By Kate Hodges
08th August 2019
EVENT Power Shower
The annual Perseids meteor shower is one of the greatest free lightshows on the planet. From August 11-15, the skies are filled with shooting stars; take a blanket outside, lie on your backs, and watch them whoosh across the night. Why not go on a little camping trip to somewhere really remote and stay up all night watching them? Find the darkest-skied places here and here. Don’t forget to make a wish.
MAKE Woodn’t It Be Nice?
Celebrating traditional music and dance for over 50 years, the Broadstairs Folk Festival is a folk 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 https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/whats-on/children-and-youth/. And if it all gets too much, there’s one of the most family-friendly beaches and seafronts in the south east on hand. August 9-16. Free and ticketed.
RECIPE and LEARN Veggie Eid al-Adha
The second big Islamic festival of the year, Eid al-Adha takes place from Sunday. The four-day party celebrates the prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son to prove his dedication to God and coincides with the Hajj – a pilgrimage made by Muslims to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Find out more about it here. This festival’s food is usually all about the meat (many Muslims will eat a lamb, sheep, goat or cow slaughtered according to Halal principles) – but you can find a vegan Muslim perspective on that here and a lighter view here . It’s, of course, possible to find veggie and vegan alternatives; try this Vegetable and Gnocchi Soup, Chilli Paneer or Cauliflower with Mushrooms. Of course, many Eid al-Adha recipes are vegetarian; try Lebanese Maamoul (date biscuits) Herbel – a Moroccan breakfast porridge or Indian Sheer Khurma – an aromatically sweet date-and-milk-with-vermicelli desert or breakfast. Read more deeply about about how to reconcile veganism w
MAKE Twigging Out
Exploring forests in summer is a dreamy way to spend a sunny afternoon, and the leafy shade provides some relief from the heat. Why not spend some time looking for natural bits and pieces to make some instruments? Try creating a percussion stick, shaker, a pine cone mbira, driftwood xylophone (you can also use forest wood), or even a branch flute. Be inspired by more incredible natural instruments here.
EVENT Float On
Europe’s largest hot air ballooning event, the sight of dozens of beautiful, colourful craft soaring serenely across lush countryside at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta will stay with you for a long time. Held from Thursday to Sunday at the picturesque Ashton Court Estate, hot air balloons shaped like minions, fish and galleons drift overhead, while, on the ground, there are attractions, stalls and much more 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, but book parking in advance.
Photo: Steve Sayers/National Trust
