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You are here: What's On > What's On in May
May brings with it a couple of bank holiday weekends and LOTS of Reading’s Festivals! Whether you like food, comedy, books, walks or live music – or are a child! – there’s a festival for you this month. We’ve also got theatre celebrating Wilde and Windrush, plus plenty of cheese – and lots more besides. So check out our highlights of What’s On in Reading in May – and, as always, don’t forget to check whatsonreading.com for so much, much more!
Cheese Wars – 4-6 May
Blue Collar invite some of the UK’s best cheese-centre street food traders to come to their Corner of Reading and battle it out for YOUR vote. From mac & cheese to halloumi fries to Philly cheese steaks and more, you’ll be spoilt for choice as everyone will be vying for your favour… and a residency at Blue Collar Corner!
May The Fourth Be With You – 4 May
Seeing as the next Star Wars TV show was filmed in Reading’s Shinfield Studios, it stands to reason that there’s plenty going on in town to celebrate that galaxy far, far way. Eclectic Games host a Star Wars Fun Day, where you can come and play some of the best Star Wars games around. Comedian, cartoonist and actor Mike Capozzola's brings his multimedia comedy show May The Farce Be With You to Reading Biscuit Factory. And burlesque troupe The Scarlet Vixens perform an evening of Saucy Sci-Fi at The Rising Sun Arts Centre.
Bank Holiday music all-dayers – 4 & 5 May
Fancy spending a day taking in band after band in one of Reading’s finest music-loving bars? There’s three to choose from! On Sat 4 May, The Butler hosts The Shadow Shuffle, a punk and ska all-dayer with some of today’s hottest young acts. Meanwhile, The Purple Turtle will spend that Saturday Turtley Rock 'n' Rollin', with a line-up of big guitars and big quiffs! And on Sunday 5 May, they run a Punk Pile-Up of their own, with old-school names like Spizzenergi and Splodge proving old punks never die!
Reading Children’s Festival – 11 May-2 June
Three fantastic weeks of events and activities for kids of all ages kicks off once again with a the Forbury Fiesta – a day of fun in Forbury Gardens. And the rest of the festival offers up everything from arts and crafts to live music and drama to sports and so much more!
Reading Walks Festival – 11-19 May
Returning for a second year, the Reading Walks Festival tells the stories of our town through a series of guided walks. Ranging from 40-minute wanders to a two-day pilgrim trail, the walks will help you discover more about the people and places of Reading’s past – and its present. At the time of writing, many walks are already fully booked, so you may have to hot-foot it if you want to get on your chosen walk!
Are You Listening? Festival – 11 May
Reading’s nationally-renowned one-day music festival is back for another year, taking place in multiple venues all over town, each one filled to the brim with musical talent of all shapes, sizes and genres. From local favourites to the types of bands that are bothering the music press and BBC 6 Music, there’s always plenty to discover and enjoy from midday to the wee hours!
Rush: A Joyous Jamaican Journey – 11 May
In the 75th Anniversary Year of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, head to The Hexagon for this incredible narrated musical that tells the story of both the Windrush Generation and Reggae – and hear how this music took the world by storm. Rush is narrated and written by John Simmit, and features a wealth of ska, rock steady, calypso, gospel, lovers rock, dancehall and reggae classics performed live on stage.
Reading Indie Comedy Festival – 17-19 May
If you want a lorra, lorra laughs, look no further than this year’s Indie Comedy Festival. Put together by our finest local independent comedy promoters, it’s three days of stand-up, improv and more. Expect big names like Gary Delaney, Charlie George and Darren Harriot alongside some of Reading’s top comic talent – and the return of the Reading New Comedian of the Year Competition.
Fourbears Fest – 17-19 May
Laughmakers to the literati – Caversham’s independent bookshop Fourbears Books presents a three-day book festival in multiple locations both north and south of the river, with events for both adults and children. Expect fiction and non-fiction, poetry and prose, author talks, panels, signings, poetry readings… even a live podcast recording, all from mix of local and national authors.
University of Reading Community Festival – 18 May
The University once again opens its doors – and other parts of the campus – to the community for a festival that celebrates the connection between the uni and the town. Workshops and activities will help you discover all about the people and places that make up the University, from the museums and researchers to the students’ union. Take a walk around the Harris Gardens and Whiteknights lake, and enjoy the huge array of performances and attractions for all ages, with a drink and bite to eat.
Reading Food Festival – 18 & 19 May
The tastiest way to spend a weekend! Broad Street will once again host a giant street party celebrating diverse food and music! 30+ street food stalls will offer up diverse cuisine from around the world, accompanied by some wonderful live performances throughout the weekend.
The Importance of Being Oscar – 23 May-8 June
Reading Rep invite you to step beyond the footlights into the private world of Oscar Wilde as Micheál Mac Liammóir’s renowned play returns to the stage following huge critical acclaim. Told in the shadows of Reading Gaol, where Wilde was imprisoned, this strictly limited run will immerse audiences in a compelling journey through the loves and losses, successes and struggles of the iconic man – from the eccentric socialite to the imprisoned outcast.
Julian Clary: A Fistful of Clary – 30 May
“A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do…” drawls Julian cryptically, before becoming engrossed in his embroidery. The comedy icon, renowned homosexual and national trinket, is fixing to saddle up and head to The Hexgaon as part of his western-themed 2024 UK tour. Julian is sure that the men in the audience will be so eager to join his posse they won’t be able to keep their hands off his Rawhide. Who knows what else he’ll do for a few dollars more?
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