What’s On in Bristol This Weekend – 11th to 13th September 2026

Looking for what’s on in Bristol this weekend?

From street food and family days out to hip-hop, theatre, steam trains and some seriously good Bristol nightlife, there’s plenty happening across the city from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th September.

Whether you’re planning a big night out or looking for something to do with the family, here are the Base Radio picks for the weekend.

Friday 11th September – Start the Weekend

Galcher Lustwerk – Strange Brew

We’ll start with some Friday-night music.

New York producer, DJ and vocalist Galcher Lustwerk comes to Strange Brew for a live show alongside Ibrahim Alfa Jnr, with Bristol’s Daisy Moon on DJ duties.

The night runs from 7pm until 10pm, making it a good starting point if you’re heading into the city for the evening.

Expect deep house, electronic sounds and something a little different from your usual Friday-night gig.

5 Years of Jangala – Loco Klub

If 10pm feels more like the beginning of your Friday than the end, head beneath Temple Meads.

Jangala celebrates its fifth birthday at Loco Klub with two rooms of dub, jungle and hardcore.

The Bristol edition of its anniversary roadshow brings Jangala together with Upraw for a line-up including FFF, Radicall, Duburban, Eminence and plenty more.

It runs from 10.30pm until 4am and is strictly 18+.

One for Bristol’s proper late-night crowd.

Something Different – Filmmaker Mixer

Not everything happening on Friday involves a dancefloor.

South West Independent Film is celebrating its third birthday with a filmmaker mixer and party at Shredenhams in Broadmead.

It starts at 7pm, there’s no need to book, and the idea is simply to bring together filmmakers and creatives from Bristol and the wider South West.

There’ll be cake, arcade machines and opportunities to meet people working across the region’s film scene.

A nice little example of the creative community that makes Bristol Bristol.

Saturday 12th September – A Big Day Across Bristol

South Glos Food & Drink Festival

This is probably our big family pick of the weekend.

The South Glos Food & Drink Festival returns to Bristol & Bath Science Park at Emersons Green on Saturday and Sunday.

Expect a huge selection of local and regional food and drink traders alongside bars, a producer market, live music and a funfair.

Saturday runs from 11am until 9pm, with the festival returning on Sunday from 11am until 7pm.

Entry is being advertised as free, although you’ll need to book an arrival slot and later ticket allocations may carry a small charge.

If you’re looking for family things to do in Bristol this weekend, this is an easy recommendation.

And yes, arrive hungry.

Steam Train Rides – M Shed

Here’s something unmistakably Bristol.

The Bristol Harbour Railway is running steam train rides from M Shed on both Saturday and Sunday.

The train will be pulled by Henbury, one of Bristol’s historic steam locomotives, taking passengers along the quayside between M Shed and the SS Great Britain.

Rides start from 11am and are subject to availability.

For families, railway fans or anyone who just fancies seeing Bristol Harbour from a slightly different perspective, we like this one a lot.

Mean Girls – Bristol Hippodrome

If theatre is more your thing, Saturday is your final opportunity to catch Mean Girls at the Bristol Hippodrome.

The musical adaptation brings Regina, Gretchen, Karen and Cady to Bristol with the songs, comedy and high-school chaos of the hit production.

There are performances on Saturday at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Age guidance is 10+, and the show runs for around two and a half hours including the interval.

And yes, Bristol – apparently we really are making “fetch” happen.

Blaise Community Garden Art Show

If you fancy something much quieter on Saturday, there’s a lovely community option over at Blaise.

The Blaise Community Garden Art Show and Garden Café runs from 9.45am until 3pm.

Visitors can explore the working community garden, which includes ponds, beehives, fruit and vegetable areas, while families can also try the insect trails.

There’s another hidden part of Blaise open on Saturday too.

The historic Dairy Garden opens from 11am until 1pm, giving visitors access to its open-air amphitheatre, historic planting and John Nash-designed Dairy.

You can even bring a picnic.

A really nice alternative if the big festivals and city-centre crowds aren’t your thing.

Saturday Night – Hip-Hop and Bristol Nightlife

Talib Kweli – Lost Horizon

Our Base Radio music pick of the weekend has to be this.

Legendary New York rapper Talib Kweli comes to Lost Horizon on Saturday for what is effectively two events in one night.

The live show runs from 7pm until 11pm, with Kweli performing material from across his career.

Then, rather than everyone going home, the venue turns into an after-party until 3am, with Talib Kweli himself playing a special DJ set.

The wider line-up includes Blak Twang, Essa, J Felix, Frenic and more.

If you’re into hip-hop, this is probably one of the strongest Bristol nights of the weekend.

DMC World DJ Championships – UK Final

Saturday also has another event that feels very appropriate for Base Radio.

The UK Final of the DMC World DJ Championships takes place aboard Thekla, with DJs battling it out for a place on the world stage.

The event is listed from 5pm until 10pm.

Turntablism, scratching, technical skill and DJs competing head-to-head aboard one of Bristol’s best-known music venues?

That sounds pretty Bristol to us.

And If You’re Still Not Ready to Go Home…

There’s no shortage of options.

Clock Factory has Slipz & Evil B for a free after-party from 10pm, while Lakota hosts Neuroheadz celebrating 15 years of Eatbrain, running right through until 5am.

So Saturday night certainly isn’t short of bass.

Sunday 13th September – Food, Trains and Live Music

South Glos Food & Drink Festival – Day Two

Missed Saturday?

The South Glos Food & Drink Festival returns on Sunday from 11am until 7pm.

With food traders, drinks, live entertainment, a producer market and funfair, this could be an easy Sunday option for the whole family.

Another Chance to Ride the Bristol Harbour Railway

M Shed’s steam trains are also running again on Sunday from 11am.

If you’ve got younger children, visiting M Shed, taking a steam train ride and then wandering around Wapping Wharf or the Harbourside could easily fill a good chunk of the day.

Sometimes the simplest Bristol days out are the best ones.

Primal Scream – Electric Bristol

Sunday evening finishes with a big one for alternative music fans.

Primal Scream bring their XTRMNTR tour to Electric Bristol, with the show listed from 6pm.

The tour revisits one of the band’s most celebrated albums, making this our pick if you want to finish the weekend with a proper live gig.

Looking for Free Things to Do in Bristol?

You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a good weekend in the city.

The South Glos Food & Drink Festival is offering free-entry allocations, while the Blaise Community Garden Art Show gives you a much more relaxed community day out.

Or make your own Bristol itinerary.

Walk around the Harbourside, explore St Nicholas Market, head up Brandon Hill, wander around Clifton Village or take a trip along Gloucester Road.

Grab a coffee, stick Base Radio on and see where you end up.

Base Radio’s Weekend Picks

If we had to choose our favourites this week, Talib Kweli at Lost Horizon gets our music pick.

For families, we’d go with the South Glos Food & Drink Festival, while the M Shed steam train rides get our vote for something that’s genuinely Bristol.

And if you fancy escaping the city-centre crowds altogether, the Blaise Community Garden Art Show and Dairy Garden look like a lovely way to spend part of Saturday.

Whatever You’re Doing This Weekend…

Make Base Radio part of it.

Whether you’re getting ready for a night out, driving to the food festival, exploring Bristol with the family or simply enjoying a lazy Sunday at home, we’ll provide the soundtrack.

Great music all day, every day. No repeats, just more variety.

Listen online at BaseRadio.co.uk

Base Radio – Your City. Your Music. Your Station.