Things to do: August
AUGUST
The supposedly hottest month of the year is upon us. With the school summer holidays well and truly in swing and annual leave on the cards, take a peek at our run down of the best things to do in August.
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FAMILY: Tabby McTat
■ G Live, Guildford ■ Thu 1 – Sat 3 August
Tabby McTat is a tale friendship and loyalty from the team behind Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales. With original songs throughout, the show will be an hour of fun for the whole family. glive.co.uk
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FOOD: All Things Rose
■ The Bridge Hotel, Chersey ■ Thu 1 Aug, 7pm
Tickle your tastebuds and learn all about Rose wine with four offerings from Berkmann Wines paired with a one-off summer tapas menu especially prepared by the Bridge’s head chef and 2012 Master Chef semi-finalist Karl Byron. bridgehotelchertsey.com
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MUSIC: Grizzly Rhys Morgan
■ Farnham Maltings ■ Fri 2 Aug
Returning to the Grills & Guitars series at the Maltings, singer, songwriter and guitarist, Grizzly has been entertaining audiences most of his life appearing at clubs, pubs, arts centres and festivals all across the south of England. farnhammaltings.com
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OPEN AIR THEATRE: The Winter’s Tale
■ Cranleigh Arts Centre ■ Fri 2 August, 7.30pm
Fancy an evening of something a bit different? Enjoy the live-action adaption of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays and join Leontes on his journey to heal personal pain and unite his family. Theatre producers describe the play as having ABBA vibes – sign us up! cranleighartscentre.org
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CHILDREN’S THEATRE: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
■ Painshill, Cobham ■ Sat 3 and Sat 10 August
Indulge your little ones in a classic as old as time with a live-action outdoor adaption of the famous tale. Hold tight for rolling heads, rocketing sneezes, skimming plates and darting jam tarts. painshill.co.uk
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FESTIVAL: Frimley Lodge Live
■ Frimley Lodge Park, Frimley Green ■ Sat 3 – Sun 4 August
Surrey Heath’s very own tribute music festival is back for its sixth year. In addition to music galore, there is fun for the whole family with bars, food and craft schools and local bands joining the mix. Doors open at 11am. camberleytheatre.co.uk
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FESTIVAL: Staycation Live 2019
■ Phillips Memorial Park, Godalming ■ Fri 2 – Sun 4 August
Have a different music taste from your friends and family? Head to Staycation Live this August for music that suits everyone’s liking, from folk to funk and ska to hip-hop. Add a kid’s zone, bars, massages and never ending food to the mix and you’ll be in for the perfect weekend. staycationlivefestival.co.uk
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EVENT: Gentleman’s Day featuring The Cheaky Blinders
■ Lingfield Park ■ Sat 3 August
Certainly not just for the gentlemen in your life, head to Lingfield Park for a day of racing, music and perhaps a tipple or two. A live jazz band will welcome you when doors open at 3pm, and there will also be traditional arcade games onsite, a classic car and a fortune teller. Penny for your thoughts? lingfieldpark.co.uk
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SPORT: Prudential Ride 100
■ Throughout Surrey ■ Sun 4 August
Grab your cow bells and head to the roadside to cheer on the superstar participants cycling from London to Surrey. Not everyone that takes part in the event is a professional, so every clap and cheer is very much appreciated! prudentialridelondon.co.uk
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WELLBEING: Sun and Moon Wellbeing Festival
■ Merrist Wood, Worplesdon ■ Sun 4 – Sun 11 August
Connect with your spiritual side with seven days of celebrating all things self care. Yoga and meditation for adults and street dancing and circus skills for the little ones are just a handful of the workshops on offer at this family-friendly festival. sunandmoonfestival.com
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CHILDREN’S THEATRE: Wind in the Willows
■ Painshill, Cobham ■ Sun 4 and Sun 11 August
From an idyllic riverside setting to the final battle for Toad Hall, this enchanting interactive production about selfless friendship is told with high energy, humour and audience participation. painshill.co.uk
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THEATRE: Saturday Night Fever
■ New Victoria Theatre, Woking ■ Tues 6 – Sat 10 August
Spectacularly re-imagined this music and disco extravaganza comes to Woking playing the best of the Bee Gees, whilst still staying true to the 1977 John Travolta classic. atgtickets.com
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EVENT: Pride in Surrey
■ Woking Town and Woking Park ■ Sat 10 August
Join the celebration of love with a parade through Woking’s town centre, culminating with a huge celebration in Woking Park! prideinsurrey.org
