FESTIVALS

Well hello, social season. We’re kicking off the party at Blenheim Palace, where the Queen of Funk (sitting on a throne of 10 Grammys), Chaka Khan, is headlining the second day of Nocturne Live (Thu 13 – Sun 16 Jun), followed by the Sugababes & Melanie C on Sat 15 Jun, and Crowded House & Sheryl Crow, on Sun 16 Jun. Snap your ticket up quick though – Sunday night has already sold out.

More festi-fun is taking over the Great Tew Estate. Make some noise for Park Fair (Fri 21 – Sun 23 Jun). It’s a family friendly slice of gastro heaven with artisan street food stalls dotted among fairground rides, boutique shopping tents, a wellness village and live music. Dogs welcome too. They can hang out at the Puppuchino Bar (seriously).

If you’re out with the kids, Brightfest (Sat 8 Jun) in Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell is a great pick for all ages – there’s a bouncy castle for kids and refreshments from the Red Lion pub for the grown-ups (or the young at heart). Back by popular demand, this year’s headline act is Brightwell local DJ Giles, who will be spinning the vinyl old-school style.

Since we’re talking under-the-radar gems, Beacon Festival (Fri 21 – Sat 22 Jun) is billed as Oxfordshire’s most family friendly music festival – and Muddy’s tempted to take the kids along to watch The Smokin’ Pilchards with a local cider or three in hand. Named after the beacon that is lit on the hilltop as night falls, this is a magical way to spend the Summer Solstice weekend. It’s also worth taking the fam to Witney Music Festival (Fri 7 & Sat 8 Jun) where the dance tent is back and – rumour has it- bigger than ever.

Over in Bucks, Milton Keynes more than holds its own on the festival front with Hidden Festival (Fri 28 – Sun 30 Jun) – a three-day electronic weekender billing everything from house to drum n’ bass, garage and jungle. Who needs to schlep to Ibiza when you’ve got MK’s hidden secret in the Fred Roche Gardens five mins from the train station?

Muddy once spent a happy afternoon watching an Abba tribute act at Rock Bottom (Sat 29 Jun) – a low-key festival in Marlow Bottom where toddlers roam free among the street food stands. It turns ten this year and – hold the front page – Pure Abba is back! They’re joined by Coldplay tribute Coldplace, U2-a-likes U2Baby and Rock Bottom regulars The Echo, bringing the best of British power pop. Supergrass covers? Alright!

Clearly with Father’s Day on the approach (it’s on Sun 16 Jun FYI) we turn to all things testosterone. The UK’s biggest one-day beer festival Charlbury Beer Festival takes place on Sat 29 Jun and, celebrating the festival’s 26th anniversary, the event is hosting the Aunt Sally Open Singles World Championship – you don’t much more manly than that *cough*. Expect craft ales, beer, live music, talks, workshops, performances and kids activities.

BOOK NOW FOR:

Music at the Manor (11-14 June), Waddesdon Manor’s music festival, with four nights of tribute acts – The Bootleg Beatles, Take That Experience, Thank you for the Music (ABBA) and Radio Gaga (Queen) – with bars and foodtrucks on hand.

EXHIBITIONS

Feeling flighty? Head up to Waddesdon Manor for Flights of Fancy (until 27 Oct), a focus on the work of Louis-Denis Armand (1723-1796), a painter at the world-famous Sèvres porcelain manufactory. Waddesdon’s own collection of Sèvres painted by Armand includes ten vases from the 1750s-60s, displayed alongside nearly 50 loans from private collections and from the Musée national de céramique at Sèvres. There’s also the beautiful rococo Victorian aviary (keep your ear out for the Mynahs) and the carpet bedding at the Parterre in the shape of birds – kids will love them.

The theme of this year’s Oxford Festival of Arts is the nine Muses and with it is probably the most diverse, imaginative and eclectic line-up to date. With all sorts of fantastic events cropping up in locations across Oxford well into July, check out the full schedule here. On the art front, Reframing the Muse – curated by Ruth Millington and Eve and Marilyn: Making an Icon (below) caught our eye.

