Events Spotlight: July

Summer is officially here – and its arrival has been equally rejuvenating and merciless. June gave us so much in a short period of time: unyielding heat, euphonious daytime parties, invigorating storms. Lazy afternoons drifting past in your mates garden. Contemplative evenings followed by restorative mornings, and memorable moments all wrapped up in a delicate hazy orange bow. That being said, the sun-enriched merriment isn’t over yet.

If you had the chance to read our Events Spotlight debut last month, you already know the craic, and volume two is equally as vibrant. If this is your first time here, welcome! Hand picked from the treasure trove of events and collectives across the city, this monthly digest is made up of DREAMERS’ personal recommendations and resources: for connection, solidarity, artistic expression, and – of course – a good old knees up. So, dive into the warm oasis of July with us, frolic through its days, and fill your time with creativity, whimsy and education.

Make Your Own Pride Banner

Make this year's Pride celebrations one for the books over at Sparks, where Rethrindle and Rebel Patch will help you create your own Pride Banner from an assortment of fabric offcuts. Prioritising slow fashion and recycling, the two organisations have consistently led accessible and inclusive workshops across Bristol on sewing and visible mending. You may have seen their Pride flag in Sparks last year – beautifully patched together by the community and displayed in the store’s window. Taking it a step further this year, the duo open their doors with enough fabric, glitz and glamour to help you fully pour your identity and allyship into your very own Pride decoration, which you can then take to the streets. Show up for your community, hone your sewing skills, and leave with a homemade product to make Pride that little bit more special.

Tickets here
04/07/25 2-4:30pm
Sparks Bristol

It Must Be Heaven: Palestine film fundraiser

Get yourself down to the Arc this month for a screening of Elia Suleiman's "It Must Be Heaven” (2019), where all proceeds go directly to Palestinian families and Bristol-based Gazans’ therapy costs.

Playing himself, Suleiman embarks on a search for a new homeland –a surreal journey that allows our protagonist to observe the absurdity of militarism, capitalism, and occupation in cities from Palestine to Europe to the USA. Enjoy the authentic creations of Khan El-Zeit alongside the film, a Palestinian kitchen that will be bringing wonderful Arabic flavours to the evening, crafting each bake with love and heritage.

Tickets here
08/07/26 7:15-10pm
The Arc

DREAMERS creative writing feedback sessions

Looking for a community of writers in Bristol? Wanting some feedback on your work but don’t know who to ask? Look no further – we’re holding our own event this month! These creative writing feedback sessions are very informal: they aren’t a workshop, simply a space for writers to share their work with each other and get useful input. We’ll be grabbing a couple of tables at Cafe Kino on Thursday 9th July from 6-8pm. If you’d like to come, we’d love to get a sense of numbers, so please email holly@dreamerszine.com with a confirmation or any questions.

If you’d like to give people a chance to read your work ahead of time, please add it to our Padlet here: https://padlet.com/holly440/creative-writing-feedback-sessions-zxwlbzbdrg5u216t

If you don’t want to add your work to the Padlet, we suggest printing some copies of your work out and bringing them along so that people can read it at Kino.

No tickets needed
09/07/26 6-8pm
Cafe Kino

RIOT Pride Afterparty

Dig out your leather and oil up your latex for the electrifying tunnels of Loco Klub, where RIOT are ready to seal off the Pride festivities with an absolute banger. The sex positive rave is back, doing what they do best: throwing a safe, spicy multigenre party that keeps the energy high and wonderfully wicked. Expect an ass-shaking bacchanal with vivacious cabaret performances, fully equipped and monitored play spaces, workshops, exhibitions, and spaces to unwind, unravel and connect.

With activism making up a central pillar of RIOT, these nights go far beyond the celebration of kink and letting loose – the performances and curation of the event ground the party firmly in its cultural context. As well as being POC and SWer led, RIOT’s objectives lie in reducing slut-shaming, helping marginalised folk find solace and solidarity, and fostering diversity in kink spaces. Their line-ups are predominantly POC, SWer and queer, blending genres from Dancehall and Afrobeats to House, UKG, Strip Hop and more – expect a steamy dancefloor with go-go dancers that leave you mesmerised. If this sensual soiree sounds like the space for you, head over to their website to find their dress code and secure your spot amongst the delightful chaos of RIOT!

Tickets here
11/07/26 8pm-3am
Loco Klub

Every Monday: Drop in community choir at the Jam Jar

Get whisked away by the effervescent Pearl Love and bring some magic to the Jam Jar with the drop in community choir every Monday. Come and Sing! is a relaxed, beginner friendly invitation to help you lean into your voice and experience the wonder of connection through harmonisation. A regular facilitator at Shambala and Land Skills Fair, Pearl believes that everyone should have access to the uplifting joy and sense of community that singing in harmony can bring. With her expert guidance,, let the drop in choir be the reason Mondays seem that little bit brighter.

Tickets here
Every Monday, 6:15-7:30
The Jam Jar

Hyperpolitics Discussion by Bristol Transformed

Hyperpolitics is an incisive exploration into how protest and action has become laced into everyday life, and how to navigate authentic socialism amongst a sea of, well, Hyperpolitics. Join influential festival organisers and campaigners Bristol Transformed at the PRSC for an open conversation surrounding Hyperpolitics and the messages conveyed within it. Whether you have finished the book and are eager to share your thoughts, or are interested in learning more about the topic, you will find yourself welcomed here, where you can contribute your ideas, reflections and connect over Jäger's theories. Bristol Transformed aim for every event to be accessible to everyone, regardless of any prior knowledge!