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MUSIC: Jess Glynne
■ Lingfield Park Racecourse ■ Sat 10 Aug
With 2 UK number 1 albums including the 2018 hit Always In Between, Jess Glynne will perform to thousands of race goers live after racing on Saturday 10 August. This lady is hot hot hot right now – so tickets will sell fast though. I’d get in quickly! Racing is from 5.10pm-8.15pm – music starts after the last race. lingfieldpark.co.uk
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EVENT: Beekeeping Demonstration
■ Albury Vineyard ■ Sun 11 August, 10am-12.30pm
Fancy something a bit different for a Sunday? Get suited up as a beekeeper for a hands-on demo and look inside the hives of those buzzy busy workers. alburyvineyard.com
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THEATRE: The 39 Steps
■ Theatre Royal Windsor ■ Mon 12 – Sat 17 Aug
A cultural rite of passage, Hitchcock’s comic-thriller, The 39 Steps, is an must-see classic – screenwriter Robert Towne (Mission Impossible) even claims, “All contemporary escapist entertainment begins with The 39 Steps.”A cast of four will take on all the roles as handsome hero Richard Hannay, encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and devastatingly beautiful women. It’s fast, funny and farcical. theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk
■ Kempton Park Racecourse ■ Tues 13 Aug
If you love a good rootle around an antiques fair, your’e going to love the Sunbury Antiques Fair at Kempton Park Racecourse. There are more than 700 stalls (inside and out) selling everything from French farmhouse furniture to antique kitchenalia and jewellery. It opens at 6.30am, and if you want to snavel a bargain, I’d get there early. Admission and parking are free. sunburyantiques.com
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■ The Capitol, Horsham ■ Tues 13 and Wed 14 Aug
The tea-guzzling tiger is back on the road in this musical play adapted and directed by David Wood, based on the well-loved book by Judith Kerr, who recently died at the age of 95. It’s packed with sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. Tickets are £14 and it’s aimed at ages 3+ thecapitolhorsham.com
THEATRE: Fame The Musical
■ The Leatherhead Theatre ■ Wed 14 – Sat 17 August
The London Dance Company is bringing it 100-plus cast to Leatherhead for five performances of the cult classic musical. Say my name! theleatherheadtheatre.com
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FAMILY EVENT: Wildflowers Family Festival
■ Hobbledown, Epsom ■ Fri 16 – Sun 18 August
Put your dancing show off for this three day dancing bonanza. Live music, dance workshops, magic shows, circus entertainment, street food markets and even more are on the billing – why wouldn’t you want to go? hobbledown.com
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FESTIVAL: Weyfest
■ Rural Life Centre, Tilford ■ Fri 16 – Sun 18 August
The Surrey Hills dives into festival season with this premium-boutique event that promises live music, fine foods and cocktail bars and a glamping experience that will make you forget about those missed Glastonbury tickets. weyfest.co.uk
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SHOW: Iberian Performance Show
■ Merrist Wood Arena, Worplesdon ■ Fri 16 – Sun 18 August
Fancy something different? Marvel as 100 Spanish and Portuguese horses showcase their beauty and skill in this traditional weekend of music, entertainment and culture. iberianperformanceshow.co.uk
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FOOD: Surrey Vegan Market
■ The Heart Shopping Centre, Walton-on-Thames ■ Sat 17 August
Prepare to feast your eyes on the best plant-based grub around at this monthly food market. Take the chance to sample some of the lesser-known delicacies of a vegan diet, or perhaps you fancy stocking up on your favourite? veggies.org.uk
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MUSIC: Opera in the Vineyard
■ Albury Vineyard ■ Sun 18 August, 3pm-6pm
Opera duet Seren Singers return to the vineyard for an afternoon of wine and classical music with the backdrop of the rolling Surrey Hills. Sundays have never been so fancy! alburyvineyard.com
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FAMILY EVENT: Brooklands Summer Fete
■ Brooklands Museum, Weybridge ■ Mon 19 – Fri 23 August
Take a step back in time and enjoy a summer fete with a vintage twist. Encourage your little ones to try pedal-driven planes and cars and old-school lawn games such as giant Connect 4, skittles and a coconut shy. There won’t be an iPad in sight! brooklandsmuseum.com
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THEATRE: Motown The Musical
■ New Victoria Theatre, Woking ■ Tue 20 – Sat 24 August
Grab your fellow music lovers and head to Woking for an evening of theatre packed with over 50 classics played by a live orchestra. The Tony-nominated musical follows the stories of Motown legends including Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross. I’ll be there! atgtickets.com
