10 Nottingham Bank Holiday events from free to £46

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-18 16:39 3 min read

Three people in medieval costumes standing in a forest at twilight, including an archer.

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s August Bank Holiday programme runs from Thursday 27 to Monday 31 August across venues including Sherwood Forest, Nottingham Arboretum, Southwell Minster and Wollaton Park. Entry ranges from free activities to £46 festival tickets, with separate parking charges at some free-entry events.

The programme, compiled by Visit Nottinghamshire, spans family days, live music, outdoor cinema, baking and a 1990s murder mystery. It offers options for families, festival crowds, couples and visitors seeking a quieter market or concert experience.

Ten events, dates and entry prices

Murder Mystery: Don’t Look Back in Anger: Saturday 29 August at the National Justice Museum. Tickets cost £29 and include an arrival cocktail or mocktail.
Robin Hood Festival: Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August at Sherwood Forest. Entry is free, but a parking charge applies.
Day Fever Festival: Saturday 29 August at Nottingham Arboretum. Tickets cost £46.
Foolhardy Folk Festival: Sunday 30 August at Nottingham Arboretum. Tickets cost £45.
Southwell Music Festival: Friday 28 to Monday 31 August at venues around Southwell, with Southwell Minster as the main venue. Tickets range from £5 to £47.
Biscuit Baking: Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August at Green’s Windmill and Science Centre. The workshop costs £4 per child; a separate Games Day on Friday is free.
Abbey Artisan Market: Sunday 30 August at Rufford Abbey Country Park. Entry is free, with parking charges applying.
Marvin Humes Noughties Baby: Sunday 30 August at Binks Yard. Tickets start at £25.30.
Superheroes and Princesses Family Fun Raceday: Monday 31 August at Southwell Racecourse. Tickets start at £21.
Outdoor Cinema: Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August at Wollaton Hall and Deer Park. The source does not state a ticket price.

Sherwood celebrations and two Arboretum festivals

The 40th Robin Hood Festival reaches its grand finale over the Bank Holiday weekend. Sherwood Forest’s programme includes arena storytelling and combat displays, puppet shows, falconry, magic and live music. A Saturday evening spectacular adds comedy and further performances.

Nottingham Arboretum hosts two contrasting one-day events. Day Fever brings a daytime disco led by Paddy McGuinness, Vicky McClure and Jonny Owen, accompanied by the Bandarama Brass Band.

10 Nottingham Bank Holiday events from free to £46

Foolhardy Folk Festival follows on Sunday with Badly Drawn Boy as its headline guest. Skinny Lister, 3 Daft Monkeys, K.O.G, Gecko, Nuala and King Killership also feature, alongside local street food, a bar showcasing Nottingham breweries and a family-friendly setting.

Southwell Music Festival extends across four days, combining concerts by acclaimed singers and musicians with opportunities for local performers. Its programme includes a free Fringe event and the returning Come and Sing gathering.

Baking, racing and outdoor films for families

Children can make chocolate-chip biscuits at Green’s Windmill, with ingredients and a selection of cookie cutters supplied. The windmill’s free Games Day on Friday places activities across the millyard, science centre, activity room and community garden.

At Southwell Racecourse, the Bank Holiday Monday programme combines live flat racing with character appearances, interactive experiences and activities aimed at families. Rufford Abbey offers a slower-paced Sunday alternative, with independent traders selling handmade crafts, gifts and food in front of the historic Cistercian abbey ruins.

Wollaton Hall and Deer Park hosts three nights of outdoor cinema. The programme covers family favourites, singalong films and adventure blockbusters, with visitors invited to bring a picnic blanket and snacks.

A 1990s mystery and a noughties throwback

The National Justice Museum’s participatory murder mystery places guests at a fictional magazine launch inside Shire Hall. After editor Rex Wright is discovered dead, participants interview suspects and follow clues through the former courtrooms.

Binks Yard turns to the following decade on Sunday, when Marvin Humes headlines a Noughties Baby event built around music from the 2000s.

Booking arrangements vary across the programme, and the round-up provides no transport or accessibility guidance. Visitors should consult the individual event listing before attending, particularly for advance tickets, parking charges and the unstated outdoor-cinema price.

Source: Visit Nottinghamshire Blog

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

Dates, venues and stated entry prices were compared with the programme published by Visit Nottinghamshire.

Checks

Confirmed the overall event window as 27–31 August 2026.
Matched the dates and venues for all 10 listed events.
Retained stated prices and distinguished free entry from separate parking charges.
Did not supply missing transport, accessibility or outdoor-cinema price details.

Visit Nottinghamshire Blog Check Nottingham Bank Holiday event details