Things to Do This Weekend: 14–16 August 2026

Kent welcomes gamers to a three-day convention, while Cambridge offers an inclusive afternoon of textile art. Norwich has one of East Anglia’s largest celebrations of African culture alongside free city-centre performances.

Further south, Hove’s long-running community festival returns with two days of free entertainment. Sheffield has comedy and classic cars, York’s riverside becomes an open-air art market, and a historic tower in Gozo opens its doors for a free heritage weekend.

Here is GlitterBeam’s verified guide to things to do this weekend, covering Friday 14, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August 2026.

Things to do in Kent this weekend

Canterbury Gaming Convention 2026

Board games, trading cards, role-playing games and gaming culture take over two venues at the University of Kent this weekend.

Canterbury Gaming Convention begins with a quiz night and Magic: The Gathering Chaos Draft on Friday evening. The main convention follows on Saturday and Sunday, with more than 200 gaming tables, exhibitors, organised games and space for visitors to play.

The main hall remains open later on Saturday, making this an option for either a full day or a shorter evening visit.

• When: Friday 14 August, 6pm–10pm; Saturday 15 August, 10am–10pm; Sunday 16 August, 10am–5pm
• Where: Kent Indoor Tennis and Events Arena and Pavilion Café Bar, University of Kent, Park Wood Road, Canterbury, CT2 7SR
• Price: The live ticket listing shows individual tickets ranging from free to £43.36 including booking fees, depending on age and ticket type
• Information and booking: Visit the official Canterbury Gaming Convention website or check the live TicketSource listing

Things to do in Cambridgeshire this weekend

Crown Making Workshop in Cambridge

Artist and community activist Elena Juzulenaite leads an inclusive textile workshop at Cambridge Arts Lab on Saturday afternoon.

Participants will use recycled fabrics, beads and ordinary objects to make individual wearable crowns. The session is open to all levels of experience and focuses on creativity rather than technical skill.

• When: Saturday 15 August, 2pm–4pm
• Where: Cambridge Arts Lab, 12–14 Fitzroy Street, Cambridge, CB1 1EW
• Price: Consult the live booking page for the current workshop price and availability
• Information and booking: View the verified Crown Making Workshop listing through Visit Cambridge

Things to do in Norwich this weekend

AfriFest East at Chapelfield Gardens

AfriFest East brings African music, food, art and contemporary culture to Chapelfield Gardens on Saturday.

The programme combines live performances with workshops, exhibitions, an artisan market, African street food and dedicated children’s activities. Organiser Las Gidi confirms that the event runs from 1pm until 10.30pm.

Children aged 12 and under can attend free. Under-12s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over, and babies are not permitted within the VIP area.

• When: Saturday 15 August, 1pm–10.30pm
• Where: Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich, NR2 1SF
• Price: Ticketed event; children aged 12 and under go free
• Information and booking: Check the official AfriFest East event page

Free Norwich Summer Sessions performances

Norwich Summer Sessions continues on Sunday with free music and street theatre across four outdoor city-centre locations.

Goldie Fiasco brings an interactive mixture of street theatre, comedy and cabaret to Hay Hill at 12.30pm, 1.45pm and 3pm.

Amber Scott performs queer indie-folk at Westlegate at 12.45pm, 2pm and 3.15pm. Heather Cartwright and Sam Mabbett bring guitar, button accordion and folk music to St Gregory’s Green at 1pm, 2.10pm and 3.20pm.

Big Black Cadillac and an accompanying swing-dance session complete the programme at Gentleman’s Walk, with performances at 1.15pm, 2.30pm and 3.45pm.

• When: Sunday 16 August, 12.30pm–4.30pm
• Where: Hay Hill, Westlegate, St Gregory’s Green and Gentleman’s Walk, Norwich
• Price: Free
• Information: See the official Norwich Summer Sessions programme

Things to do in Brighton & Hove this weekend

Brunswick Festival in Hove

Brunswick Festival returns to Brunswick Square for two afternoons of free community entertainment.

