Half Term Events in South Devon

What better time to visit South Devon than the May-June half term! The weather is wonderful, and we have a fantastic array of events happening across the region. As well as some excellent annual events, we’ll also be celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over the bank holiday weekend! You can find out more about those events in our Jubilee Events blog post here. 

Sea Change Festival, Totnes (27th - 29th May) 

Returning to Totnes over half term is the multi-venue Sea Change Festival. Across three days from the 27th May the town will be overcome with an array of music, art, film, and literature. The event was founded by Drift, the renowned record shop in Totnes and will be euphoric reminder of what we’ve missed over the last two years. The live shows will be hosted in various locations around the town centre and surrounding area, including in the historic St Mary’s Church, The Barrel House, and The Great Hall in Dartington. Unfortunately, you cannot buy tickets to individual events, but rather a day or weekend pass for the festival, we have no doubts that it will be absolutely worth the money though! 

The Fairy Special! (28th May), Dinosaur Tram Adventure! (29th May), The Pirate Tram! (1st June), Seaton Tramway, Seaton 

Situated in the lovely town of Seaton, Seaton Tramway are hosting an array of exciting events for everyone to enjoy over half term. Their Fairy Special invites you to enjoy an enchanted tram ride filled with music and stories of faraway lands. The Dinosaur Tram Adventure is jam-packed with fossils and dinosaur activities, and you can help Professor Percival uncover the secrets of a land that time forgot. You could even set sail on the Seaton Pearl tram during their Pirate Tram Special to discover what treasure can be found at Colyton Station! This is a truly unique way to explore East Devon and will surely be enjoyed by the entire family! 

Bat Watch, Slapton (30th May) 

If you’re a nature-lover and a bit of a night owl, then this event might be perfect for you! Discover the night-time world of the bats at Slapton Ley Nature Reserve, which is home to 14 of the 18 species of bat in the UK, as they emerge from their roost and hunt for food. Booking a bat watch with Field Studies Council and their enthusiastic tutors will allow you to listen out for them on their special bat detectors to explore the places they live. Tickets for this exciting venture are just £8 for adults and £5 for children.  

Create a Pom Pom Crown, Bovey Tracey (1st June) 

If your little ones are feeling crafty over the half term, why not sign them up to a Pom Pom Crown Workshop! Hosted by Pom Stitch Tassel at their studio in Bovey Tracey, this Jubilee-themed workshop will allow them to create their very own hand-made pom pom crown to take home and celebrate the bank holiday festivities in true royal form. The workshop is for children aged 5 and over, all the material and equipment will be supplied. If you book online for 2+ tickets, you can even use a discount to get 10% off. Click here to find out more! 

1 Big Summer, Plymouth (2nd - 4th June) 

Coming to Plymouth Hoe, 1 Big Summer will bring three days of  great music entertainment to the iconic Ocean City! The programme across the three days features a diverse range of genres such as electronic, rock, and pop, meaning there really is something for everyone! This exciting event takes place on the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th June and will see one music from bands such as Basement Jax, Years & Years, and The Libertines. 

Sidmouth Jazz & Blues Festival, Sidmouth (2nd - 5th June) 

The first ever Sidmouth Jazz & Blues Festival will be taking place in the coastal town of Sidmouth from Thursday 2nd – Sunday 5th June. If you attend, expect to experience the very best in Jazz, Blues, Funk, Soul, and everything in between with an eclectic programme of free and ticketed events. The town will be taken over with live shows taking place at fringe venues to showcase all the fantastic businesses and buildings in Sidmouth, including Kennaway House, The Dukes Inn and Sidmouth Parish Church.  

Exmouth Festival, Exmouth (2nd - 5th June) 

Also occurring from the 2nd – 5th June is Exmouth Festival, a free community festival of live music, theatre, circus, art, food, and drink. After a 2-year hiatus, the festival returns to its grassroots at the Imperial Recreation Ground, situated on the coast of Exmouth, near the railway station. Alongside their exciting array of festivities, this year they’re joining in with the Jubilee celebrations taking place over the bank holiday weekend with a Beacon Lighting, a Big Jubilee Lunch and plenty more!  

Seaton Eats Boutique, Seaton (3rd June)  

On Friday 3rd June the popular Seaton Eat Boutique will be hosting their exciting street food market, bringing global flavours and fusions to the Jubilee Gardens from 4pm – sunset. With an ever-changing array of food stalls, you can eat your way around the world whilst sitting under the East Devon sun with friends, family and loved ones. Choose from Thai, Spanish, or Persian food, or perhaps you fancy something a little sweeter like ice cream, or maybe an evening tipple whilst listening to some live music and basking in the atmosphere.  

English Riviera Air Show, Torbay (4th - 5th June) 

Another popular, returning event is the iconic English Riviera Air Show. Set to return for a weekend jam-packed with great activities, the air show will be taking place on Paignton Green, providing a stunning backdrop for the displays to take place. The RAF Red Arrows, Typhoon Display Team and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are just some of the planes flying across the bay during the weekend. There will also be a wide range of Jubilee events taking place over the bank holiday so the area will certainly be a lively place to be! 

Prawle Fair, Nr Kingsbridge (4th June) 

Step back in time at the Prawle Fair on the 4th June where the East Prawle village green will be transformed into a traditional fete with old-fashion rides, tasty refreshments, a variety of stalls and an array of live music. For the little ones there’s a fancy-dress competition and maypole dancing, and if you fancy being a bit cheeky, you can even throw a wet sponge at the local district councillor in the stocks! The aim of the fair is to provide funds to help the Parish Community Hall and donations are given to local charities and community groups.  

Picnic at the Park, River Dart Country Park, Ashburton (5th June) 

River Dart Country Park’s biggest summer event is back for 2022! They’ll be hosting an array of unmissable, exciting activities, events and displays that the whole family can enjoy! The day will be filled with music, dancing, sports, and a dog show. Don’t miss the Storm Troopers and dinosaurs dotted around the site too! Tickets for this event are likely to sell out soon, and they’re only sold online prior to the event, so make sure to purchase one to avoid disappointment.  

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