Bank Holiday Monday (last Monday in August, early August in Scotland). Bank Holiday Weekend marks London's major Carnival event: The Notting Hill Carnival.


Syon Craft Show
At Syon Park in early August
This event brings the traditional skills and innovative techniques of 180 of the country's finest designer makers to a new audience.
More info: 01223 895895

Brighton Pride
Early August
A Carnival season highlight, 100,00+ attend the afterpart in Preston Park.

Leicester Caribbean Carnival
Early August at Victoria Park, London Road
What began in 1985 as an event to keep the cultural traditions of the Caribbean alive has now become a multi-cultural event portraying the varied cultural diversities represented in Leicester.

Nottingham Riverside Festival
Early August at Victoria Embankment
120,000+ attend the free festival along the beautiful River Trent.

Vibrations Festival
Early August at Burgess Park
Celebrate the creativity, innovation and passion that Black and Afro-Caribbean culture has brought to Southwark.
Vibrations Festival by google.com

Teddy Bears Picnic
Free event near the end of August at Keats House. Children and their favourite teddy bear, doll or spotted dog are invited to a Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
More info: 020 7435 2062
Teddy Bears Picnic by 24hourmuseum.org

Birmingham Carnival
Early August, procession from Oxhill Road to Perry Park
More info: 0121 303 1991

Great British Beer Festival
When: 5 days at Beginning of  August
Where: Olympia, Hammersmith Road, W14 
Campaign for Real Ale. CAMRA, hosts more than 40,000 people, who crowd into the Olympia Grand Hall for 5 days of friendly sampling of over 300 international entries.
tube: Kensington (Olympia) (box office 0171 373 3113)

Stockton International Riverside Festival
When: Mid-August
Where: Stockton-on-Tees
An extraordinary range of the highest quality outdoor productions, street magic, circus, music and comedy - and all absolutely free.

Weymouth Carnival
Mid-August along the Weymouth Esplanade
Decorated floats bursting with noise and colourful themes.

Decorated floats bursting with noise and colourful themes London Mela
South Asian cultural festival takes place mid-August at Gunnersbury Park, Ealing.
Heritage attractions, modern and traditional dance performances, children's and sports activities, traditional craft stalls, a huge funfair and a spectacular carnival-style finale.
More info: 44 (0) 20 8825 6064
London Mela by London.gov
by Whatsonwhen.com

Coin Street Festival
London's free festival on the South Bank at the Bernie Spain runs from May to September. There's the Carnival de Cuba in early June, Celebrating Sanctuary (featuring entertainers from London's refugee community) in mid-June, International Co-operative Day in early July, Turkish Fest in mid-July, Capital Age in mid-August, and Mayor's Thames Festival in mid-September.
For more info: 44 (0) 20 7401 2255


One of the world's greatest. Taking place each August in Scotland's capital, it is in fact seven festivals in one, with the International, Film,
Book, Jazz, Mela and Fringe Festivals running alongside the Scotland Army's famous Military Tattoo show. There's lots of links, but 3 weeks puts an overwhelming event into considered perspective, allowing you to feel like a veteran festival goer.
Festivals: Fringe || International || Film || Book || Jazz || Military Tattoo || Mela

Eisteddfod of Wales
The Eisteddfod is Wales' annual celebration of Welsh culture on the Isle of Anglesey.
Includes the World Bog Snorkeling Championships
Waen Rhydd, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales 
All welcome to swim two lengths of a 60ft trench dug in a bog and full of dirty water. The record currently lies at 1 minute 40 seconds. Bring a mask, snorkel and wetsuit if you dare compete --  media is usually well tuned out. The founder and promoter is Gordon Green proprietor of the Neuadd Arms Hotel. 
Contact: Gordon, Tel: 01591 610236

The V Festival
Mid-August at Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire.
A multi-stage blowout festival presented by Virgin.

The Green Man Festival
Mid-August at Baskerville Hall, Hay-On-Wye, Wales.
Three day festival features not only music, but also literature, film and a variety of children's activities.

