5
Festivals to Visit This Year in the UK
From Edinburgh
to London, Britain hosts some of the most excellent festivals throughout the
year. If you are planning a trip across the pond, consider planning around one
of these events. They are some of the best and well worth a visit. Here are the
five best festivals to be found in the UK this year:
Noting Hill Carnival
The Notting Hill
Carnival is also known
as Europe’s largest street festival. It is a grand spectacle that represents
the multicultural past of London, as well as the present. It takes place during
the August Bank Holiday, meaning this carnival will run from Sunday, August
28th to Monday, August 29th. So what is it exactly? A two day celebration
of all things Caribbean. Be prepared to hear some fantastic live reggae music,
dub music and salsa! If you are a jerk chicken fan, this is where you want to be.
Plus, there are fried plantains. Who can say no to that?
Robin Hood Festival
If you’ve ever
wondered what it might be like to be Robin Hood or the nasty Sheriff of
Nottingham, here is your chance. The Robin Hood Festival takes place annually during the first week of
August, and celebrates the legendary outlaw himself. It takes place in Sherwood
Forest, which is themed and decked out in 13th-century style. This pop up booth
festival offers many attractions housed in various stalls. It takes about an
hour to walk the half mile square of forest, but it’s well worth it. Activities
vary slightly each day, but you can always expect to find archery and jousting,
as well as the main attraction, a showdown between Robin Hood and the Sheriff
himself. Very family-friendly, your kids will have a blast. For a good laugh,
let them participate in a reenactment with the actors. It is hilarious!
Royal Ascot Festival
If horse racing
is more your speed, this is a must see event. The Royal Ascot is the most important race
week for Britain, and one of the most esteemed horse races in the world.
Various races are held on the grounds during the year, but the crown jewel is the
Royal Ascot which takes place this year during the week of June 14-18.
Definitely formal in style, be prepared to dress the part. Take heart though.
All of the haberdashery might be well worth it if you wind up meeting the
Queen. She is a dedicated attendee, and race horse owner. The royal procession
is one of the most iconic events during the week. There are different sitting
areas to choose from, and the food and drink selections are excellent. Just
don’t forget to place your bets.
Lewes Bonfire Night
This event
takes place annually on November 5th. The best part about it? Funds are raised
the entire year by the seven Bonfire
Societies of Lewes. That might not mean much until you
understand that the sole purpose of the festival is to have a massive bonfire
celebration complete with fireworks. There are parades through the street,
featuring blazing torches and drumbeats, as well as stirring speeches offset by
the noise of loud, colorful fireworks. It is a celebration of history and
heritage that runs deep in the veins of those who are part of the Bonfire
Societies. This is a long-standing tradition that Lewes is quite proud of.
However, be forewarned, there is no street parking on that night. All of the
streets in the city are closed to accommodate the massive amounts of people.
Edinburgh Fringe
This festival is
actually five festivals in one. There is a Book festival, an International
Festival, the Art festival, and the Fringe. The latter is a comedy troupe from
which the festival draws its name. There are various street performers and
events held throughout the day, from book readings to performances and parades.
Yet you can also have a good time simply by crawling from pub to pub. After the
performers finish their shows, many of them can be found inside one of the pubs
having a drink. It’s a great way to meet them and strike up conversation. The
pub crawl, by the way, is the fifth unofficial festival of the Fringe festival.
If you attend, you will definitely see why the Fringe would be incomplete if
the pubs and pop up bars were not part of it. You can catch the Fringe this
year on June 8th.
No matter your
taste, one of these picks will sate your palate. Some of the festivals are
iconic; are off the beaten path. All are entertaining. Visit one and slang
terms like “saucy minx” or “knackered” will have full meaning. Exciting and
engaging, they will definitely keep your social media feeds full of pictures
and videos so friends and family can experience them vicariously through you.
Pick one and plan a trip. You won’t be disappointed.
BY MELISSA THOMPSON
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