Bucks Art Weeks similarly brings a batch of fresh art this month (Sat 8 – Sun 23 Jun). Over 100 indie artists and makers around Bucks will pop up around the county and share everything from jewellery, paintings, photography, textiles, and more more more! It’s a brilliant opportunity to bag one-of-a-kind pieces. Keen to create your own masterpieces? Bucks artist Derek Ogbourne is running a course of Monday night art classes at the Wycombe Arts Centre. It’s suitable for everyone – from absolute beginners to pros. So don’t be shy – sign up here and express your your inner Matisse.

Over at the North Wall Arts in Oxford, YouTube is under a microscope in Children of the Digital Revolution: A Multidimensional Odyssey. Curated by Stanford University’s Dr Alison Kahn, it’s a fascinating deep dive into how children have been documenting their lives since the launch of Youtube 18 years ago. Catch it before Sat 15 Jun.

For a slice of alfresco art, Waddesdon Manor takes the biscuit with its giant wedding cake sculpture by Joana Vasconcelos. Since its launch last summer, the 12 metre-high ceramic cake has been the subject of Insta pics galore, and you can get a second helping this spring on Waddesdon’s 45-minute guided tours. Tickets include a Water Garden visit (adult members are £15), or there’s a £7.50 free-flow tour if you’d rather take a quick stroll around the pavilion.  

And there’s still time to catch Guercino at Waddesdon: King David and the Wise Women (until Sun 27 Oct) at Waddesdon Manor; the Ashmolean Museum‘s Bruegel to Rubens exhibition, which features 100 key Flemish drawings from the 17^th and 18^th Century is on until Sun 23 Jun. And the Ashmolean has the the National Gallery’s Wilton Diptych on loan – a Middle Ages gold-spangled whopper of the art world that’ll be shown in the Ashmolean’s England 400–1600 Gallery, the first time the diptych has ever been lent by the National Gallery. 

WITH THE KIDS

Half term’s done but the summer break is looming large. Need some help with the childcare? Ultimate Activity is your go-to for holiday camps, with multi-activity camps on offer at a host of schools in Oxon: Headington School, Chandlings Prep School, St. Hugh’s School, Moulsford Prep School and Hill End Outdoor Centre. Over in Bucks, it’s running camps at Davenies School, Maltman’s Green School, Godstowe School, Thornton College in Milton Keynes, and Beachborough School in Brackley.

The camps blend sporty, creative and hobby-based activities so you don’t have to decide if you’re in the sporty or arty camp. There’s over 40 activities on offer every week including everything from dancing, fencing and mini tennis to survival skills and nature trails. Four age group categories mean your teen won’t lose street cred by hanging with the littlies.

Meanwhile, the family friendly fun is just getting started. Charge over to the Chiltern Open Air Museum, where knights in shining armour are fighting for their honour in a Medieval Jousting display (Sat 22 – Sun 23 Jun).

More sporty entertainment (sans swords) is kicking off in the Marlow Town Regatta and Festival (Sat 15 – Sun 16 Jun, Higginson Park). This year, its 150th, promises rowing, dragon boat races, live music, and plenty of alfresco dining.

Over at Henley’s River Rowing Museum, it’s all about the Olympics and Paralympics. To be unveiled later this month (Thu 27 Jun), The Games at Henley exhibition will celebrate the town’s contribution to the Olympics – did you know two Olympic Regattas took place in Henley? It’s set to be a fascinating display. Plus, you’ll see Sir Steve Redgrave’s five Olympic Gold Medals.

If you missed Giffords Circus at Blenheim Palace in May, you can catch new show Avalon in the beautiful Evenley Wood on the Bucks/Oxon/Northants border from Thu 27 Jun – Mon 8 Jul. The show features acrobats, jugglers, horses, musicians, dancers and the awesomeness that is Tweedy the Clown. Can’t make it to Evenley Wood? Keep your eyes peeled for Stonor Park and Barrington dates in July.