Matthew Street Festival
Late August in Liverpool
Although this world-famous festival is still a baby it has soared to the Dizzy Gillespie heights of being the UK's biggest free annual outdoor music festival.
More info: 0151 233 2008

Leeds West Indian Carnival
Bank Holiday Weekend
More info: 07931 291070 / 07900 981439

Notting Hill Carnival
What's new on aforum  || Notting Hill Carnival
Europe's largest street fair is a Caribbean Carnival. Includes the UK Steelpan championships and features two days of parades. Dozens of mega sound systems, and plenty of good spirits in the Notting Hill neighborhood. The highlight of Banker's Weekend, which falls on the last Monday of August.
tube: Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill or Westbourne Park (0181 964 0544)

Reading Festival 
Held over the same 3-day weekend as Notting Hill Carnival on a cow pasture in Reading. Take a train to about 65 km/40 miles west of London. The original Lollapalooza.  +44-181-961-5490

Continuing Summer Performances
Kenwood Lakeside Concerts. Mid-June to Early-September. This tradition of outdoor concerts has been preserved for fifty years. Includes fireworks and laser shows. Location: North side of Hampstead Heath.
Lakeside Concerts by Frommer's

The Proms. Mid- July to Mid-September. The traditional Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, launched in 1895, attract music aficionados from around the world.
Week-by-week listings on whatsonwhen.com

Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition Early-June to Mid-August. Founded on 1768 this institution has sponsored for some two centuries Summer Exhibitions of living painters. You can browse and make purchases at very reasonable prices. Location: Burlington House, Piccadilly Circus. For information call (0171) 439-7438.
Summer Exhibition by Wikipedia
by Whatsonwhen.com

Outdoor Shakespeare Performances. Late May - Summer. Bring a blanket and enjoy Shakespeare plays in the open air. For information call (0171) 486-2431

Watch This Space Late June - Early September The National Theatre's fiesta of street theatre, music, acrobatics, comedy and spectacle from all over the world. For information call 44 (0) 20 7452 3400   
Watch This Space by Whatsonwhen.com
 

Chelsea Antiques Fair - Old Town Hall.
Horseman’s Sunday - Church of St John and St Michael, W2. 
NatWest County Cricket Trophy Final at Lords. 
Last Night of the Proms - the Royal Albert Hall -  Hyde Park. 
Soho Jazz Festival
Covent Garden Market Festival.  
Chinatown Festival.
September 29 (¼) Michaelmas Day (Feast of St. Michael) 

Uckfield Carnival & Bonfire Parade
Early September
Free parade followed by bonfire and fireworks.
More info: 01825 762763
Uckfield Carnival Parade on Google

Trafalgar Great River Race
Mid-September
On the Thames, from Ham House, Richmond, Surrey, to Island Gardens opposite Greenwich, E14. Expect about 300 `traditional' boats to compete in this 22-mile (35-km) `marathon,' starting about 10.30am and ending 2.5 to 3.5 hours later
More info: 020 8398 9057

Thames Festival Sunday
Mid-September
The Mayor's Thames Festival will transform the River Thames and its surrounding parks and open spaces between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge with an extensive programme of free outdoor events over the weekend.

Chelsea Antiques Fair 
10 days, mid-September
Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, SW3 
Twice-yearly festival (also held 12-21 March)
TUBE: Sloane Square (01444 482514)

London Open House  
Sat-Sunday 18-19 Sept 1999
Visit over 400 significant buildings in London FREE 
(info 0891 600061)

London: Southwark Festival
Park Lane Antiques Fair - Park Lane Hotel
London to Brighton annual Run
Harvest Service in St Martin’s in the Fields - Trafalgar Square
London Motor Show - Earls Court
British Philatelic Exhibition - RHS Halls 
Chelsea Crafts Fair
London Fashion Week
Summertime ends 25th October
Halloween - 31st

Opening of Parliament
First Monday in October. 
Monarch opens parliament in the House of Lords. The monarch rides from Buckingham Palace Westminster in a royal coach.
DanceUmbrella.co.uk  
Five weeks of the very best contemporary dance from around the world. Venues across London host companies from Europe and USA alongside British artists. 
Tel 0181 741 5881 Fax (0181) 741 7902.

Horse of the Year Show
Early October Location: Wembley Arena.
Riders fly from all over the world to join in this 'equine extravaganza' as it is often called. 
For information call (0181) 902-8833
Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival  
When: 3 Oct 1999 3pm
Where: St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, WC2 
Dressed in their traditional flamboyant costumes, pearly kings, queens and princesses  Gather here at for a harvest thanksgiving every year. tube/rail: Charing Cross  (0171 930 0089)

International Festival of Fine Wine and Food 
7-10 Oct 1999 Olympia, Hammersmith Road, W14 Major 
International tasting of food and wine to sample and buy. tube: Kensington (Olympia) (0171 453 5342)

Trafalgar Square Festival, London 4th - 16th October 1999
Photo Tour of Trafagar Square  || Overview Annual festival devoted to chamber music, poetry and the visual arts. International artists from around the world will come together during these two weeks to participate in this most sublime form of music making.
tube/rail: Charing Cross 

