An amazing August awaits in Plymouth

Take a look at some of the best things to do in Plymouth this August, with plenty of fantastic events taking place throughout the month as the city makes the most of the summer.

British Firework Championships

The British Firework Championships, in partnership with Associated British Ports and ZeroUSV are back in Plymouth on 12-13 August.  

Head to Plymouth Hoe for two nights of fireworks, entertainment, live music and more at the start of the month as pyrotechnic teams from across the UK showcase their finest displays in the night sky.  

West End Carnival

Coinciding with the august Bank Holiday, the West End Carnival returns to Plymouth city centre on Saturday 29 August.  

Taking place in the streets around Plymouth Market in the vibrant West End, the event is a great day out for all the family with plenty of free family-friendly entertainment, roaming acts, trails, activities and more to enjoy throughout the day in the heart of the city.  

Other top events

There’s plenty of other unmissable events taking place in Plymouth throughout the month. The Royal William Yard will be hosting a free day of activities every Saturday this month. Family-friendly workshops, tennis on the green, an RNLI open day and more are planned for August at the Yard. Find out more about what you can expect to see at the Yard.  

Plymouth’s Central Park will be hosting two family fun days during the month. Starting with Fam Fest on the weekend of 15-16 August. Kids under 10 go free to the event which includes live music performances, immersive kid zones and hands-on experiences. The fun continues on the Bank Holiday Weekend on Sunday 30 August with the Central Park Fun Day. The family-friendly event brings together live entertainment, market stalls and activities for all ages in the heart of Plymouth.  

Across the month why not see if you can find the 40 St Luke’s Lighthouses that are dotted across the city as part of the St Luke’s Guiding Lights Trail. Download the Guiding Lights app and follow the trail across the city, taking in the marvellous hand painted lighthouses on your way. They aren’t the only striking sculptures popping up in Plymouth, as the Beryl Cook Statues are still standing at various locations around the city. The statues are inspired by the Beryl’s finest works and are a must visit for any lover of Beryl’s work.  

Markets and shopping 

As ever, the Good Food and Craft Market returns on the first Sunday of every month, this time on Sunday 2 August. Home to great food, a range of locally made crafts, gifts and more you can find the market on the green located just inside the yard. The Barbican Arts Craft and Food Fair returns to West Pier on the weekend of 15-16 August with plenty of great goods to see next to the water’s edge.  

A week later the Old Town Street Arts Crafts and Food Fair is back where you can find original artwork and prints, handmade jewellery and textiles, ceramics, glasswork and woodcraft, eco-friendly and upcycled crafts, artisan gifts and home décor, plus artisan hand-crafted food stalls and local produce. 

Live Music and Festivals 

There’s loads of great music to enjoy throughout August in Britain’s Ocean City. The Cabarats kick off a month of music at Saturday Sessions at Old Town Square. The popular band will be performing from 2- 3.30pm outside Drake Circus and you can watch their performance for free! Continuing across the road at the Barcode every Thursday is Barcode Live, where you can watch live performances from 4-5pm every week. Included in the summer setlist are Joanna Cooke, Amber Jade Smith, Rue and The Curve who will be appearing throughout the month.  

Continuing the music scene in Plymouth City Centre, head to the top of the newly-revamped Armada Way for Live at The Amphitheatre, sponsored by Moxy on Saturday 8 August for a bumper afternoon of music. The event sees performances from the energetic nine piece – Town of Cats, a percussion drumming workshop from Shumba Arts as well as Iris Lee. The event is completely free and a great way to soak up the festival atmosphere in the heart of the city.  The ever-popular Royal William Yard Yard Sessions are back on Friday 14 August where Thomas Ford and Becca Langsford will be performing from 5.30-8pm on the night. 

The Box is bringing a new music event on Friday evenings during August. Live Music Fridays at the award-winning museum begin on Friday 7 August with Calvin Thomas. Performances run from 5pm – 7.30pm at The Box Kitchen and Bar, tickets are just £3. 

Check out the events calendar for the full range of what's on in Plymouth.

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In partnership with GWR, Destination Plymouth’s lead travel partner