SEPTEMBER

LOCAL EVENT
THE GARDENING SHOW
Where: Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
When: 4-5 Sept
What: Mind your backs – 314-kilo pumpkin coming through! Spectacular garden displays, a feast of flowers, fruit and vegetables, the biggest dahlia show in the world, TV celebrities, top gardening experts, monsters vegetables and the best bougainvillea display anywhere in Europe help to make the National Amateur Gardening Show a must-visit for all green-fingered sorts. Plus children’s area, cookery demos, speciality food hall, free lectures and demonstrations, and hundreds of trade stands. Price: tbc, c£10 adv adult, concs. Tel: 01749 822200, web: www.bathandwest.com

LOCAL EVENT
BURNHAM-ON-SEA FOLKFEST
Where: Various venues, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
When: 4-6 Sept
What: Live, free folk music in various different pubs and Manor Gardens – acts this year include The Dambuskers, Spikedrivers and Mad Dog McRea. Plus bars, kids’ stuff, clog and Morris dancing, craft fair, workshops etc. Price: free. Tel: 01278 794414, web: www.folkfest.co.uk

LOCAL EVENT
DIDMARTON-KEMBLE BLUEGRASS PICKING WEEKEND
Where: Kemble Airfield, Gloucestershire
When: 4-6 Sept
What: Pack your cowboy hats for this series of concerts, open-stage events, workshops and camping on a surprisingly scenic and leafy WWII airfield. This year’s line-up tbc. Price: tbc. Web: www.didmarton-bluegrass.co.uk

FYLDE FOLK FESTIVAL
Where: Marine Hall, Fleetwood, Lancs
When: 4-6 Sept
What: The golden sands of Lancashire’s Fylde coast provide the backdrop to this traditional folk festival. Dougie McLean, Eric Bogle, Mabon, Chris Newman & Máire Ni Chathasaigh, The Anna Massie Band and Roy Bailey & Tony Benn all put in appearances, while there are also Lancashire dialect, clog dancing and ‘worst singer in the world’ contests. Campsite and caravan park nearby. Price: £58 w/e b4 1 July, £60 after, concs, day & single event tickets. Tel: 01253 770547, web: www.fylde-folk-festival.com

OFF THE TRACKS LATE FESTIVAL
Where: Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel, Castle Donington, Derbyshire
When: 4-6 Sept
What: Follow-up, in a similar vein, to May’s weekend of folk, roots, dance and fusion (see Off The Tracks Spring Festival 22-24 May). Price: £60 adult w/e camping, day tickets. Tel: 07825 512168, web: www.offthetracks.co.uk

JERSEY LIVE
Where: Royal Jersey Showground, Trinity, Jersey
When: 5-6 Sept
What: The little indie rock fest with big pulling power. Launched five years ago, this Channel Islands weekender has this year hired Basement Jaxx, The Kooks, CasioKids, The Boxer Rebellion, Andy C and 2ManyDJs to entertain a cheerful blend of locals and tourists. Camping on sites nearby – book separately. Price: £79.50 adult w/e, concs. Web: www.jerseylive.org.uk

TOWER FESTIVAL
Where: Tower Of London
When: 10-20 September
What: Performances from Sadlers Wells, Paco Pena & Company, Lesley Garrett with the Fron Male Voice Choir, Carl Rosa opera and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and the WOMAD crew (see 19-20 Sept) plus many more. Prices: various. Web: www.towerfestival.com

BESTIVAL
Where: Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park, Downend, nr Arreton, Isle of Wight
When: 11-13 Sept
What: Fantastic, six-year-old boutique fest run by DJ Rob Da Bank and his missus Josie. This year’s melodies come from Kraftwerk, Elbow, Massive Attack, Doves, MGMT, Fleet Foxes, The Horrors and Lily Allen (who also judges this year’s space-themed fancy dress competition) among many more. Plus Heavenly Healing area, kids’ area, Big Wheel, Breastival (for mums and babies), the Big Love Inflatable Church, solar-powered cinema and more. If you fancy arriving in style, there’s a bracing charity swim across the Solent (accompanied by lifeguards and a Cuban Brother screaming encouragement from a rubber dinghy). Price: £140 w/e incl camping, day tickets. Tel: 0844 8884410 (24 hr), web: www.bestival.net.

