What’s On in Bristol This Weekend – 23rd to 25th October 2026

Looking for what’s on in Bristol this weekend?

Bristol is heading into October half-term, and the city has a packed weekend ahead.

From legendary jungle and drum & bass artists on Friday night to a major storytelling festival, steam trains, orchestral music, Halloween activities and live comedy, there’s something for almost everyone.

Whether you’re planning a big night out, looking for family things to do in Bristol, or just fancy discovering something different, we’ve rounded up some of the best events happening across the city.

Here are the Base Radio picks for Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th October 2026.

Friday 23rd October – Start the Weekend

The Mountain Goats – Bristol Beacon

Friday starts with a major live music event at Bristol Beacon.

American indie-rock favourites The Mountain Goats arrive in Bristol, bringing their distinctive storytelling, emotionally charged songs and impressive back catalogue.

Led by John Darnielle, the band have built a devoted following through their mixture of indie rock, folk and deeply personal songwriting.

They’re joined by Craig Finn and The Band of Forgiveness.

The show starts at 7pm in Beacon Hall.

A great choice for anyone who enjoys live music with a little more substance.

Manding Melody – Bristol Beacon

For something completely different, Bristol Beacon’s Lantern Hall hosts Manding Melody on Friday evening.

Featuring acclaimed Malian guitarist Habib Koité and kora player Sura Susso, the performance brings together musicians from Mali, Senegal and The Gambia.

Expect West African rhythms, beautiful melodies and an extraordinary mixture of traditional and contemporary sounds.

The show starts at 8pm.

This gets our vote for one of Friday’s most interesting musical experiences.

Photek & Total Science – Lakota

Now we’re talking Base Radio territory.

Friday night sees two legendary names from jungle and drum & bass take over Lakota.

Photek returns to Bristol for his first performance in the city in more than 15 years, alongside Total Science, who will celebrate 30 years of their influential C.I.A Records label.

The event also features Dead Man’s Chest, Sam Binary and a strong supporting line-up.

Running from 10pm until 4am, this promises to be a proper celebration of jungle and drum & bass history.

For Bristol’s underground music community, this is a big one.

Definitely one of our Base Radio music picks of the weekend.

Lanny – Bristol Old Vic

If theatre is more your thing, Lanny continues at Bristol Old Vic.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Max Porter, the production follows a family who move from London to a rural village, where their young son attracts the attention of a mysterious ancient figure.

Blending folklore, imagination and contemporary storytelling, it’s an atmospheric production with strong connections to the West Country.

Friday’s performance begins at 7.30pm.

Saturday 24th October – Half-Term Begins!

Storytale Festival – We The Curious

One of Bristol’s biggest family events this weekend is the return of Storytale Festival.

Taking place at We The Curious on Saturday and Sunday, the festival celebrates storytelling, books, imagination and creativity.

This year’s theme is Perseverance, exploring courage, resilience and determination through stories.

There are activities for different ages, including storytelling sessions, creative workshops, author appearances and opportunities for children to develop their own ideas.

Saturday’s programme includes sessions with children’s author Laura Henry-Allain, illustrator Duncan Beedie and wildlife filmmaker Sam Hume.

If you’re looking for things to do in Bristol with children this weekend, this is one of our top recommendations.

Advance booking is recommended for individual sessions.

Bristol Harbour Railway – Steam Trains Return

Here’s something that’s always popular with Bristol families.

The Bristol Harbour Railway returns on Saturday and Sunday, with historic steam locomotive Henbury pulling passenger trains along the quayside.

The railway runs between M Shed and the SS Great Britain, giving visitors a chance to experience part of Bristol’s industrial and maritime history.

Rides begin from 11am on both days, subject to availability.

And there’s more happening around M Shed.

The historic steam tug Mayflower is also scheduled to offer trips around Bristol Harbour this weekend.

Combine a train ride, a boat trip and a visit to M Shed, and you’ve got a brilliant Bristol family day out.

The Secret Life of Colour – Bristol Museum

A brand-new exhibition opens at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday.

The Secret Life of Colour explores how colour influences our emotions, culture, history and understanding of the world.

The exhibition brings together art, natural history and science, featuring work associated with major artists including Andy Warhol, Bridget Riley, Wassily Kandinsky and Hokusai.

Alongside the artwork, visitors can discover colourful objects from the museum world, including historic ceramics, natural specimens and other unusual treasures.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 24th October and continues into January.

A great choice if you’re looking for something cultural to do over half-term.

Black History Month Family Fun – Bristol Museum

There’s another creative activity happening at Bristol Museum on Saturday.

Wear Your Story celebrates Black History Month through the traditional Yoruba textile art of Adire.

Families can explore the colourful patterns and cultural significance of the fabrics before transforming materials into their own wearable creations.

Activities include making bracelets, accessories, keyrings and other handmade items.

A lovely opportunity to combine creativity with learning about different cultures and traditions.

