Into the Wild, East Sussex
Grab one of the remaining tickets for nature and wellbeing festival Into the Wild, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. For three days, the Chiddinglye estate becomes an enchanting playground with world and folk music performed in woodland surroundings (including the bands Folkadelix and Mobius Loop), yoga, dance, theatre and wild crafts. Workshops and talks will focus on our relationship with the natural world, from experts such as rewilder Derek Gow and conservationist Benedict Macdonald. It’s a family favourite, with endless entertainment for kids (run by Lewes Youth Theatre) or the chance to just run wild in a beautiful spot. It’s alcohol-free (but there’s an excellent microbrewery in an adjacent field), and parties continue into the night with silent discos and DJs.
23-26 August, weekend tickets £160, £75 youth, £399 family, under-fives free, intothewildgathering.com
Family Fun Weekend, Dartmouth regatta, Devon
The Family Fun Weekend kicks off a week of celebration at the Dartmouth regatta, with an opening ceremony at the Victorian bandstand in Royal Avenue Gardens overlooking the river and harbour (10.30am on 24 August). Events for all ages range from juggling shows to yoga and morris dancing, with a dog show, pirate fancy dress disco, bushcraft and live music. The regatta continues over the following week with more than 50 yachting events and a main river boat parade on 31 August.
23-26 August, free, dartmouthregatta.co.uk
Open Studios, Isle of Wight
Art lovers on the Isle of Wight can enjoy the first weekend of its open studios programme over the August bank holiday, with pop-up exhibitions and artists welcoming visitors into their workshops and galleries. It’s a chance to meet makers from across the island, with everything from painting and sculpture to jewellery and ceramics on display (and for sale, too). To add to the fun, 24 August is also children’s day at Ryde carnival, with various activities and a parade along the High Street (the main carnival is the following weekend).
23 August-8 September, free. Visit isleofwightopenstudios for opening times and interactive map
International Beatleweek, Liverpool
Celebrating the Beatles in their home city, International Beatleweek promises 70 bands from around the world for a programme of live music in homage to the Fab Four. Held at venues throughout town, including at the famous Cavern Club and Cavern Pub (where three stages host different bands every hour), artists include 60s tribute act the Overtures and BeatleJuice from Argentina. On Sunday there’s a Beatles convention at the Adelphi hotel, with films, guest speakers and massive memorabilia flea market, and there’s a street festival on the Monday.
25-27 August, various ticket packages, from £130, internationalbeatleweek.com
Ramsgate Festival of Sound, Kent
The Ramsgate Festival of Sound is a summer highlight, with a programme of bands, discos, plays, talks and musical theatre. The Sonic Trail features sound and art installations in the second world war tunnels and other venues. There’s a free family day in Ellington Park with workshops, dancing and theatre. Don’t miss Busk at Dusk held on East Cliff Promenade, overlooking the Channel, on Sunday evening, with a range of buskers and folk performers, headlined by punky poet and musician Gemma Rogers.
22-25 August, ticket prices vary, some events are free, ramsgatefestival.org
Bury St Edmunds food and drink festival, Suffolk
Go hungry to Suffolk’s foodie capital to feast on culinary treats from around the world at this popular annual event’s dozens of stalls and extensive farmers’ market. There are cooking demonstrations from top chefs including Galton Blackiston at Stoves cookery theatre in Cornhill, cocktail-making classes and live music and family entertainment, from fairground rides to face painting. The town itself is known for its restaurants and gastro pubs, if you still have space for dinner, and the Ale Trail highlights the many places to visit for a craft brew.
25-26 August, free, visit-burystedmunds.co.uk
Between the Tides festival, North Yorkshire
The town of Redcar is celebrating its seaside setting with a host of pop-up performances encompassing theatre, puppetry, circus, dance, storytelling and live music. Highlights of the family-friendly Between the Tides festival include virtual reality swings, an “actual reality arcade”, a metal whale that swallows audiences whole, and a giant revolving parasol in a beach-themed circus show. There are workshops on the beach, such as learning to make sensational sandcastles, and “sea monster mayhem” involving puppets at Coatham boating lake. The Luminarium – a light-tunnel labyrinth in the grounds of Kirkleatham Museum – has sold out, but all other events are free. Street food and seaside treats are available at the Pick’n’Mix market.
24-25 August, free, redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/between-the-tides-festival
All About Dogs festival, Norfolk
The Norfolk Showground in Norwich is a dog lovers’ dream over the bank holiday weekend. At the All About Dogs festival, owners can enter their pooches into fun canine contests, from cutest puppy to golden oldie, or try an activity such as dock diving (for dogs who like to get wet), flyball or lure racing. They can then watch the experts, with displays from top agility teams, sled dogs, scent hounds and gundogs. There are breed meet-ups for similar dogs to socialise; educational talks and expert advice from animal behaviourists; and lots of doggy shopping stands. The Village Green has canine competitions and quizzes, live music, and food and drink. Families can make a weekend of it with a camping pass for two adults, up to three children – and the dog, of course.
25 -26 August, day pass £13.50 adult, £7 child over five, weekend pass with camping £75, allaboutdogsshow.co.uk
Beyond Borders international festival, Scottish Borders
While it’s not a bank holiday in Scotland, politically minded visitors to the Borders region could check out the Beyond Borders festival taking place at Traquair House over the weekend. The annual event is centred on discussions about global issues with authors, diplomats, politicians and artists, alongside a programme of music, art and film. There are also wellbeing activities such as meditation, yoga and walks. This year, speakers include Miriam Margolyes in conversation with Jim Naughtie, the politicians Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon, and the historian William Dalrymple. Events in the grounds and walled garden include poetry and foraging walks, market stalls and book signings. There is also a youth programme with journalism workshops and a storytellers’ competition.
24-25 August, from £24 a day, bbintfest.com
Between the Trees festival, Bridgend
This nature and music festival, which takes place in the forest next to the Merthyr Mawr nature reserve and beach, features indie folk bands, including headliners Tide Lines and Firewoodisland, plus a huge array of activities designed to reconnect people with the natural world. There is a talk about “conservation optimism”, a debate about land use, mindful walks, film screenings, poetry, a forest school, ballet workshops, a wellbeing and permaculture village, and an arts and science hub. Food is another focus, with fungi forays, foraging walks and guided tastings, plus traders serving vegan street food, modern Arabic cuisine, wood-fired pizzas and locally sourced meat, and great coffee, cocktails and Welsh beers.
22-25 August, day tickets from £45 adult, £15 child over four, weekend tickets from £170/£55, betweenthetrees.co.uk