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OPEN AIR CINEMA: Summer Cinema Nights
■ Merrist Wood College, Guildford ■ Sat 24 and Sun 25 August
Don the fishnets and leg warmers for two very different nights of open air cinema. The first night is a showing of classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with Sunday’s billing featuring Footloose. A bumper weekend of camp fun, all on behalf of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care. shop.pth.org.uk
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MUSIC: Wisley Live! Lates
■ RHS Garden Wisley, Woking ■ Fri 23 August
Experience RHS Garden Wisley after hours with a late evening opening and live music. Last entry 8pm so plenty of time to make dinner, pop the little ones in bed and head out with your pals! rhs.org.uk
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FOOD: Hampton Court Palace Food Festival
■ Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey ■ Sat 24 – Mon 26 August
What better way to spend the (hopefully sunny) bank holiday weekend than sampling some of the finest foods around with the backdrop of one of Britain’s finest palaces? Visitors can tuck into an array of street food from artisan producers, and enjoy cookery demonstrations and live music, all set in the palace’s stunning East Front Gardens. hrpfoodfestivals.com
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EVENT: Edenbridge & Oxted Agricultural Show
■ Ardenrun Showground, Lingfield ■ Sun 25 – Mon 26 August
You’ll be tried to find a more perfect bank holiday weekend family day out than this annual show. With new main ring entertainment, activities and animals galore and even more water buffalo for the first time, it’s a guaranteed day trip success! edenbridge-show.co.uk
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FAMILY EVENT: Godstone Fete and Donkey Derby
■ Godstone Green ■ Mon 26 August from 11am
A bumper day of guaranteed family fun! With shows featuring dogs, cheerleaders and gymnastics, bouncy castles, stalls and tombolas, and let’s not forget the famous annual donkey derby, you’ll be digging out your spare change for your littles ones all day! godstonefete.co.uk
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FETE: Summer Food & Craft Market
■ Bourne Valley Garden Centre, Addlestone ■ Mon 26 August from 11am
Who doesn’t love a summer fete with an adult twist? Spend an afternoon sampling Silent Pool Distillery gins, New Forest Ice Cream and crêpes from the vintage Citroen van ‘Cripes It’s Crêpes’. Enjoy falconry shows at 12pm and 3pm, artisan craft stalls galore, and the chance to meet the venue’s local suppliers. bournevalleygardencentre.co.uk
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MARKET: Sunbury Antiques Fair
■ Kempton Park Racecourse ■ Tues 27 Aug
If you love a good rootle around an antiques fair, you’re going to love the Sunbury Antiques Fair at Kempton Park Racecourse. There are more than 700 stalls (inside and out) selling everything from French farmhouse furniture to antique kitchenalia and jewellery. It opens at 6.30am, and if you want to snavel a bargain, I’d get there early. Admission and parking are free. sunburyantiques.com
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FESTIVAL: Woking Food and Drink Festival
■ Woking Town Centre ■ Fri 30 Aug – Sun 1 Sep
Spread across the town, this free buzzing food and drink festival is a three-day bonanza of feasting, fun entertainment and interactive activities for all the family. There are also guest appearance from TV culinary stars including Great British Bake Off star Martha Collison and Masterchef: The Professionals winner Laurence Henry. Bon appetit! wokingfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk
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THEATRE: Amelie The Musical
■ New Victoria Theatre, Woking ■ Tue 27 – Sat 31 August
The famous five-time nominated Oscar movie Amelie is being adapted to the stage for the first time in the UK, with French-Canadian star Audrey Brisson taking on the lead role. A tale of love, kindness and compromise, this is the perfect show to get in the diary for a night out with your girlfriends. atgtickets.com
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EVENT: Great British Garden Party
■ The Red Barn, Blindley Heath ■ Sat 31 August, 12pm-9pm
Spend a sunny day in the garden with live blues and jazz bands, lawn games, face painting, a burger shack, a traditional Punch & Judy show, and , of course, a glass of fizz. Chin chin! facebook.com
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OPEN AIR CINEMA: Bohemian Rhapsody with Sunset Cinema
■ Haslemere Educational Museum ■ Sat 31 August, doors open at 6.30pm
Who doesn’t love a singalong with one of the most celebrated bands in music? Make the most of the balmy summer evenings by packing the picnic basket, unearthing those camping chairs and heading out for an evening of family fun. thelittleboxoffice.com
ONGOING EVENTS
LONDON EXHIBITION: Sweet Harmony: Rave exhibition
■ Saatchi Gallery, West London ■ until 14 Sept

Photo by Dave Swindells