The annual festival brings together live music, DJs, dance groups, stalls, family activities and a children’s parade in the heart of Hove. Its relaxed outdoor format makes it suitable for visitors who want to call in briefly as well as those planning to stay for the full programme.

• When: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August, midday–8pm each day
• Where: Brunswick Square, Hove, BN3 1EF
• Price: Free
• Information: Visit the official Brunswick Festival website

Things to do in Sheffield & Rotherham this weekend

Kevin Bridges at Sheffield City Hall

Scottish comedian Kevin Bridges brings his new stand-up show, Here If You Need Me, to Sheffield City Hall on Friday and Saturday.

The venue warns that the performance is strictly for people aged 14 and over because it is likely to contain swearing and adult material.

• When: Friday 14 and Saturday 15 August; check the ticket page for performance and door times
• Where: Sheffield City Hall, Barker’s Pool, Sheffield, S1 2JA
• Age restriction: Strictly 14+
• Price: Check live availability and current prices with the venue
• Information and booking: Visit Sheffield City Hall’s official Kevin Bridges page

Classics on The Moor

The Moor welcomes its 16th annual classic car show on Sunday, organised with the Rotary Club of Sheffield Vulcan.

Vintage and classic vehicles will be displayed in Sheffield city centre, providing a family-friendly daytime alternative to the weekend’s ticketed performances.

• When: Sunday 16 August
• Where: The Moor, Sheffield, S1 4PF
• Price and times: Not yet stated on the venue’s current listing
• Information: Check The Moor’s official news and events page before travelling

No Rotherham event was included this week. Several performances appeared on social media, but GlitterBeam could not verify complete public timings, venues and visitor information through a current authoritative event page.

Things to do in York this weekend

York River Art Market

The final weekend of York River Art Market brings work by independent artists and makers to the banks of the River Ouse.

More than 30 exhibitors are expected each day, with visitors able to browse and buy ceramics, jewellery, paintings, prints, photography, clothing and handmade goods directly from their creators.

The market’s riverside location on Dame Judi Dench Walk is close to Lendal Bridge and within walking distance of York railway station.

• When: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August, 10am–5.30pm
• Where: Dame Judi Dench Walk, beside the River Ouse near Lendal Bridge, York
• Price: Free
• Information: Read the verified York River Art Market listing on Visit York

Things to do in Malta this weekend

Xlendi Tower Open Weekend in Gozo

Xlendi Tower opens to visitors on Saturday and Sunday for a free weekend exploring Gozo’s coastal and underwater heritage.

Alongside access to the historic watchtower and views across Xlendi Bay, visitors can try a virtual-reality experience based on the Xlendi Underwater Archaeological Park. The experience includes a virtual exploration of a Phoenician shipwreck, while underwater artefacts will be displayed inside the tower.

The event is organised by Munxar Local Council in collaboration with Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit. No advance booking is required.

• When: Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August, opening from 9am
• Where: Xlendi Tower, Munxar, Gozo, Malta
• Price: Free
• Booking: No prebooking required
• Information: See the current Xlendi Tower Open Weekend listing and the VisitMalta events calendar

Plan your weekend

For an immersive indoor day, Canterbury Gaming Convention offers the weekend’s largest organised programme. AfriFest East and Brunswick Festival provide broad outdoor entertainment, while Norwich Summer Sessions and York River Art Market are strong free options.

Those looking for a quieter creative experience can choose Cambridge’s Crown Making Workshop. Sheffield’s comedy and classic-car events cover two very different interests, while Xlendi Tower combines heritage, technology and coastal scenery in Gozo.

Verification note: Event dates, times, venues, prices and availability were checked against current organiser, venue, official destination or ticketing sources on 12 August 2026. Events may be changed, cancelled or sold out at short notice, so readers should confirm the latest details with organisers before travelling.