 For ages 3-10, Stowe Gardens has collaborated with Stowe School for the Ickle Owl Augmented Reality Trail. The trail introduces an app that kids can download on their phones, which generates 3D animals for them to interact with along the trail. It’s great outdoor learning (shh, don’t tell them!). If you go on the launch day, there’ll also be a falconry display with a real owl on show. Or roam the Chilterns countryside with the Roald Dahl Museum’s walks. This month (Sun 23 Jun), you’ll ramble through the woods and fields written about in the June chapter of Dahl’s last book My Year.

If you have very young children, they’ll love Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, coming to the Wycombe Swan on Sat 8 & Sun 9 Jun. Or the chance to meet Zog the dragon at Bucks Railway Centre (Sun 30 Jun).

But if you’re balancing a range of ages, Go Ape – in Wendover Woods and Slough’s Black Park Country Park – is a great option offering multi-level high ropes courses and zipwires to challenge the whole family. Black Park also has the brilliant Nets Adventure, which is a bit like a massive trampoline in the trees and kids of all ages love it. And Wet n Wild is back! The massive aqua park will splash back into Queenford Lakes, with its inflatable obstacle courses, kayaks, paddleboards – and a spot of wild swimming. Take the plunge!

If your family comes with one (or two) four-legged members, The Dog’s Spot in Abingdon has regular events on Tuesdays and Sundays – puppy socials and chatty walks with other pet owners. Loving that you can cash in some social time for you and your pup hassle free.

EAT AND DRINK

Fancy sipping tea and fizz in the basket of a hot air balloon in the surrounds of a stonking English country manor house? Then you’d better hot foot it on down to Feast on Cloud 9, where afternoon tea is being served daily at The Grove in Herts until 1 Sep 2024. Alternatively, get your chic on for the nine-course tasting menu, a glittering evening affair that’s all about posh nosh and drinking in the view. Get the full Muddy down-low here.

If you go down to the woods today you’ll find…a three-course feast, obvs. Clear your schedule for Sat 29 Jun and join Nomadic’s A Midsummer Feast hidden in a woodland in Chalfont St Peter. The menu promises its usual seasonal deliciousness – sautéed summer greens, cedar-planked river trout, and gooseberry compote. The pop-up is on until Sun 18 Aug but they sell like hotcakes so bag a spot ASAP.

WYLD Dining is also back in a top-secret woodland (in Whaddon) for two chef-led dining experiences. Sat 15 Jun sees award-winning Chef James Carr serving a creative four-course meal inspired by Japanese cuisine – with a spot of wine and canapes, and marshmallow toasting. Then, on Sat 29 Jun, Chef Andy Tomlinson takes over the kitchen and whips up a four-course British meal from some freshly foraged ingredients. Yum!

Or take your feast to the farm, namely, Oxmoor Farm. Since summer ’22, the farm’s Wild Feasts series has fed Bucks folk in droves, and this year there’s a shiny new addition. The Barn, which opens this month, will be serving up Neapolitan pizzas, tapas-style dishes, and natural wines. The Wild Feast chef for this month is Masterchef: The Professionals semi-finalist, Michelle Trusselle (Sat 22 & Sun 23 Jun). She is massively popular for hosting Caribbean supper clubs in London and if her Insta is anything to go by, you’re in for a treat.

How about dining in a Yurt? Seriously, my kitchen won’t be seeing me this month. The Yurt at Nicholsons hosts brilliant foodie events every month and June (Sat 15) sees a Live Cooking Demo in the kitchen garden followed by a three-course meal. Check out the full 2024 events calendar here.

Red or white? Let the experts pick for you at Waddesdon Manor’s Live Fire Dinner (Sat 29 Jun). The chefs will fire a five-course meal on a charcoal grill while you sip cocktails, then the vino team will pick the perfect glass for the meal. The menu is small but mighty – think barbecued duck breast and seared tuna carpaccio. The 16 Hour smoked Ox cheek has Muddy’s name written all over it.

