Festivals in England
The more eccentric the festivals in England, the greater the fervour with which we embrace them. St George’s Day is celebrated at concerts and creative events around the country with parades, maypole dancing and thrilling enactments of St George slaying the dragon. May Day fêtes on village greens mark the start of summer. Be entertained by a Morris dancing troupe and the crowning of the May Queen. On Bonfire Night, join a parade through towns where effigies of the traitorous Guy Fawkes are held aloft and eventually burnt. Cheer as the fireworks light up the smoky November sky.
Take in a weekend of jazz at Marsden Jazz Festival
Hear old school traditional to cutting-edge contemporary jazz at Marsden Jazz Festival.
Location: Marsden, West Yorkshire
August events: Brighton Pride
At Brighton Pride you can enjoy a risqué drag act, dance till your heart’s content and eat fish ‘n’ chips by the sea all in the same day.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
November events: Watch an illuminated parade at Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival
Experience the West Country tradition of ‘squibbing’ at the UK’s largest winter carnival.
Location: Bridgwater, Somerset
September events: Give cultural films a go at Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival
Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival gives you the chance to watch films you won’t find in your local cinema in a range of unusual surroundings.
Location: Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland
Get your gourd at Slindon Pumpkin Festival
Take park in this celebration of gourds and squashes, including an unusual form of pumpkin art, within a National Trust village in West Sussex.
Location: Slindon, nr Arundel, West Sussex
July Events: South Tyneside Festival
This fabulous summer festival brings three months of free entertainment to the vibrant seaside resort of South Shields.
Location: South Shields, Tyne and Wear
July events: Alice's Day
Rediscover the charm of Wonderland with a fun-packed day of events on Oxford’s unique Alice’s Day.
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
June events: Become part of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival
Celebrate Hebden Bridge's quirky and distinctive arts scene at this unique festival, known for delivering big names in a local setting.
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
Enjoy a weekend of free outdoor arts across Birmingham
Head to the Birmingham Weekender this September, where the city centre will be bought to life with music, dance, theatre, art, literature, food and fashion.
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands