Festivals

Get a taste for Portuguese flavours this summer

With a selection of culinary and wine festivals coming up in Portugal, this summer offers an ideal opportunity for UK travellers to experience Portuguese gastronomy – whether it be local regional cooking or gourmet cuisine with a more modern twist.

Acclaimed Grimeborn Festival returns

The acclaimed and alternative Grimeborn Festival is back. Now in its fourth year this year’s programme, curated by Andrew Steggall, presents the now celebrated mix of new and experimental opera and music juxtaposed with rarely performed works by established composers.

Bristol welcomes Gay Pride event in August

Bristol's Pride Week runs from Saturday 14 August until Monday 22 August and is a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Pride Bristol 2010 is organised by the LGBT community for the people of the South West.

Mallorca to host concert of the decade

Why not spend a long weekend on the beautiful island of Mallorca and experience two of the world’s most breathtaking live acts, as Andrea Bocelli and Elton John take the stage at Mallorca’s football Stadium!

Join the 'taste trail' in Leamington

Next month sees the return of the highly successful and popular Royal Leamington Spa Food & Drink Festival which takes place on Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 Septemb

Round off the summer at Solfest

The Solway Coast’s Solfest music festival, at Silloth on the Solway Coast in Cumbria, will be giving music lovers lots of reason to stand and cheer this year, as it lays on an event, from August 27-29, headlined by legendary Manchester rock band, James, perhaps best-known for their hit “Sit Down”.

A festival of wildlife in Mexico

Leading specialist operator Wildlife Worldwide has announced that the destination for its eighth annual Festival of Wildlife for 2011 will be Baja California in Mexico, from 10-21 March. A donation of £100 per booking will go directly to support local conservation projects.

A festival of culture on the Amalfi Coast

The Ravello Music Festival, one of Italy’s most famous summer culturefests, is on until September 26th. Holiday Velvet, a holiday rental agency with over 6,000 short-term rental properties in locations including Rome, Barcelona, Paris and Venice, announces that it still has availability for holiday apartments and villa rentals along the Amalfi coast for those who would like to visit the festival.

Quench your thirst in Germany

After a long, hot summer, what better way to quench your thirst then to head off to the most famous beer festival in Germany, the Oktoberfest. One of the largest folk celebrations in the world, it has its 200th anniversary this year, so travellers are set to enjoy an extended period of festivities.

Valentine Warner to launch Falmouth Oyster Festival

From 14 to 17 October, the picturesque seaside town of Falmouth will welcome visitors from far and wide to celebrate the annual Falmouth Oyster Festival, showcasing the diversity and quality of Cornish seafood and produce.

Mallorca celebrates Frederic Chopin

Playing tribute to Mallorca’s most famous musical visitor, Frederic Chopin, the Balearic island is celebrating his bicentenary year with a vibrant season of classical concerts.

Make the festival season one to remember for the right reasons

With more than 350 music, literary or food festivals taking place in the UK over the next few months, a new survey by M&S Car Insurance has found that over half of UK adults (56%) are planning to attend at least one festival being staged across the UK this summer.