Make the most of school-free days with free festivals, botanical printing, making cucumber lime mint popsicles, joining the National Trust's Summer of Play and visiting a monster funfair!
Free Festival Action!
Celebrating traditional music and dance for over 50 years, Broadstairs Folk Week (August 9-16) is a music diary stalwart. The beautiful seaside town plays host to cloggers, shanty-singers, morris men and the ever-so-slightly-terrifying dancing hooden horses in a feast of frolics. From tiny pubs hosting impromptu singing sessions to family ceilidhs and dancing workshops, there’s an event for everyone – find the Young Folk line-up here. And if it all gets too much, there’s one of the most family-friendly beaches and seafronts in the south east on hand. Free and ticketed.
Lay back and enjoy the sight of dozens of beautiful, colourful craft soaring serenely across lush countryside at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Held August 9–11 at the picturesque Ashton Court Estate, there are attractions and stalls on the ground to keep everyone entertained. Don’t miss the enchanting night glow, when balloons are illuminated from within and float around to music. There are also spectacular firework displays to enjoy. Free, book parking in advance.
Ramsgate's Festival Of Sound celebrates sound, art and community in historic and iconic venues around the seaside town. This year, follow a sonic trail, enjoy a synth concert, see stunning visuals in the WW2 tunnels and join workshops and a sunset music set at the free family day in Elllington Park. 22-24 August.
The Greenwich+Docklands International Festival brings the boroughs to life between 23 August to 8 September. London’s premier outdoor theatre and arts festival highlights groundbreaking performances and transforms public spaces into works of art. This year’s opening spectacular, Silence!, brings percussion and pyrotechnics to Woolwich’s Royal Artillery Barracks, while parkour perfomers leap across Greenwich Peninsula’s architectural landscapes in Life Lines. All events are free.
Get into the party spirit at Leeds West Indian Carnival, a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture, featuring dazzling costumes, lively music, and joyful parades on 25 and 26 of August.
Carnival is the highlight of the year for many Londoners. The biggest, free street celebration in Europe attracts over 2.5 million people every Summer Bank Holiday. See the gentrified streets of Notting Hill burst into vibrant, colourful life, hear sound systems pumping out music from ancient ska tunes to ultra-modern hits-of-tomorrow, and scoff some of the firiest, jerkiest food you’ll ever taste. Go on the Sunday, designated as Children’s Day; things are a little less raucous.
Held 28 August - 1 September on the streets of Hull, Freedom Festival's family-friendly programme highlights street theatre, music, dance and spoken word performances. Step into Hull Minster and see it transformed as it sets the stage for an hour-long circus performance like no other! Witness the slow build-up and progression of Arch – with two thirds concrete, one third ice, as artists attempt to build a freestanding arch, or dance together at Bob Marley for Babies. Mostly free, but some ticketed events.
