Sheffield officially welcomed spring on March 1st with the launch of Festival of the Outdoors 2025, a month of outdoor activities and events for all levels of enthusiasts.
The festival is part of Sheffield’s claim to being ‘The Outdoor City’, with events and organisations throughout the month celebrating the coming drier, sunnier days and the abundance of green spaces within the city.
But what can you expect as a Steel City resident in the coming month?
The festival kicks off with the returning Sheffield Beer Week (10th—16th March), which will host a wide range of collaborative efforts from pubs, restaurants, and bars across the city to create an unintimidating, accessible entry point into independent brewing.
The monthly Pollen Market, which sits along the Grey to Green corridor in Sheffield’s Castlegate district, also makes a return this month (16th of March) with a special edition that will include live music, entertainment and fun activities for a free, entire family day-out
Cllr Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, said last year:
“As the Outdoor City, Sheffield is the UK’s leading destination for outdoor adventure and city culture wrapped into one.
“Greenspace is a vital part of Sheffield’s culture, and influences much of life for people in Sheffield. The Festival of the Outdoors is a great opportunity for the people of Sheffield, and our many visitors, to enjoy the UK’s greenest city”
The latter half of the month hosts some of the most significant events in Sheffield’s calendar.
The Sheffield Adventure Film Festival is not just a weekend full of outdoor films and documentaries (21st -23rd March). Taking place at the Showroom Cinema on Paternoster Row, the weekend will also include free panel discussions, interactive VR, child-friendly screenings, and a plunge pool for festival-goers to experience the extreme.
The Climbing Works International Climbing Festival (CWIF) will also take place that same weekend. It brings together some of the world’s best boulderers from GB, Japan and Europe, all competing to solve complex problems set by the prestigious route setter Percy Bishton, who co-owns The Climbing Works.
Although tickets were limited and difficult to get, a watch party will also take place within Sheffield’s Winter Gardens at the same time, allowing climbing enthusiasts to watch along.
Finally, the festival is capped off with the Sheffield Half Marathon (23rd March), one of the most attended runs in the country. The event attracts many spectators, from friends and family to running enthusiasts, providing a fantastic atmosphere and finale to the Festival of the Outdoors.
Along with these main events, DC Outdoors provide many outdoor activities every weekend throughout the month. These include stand-up paddle boarding and canoeing along Victoria Quays and outdoor climbing at Burbage North. All in easily accessible taster-format sessions that allow Sheffield to experience what makes the city great – its connection to the outdoors
For more information, visit the Festival’s website at https://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/visit/headline-events/festival-of-the-outdoors/