London Symphony Orchestra – Bristol Beacon

Saturday afternoon brings something special to Bristol Beacon.

The world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra performs in Beacon Hall, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano.

They’ll be joined by celebrated cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, performing Edmund Finnis’ Cello Concerto.

The programme also includes Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9.

The concert starts at 5pm, with a pre-concert talk at 4pm for ticket holders.

If you’ve never experienced a major orchestra performing live, this could be a brilliant introduction.

Saturday Night – Bristol’s Dancefloors Are Calling

BIG MOOD – The Prospect Building

Saturday brings a major new event to The Prospect Building.

BIG MOOD is presented by Bristol Pride, Team Love and The Prospect Building, bringing together LGBTQ+ artists, DJs and Bristol’s creative nightlife community.

The line-up includes Jodie Harsh, Bimini and ABSOLUTE.

Expect house music, big production and a celebration of Bristol’s diverse club culture.

The event begins from 2pm on Saturday, making it an afternoon-into-evening party.

Definitely one of the weekend’s standout nightlife events.

ACCESS: UKG Free Rave – Lakota

If UK garage is more your thing, Lakota has another option.

ACCESS: UKG Free Rave takes over the venue on Saturday night.

The event focuses on Bristol’s UK garage scene, bringing together emerging talent and established club sounds.

Running from 10pm until 3am, it’s an 18+ event.

Free rave tickets may require advance registration, so check before heading down.

Sunday 25th October – Family Fun, Comedy and Live Music

Storytale Festival – Day Two

Storytale Festival continues at We The Curious on Sunday.

The programme includes creative writing, storytelling, drama workshops and opportunities for children to meet authors and illustrators.

Highlights include Active Poetry, where children can explore rhymes and word games, and Build Your Own Adventure, which encourages young writers to create their own imaginary worlds.

There’s also a Sunday Story Fair, offering a more relaxed opportunity to enjoy stories, meet authors and discover new books.

A strong option for families looking to start half-term with something creative.

Autumn Week – Blaise Museum

Blaise Museum launches its autumn activities this weekend.

Running on selected dates throughout half-term, Autumn Week celebrates the changing season through storytelling, crafts and outdoor exploration.

Children can discover miniature autumn doors, search for woodland creatures and take part in creative activities.

There are also opportunities for face painting and nature walks around the estate.

The activities are aimed particularly at families with children aged 0–9.

A lovely way to enjoy Bristol’s autumn colours.

The Utterly Revolting Science Show – Redgrave Theatre

Now this sounds like fun.

The Utterly Revolting Science Show comes to the Redgrave Theatre on Sunday.

The show combines science experiments, unusual demonstrations and plenty of disgusting discoveries.

Expect an entertaining mixture of education, audience participation and things that might make you say, “That’s revolting!”

A brilliant alternative if you’re looking for something to entertain the children over half-term.

Tom Davis – Bristol Beacon

Sunday evening brings some big laughs.

Comedian Tom Davis arrives at Bristol Beacon with his latest stand-up show, Spudgun.

Known for his appearances in Murder in Successville, King Gary and the Wolf and Owl podcast, Tom brings his larger-than-life comedy style to Beacon Hall.

The show begins at 7.30pm, with limited availability currently advertised.

Rory Ingham’s Trombone Assembly – Bristol Beacon

If you’d rather finish the weekend with live music, Rory Ingham’s Trombone Assembly performs in Bristol Beacon’s Lantern Hall.

Expect a lively evening of jazz, showcasing the trombone through energetic arrangements and impressive musicianship.

The performance begins at 8pm.

A great way to round off another busy Bristol weekend.

Looking for Free and Low-Cost Things to Do in Bristol?

There are plenty of ways to enjoy Bristol without spending a fortune.

M Shed offers free general admission, making it a great starting point for a family day around the Harbourside.

You can explore Bristol’s history, walk around Wapping Wharf and watch the activity around the Floating Harbour.

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery also offers free general admission, although special exhibitions and activities may require tickets.

Or enjoy the autumn colours around Blaise Castle Estate, Ashton Court or Brandon Hill.

Sometimes a good walk, a coffee and a bit of fresh air are all you need.

Base Radio’s Weekend Picks

If we had to choose our favourites this week, Photek and Total Science at Lakota gets our big music pick.

Two hugely influential names from jungle and drum & bass appearing together in Bristol makes this a standout Friday-night event.

For families, we’d choose Storytale Festival at We The Curious. It’s local, creative and packed with activities designed to inspire young imaginations.

The Bristol Harbour Railway gets our vote for something uniquely Bristol.

And for a big Saturday event, BIG MOOD at The Prospect Building promises a celebration of music, creativity and club culture.

Finally, The Secret Life of Colour looks like a fantastic new addition to Bristol’s cultural calendar.

Whatever You’re Doing This Weekend…

Make Base Radio part of it.

Whether you’re getting ready for a night out, taking the family to a festival, exploring Bristol Harbour 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

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