Speaking of vino, it’s English Wine Week (act cool) from Mon 17 – Sun 25 June. To celebrate, local vineyards are coming together in Henley to showcase their finest bottles including Oaken Grove, Dawshill and, from further afield, Windsor Great Park Vineyard. There’ll also be food and entertainment on offer to keep the whole fam busy.

Have you got dad a present yet? Put down the tie and bag him a ticket for Peterley Manor Farm‘s smoking father’s fest. This year, Dad vs. Fire (Sun 16 Jun) is taking over the brand new Dutch Barn venue and bringing more freshly-fired food, live music, and last minute gift stalls. Kids can also blow off some steam by driving mini jeeps around the farm or getting creative with face-painting.

Speaking of Father’s Day, how does free beer sound? Follow the stampede down to the gorgeous and recently sparkled-up Henley branch of Pizza Express and claim that Peroni for the Dad in your life. The restaurant’s offering a fab two courses and a large Peroni for £23.95 or three courses for £27.95 over the weekend of 15-16 June. Cheers.

ON STAGE

There’s plenty in theatreland to choose from this month. Starting with New Theatre Oxford’s brilliant bill of West End Wonders, you can hear the tale of Henry VIII’s wives in the sassy Tony Award winner musical Six (Tue 25 – Sat 29 Jun). If that doesn’t quench your thirst, the award-winning Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Mon 10 – Sat 15 Jun) is back by popular demand to MK Theatre. The heartfelt coming-of-age story explores themes of sexuality and belonging, sprinkled with more drag-tastic musical numbers than you can throw glitter at. 

If that sounds up your alley, you should also nab a ticket for Six Chick Flicks – a hilarious send-up of your favourite chick flicks: Titanic, Pretty Woman, Beaches, Legally Blonde, The Notebook and Dirty Dancing fresh from a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe run. Muddy checked it out on opening night, read the verdict here. The Stables, Thu 13 Jun.

What else? Oh yes, Alfred Hitchcock’s spy fest The 39 Steps is back on stage for the first time in 10 years and it’s a biggie. Adapted by actor and comedian Patrick Barlow (Bridget Jones’ Diary, Notting Hill), the Olivier and Tony Award-winning comedy features four fabulous actors playing 139 characters (you read that right). Oxford Playhouse, Tue 11 – Sat 15 Jun.

Happy 50th birthday to the Chippy Theatre! We know, it doesn’t look a day over 25. To celebrate, there is a brilliant double bill of Lark Rise (Thu 6 – Sun 9 Jun) and Barn Dance (Mon 17 – Thu 20 Jun). Both plays are something of a love letter to the countryside, with Lark Rise telling the tale of loveable field-workers and Barn Dance (written by multi-Olivier Award winning and BAFTA nominated, Mike Bartlett) reimagines the history of people who worked and lived in Oxon during and post WWII.

Coinciding with Pride month, OX Playhouse has a brilliant new collab with Pegasus Theatre; Queer Fest. It’s a three-day event (Thu 20 – Sat 22 Jun) aimed at platforming LGBTQIA+ stories. Some highlights from the programme include I, Victor, which takes inspiration from Mary Shelley’s gothic novel and dives into the complexities of love, loss and ambition. Then The Invert: a seductive piece of special pleading – a sharp court drama dissecting free speech. Plus, a heartwarming story of lineage The Death & Life of All of Us takes the stage on Saturday.

AL-FRESCO VIEWINGS

Let’s take this party outside. The Oxford Shakespeare Festival is back at Oxford Castle and Prison this month, with a helping of the Bard’s star-crossed lovers Romeo & Juliet and Trojan tale Troilus & Cressida, presented by BHM productions. Check out the full programme here.

Anyone up for a helping of opera? Garsington Opera’s summer season has just got underway within the bucolic Wormsley Estate. Mark your calendar for Rameau’s Platée (Wed 29 May – 30 Jun), Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (Thu 30 May – Tue 23 Jul), Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Sun 16 Jun – Fri 19 Jul), Verdi’s Un giorno di regno (Sat 29 Jun – Mon 22 Jul). It’s an absolutely stunning venue, and one of the best outdoor opera offerings in the UK but get to it quick – tickets sell out fast. See the full events list here.

