Leamington ready to host bowls and tap into Games vibe

Leamington Spa will be basking in the international spotlight during the 2022 ‘Summer of Fun’ when thousands of visitors will be heading to the town.

The launch of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be televised on a giant screen in the Royal Pump Room Gardens, including the opening and closing ceremonies, from Thursday, July 28 to Monday, August 8.

Leamington Spa is hosting the Lawn Bowls and Para Bowls at the Commonwealth Games along with the Bowls England National Finals until September 11 in Victoria Park which are included in a programme billed as the ‘Summer of Fun’ by BID Leamington.

The global Commonwealth Games is part of a packed line-up of fantastic events suitable for all ages in the town centre to celebrate the summer in style – with the majority being free to attend.

Kicking off the summer feel-good activities is the Good Times Festival on Saturday, July 16 in the charming Mill Gardens with seven hours of live music, entertainment, food and drink. Creative juices will be flowing when Art in the Park returns with a jam-packed weekend of art, creativity and fun as over 200 local makers, musicians and performers show and display a mix of arts and crafts in Jephson Gardens on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14.

Warwickshire Pride Festival will be a colourful celebration of LGBT+ life and culture in the Pump Room Gardens on Saturday, August 20 where there will be a rainbow marketplace of stalls, live performances and entertainment on stage throughout the day along with food and drink from around the world and fairground rides.

Leamington’s hugely popular Food and Drink Festival is returning on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 in the beautiful Royal Pump Room Gardens. There will be over 100 exhibitors displaying culinary skills and selling food and drink from exotic cuisines as well as live entertainment, a live cookery theatre and competitions showcasing the very best of local talent.

To wrap it all up, Cars at the Spa will have 200 vehicles on display along with entertainment in the Pump Room Gardens on Sunday, September 25, which has been organised by the Rotary Club of Leamington Spa to support local charities.

Stephanie Kerr, executive director at BID Leamington, said a highlight of the summer months for many residents and visitors are the great events being held in the town, which together BID Leamington calls ‘The Summer of Fun’.

“This year the ‘Summer of Fun’ events calendar is especially packed with a huge variety of festivals, events and activities that everyone can enjoy – and most of these are free to attend,” she said.

“We are fortunate in Leamington town centre to have so many businesses, charities and people helping to fund fabulous events and festivals, and giving up their time on a voluntary basis to help organise and run them.

“We really want to encourage everyone to invite family and friends from far and wide and join in the fun, and also to enjoy our brilliant town centre businesses who very much need our support. All we need now is for the sun to keep shining!”

To find out more, please visit: www.royal-leamington-spa.co.uk