A Summer Full of Festivals, Shows & Regattas

South Devon really comes alive in the summer months with an array of amazing events taking place across the region. With wonderful countryside, great local produce and local entertainers there is a large number of great festivals, shows and regattas taking place across the summer months and in to the autumn.

Find details of some of the highlighted events below, for a complete list of the great events taking place in South Devon Click Here.

Dartmouth Art & Craft Weekend, 25th-26th June

Dartmouth Art & Craft Weekend - in aid of Children's Hospice South West. While visitors watch, talk to and buy from artists and craft workers, there will be music and children's activities, with teas, homemade cakes and snacks provided by Children's Hospice volunteers.

Kingsbeer Festival, 15th – 17th July

The 3rd annual beer festival run by the Dartmouth Steam Railway will once again return to the river Dart in Kingswear. The riverside marquee will be serving real ale from breweries of all shapes and sizes across the UK. There will be extensive riverside seating areas plus some fantastic food which has been hand-picked especially for the festival and a dedicated music tent hosting a brilliant line up of local live music all weekend long.

Glas-Denbury, 15th-16th July

Glas-Denbury is a unique Devon festival with something for everyone in one of the most idyllic surroundings in Devon. There’s a handpicked great selection of high quality food stalls & bars stocked with real ale and cider, cocktails and more, all at reasonable prices. There will be fantastic retail opportunities, crafts and activities galore so come and dance in the daisies and shake your glittery hips and see why everyone’s talking about Glas-Denbury!

Chagstock Music Festival, 22nd – 23rd July

An international Music Festival on the edge of Devon’s beautiful Dartmoor and a 'not for profit' organisation supporting the Devon Air Ambulance Trust and Water Aid. Capacity is 5,000.

Midsummer Dreams Festival, 23rd July

Midsummer Dreams is a new Theatre and Arts Festival for Families in the Heart of Devon. Midsummer Dreams Festival aims to inspire and entertain all ages by bringing national touring theatre companies and artists together with regional Devon based artists to create a varied programme of exciting and original events including theatre, dance, comedy and music.

Totnes and District Agricultural Show, 31st July

Find exciting demonstrations, displays and parades in the Main Ring and Entertainment Ring . Cattle and horses compete for showing honours and show jumping is as popular as ever. Amongst a whole host of other things, there’s a Home and Handicrafts marquee, Craft Tent, Food Hall and a large trade stands section.

Rockfish and GWR Crab Festival, 7th August

Rockfish Crab Festival, Dartmouth with hosts Mitch Tonks & Angela Hartnett Sunday 7th August 12-4pm. The Rockfish Crab Festival in Dartmouth is a fantastic day with a party atmosphere, great South Devon crab to enjoy and a lot of fun to be had. Rockfish are delighted that renowned chef Angela Hartnett will once again be joining Mitch Tonks and Mat prowse to host the party.

Beautiful Days Festival, 19th- 21st August

Beautiful Days is the Levellers' family music festival which takes place at Escot Park in Devon with six stages, site art, a huge children’s area, comedy, theatre, family camping, licensed real ale bars from Otter Brewery & a great choice of food and craft stalls.

Dartmouth Regatta, 25th-27th August

For over 190 years, Dartmouth has celebrated their affinity with the River, taking the opportunity at this time of year to enjoy waterborne and land events under the title of 'Royal Regatta'. The Regatta is based around a programme of rowing and sailing events, but also incorporates a busy programme of activities including air displays, fireworks, a large fair, and many other smaller events that happen in and around the town centre.

Kingsbridge Show, 3rd September

The Kingsbridge Show is a fantastic family day out and has something for everyone from classes in cattle, sheep and young farming to craft and trade stands.

Newton Abbot Autumn Fayre, 3rd September

Autumn Fayre event, held in Courtenay Street, Market Walk & Square and Market Hall. Entertainment to include: Cheese Curling Competition, Free children's entertainment, Live music and entertainment, Local artist Paul Freestone, Pasty parade & free tasters, Fairground Organ, St Leonards Tower Tours.

Lockdown Festival at Powderham Castle, 9th-11th September

The South-West's biggest dance music festival comes to Powderham Castle, Exeter on the weekend of the 9th-11th September 2016. With multiple stages and some of the UK's biggest names, this event will be huge so don't miss out! Lockdown Festival will be spread across four stages on the Saturday and Sunday. The festival will also feature a funfair, multiple bars and a wide range of quality food outlets, selling food from around the world.

Devon Open Studios, 10th - 25th September

Devon Open Studios is an exceptional chance for the public to enjoy art at its origin. A cornucopia of art will be on offer across Devon when resident artists and artisans open their studios to sell their individual artworks to the public this September. This FREE event features work by over 200 artists in over 142 venues across the county of Devon.

Abbfest, 16th-18th September

From the 16th-18th of September 2016 we will be showcasing the local food, drink, crafts and music from across the county. Enjoy 100s of local beers and ciders whilst browsing our food and craft market. With some of the best bands and musicians performing throughout the day as well as cookery & craft demonstrations and workshops suitable for all ages, along with our children's tent and Tractor Ted bouncy castle we have something for all ages!

Taste of the Teign Food Festival, 19th-25th September

Taste of the Teign is a new Estuary and Food Festival celebrating the provenance and local flavours of the magnificent Teign River Estuary. Throughout the week participating local restaurants and cafes are featuring special menus based on foods available from the Teign estuary and its environs.

Dartmouth Food Festival, 21st -23rd October

Having grown from humble beginnings in 2002 into a first class feast of entertainment featuring workshops, seminars, tastings, competitions, demonstrations and over 120 hand-picked exhibitors (70% of which are from Devon), it truly is the very best that the South West has to offer.

Need somewhere to stay while you enjoy these great events? Check out our Where to Stay page.