The Ultimate Guide to Bristol in May
May is a very busy month in Bristol, with multiple festivals happening across the city. The weather may not be a clear indication that May is coming, but the multitude of competing flyer boxes and posters plastered across the city is.
Let this comprehensive guide be your best friend as you navigate all of the events, experiences and exhibitions taking place in May, lovingly curated by the Bristol Girl community.
Promotional Image of Sip and Paint - Sophie Long
1st May: Sip and Paint Abstract Workshop with Ailabeau
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Location: Folk House Cafe, Folk House, 40A Park St, Bristol BS1 5JG
Price: £35
“Ever looked at an abstract painting and thought I could do that? Well now is your opportunity to do just that! With this abstract painting workshop taught by professional abstract painter Aiylabeau. During the workshop youll learn many different painting techniques and with guidance, develop your personal style to create your own abstract masterpiece.”
1st May - 2nd June: We are Warriors, Redcliffe Caves
Time: Various on Tuesday - Sundays
Location: Redcliffe Caves, Phoenix Wharf, Redcliffe Way, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6SR
Price: From £5
“We Are Warriors is a sound and light installation in Bristol’s historic Redcliffe Caves, a Medieval network of caverns and catacombs sprawling beneath the city. Thousands of flickering lights are nestled into the sloping, red sandstone walls, while a soundscape of breaths, words, chants and song reverberates in the space. A beacon calling you in, We Are Warriors is made up of the voices of 130 Bristolian women and girls, aged 8-80, holding space for the experiences of women and people everywhere.”
1st - 31st May: Bristol Walk Fest, Bristol
Time: Various
Location: Various Locations Across Bristol
Price: Mostly Free Walks & Activities
“Bristol Walk Fest is an annual walking festival during 'National Walking Month' from 1st - 31st May. The mostly free walks and activities are for all ages, all backgrounds and all levels of fitness.”
2nd May: Green Mingle May, The Station (The Engine Room)
Time: 5.30pm - 7pm
Location: The Station (The Engine Room), Silver St, Bristol BS1 2AG
Price: Free
“Join us at The Green Mingle the Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership’s monthly networking event, offering individuals and organisations the opportunity to meet in an informal setting, make connections, share ideas and learn about innovative projects and initiatives in Bristol. This month we will be hearing about plans for the upcoming Festival of Nature from the Natural History Consortium.”
3rd May: Wake The Tiger After Hours, Bristol
Time: 7pm - 11pm
Location: Wake The Tiger, 127 Albert Road, Bristol, BS2 0YA
Price: From £22.50
“Got a mate or a date and looking for something a little more bonkers for your next evening get-together? And without any kids around?
That’s exactly what you’ll find at Wake The Tiger After Hours: the ultimate immersive art installation amazement park in Bristol for adults only.”
8th May: Bristol Girl Craft Club, Folk House Cafe
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Location: Bristol Folk House, 40a Park St, Bristol BS1 5JG
Price: £3
“Join us for Craft Club at Folk House Cafe on Park Street. This is a casual meet up for you to socialise with others in the Bristol Girl community whilst crafting. BYO Crafts from drawing, knitting, sewing, crochet, anything you fancy really!”
9th May: Sip and Paint - Sophie Young
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Location: Folk House Cafe, Folk House, 40A Park St, Bristol BS1 5JG
Price: £35
“Sophie has been a professional artist for nearly 10 years and is very well known in Bristol for her murals and taking part in Upfest for many years. Self confessed animal obsessed artist with her signature drips and multicoloured palette her work is instantly recognisable. £35 per person, all materials provided so you come home with your very own bright, leapord painting. This is the last chance to do the leapord and Sophie is also throwing in a free signed print (worth £30) to everyone who signs up! Bargain!”
11th May: Queer Radiance & Rockaway Park Presents Reclaim & Transform
Time: 5pm - 11pm
Location: Rockaway Park, Eastcourt Rd, Temple Cloud, Bristol BS39 5BU
Price: Pay What You Can
“On May 11th, Queer Radiance & Rockaway Park are teaming up to bring you a Reclaim & Transform, an extraordinary event celebrating local queer talent and community. We’re fundraising for the Albert Kennedy Trust, a charity for queer homeless youth.”
13th May: Murder She Watched - Bristol Girl Documentary Club, 20th Century Flicks
Time: 6.45pm - 9pm
Location: 20th Century Flicks, 19 Christmas Steps, Bristol BS1 5BS
Price: £10
“This May, Bristol Girl is excited to announce that we have a brand new event.. Murder She Watched: Bristol Girl Documentary Club. We invite you to delve into the weird and wonderful world of documentaries, to gain new perspectives and discover amazing stories!”
15th May: Mint Ultimate Bristol, The Downs
Time: 6pm - 8pm
Location: The Downs, Behind the Water Tower, Stoke Rd, Bristol BS9 1FG
Price: Free
“Try your hand at frisbee! Beginners and pros all welcome, we’ll just play some games and head to the pub after. If you’re completely new, we’ll show you the ropes!”
