As lockdown restrictions ease, there are plenty of events springing up in and around Andover to take part in.

From music festivals to outdoor cinemas, what better way to enjoy this Summer than with the opportunity to take part in some of the great opportunities in and around town.

Here’s just some of the events being planned in the coming months:

Open air cinema

Just before the planned ending of lockdown rules in the UK, there’s a chance to enjoy the magic of the big screen while also being outdoors in the heart of town.

An open air cinema is coming to Vigo Park, with Silent Summer Screenings putting on a showing of The Lost Boys, a comedy horror from 1987 starring Jason Patric, Dianne Wiest and Kiefer Sutherland.

For the event, guests will sit in Vigo Park, and first be treated to live music before the film begins. When the film begins at around 21:50, it will be played through headphones given to every audience member.

There will be a bar and food served on site, though guests are allowed to bring their own, provided it’s not hard spirits.

Tickets are £14.99 and are available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/andover-open-air-cinema-live-music-the-lost-boys-tickets-152533855869

Fish in the Reads

Just a few days later, a literary festival is coming to Stockbridge featuring a variety of events.

In addition to conversations with authors, Fish in the Reads will also see live music, casting deminstrations and cocktails brought to the Orvis Kimbridge Beat, located on the banks of the River Test.

David Profumo, Charles Rangeley-Wilson, Luke Jennings and Simon Cooper will be taking questions and reading from their books at the first festival, inspired by the recent virtual series of readings over lockdown.

Beginning at 4pm, expect live readings from the authors, casting demonstrations with the team at Orvis Stockbridge, a supper on the bank from Kimbridge Barn and artisan gin cocktails from Chilgrove Gin.

Local bookshop, Bookmark Stockbridge, will be in attendance selling signed copies of the Authors works at the event. Each ticket comes with an optional donation to the work of The Wild Trout Trust, of which Charles Rangeley-Wilson is Vice-President.

Tickets cost £30, not including food and parking, and includes one complimentary drink from Chilgrove Gin on arrival. For more information, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/orvis-fish-in-the-reads-festival-tickets-146884149445

Winchester Hat Fair

THE longest running festival of outdoor arts, which attracts nearly 100,000 people to Winchester each year, will go ahead this year.

Organisers of the Hat Fair, which features international street performers, dance, circus, music and local community performances and has been running since 1974, will go ahead as planned between July 2 and 4.

Initially conceived as a busking festival, Hat Fair takes its name from the tradition of the audience showing their appreciation by putting money in the hat at the end of the show.

The festival is family friendly and free to attend, for more information visit the website: https://www.hatfair.co.uk/.

Wallop Wings and Wheels

If the arts aren’t your thing, then maybe flypasts from aircraft from WW2 to the present day may tickle your fancy.

A Battle of Britain Memorial Hurricane, as well as an Army Wildcat and Puma will feature in an ever-increasing programme of fly-pasts at a festival of motoring and aviation in Middle Wallop.

Wallop Wheels and Wings, which is set to take place at the Army Flying Museum and the airfield at the Army Air Corps Centre on Saturday July 3 will also bring together 300 super and classic cars and bikes as well as 40 classic aircraft.

The day will start with the arrival of two replica Spitfires, with the rest of the exclusive collection of aircraft flying in steadily throughout the morning.

The military and civilian sites will also feature a whole range of other attractions including a kid's zone, military area, artisan stalls, live music, beer tent and a food court.

Event organiser Anita Newcourt said: “The show programme is already pretty jam packed with things going on, but we are delighted to be able to squeeze in the wonderful Wildcat into the fly past schedule.

“We are hoping for one or two other surprise visitors on the day, so watch this space.”

For more information, visit: www.armyflying.com/events.

Whitchurch Fresco Summer Festival

The next month, Whitchurch will play host to an outdoor music festival raising money for a good cause.

The Whitchurch Fresco Summer Festival will take place on Saturday, July 17 from midday until 6pm, with live music, a barbeque and beer promised.

This open air music festival, set in the Granary field opposite All Hallows Church, has plenty of space, with guests invited to bring a blanket and chairs to relax with five hours of live music.

The festival is run by All Hallows Whitchurch, with all funds raised going towards the heritage fund for the upkeep of the building.

Tickets are limited to 800 adults online, costing £4 each, with accompanying children free. Tickets will be available on the door, but at £6 instead.

For more information, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fresco-summer-festival-tickets-153222178661

Carfest South

CarFest South will become a fully socially distanced, three day festival held at Laverstoke Park Farm from August 27 until 29 2021.

Laverstoke is a family-run farm that combines 21st century science with environmentally friendly farming methods to create a place that is both organic and biodynamic. At the very heart of the farm, is its wonderful herd of Asian Water Buffalo.

CarFest has been lucky enough to have had some of the UK’s most iconic and loved artists and bands support us over the years. With a selection of stages across the festival site, they promise to continue to entertain guests, with a line-up that will keep the whole family happy!

The event features the very best Vintage Classics, to F1 and Grand Prix cars and famous movie cars.! With a themed Motorsport Paddock where you can meet the drivers it is definitely a paradise for petrolheads.