Five great things on throughout Newport this summer
As the days get longer and the temperature is gradually soaring, this can only mean one thing – summer is right around the corner – and it's time for the anticipation of summer plans to begin. Whether you're gearing up for summer holiday plans with the kids, or looking for a fun weekend festival, here are some of the highlights of Newport's upcoming activities.
Big Splash Festival
Big Splash is returning to Newport for 2025 this summer (Image: NQ) Returning this Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July is Wales's biggest free outdoor arts festival – 'The Big Splash'. Organised by The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, the festival turns Newport City centre into a bright and vibrant hub of live music, dance, theatre, and more across a range of performances throughout the day. These spectacles take place across The Celebrate Stage, The Dock Stage, and Usk Plaza Zone. Best of all, the event is free of charge! You can find out what to expect by reading about last year's Big Splash.
The festival is also calling out to the local community, giving choirs, dance groups, musicians, storytellers, poets – even circus performers, or anyone with a creative flare a fantastic opportunity to perform, encouraging performers from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds. The deadline for submissions is Sunday 1st June, with more volunteering opportunities to come.
Colour Clash
Colour Clash will return to Coronation Park for 2025 (Image: Google) While Big Splash is the perfect festival feel for all the family, Newport's Colour Clash is one for the adults to look out for. This over 18s only event will take place in Coronation Park on Saturday 2nd August. The main stage lineup includes Bru-C, Bugzy Malone and Jax Jones with loads of other artists performing across the two stages – the Main and Logic stages. This one-day festival is still selling tickets, which you can book on the Colour Clash's official website. This includes general entry and exclusive VIP tickets if you want to upgrade your day!
Events at Tredegar House
Tredegar House (Image: Wales News Service) Aside from festival fun, Tredegar House is the place to be to entertain the little ones all throughout the summer holidays. The Blossom Spotter Trail runs from Saturday the 24th May to Sunday the 1st June, where you can explore the house and gardens while searching for blossom-inspired decorations. The mansion is also hosting a Summer of Play, bringing the joy of the seaside right into the heart of Newport. With a giant sandpit, colourful beach huts, the chance for performative play, and neurodivergent-friendly sensory tents, the kids can let their imaginations run wild. Both events are free additions upon the standard admission fee for Tredegar House.
Make your own Welsh Spirit
With the Spirit of Wales, you can make your very own Welsh gin or Welsh rum – this will run each week beginning Wednesday the 14th May. The experience starts with a welcome drink, followed by a masterclass in the spirit production including distilling, filtering, and bottling with a wax stamp and label. Before bottling, you are poured a drink with your newly created gin or rum. One still can be created between one, two, or four people – you can book tickets on Spirit of Wales's website.
Events at the RSPB Newport Wetlands
RSPB Newport Wetlands are hosting lots of events this summer (Image: Google)
The RSPB are offering groups of up to five an exclusive, bespoke tour of the Newport Wetlands, which can be booked for up to one-and-a-half hours. The tours include general nature walks, as well as birding, historical and photography walks. If your kids want to explore the underwater world, the RSPB are also offering a unique pond dipping experience from Monday the 26th to Friday the 30th May. Equipment and spotting sheets will be provided. Finally, more geared towards adults, a bumblebee identification and guided walk will be running on Saturday the 28th June, Saturday the 12th July, and Saturday the 9th August. This particularly encourages those interested in the natural world and conservation. Tickets to all these events can be found on the RSPB website.
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