Festivals Items

Outdoor Capital of the UK to host Wild Lochaber Festival

As Scotland celebrates the Year of Natural Scotland this year, the Lochaber region, known as the Outdoor Capital of the UK, gets ready to celebrate the second Wild Lochaber Festival. The week-long festival is a celebration of the diverse nature and stunning landscape of the Scottish region.

Wallace and Gromit to be unleashed on Bristol

This summer, one of the country’s most iconic characters will be unleashed on the streets of Bristol. Gromit the famous plasticine dog created by Nick Park of Bristol-based Aardman animations and silent sidekick of cheese-loving Wallace, is set to decorate the streets of the city for ten weeks in a major new public art trail named Gromit Unleashed.

Celebrate a special Queen’s Day in Amsterdam

April 30 marks a special day for the Dutch – Queen’s Day – a celebration of their monarchy and an official public holiday. People all over Holland celebrate Queen’s Day, although the best festivities can be found in Amsterdam.

A guide to Sevilla’s Feria de Abril

Spain’s best and most iconic festival, the Feria de Abril begins on Tuesday April 24, next week. The Feria encapsulates everything that you’d usually associate with Spain, Flamenco dancers, Spanish guitar, castanets, horse showmanship, bull fighting and great food. It’s a festival full of fiery passion and age old traditions.

Top spring and summer events in Croatia

Spring and early summer are some of the best times in which to visit Croatia, the weather is warm and sunny and visitors can make the most of its spectacular Mediterranean coastline. This is also a great time to visit some of the country’s best festivals, from Easter fairs, to gourmet food and wine festivals, to jazz and opera festivals, here are some of the top events to look out for.

A spring floral festival in Guernsey

If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate the start of spring (when it finally arrives), then why not head to the Guernsey floral festival, from Saturday 20 April to Sunday 28 April 2013?

Top places for an Easter city break

Easter is a big deal in southern Europe and one of the most important times for family get-togethers, here is less about Easter bunnies (although you’ll still find plenty of chocolate and Easter cakes) and more about the religious origins of the festival. Make sure you book travel and accommodation well in advance as Easter is a very busy time across most of Europe. Here are our top places to celebrate.

Upcoming events in Wales not to miss

The next few months look full in Wales with plenty of festivals and events planned.

Head to Budapest for the Budapest Spring Festival

Budapest’s premier cultural event – the Budapest Spring Festival, takes place this year from March 22 to April 7 and will feature highlights from the world famous Collegium Vocale Gent Chior; French soprano, Patricia Petibon; and American violin virtuoso, Joshua Bell.

Best Italian carnivals to visit next month

February, like in many parts of South America, is carnival time in Italy, where brightly coloured floats, bizarre masks and age old traditions are commonplace. Here we’ve picked out some of the best carnivals throughout the country.

Newcastle events to look forward to in 2013

Newcastle is one of the best British locations for an exciting city break - a holiday that can be made even more thrilling if you time your trip to coincide with one of its excellent festivals. Read our guide to find out what's on in the destination in 2013.

Celebrating Saint Lucia Day in Sweden

St Lucia is one of the most important days in the Swedish calendar, held every year on December 13 and is also celebrated in Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Finland and Hungary, among others.

Whirling Dervish Festival celebrations held in Turkey

Every year in December thousands of people descend on the small Turkish town of Konya for the festival of the whirling dervishes – one of the country’s most iconic symbols. The celebration, otherwise known as the Mevlâna Festival which begins today on December 10 and runs all week until December 17, is one of the most important in the Turkish calendar.

Best Christmas market food

A big part of the Christmas market experience is not only buying presents for all your friends and family, but trying all the tasty Christmas treats. From traditional mulled wine and gingerbread, to stolen and bratwurst here is some of the best Christmas market food try to on your short winter break.

Celebrate New Year at Umbria Jazz Festival

Stuck for ideas for your New Year break? If you’re looking to dance away 2012 to a slightly different tune, the Umbria Jazz Festival will bring together some of the genre’s greatest performers for one off concerts and performances.

London’s Christmas light switch-ons

The Christmas season is now officially upon us, so we might as well all embrace the Yuletide glow by attending one of London’s many Christmas light switching on ceremonies. From famous celebrity switch-ons, to carol singers, reindeer, Santa’s grottos and time-honoured traditions here are some of London’s best Christmas light events.

Britain’s best Bonfire Night celebrations

Remember, remember the fifth of November, gun powder, treason and plot... It’s that time of year again when Britons all over the country wrap up warm and go out to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, by burning bonfires, watching firework displays, waving sparklers and feasting on toffee apples, mulled wine, hot chocolate and steaming soup.

Editor’s blog: Halloween at Warwick’s Haunted Castle

Esme Fox goes to check out the spooky goings on at Warwick Castle’s Haunted Castle event for Halloween.

Trafalgar Square to hold Diwali celebrations

London’s Trafalgar Square is again to hold its annual Diwali festival, celebrating one of the most important events of the year for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. This year’s festival will be held on Sunday October 28 from 2- 7pm.

Guide to the Oktoberfest beer festival

Seven million litres of beer is consumed at the Oktoberfest celebration in Germany every year. More than six million people visit the 16 day celebration in Munich and together they eat an amazing half a million chickens, more than 100, 000 German sausages and a whopping 60,000 pork knuckles.

The Thames Festival in pictures

To celebrate the end of summer, the city of London holds the annual Thames Festival, featuring live shows, stalls, music, food - and the highlight of the festival - The Night Parade. Here, we show you this year's Nigh Parade in pictures, featuring wacky moving sculptures, glow in the dark costumes and many dancers and musicians from all over South America.

Kendal to hold sixth annual Mintfest

Mintfest, Kendal’s International Festival of Street Arts will be held from August 31 to September 2 and fill this small Cumbrian market town with more than 70 acts and performances from across the globe.

September festivals in Tuscany

Italy is home to many cultural festivals throughout the year from religious ones, to food ones, to sport and cinema ones, however if you’re looking for a time to catch more than one, then September is the perfect time.

Spider web artwork to feature at Helsinki Festival 2012

A huge 3D artwork, made from real spider webs, is set to feature at the Helsinki Festival 2012 - the largest arts festival in Finland.

Stonehenge ‘set on fire’ for festival

Stonehenge is going to be set on fire on Tuesday, for the London 2012 Festival.