Hannah
15 February 2020
The New Forest National Park is nestled in the gorgeous south-coast county of Hampshire. Over the summer, the area becomes a hive of summertime activity; many come down to enjoy the coastlines and seaside as well as the expanse of stunning British countryside and the quaint and varied villages that scatter the area. Here are just some of the events happening in and around the New Forest area in the summer of 2020. If you would like to submit your event to also be featured, email us and we’ll get them added.
April 2020
The summer is in sight and there's no more of a beautiful place to see daffodils and tulips springing into life than the pretty towns and villages of the New Forest.
Bucklers Hard
This sportive, which takes in much of the stunning New Forest on the route, is one of the region's most popular cycling events. There are four route options on both Saturday and Sunday, ranging from an epic 81-mile jaunt to a child's bike ride.
Stay nearby: Jenny Wrens
Runners from across the UK will come down to England’s south coast to enjoy beautiful runs passing by iconic landmarks including Bargate, the QE2 Anchor and St Mary’s Stadium.
Stay nearby: Holmfield House
May 2020
With the May bank holiday and loads of events happening, plus the summer weather, May is a great time to visit the New Forest. Find out what’s happening here:
A friendly fair offering fun for all the family, with over 250 craft, gift and food and drink stalls. Plenty of traditional entertainment is also on offer including Morris dancing, brass bands and Punch and Judy shows.
Stay nearby: Frogham Cross
Spread out along the town’s High Street and Quay, this festival contains both a Festival Market and Festival Village, making it heaven for foodies. Hundreds of stalls will be selling treats to take home, while several local restaurants, pubs and cafes will also be taking part.
Stay nearby: The Haven
Lymington
Visitors to the Beaulieu Motor Museum will enjoy the great atmosphere of the Auto Jumble, featuring hundreds of stalls selling auto parts and bargains, perfect for those working on a project car.
Stay nearby: Beaulieu River View
Fans of autosports mark this event as one of the biggest of the year and a flagship for the championship. Held at the Thruxton Circuit.
Stay nearby: Percy's Retreat
A vibrant street food festival which celebrates not only watercress but the best foods of all kinds offered by local producers. Rows of stalls will be accompanied by chef demonstrations, street entertainment and more.
Stay nearby: Kingfishers - New Forest
June 2020
The summer’s well and truly here! BBQs in the sunshine, walks through the countryside, enjoying the sunshine on the coast, plus all of these brilliant events.
A family-friendly festival offering a laid-back variety of performances from local bands, musicians and much more. Little ones can even take part with Malcolm the Magician and Cheesy Music for Kids.
Note: this event is taking a break in 2020 but will return in 2021.
Stay nearby: Joyful Cottage
Around 20,000 people are expected to head to Stonehenge for the summer solstice, watching the sunrise on the longest day of the year.
Stay nearby: Rightmans Place
Celebrate the works of author Jane Austen with a range of events including music, talks, readings, Victorian cricket, dancing workshops and more.
Stonehenge
A weekend dedicated to world-class kitesurfing, with the entire beach dedicated to partying the day and night away with live music, bars, food stalls and more.
Stay nearby: Twenty One
The sight of seeing enormous trucks racing around one of the country's fastest circuit has to be seen to be believed - a fun-packed day out for all.
Stay nearby: Winnalls Wood
July 2020
It’s festival season in the New Forest and there’s lots happening for food lovers, sports enthusiasts and anyone who likes a Ferrari, plus lots more.
Headlined by Show of Hands, this family-run festival promises a memorable folk-filled weekend. A café selling home-cooked food can also be found on site.
Stay nearby: Brookley Cottage
A popular event that has something for the whole family. Take a look at our guide to the New Forest Show to get the very best out of a great day out.
Stay nearby: Littlewell
August 2020
Eyes turn to the skies this month as the New Forest welcomes a range of exciting events for all the family.
Watch motorcycling’s biggest stars reach speeds up to 200mph in this thrilling track race. A great weekend for all.
Stay nearby: Riverside Retreat
Since 1826, Cowes Week has been a key part of the British sporting summer calendar staging around 40 daily races for around 1,000 boats. Not to be missed.
A fantastic event for people of all ages to enjoy displays of aircraft - takes place the last weekend of August! In the crowd, there’s even more entertainment to enjoy from street performances to live music.
Stay nearby: Angel Cottage
September 2020
See the summer out in style! Another fun-packed month here in the New Forest, great to get you out in the summer sunshine to enjoy and sights of the Forest plus a whole lot more.
A great challenge for runners of all experience. Set your sights on this popular marathon, running through the gorgeous scenery of the New Forest, while other distances are also available.
Stay nearby: Clare's Cottage
This year the Boat Show, an unmissable event for all the family, celebrates its 50th anniversary. See the stunning boats and browse a variety of stalls selling boating paraphernalia.
Stay nearby: The Coach House Cottage
The Romsey Show is home to a range of stalls, interesting exhibits and plenty of animals. Fun for all ages.
Stay nearby: Kingfishers
Where to stay
Many visitors to these events like to make a stay of it and enjoy the New Forest for a little longer. If you’re looking for a unique holiday cottage anywhere in the New Forest, have a peep at our selection of New Forest cottages or contact us and we’d be happy to help you find the best located cottage for your event and needs.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.