And if you prefer blockbusters, snuggle up en famille to a classic movie under the stars. Stonor Park is showing three family faves in June – including PG singalongs to The Greatest Showman and Mamma Mia! (best for slightly older kids as it’ll be a later bedtime). Time to get those lyrics down pat for Super Trouper.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Bookish babes there’s plenty to feed your brain this month. First up, Buckingham Literary Festival (Fri 14 – Sun 16 Jun) is back with author Q&As, interviews, theatre, and film. As always, there’s a host of impressive authors on the calendar – hello, Claire Holt, Daisy Goodwin, and Rhian Tracey.

Then Rory Stewart will take you behind the curtain of his experience in government and delve into his Sunday Times bestseller, Politics On The Edge. New Theatre Oxford, Thu 20 Jun.

FRESH AIR

Ooo what’s that scent? It can only be the blooms at Blenheim Palace Flower Show (Fri 21 – Sun 23 Jun). Celebrating its 11th anniversary, this year promises more stands than ever before, plus talks and demos from gardening experts, live music, shopping and plenty of food and drink to fuel your gallivanting.

For more green-fingered fun, take a tour of the heavenly four-acre Eythrope Walled Garden at Waddesdon Manor. Designed by Alice de Rothschild in the late 19th century with a mix of gardens, orchards and a stunning glass house, the veggies, fruit, herbs and flowers now fuel Waddesdon’s restaurants. You can buy some to take away, but be warned – it’s cash only.

Great options for adults alone or with the kids are Chastleton House, one of my favourite National Trust properties near Chipping Norton, a gorgeous sturdy Jacobean country estate that’s been unchanged for 400 years, and famous for its appearance in Wolf Hall. Or there’s Broughton Castle, not really a castle but a fortified moat near Banbury, home of the Fiennes family (yes Ralph’s relatives) with lovely gardens for roaming safely and a house tour that even little legs will manage.

For some peace and quiet (if you can ditch the kids), head to Rousham Gardens, near Bicester, which lets in neither dogs nor anyone under the age of 15. Named by Monty Don, the God of Gardening, as the “very best of English gardens”, and by Muddy Stilettos as “the perfect escape plan for knackered parents” (yes you can quote me on that) there’s no café on-site but for those not yet resorting to a hipflask, we recommend heading to the nearby Yurt restaurant at Nicholsons.

COMMIT TO FIT

Around mid-month, the Chiltern Ridge Half Marathon lands in Aylesbury (Sun 16 Jun) in a 21km run that takes you along the Ridgeway National Trail to Whiteleaf Hill then around loops around the forest at the Whiteleaf nature reserve. From £30.

Then Midsummer Murder (Sun 23 Jun) takes you through the postcard-pretty village of Hambleden where the famous Midsomer Murders was filmed – the unique interest here is taking in the beauty of the locale from country pubs, neighbouring Chilterns villages, and tackling the hills in either a 10.4 mile or Half Marathon (14.3 miles) run. From £25.

COMEDY

The funny bunch from Comedy Club are back at Norman Bragg Studio (Fri 28 Jun) with a fresh lineup of up-and-coming comics, while Rhod Gilbert is (not) feeling bitter at all in Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit (Thu 27 Jun, MK Theatre).

Also at MK Theatre, Brian Conley (Sun 23 Jun) is bidding the stage farewell in an evening of music, comedy, and so.much.more. And one to see with your teens (14+), Russell Kane is back with his off-the-wall physical stand up (Fri 7 Jun, Kenton Theatre).

PSA! Ria Lina‘s (above) debut tour is sweeping up laughs across the country and she lands on our patch next month (Fri 5 Jul, Norman Bragg Studio) – tickets are guaranteed to fly off the shelf so bag yours quick.