Tickets here
14/07/26 6:30-8pm
PRSC

Feminist Flash Fiction

Looking to broaden your horizons when it comes to short fiction? In anticipation for the eminent Flash Fiction Festival, East Bristol Books is offering you the chance to kick the weekend off early with a preliminary evening of insightful talks.

East Bristol Books is a radical, independent, and community-orientated bookshop that specialises in independent, small-press and DIY publishing and culture, with a particular emphasis on poetry, fiction in translation, and politics. Hosting three award winning novelists for the evening, the bookshop will metamorphose into a hotbed of feminist literature and microfiction discourse, opening their doors for anyone seeking engaging discussions and an introduction to flash fiction.

Tickets here
16/07/26 7-8:30pm
East Bristol Books

Queer Line Dancing with Chaps and Straps

Queer line dancing is experiencing a massive global resurgence, and a city like Bristol is such a beautifully obvious place for this event to thrive. This joyful movement has a rich history - the flirtatious parallels between homosexuality and cowboy iconography, the unity line dancing provided for queer communities in the 80s, to its current craze-status as a chance to get your studded belt on, learn to grapevine with your friends, and flirt with other queer people. And during Pride month too!

Chaps and Straps bring “communal dancefloor joy” to Bristol and Brighton – an event created by and for LGBTQIA+ people. Their events are completely beginner-friendly and open to all levels of confidence, experience, and enthusiasm. The dances are taught with options to suit different gender expressions and are designed to help you connect with your body. You’re invited to dress up if you fancy it — think cowboy hats, denim, leather, rhinestones — or just come as you are! Chaps and Straps help to fundraise for gender affirming care, have a sliding scale for tickets and don’t turn anyone away for lack of funds.

Tickets here
16/07/26 7:30-10pm
Strange Brew

NMAMLU clothes swap and community open decks

Bring yourself, your clothes and your USBs to Cafe Kino this July for the highly anticipated clothes swap and open decks. Becoming a staple for the gender non-conforming and FLINTA community, this regular clothes swap provides an outlet for those looking to update their wardrobe without participating in harmful consumerism. The collaborative project blends fashion-focused reciprocity with a welcoming space that allows you to venture into your DJ career, an aspect that is at the heart of NMAMLU.

The collective, No More All Male Lineups, have been unpicking the deep-rooted misogyny that is echoed through micro-aggressions and male-dominated nights out, urging promoters to reflect on their DJ selections, the inclusivity of their events and the safety and equality of FLINTA artists. Not only this, but NMAMLU have taken the rave scene by storm, shelling out event after event that puts non-male DJs and artists at the forefront. You can find out more about NMAMLU and their mission here.

Tickets here
21/07/26 5-9pm
Cafe Kino

Spike Print Fair

Stride into August with new art on your walls and a new craft to whet. Spike Print Fair is the ultimate venture for collectors, creatives and those who generally just appreciate a good art market. The free-to-attend fair is a delightful assembly of local and national talent, hands-on workshops and live demonstrations that orbit the beauty of printmaking. Classes include screen-printing, zine creating, linocutting and insights into the variety of approaches that define print. With three days to check out what the print community has to offer over at the South West's biggest open access printing space, it’s certainly worth a visit.

Tickets here
Friday 24 July, Preview night: 6–9pm
Saturday 25 July, 10am–5pm
Sunday 26 July, 10am–5pm
Spike Print Studio

Bluescreen at The Cube

Don’t miss the ultimate showcase of what Bristol’s filmmaking community has to offer with BLUESCREEN, The Cube’s bi-monthly gathering. Served up on a silver screen, expect an extensive range of flicks from our city (and slightly beyond) that’ll provoke laughter, tears, reflection and inspiration. From politically pressing to silly and surreal, the evening will be a rollercoaster with a red velvet seat. Whether you’re looking to submit a project, or simply want to appease your love for local cinema, BLUESCREEN is the place to find what you’re looking for.

A fabulous incarnation of independent cinema, art and community, The Cube has never been one to sleep on. Having been a concealed gem within BS2 for nearly thirty years, the volunteer-run microplex is an institution for the weird and wonderful. Find yourself forever nestled between friends here, discovering the vast realms of vintage cinema, experimental sounds, comedic cabarets and dreamy storytelling, often for no more than a fiver!

Tickets here
29/07/26 8-11pm
The Cube

Dance Out at RWA

Spare a moment this month to engross yourself in Dance Out, a reflective mixed media exhibition that revels in dance and all its forms. With work hailing from New York, Bristol and London, Dance Out embraces the miracle of motion through painting, film, sculptures and more in order to effectively articulate the essential role that dancing plays in our lives. Whether you’re out on the dancefloor, alone in your room, or in your mates kitchen, Dance Out is the ultimate representation of what it means to move.

From the brilliant minds of David Remfry RA, and art historian James Russell, this free-to-visit exhibition will have their doors open until early August, exhibiting some unmissable names, including Dame Tracey Emin, Paul Dash and Denzil Forrester, to name a few. The show is soundtracked by an assortment of DJs, who invite you to take to the dancefloor that sits within the space, converting sound and dance into vibration with haptic feedback. And if that’s not enough, a vivid program of workshops are eager to be discovered, from Cuban Salsa to full body improv.

Flowing throughout July into the beginning of August, ensure you set some time aside to immerse yourself in this carefully curated homage to the long and vivid tapestry of dance!

Find out more about their additional ticketed events here
On throughout July
RWA Gallery

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