If you’re in Bath from Friday 12th – Sunday 14th May, don’t miss out on some brilliant events at The Bath Festival’s opening weekend, which kicks off a lively ten days of music and book entertainment and thought-provoking talks. 

The Bath Festival opens with a bang from 5pm on Friday 12th May with the biggest free night out of the year, Party in the City. Hundreds of singers and musicians of every kind, from classical choirs and jazz bands to folk rockers and ground-breaking student bands, will be playing in bars, churches, museums and in the city’s green open spaces. Pick up a flyer to plan your evening and head out to join the party crowd.

Image: Party in the City at Queen Square during last year's Bath Festival

Saturday highlights

If you like your debates hot and topical, head to ‘The Lies America Tells Us’ on Saturday morning (13th May) at The Guildhall. Eminent historian Sarah Churchwell will be talking about the divisions ripping apart the United States. She and journalist Au Anand will be discussing the power of the American Dream and the violence surrounding Donald Trump’s third presidential campaign. And while you’re at The Guildhall, the hub of this year’s Bath Festival, get a coffee at the festival café and have a look at other events you might enjoy this weekend.

You’ll also find our resident Bath Festival Orchestra in St Michael’s Church this morning, holding a free drop-in rehearsal. Watch out for orchestra players at busking spots in the city over the weekend.

Some other Saturday highlights for opening weekend include:

- Joanne Harris (author of Chocolat, Five Quarters of an Orange and more), will be telling us about her intriguing novel, Broken Light, inspired by Stephen King’s character Carrie.

Image: Joanne Harris, credit Kyte Photography

-  Joanna Quinn’s historical hit novel, The Whalebone Theatre has created a buzz among book groups. She’ll be in town with another exceptional writer, Kim Sherwood (A Wild and True Tale) talking about women’s roles throughout history.

-  Comedian Cariad Lloyd will be talking about the shared experience of grief. Warm, compassionate and articulate, Cariad will be in conversation with Cathy Rentzenbrink (How to Feel Better) at an event which is for all of us.

View more of The Bath Festival programme here.

Image: Cariad Lloyd, credit Matt Crockett 

Grab a bite between shows

When you need re-fuelling, discover where the locals go! There are so many brilliant indie cafes, restaurants and bars in Bath. Here are some of our favourites:

- For speciality coffee, try The Society Café (they really are coffee aficionados!), The Colombian Company (who kept the Bridgerton film crew café happy while they filmed nearby) or Rosarios Italian café (where they also serve Sicilian cannoli).

- Noya began her Vietnamese café, Noya’s Kitchen as a supper club for friends and neighbours. Demand was so great that she now runs Noya’s Kitchen all-year round. Be sure to book to bag a table.

- For freshly prepared as-you-watch Indian street food, visit the tiny, brightly coloured Chai Wallah takeaway, run by a local family.

- For a pint, a pie and a good read, visit The Raven pub. Head up the winding stairs to the attic library room, stocked with much-loved books to reflect British writing at its best.

- For traditional French/European modern cooking, family-run Chez Dominique offers a prix fixe menu choice.

Discover more food and drink options in Bath

Image - Chez Dominique

Sunday highlights

Bath’s Contemporary Artists’ Fair, held under the impressive glass roof of the Victorian Green Park Station. There’ll be a variety of work by talented living artists to view and to buy and admission is free.

Image - Contemporary Artists' Fair at Green Park Station

By festival time, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will have been crowned. And we’ve all got an opinion on the Royal Family - so what better time to come and listen to the King’s biographer Catherine Mayer (Charles: The Heart of a King) talk to history writer Jonathan Healey (The Blazing World) about the ups and downs of the British monarchy since the English Civil War some 400 years ago.

St Swithin’s Church in Walcot is an architecturally interesting 18th century church, with a wonderful collection of commemorative plaques to read on its walls and comfortable seating to boot. Book a place in this calm, historic interior to enjoy a Sunday tea-time concert by 23-year-old rising star pianist Tom Borrow. His programme includes Debussy, Chopin and Rachmaninov. You’ll want to tell people, you heard him here first.

Bath is hosting so many great names during its ten-day festival – have a look at the website for more events coming up until the festival ends on Sunday 21 May.

Turner Prize award-winning conceptual artist Jeremy Deller will be sharing stories of his extraordinary life and career with broadcaster and DJ Zakia Sewell on the evening of Sunday 14 May, making for a fascinating close to the first weekend of The Bath Festival. 

Read more:

• WIN a trip to The Bath Festival
• Bath's festival lineup for 2023
• Literary Bath
• 23 Things to do in Bath in 2023