Rave on! This new photo exhibition explores the new world that emerged from the acid house movement in the ’80s and ’90s and the beginnings of rave culture. Photographers Tom Hunter, Vinca Petersen and Dave Swindells will be on hand at the Saatchi Gallery to explain the stories behind their iconic shots. saatchigallery.com
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LONDON FESTIVAL: Underbelly Festival
■ Southbank Centre, London ■ until 29 Sept
The giant purple cow returns for summer with a fun-packed programme of circus acts, theatre, cabaret, comedy, music and kids’ shows. You can also feast on street food from the riverside vendors and grab a drink at one of London’s biggest outdoor bars. It’s a mini fringe at one venue! underbellyfestival.com
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LONDON: Summer by the River
■ London ■ until 28 Aug
There’s tons to do all summer in London between London and Tower Bridge with the largest outdoor festival in the capital. look out for music, craft workshops, outdoor screenings and theatre. londonbridgecity.co.uk
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ART: Greenwich Printmakers at 40
■ Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village, Compton ■ ends Sun 1 Sep

Tammy Mackay, True Colours, photopolymer, hand-coloured chiné colle
This exhibition celebrates the esteemed London art group’s 40th anniversary, featuring prints by all 35 members. It will show the Greenwich Printmakers’ incredible range of styles and techniques, from collagraphy to lithography, wood engraving to solar plate gravure, aquatint to photoetching. wattsgallery.org.uk
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■ Hever Castle, near Edenbridge ■ ends 30 Aug

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EXHIBITIONS: Sculpture at Wisley 2019
■ RHS Wisley, Woking ■ ends 1 Dec
Lynn Chadwick Little Girl I, Little Girl II and Little Girl III, 1987
Photo: Jonty Wilde. Courtesy of the Estate of Lynn Chadwick and Blain|Southern
This major exhibition of modern and contemporary sculpture features the work of Henry Moore, Lynn Chadwick, Philip King, Henry Bruce, Tracey Emin and Philip Haas across the 240-acre garden at RHS Wisley. rhs.org.uk
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FESTIVAL: Hever Festival
■ Hever Castle, Edenbridge■ Until Fri 30 Aug
The Festival Theatre is an open air venue in the gardens of Hever Castle on the Two Sisters Lawn adjacent to Anne Boleyn Walk. The stage is fully covered and the seating is tiered with the vast majority of seats under new seating canopies, which means if the sun doesn’t shine, the audience can still enjoy the spectacular setting with protection from the weather. There’s loads of brilliant things to see – from Mica Paris to opera and open air cinema to comedy. heverfestival.co.uk
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MUSIC: Lazy Jazz Sundays
■ Polesden Lacey, near Dorking ■ every Sunday
Sundays are meant for being lazy but lazy doesn’t have to mean a date with the sofa especially when there’s Lazy Jazz on the Surrey Hills. Grab a deckchair and chillax on a (hopefully) sunny afternoon with the best local jazz performers each Sunday from 2pm- 4pm. nationaltrust.org
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ART: Chihuly Trail: Reflections on Nature
■ Kew Gardens, Kew ■ until October 27
Run free my pretties but watch out for the delicate glass sculptures. Iconic artist Dale Chihuly’s stunning pieces are on display at Kew Gardens, but I fear it’s an accident waiting to happen. Kids smashing the place up, children skewered on a giant flower. A true test of your parenting skills… but an Insta winner. kew.org
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TOUR: Unseen Spaces Garden Tours
■ Polesden Lacey, near Dorking ■ Tuesdays and Thursdays until September
Go behind the scenes with one of Polesden’s garden guides to visit parts of the gardens no usually open to visitors including the gardener’s yard, greenhouse and compost area. Free with entry. nationaltrust.org.uk
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EXHIBITION: The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
■ The Lightbox, Woking ■ now until Sun 20 October
This new exhibition showcases a diversity of styles and techniques in watercolour use, from traditional uses of the medium to more experimental and innovative paintings. The showcase will feature 90 paintings including work from artists including the Royal Institute’s president, Rosa Sepple. thelightbox.org.uk
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EXHIBITION: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Brighton Museum ■ ends 8 Sept
On loan from the Natural History Museum, the wonderful images that made the cut for this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year are in Brighton for the next few months. Discover images capturing extraordinary animal behaviour and awe-inspiring landscapes and uncover surprising and sometimes challenging stories behind the photographs. Usual museum entry applies (adults £4, free to Brighton residents). brightonmuseums.org.uk
COMPILED BY KIRSTIE PICKERING