All Saint's Day November 1
State Opening of Parliament. 
Fireworks & Bonfire Night-Guy Fawkes Day
5th of November  
Location: All over England, Scotland and Wales 
When: Weeks surrounding November 5th
Guy Fawkes Day
Every year Britain commemorates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and friends attempted to blow up James I and his Parliament. a fun-for-all effigy-burning with plenty of fireworks and night-time Carnival parades especially in Somerset County
London Film Festival  Nov  
National Film Theatre, South Bank, SE1 at selected West End cinemas.
tube/Waterloo tube/rail. (0171 928 3535/box office 0171 928 3232) 
London to Brighton  Veteran Car Run  
Sunday Nov 7, 1999
(starting point) Serpentine Road, Hyde Park, W2 start (7.30am) to finish before 4pm
traveling at no more than 20mph (32kmph),to Brighton. 
Hyde Park is best spot to watch and also join the crowds lining the route (via Westminster Bridge and Croydon, along the A23). tube: Hyde Park Corner (01753 681736)

Lord Mayor's Procession 
Location: Guildhall to the Royal Courts of Justice and various other streets i
When: Mid November. Saturday 13 Nov 1990 
A procession with a parade of 140 floats, as the new Lord Mayor travels from the Mansion House  at 11am, to the Royal Courts of Justice at 11.50am. There, the new Mayor swears solemn vows before returning to Mansion House by 2.20pm. The Queen must ask permission to enter the City's square mile, as this right has been guarded since the 17th century by London's merchants. 
Fireworks launched from a barge moored between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges. (0171 606 3030)  
Remembrance Sunday Sunday 14 Nov Ceremony Cenotaph, Whitehall, SW1
Westminster tube/ Charing Cross tube/rail.

The Queen, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries lay wreaths and observe a minute's silence (at 11am) at the Cenotaph to commemorate those who gave their lives for their country in both world wars. Afterwards, the Bishop of London takes a short service of remembrance.

St Ceciliatide International Festival of Music
St-Ceciliatide.com
When: 20 - 28 November 1999 Nine consecutive evenings
Where: Stationers' Hall  
Saint Cecilia, patron saint of music, with first class music, food and fine wines at one of London's most beautiful and historic City livery halls - leading artists from around the world in elegant surroundings with optional candlelight dinner afterwards.
telephone 01327 361380

Olympia-antiques.co.uk  Future Dates || Getting There
There are three fairs at Olympia every year - Spring (late Feb., Summer (mid June) and Winter (late Nov.) Leading antique and fine art dealers from Britain, Europe and the United States. Britain's most established antiques fairs.

Royal Smithfield Show - Earls Court.
Carol Services all over. 
Olympia International Show jumping Championships. 
Christmas Day. Boxing Day and the beginning of the Winter Sales. 
Tower of London Church Parades.

International Show jumping mid-Dec Championships
Olympia, Hammersmith Road, W14 
International riders' competitions, Shetland Pony Grand National and more
tube: Kensington (Olympia) (box office 0171 373 3113)
December 24 Christmas Eve. December 25 (¼) Christmas Day. Observed Monday or Friday of it falls on a weekend. December 26 Boxing Day.

Christmas Tree-Lighting  Nov-Dec
Christmas in London 
Christmas in Trafalgar Square - a programme of carol singing each evening from 8 December 2001

Trafalgar Square Early December, London displays a lighted fir tree received from the Norwegian people in thanks for Britain's role in liberating Norway from the Nazis. Numerous other displays including St Christopher's Place, W1; Bond Street, W1; and Kensington High Street, W8. Covent Garden, WC2  Oxford Street, W1  Regent Street, W1  Bond Street, W1  Trafalgar Square, SW1 Try london.gov.uk for more info

New Year's Eve Celebrations
Trafalgar Square, W1
Police attempting to control inebriated young rowdies dominates leading the wise to steer clear of the potential violence. Try Greenwich day-long celebrations in ending with sound and fireworks show. 
tube/rail: Charing Cross 
First Night, the an alcohol free New Year's Eve popular throughout the world is also on here check www.festival.org for celebration details EdinburghsHogmanay.org
In Scotland the New Year's Celebration is called Hogmanay and the best place to experience it is the great City of Edinburgh. The big highlight on December 30th is a torchlight parade through the city center, culminating with a "fire festival" on Carlton Hill. The fire festival is on of the world's greats with huge sets and effigies torched theatrically while traditional music moves all those around you There is a  big musical event on December 31st called Concert in the Gardens.

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