MUSIC

Quench your Eighties fever with Nik Kershaw‘s intimate O2 Academy gig, ahead of his festival run this summer or join acclaimed drummer Tristan Banks and saxophonist Paul Booth (who’s toured with The Eagles and Eric Clapton) at Oxford’s Tap Social (Wed 26 Jun).  

The English National Opera is coming to town! And with them, grammy-nominated Tenor Joseph Calleja, who’ll lead almost two hours of opera classics from Verdi and Puccini, to Bizet and Lehár. Oxford Town Hall, Thu 27 Jun.The town hall is also hosting an Organ Recital with Cynthia Hall (Wed 26 Jun) and a FUNomusica Family Concert on Sun 30 Jun.

If you love all things culture, Unity Place in MK is the place to be. Don’t believe us? This month alone there are Eats & Beats (aka, live music in the food hall (Thu 13 Jun), and screenings of the Euro 2024 games, from Thu 20 Jun. Told you it’s a good’un

BOOK AHEAD

We’re halfway through the year, so you know what that means – every business owner is taking stock of how to level up for the next six months. Suzie Cullen, Emma Brock, and Karen Kay (aka the three wise women – above) might just have the answer for you at their next masterclass. Taking place on Tue 17 Sept, the event will cover key tips for making it in the PR and media industries – think, how to redefine your brand, put together a quality PR pack, and how to reach new audiences. It’s at The Griffin in Amersham – if nothing else, these ladies know how to pick a stylish venue.

ALREADY GONE THIS MONTH

The rainbow-clad march in this year’s Oxford Pride Parade (Sat 8 June) is celebrating its 21st anniversary in Oxford, the march starts at Radcliffe Square and weaves through the city – making pit stops at the three live entertainment stages then ending with an after party at Plush Oxford.

Kenton Theatre is getting groovy with Voodoo Brass Band (Sat 8 Jun). For the uninitiated, the nine-piece brass band has toured the UK with their smooth jazz, funk and soul compositions. If that sounds up your lane, check out Thursday Jazz Nights at the Randolph Hotel in Oxford (6 & 11 Jun). You’ll dig into limited edition cocktails and bites while soaking in live musicians, in the grand Drawing Room.

Pick up the pace! It’s finally racing season (you’ve been training, right?) and Blenheim Palace Triathlon (Sat 1 – Sun 2 Jun) leads the bunch. You’ll get a scenic tour of Blenheim’s beautiful grounds with the route looping around the palace. There are four entry options – sprint (750m swim, 19.8km bike, 5.4km run), super-sprint (400m, 13.3km bike, 2.9km run), you can enter in a team for the sprint relay (750m swim, 19.8km bike, 5.4km run), and there’s also a Weekend Warrior option where you can go for as long and as far as you can. From £90.

Also on Sunday 2 June, the Henley Triathlon takes over Henley Leisure Centre and within the grounds of Gillotts School. The swim portion of the triathlon is a steady 400m in an indoor heated pool, followed by a cycle around rural Oxfordshire (25km) and a flat grass run (5km). There’s also a super-sprint and women-only race (200m swim, 12.5K cycle, 2.5k run). From £79.

And, for something a little different, Peterley Manor Farm is hosting author Becki Clark for an evening of nature journaling (Thu 6 Jun). You’ll be welcomed with a glass of fizz (or alcohol free tipple) then paint your own summer-inspired piece.

Psst, don’t tell anyone I told you but… The School For Scandal (Tue 4 – Sun 8 Jun) is spilling the tea at the Oxford Playhouse, and it’s piping hot. Starring Hollywood’s Joseph Marcell (The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air), the tantalising tale follows a husband who believes his wife is having an affair (spoiler, she wasn’t) but she decides to do it for the sake of scandal.

Hotfoot it to the Bull in Burford for a foodie fiesta (Sat 8 & Sun 9 Jun). Part of the Burford Festival, the weekend will be packed with music, wood-fired pizzas and cocktails served on the terrace. Pop back in on Wed 19 Jun for an evening of live music and dishes by Chef Nicholas Balfe, head of Somerset’s sleek restaurant with rooms, HOLM.