BLACK SHEEP BOOTS & BEER WALKING FESTIVAL
Where: Hawes, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire
When: 11-13 Sept
What: Drink beer and walk – and not even at the same time! Choose from about 14 lovely hikes from Hawes or Upper Wensleydale, plus evening entertainment ranging from talks and demonstrations to the less sedate ceilidh, quiz and jazz nights. Price: £20 adult w/e for the weekend (over-18s only). Web: www.blacksheepbrewery.com

END OF THE ROAD FESTIVAL
Where: Larmer Tree Gardens, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire/Dorset border
When: 11-13 Sept
What: Final fling for those who can’t quite accept the end of the festival season. Founded three years ago by two chums – one of whom sold his house to fund it – after an epiphany at the Green Man Festival, EOTR’s USP is that bands play longer-than-usual sets. Archie Bronson Outfit, The Broken Family Band, The Dodos, Efterklang and Explosions In The Sky are thus far booked to do so. Plus film, comedy, workshops, kids’ stuff, etc. “An artistic triumph,” trumpeted The Independent. Prices: £105 adult w/e. Tel: 01342 410 665, web: www.endoftheroadfestival.com

LOCAL EVENT
TEWKESBURY SPRING FESTIVAL: AWAKEN YOUR SENSES
Where: Various venues, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
When: 11-13 Sept
What: Mixed arts festival moved from May, this year on the theme of ‘Vocal Chords’. Music from Campbell (as in DJ Nicky) & Moraghan and 4 Girls 4 Harps, poetry from Luke Wright and Elvis McGonagall, and lots of ukulele action. “We don’t aim to compete with other larger festivals, such as Cheltenham, but we would like to think that we can put on a long weekend of events that entertain, amuse and stimulate and in this year of all years, we have done our very best to do it at the lowest ticket prices we could get away with”. Price: various. Tel: 01684 295 074, web: www.awakenyoursenses.org

LOCAL EVENT
BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF KITES & AIR CREATIONS
Where: Ashton Court, Bristol
When: 12-13 Sept
What: Fantastic mix of national and international guest kite designers showing off their latest creations and professional kite flyers ‘wowing’ the crowds with spectacular displays. Highlights this year will include Japanese Kite master Masaaki Modegi and North American aerial acrobatics team iQuad as well as a return of the memorable creations of New Zealander and festival favourite Peter Lynn. Plus children’s kite-making workshops, traders, food and drink, etc. Price: free. Web: www.kite-festival.org.uk

LOCAL EVENT
CHEDDAR BIKEFEST
Where: Ashton Court, Bristol
When: 12-13 Sept
What: Cycling event formerly known as the Cheddar Challenge. Ten-hour challenge and kids’ race on Sat, with five- and three-hour (novice) events on the Sun. See also the Bristol leg on 6-7 June. Tel: 0117 953 2698, web: www.bike-fest.com

LOCAL EVENT
ORGANIC FOOD FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SOIL ASSOCIATION
Where: Harbourside, Bristol
When: 12-13 Sept
What:Set on Bristol’s famous harbourside, this is Europe’s largest celebration of all things organic and is now in its ninth year. Hundreds of companies represent the very best organic food, drink, fashion, skincare and homeware products, and there’s also a green planet pavilion, demonstration kitchen, kid’s taste workshops, street food bazaar and more. Price: £5. Tel: 0117 314 5104, web: www.theorganicfoodfestival.co.uk

OTLEY BLACK SHEEP FOLK FESTIVAL
Where: Otley, nr Leeds, West Yorks
When: 17-20 Sept
What: Birkies on one last time for the summer’s final folk fling, with estimable names heading to picturesque Otley alongside local acts. Plus the usual dances, ceilidhs, singarounds, dances, etc. All main gigs are indoors but it’s all a little smaller than past years on account of the closure of the civic centre. Price: tbc, concs, day tickets. Tel: 01943 464858, web: www.otleyfolkfestival.com

CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL
Where: Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge
When: 17-27 Sept
What: The Guardian described as “a match for the Edinburgh and London Film Festivals”, this non-competitive general film festival was established in 1977 to air the best new international cinema and unearth old, neglected works. Promises many UK premières and stars. Price: various. Web: www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk

LOOPALLU
Where: Ullapool, Scotland
When: 18-19 Sept
What: The up-and-coming Loopallu (that’s Ullapool backwards – clever, eh?) promises lively live acts in a pretty fishing village in the north-west of Scotland. The line-up’s tbc, but previous years have included Franz Ferdinand, The View, The Stranglers, The Saw Doctors, The Undertones and The Bees. Fringe shows, street entertainment and local food and drink. Look out for the dolphins and seals, too. Price: tbc, c£50 adult w/e. Web: www.loopallu.co.uk

ABERGAVENNY FOOD FESTIVAL
Where: Various venues, Abergavenny, Wales
When: 19-20 Sept
What: Top-notch foodie weekend. Enjoy the company of some of the most passionate food-lovers in the country and sample the produce of artisan food-makers from Wales, The Marches and further afield. Plus masterclasses, tutored tastings, children’s events, walks and talks. Programme released mid-July. Price: various. Tel: 01873 851643, web: www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com

LOCAL EVENT
THE BRISTOL FESTIVAL
Where: Harbourside, Bristol
When: 19-20 Sept
What: Community-based festival set up following the demise of Ashton Court Festival. Line-up tbc, but expect local talent in the fields of music, theatre, circus, art, and dance as well as workshops. Price: tbc. Web: www.thebristolfestival.org

LOCAL EVENT
STAPLETON ROAD STREET FAIR
Where: Stapleton Road, Bristol
When: 19-20 Sept
What: Discover Bristol’s vibrant east side at this day of drumming, bhangra music, DJs, flamenco dancing, local poets, street gardening, lots of different kinds of food, sports and games, art and music workshops, wacky bikes and lots more.

WOMAD AT THE TOWER
Where: Tower Of London
When: 19-20 Sept
What: World music in the historical grounds of the Tower of London with performances from Khaled and The Imagined Village (folk supergroup featuring Eliza and Martin Carthy, Chris Wood and Billy Bragg), The Bays and The Heritage Orchestra supported by the legendary Tony Allen. More tbc. Part of the Tower Festival (see 10-20 Sept). Price: £68.95. Web: www.womad.org

BARMOUTH FESTIVAL OF WALKING
Where: Barmouth, mid-Wales
When: 19-27 Sept
What: Choose from 25 guided walks around the gorgeous Mawddach Estuary and Southern Snowdonia, ranging from two-hour rambles to full-day, high-level hikes. Local historians and naturalists lead walks on specified themes. Prices: various. Web: www.barmouthwalkingfestival.co.uk

PORTHCAWL ELVIS FESTIVAL
Where: Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Wales
When: 25-27 Sept
What: Elvis has entered the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl! The biggest Elvis binge in Europe apparently, starting with a champagne-fuelled launch do followed by Elvis impersonator competitions, films, concerts and much more. Ahthanyouverrmuch. Price: £99 adult VIP season ticket, single event tickets. Web: www.elvies.co.uk

THIMBLEBERRY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Where: Thimbleberry Hill Farm, Stanhope, County Durham
When: 25-27 Sept
What: Autumn leg of this eclectic music fest. See also 5-7 June. Price: tbc. Web: thimbleberry.co.uk

MALVERN AUTUMN GARDEN & COUNTRY SHOW
Where: Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire
When: 26-27 Sept
What: Delicious seasonal feast of country life, with flowers, fruit and vegetables, exquisite crafts and traditional fayre, countryside pursuits and shopping opps. All this and a designated area of outstanding natural beauty too. Price: £15.50 adult (Sat), £14 adult (Sun). Tel: 01684 584924, web: www.threecounties.co.uk

LOCAL EVENT
THE BRISTOL DO
Where: Portland Square, Bristol
When: 26-27 Sept
What: It’s back! Second year of this successful event – Bristol’s best and only free weekend of outdoor arts including film, projections, street performance, theatre, dace and much more. Price: free. Web: www.thebristoldo.com

RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
Where: Central London
When: 28 Sept-9 Oct
What: “The voice of indie film”, dedicated to fostering and promoting independent cinema. As well as the main competitive festival and prestigious British Independent Film Awards, there are also training courses and more. Price: various. Web: www.raindancefilmfestival.org

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