Promotional Photo of the Green Mingle
16th - 19th May: Forbidden Worlds Film Festival
Time: Various
Location: Bristol Aquarium Cinema
Price: from £5
"Forbidden Worlds Film Festival: The Big Scream returns to Bristol Aquarium Cinema from 16-19 May 2024
This year, the festival will be honouring director Peter Hyams with screenings of Capricorn One (1977), Outland (1981) and a 30th anniversary screening of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Timecop (1994).
Cinema’s most deadly women are unleashed with screenings of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958), Japanese cult prison film Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion (1972), The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), and more.
The festival line-up also includes a screening of rare 80s Soviet sci-fi classic Kin-dza-dza! (1986), the UK premiere of a new 4K restoration of French cult actioner Nikita (1990), a new restoration of bizarro Indonesian fantasy The Devil’s Sword (1984), and anniversary screenings of The Last Starfighter, Stargate and Speed.
Bristol’s biggest repertory genre film festival is back to celebrate some of cinema’s most deadly women and director Peter Hyams, transporting audiences to spectacular inner worlds, stunning outer spaces, and – of course – the video shop archives.”
Promotional Image for Forbidden Worlds Film Festival. Designed by Jim’ll Paint It
17th May: Bristol Girl Drinks Night
Time: 7pm - 9.30pm
Location: Tonight Josephine, 28 Baldwin St, Bristol BS1 1NG
Price: £10
“Join us on Friday 17th May at Tonight Josephine for our Bristol Girl Drinks Night! That’s right, see off another week of work meeting new friends and potentially having a little boogie! 💃🏻”
17th - 26th May: Mayfest, Bristol
Time: 3.30pm - 5.30pm
Location: Various locations across Bristol including Bristol Old Vic, Sparks Bristol & Watershed
Price: From £5
“Mayfest is Bristol’s biennial international festival of contemporary theatre and live performance, and over the last twelve years has consolidated its reputation as a vibrant and boundary-blurring context for the presentation of unusual, playful and ambitious live performance from artists all over the world.”
17th May - 2nd June: Upfest, Bristol
Time: Various
Location: Various locations across Bristol, BS3 4NH
Price: Free
“In place of its weekend festival, Upfest will return in 2024 in a new guise, with many new artworks being painted across 2 weeks. Upfest Presents will pop-up at multiple venues across Bedminster and wider BS3 with free to attend workshops, live painting, artist talks, arts activities, panel discussions, theatre, comedy and tours exploring the area.”
23rd May: Bristol Girl Brush Up And Wine Down, KASK
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: KASK, 51 North St, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 1EN
Price: £15
“Come and join us for an evening of unwinding through the joy of paint & wine. Every month we will choose a theme to base your creations on but this is a relaxed atmosphere with no pressure to paint the perfect picture, just a lovely evening to meet new people through painting whilst sipping a glorious glass of wine.”
25th May: Pilates & Nutrition Wellness Afternoon
Time: 3.30pm - 5.30pm
Location: The Wildbox, 14 Whitehouse Place, Bristol, BS3 4BL
Price: £44.04
“We can’t wait for you to join us at our wellness afternoon on Saturday 25th May 3:30-5:30pm at The Wildbox, Bristol.”
25th - 26th May: Love Saves The Day, Ashton Court
Time: 12pm - 11pm
Location: Ashton Court, Long Ashton, Bristol BS41 9JN
Price: From £65.80
“Love Saves The Day returns to Ashton Court, taking place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May 2024 for another love-fuelled bank holiday weekend.”
27th May: Bristol Girl Book Club - Fan Fiction, Steam
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Steam Bristol, Clifton Down Station, Whiteladies Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2PN
Price: £3
“This May join Bristol Girl as they come together and delve into the fan fiction novels - with the winner being decided by poll on the Facebook Group, so get your votes in.”
28th May: Bristol Girl Board Game Club, Replay
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Location: Replay, 196 Cheltenham Rd, Cotham, Bristol BS6 5RB
Price: £11
“Join Bristol Girl as we go back to our roots of Board Game Club at Replay, where there are over 400 gaming options - the options are practically endless! BG’s have exclusive use of the whole of the top floor of the venue, so do come along for fun & games, and make a friend or two along the way!”
30th May: Bristol Girl Film Club - Women Led Sci Fi
Time: 6.45pm - 9pm
Location: 20th Century Flicks, 19 Christmas Steps, Bristol BS1 5BS
Price: £10
“This is Bristol Girl Film Club.. and this time we are exploring the theme - Women Led Sci Fi!
In collaboration with Twentieth Century Flicks we will have our own private screening of a film that we have never seen on the BIG screen before! This is chance to see those classic films we were too young to see with the proper magic of cinema.”
We’ll be updating this article as we discover more fantastic May events happening in Bristol!