20th May 2026

New Bank Holiday Festival Launches in Totnes This May

A brand-new family-friendly festival is coming to The Mansion this Spring Bank Holiday, bringing live music, free children’s entertainment, street food and local drinks to the heart of Totnes.

Sounds at The Mansion will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May, transforming the historic courtyard just off Fore Street into a vibrant community celebration. The one-day festival has been designed to showcase Totnes’ creative spirit, with daytime activities for families followed by an evening of live music, food and entertainment.

Free Family Entertainment in Totnes This Bank Holiday

The festival begins with a free daytime session from 10.30am to 1pm, offering families a relaxed and affordable way to enjoy the bank holiday in Totnes.

Children can enjoy face painting, bubbles, puppetry, theatrical storytelling and live music performances throughout the morning. The daytime line-up includes Emily Grace, Callithump, Mandi Allin with Fauna the puppet, Bubbles the Pixie and Global Soul Beach Club DJ.

Jackie Minton from The Mansion said the event was created with local families in mind.

“The morning is aimed at families who need a proper Bank Holiday breather,” she said. “We wanted to create a welcoming, good-value day out where children can enjoy some free entertainment in a safe outdoor space, while parents can sit down with coffee, food from our Canteen and a moment to themselves.”

Live Music, Street Food and Local Drinks in the Evening

From 4pm to 9pm, the courtyard will host an early-evening music and street food festival, with tickets available on a pay-what-you-feel basis.

The live music line-up includes singer-songwriters Holly Ebony and Briony Greenhill, Afrobeat and world grooves from Shakalaka, and feel-good singalong classics from Disco Snails - part of the collective behind popular themed nights at the Barrel House Ballroom in Totnes.

Festivalgoers can also experience a performance from the Totnes Vocal Improv Choir, part of the town’s thriving creative and musical community. Led by Totnes-based singer, artist and teacher Briony Greenhill, the choir explores Collaborative Vocal Improvisation, creating spontaneous music through vocal interaction and group performance.

Greenhill, who teaches vocal improvisation across Devon and internationally, has previously been described by The Guardian as “one of the world’s leading proponents of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation”.

Street Food and Local Devon Drinks

Food and drink will play a major role in the festival, with local vendors serving a variety of flavours throughout the evening.

Visitors can enjoy seafood from Dart Oysters, including oysters, scallops and ceviche, alongside Iranian and Greek street food, gourmet toasties from the Toastie Girls, local brews from Copperhead Brewery, plus Pimm’s and prosecco from The Mansion bar.

A Celebration of Totnes Community Spirit

The festival follows a busy year for The Mansion, which recently celebrated the installation of 77 community-funded solar panels on the roof of Totnes Library.

Jackie added:

“The Mansion belongs to the town. It is a place where people learn, meet, organise, rehearse, repair, create and gather. Sounds at The Mansion is our way of opening the doors and reminding people that this building is a living, breathing community space.”