dead during a launch party at Shire Hall. Guests become detectives, interviewing suspects and searching for clues in a 1990s-themed investigation. The £29 ticket includes an arrival cocktail or mocktail.
Booking and parking details to check before travelling
Ticket arrangements must be checked through each event’s individual listing. Parking charges apply at Sherwood Forest and Rufford Abbey Country Park, but the source does not give the amounts. It also does not provide transport or accessibility information, while the outdoor cinema ticket price remains unspecified. Visitors choosing those events should confirm admission, availability and access details before setting out.
Source: Visit Nottinghamshire Blog
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Source check How this guide was checked
Dates, venues, advertised prices and stated entry conditions were checked against the Visit Nottinghamshire event guide.
- Matched each event with its published date and venue.
- Retained the advertised ticket prices and free-entry conditions.
- Identified the parking charges stated for Sherwood Forest and Rufford Abbey.
- Marked transport, accessibility and outdoor-cinema pricing as unavailable.
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- Visit Nottinghamshire Blog
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- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
- Updated
- 2026-08-18 16:47
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