Festivals and Events in English Speaking Countries sound dull but aren't - if you pick the
right place. Forget the average county show, the festivals listed here
are superb, vibrant events that will keep you talking for weeks. And
you'll be able to understand every word - with the possible exception
of Scotland and French Canada!
Events Calendar Dates
are sometimes unconfirmed and occasionally
unreliable, so check before booking.
TBC/A = To Be Confirmed/Announced
Maps: USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | South
Africa | Australia | New Zealand
2012
Festival dates and information:
Feb | March | April
| May | June | July
| August | Sept | Oct
| Nov | Dec
January Events 2012 
1 January [Same day every year] |
USA, Los
Angeles, California Rose Parade [Tournament of Roses Parade] - in Pasadena,
an immense, floaty, flowery spectacle of floats and marching bands.
|
1 January
[Same date every year] |
USA, Philadelphia Mummers
Parade, Pennsylvania
- the biggest, wildest event of the region with incredible outfits and lots
of comedy. If the weather's bad the event moves to the following Saturday.
It starts at 9am.
|
1 January to 23 February
Main parade: 2 Jan |
SOUTH
AFRICA, Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, Kaapse Klopse -
a brilliant collection of parades and parties harking back to slave days, with singing, dancing and
competitions.
|
6 January
[Same date every year] |
USA, New
York City Three
Kings Day Parade - a colourful Latin-influenced parade of Nativity
animals, costumed people and kids. New
York Pictures
|
7
- 29 January
|
AUSTRALIA,
Sydney, Sydney Festival - the biggest
cultural event in the country, covering all the arts from drama to
music in fine international style though sadly lacking a lunatic
Fringe. Sydney Pictures.
|
13
- 15 January |
USA,
Miami, Florida Art
Deco Weekend - in
the Miami Beach Historic Art Deco District with 1920's-30's style
music and parades. A colourful blast from the past.
|
19 - 29 January
|
USA, Park City, Salt Lake Cuty, Utah, Sundance Film Festival - founded by Robert Redford in 1981, this is the USA's largest independant cinema festival, introducing its audience to some of the most original films of the last 30 years.
|
23 January
10 February 2013
|
USA, New York City, Chinese New Year - Chinatown Parade and Festival, with floats, bands, dragon dancers, musicians,
acrobats etc etc. Parade 1-3pm, 3pm- Bayard Street performances. New
York Travel Guide
|
23
January
10 February 2013
|
ENGLAND, London Chinese New Year in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue and Chinatown. Parade and festivities.
|
21
January - 5 February [weekends mainly] |
CANADA,
Montreal, La Fete des Neiges [Snow Festival] at Parc Jean-Drapeau - dominated by a monstrous and labyrinthine snow castle, ice sculpting,
dog sledding and more icy fun. Quebec
Travel Guide
|
February
2012
27 January
- 12 February |
CANADA, Carnaval de Québec in Quebec City - a vigorous winter celebration with parades, themed parties, ice sculptures and, bien sûr, winter sports of every description
in a pretty France-loving city.
|
3
- 20 February
[weekends only] |
CANADA, Winterlude Festival in Ottawa [Ontario],
3 weekends - features parades, dances, snow races, ice sculptures,
sleigh rides and more, but especially skating on the 7km Rideau Canal.
If skating is your thing, then this is your festival.
|
12
February - 4 March
Fair Day 12th
Harbour Party 25th
Parade 3 March |
AUSTRALIA, Sydney Mardi Gras and Festival
- a huge and world famous celebration of gaiety in all artistic spheres,
with a stunning parade, shows and parties. The parade is on the last
day, as is the amazing final party [that needs booking well ahead]. Sydney
Pictures
|
21 February |
USA,
New Orleans, Louisiana, Mardi Gras - locals start celebrating up to 2 weeks before, dressed bizarrely,
intent on mayhem and well oiled good times. An outrageous must-see. New
Orleans Travel
|
24 February - 4 March Parade on Saturday 3rd |
SOUTH
AFRICA, Cape Town Pride - a lively week of all kind of events and parties, including the Pride Parade. Cape
Town Pictures
|

March Events 2012
9 - 18 March |
USA,
Daytona Beach, Florida Bike
Week - the world's biggest motorbike fest with unhinged events of all kinds.
2 wheels god, four wheels baaad.
|
3
March, 10 am
[Race Start] |
USA,
Anchorage, Iditarod National Historic Trail,
Alaska, Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog Race - 1131 miles from Anchorage to Nome in doggy style...it's the white stuff.
The start is the best bit.
|
9 - 18
March |
USA,
Austin, Texas, South by Southwest Week [SXSW]. An annual film, music and interactive festival/conference, featuring original films, up and coming recording acts and cutting-edge media technologies. Looking for the next big thing? This is for you.
|
| 16 - 19 March
[Parade the 17th] |
IRELAND,
Dublin St Patrick's Festival and St Patrick's Day Parade - a wild,
green five days, including a huge parade. PS What's the difference
between an Irish wedding and a funeral? There's one less drunk person
at the funeral. Ireland
Travel
|

April 2012

19 - 29 April |
USA,
San Antonio, Texas Fiesta San Antonio. Over
150 different events ranging from masked balls to the Pooch Parade;
the biggest party in Texas!
|
13 - 15 & 20 - 22 April |
USA,
California, Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival - 2 weekends of 3-day festivals featuring many genres of music in a desert; with several stages and a large campground this is regarded as one of the USA's best music events.
|
29 - 30 April and 1 May |
USA, New Jersey, the Bamboozle - a 3 day music event taking place at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford. The line-ups are generally punk, alternative and emo.
|

May Events 2012
25 - 27
May |
ENGLAND,
London, ATP All Tomorrow's Parties at Alexandra Palace - a corporate-free, intimate, fan-friendly rock festival where artists and organisers stay in the same holiday camp as the fans. ATP is know for its unpredictable and exciting line-ups. The concept is expanding to venues in Australia, US and Spain.
|
22
- 26 May |
ENGLAND, London, RHS Chelsea Flower Show - 11 acres of the UK's [and arguably Europe's]
best flowers and gardens event, with plenty of original, even wacky
ideas.
|
The last Monday [May bank holiday] each year. Officially CANCELLED 2011 due to traffic/safety concerns but the race went ahead. TBC for 2012. |
ENGLAND, Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling near
Brockworth in Gloucester, Gloucestershire - dozens of brave and/or bonkers people fling
themselves down a precipitous hill [1-in-2 gradient ] attempting to catch huge, rolling rounds
of Gloucester cheese. Bones get broken regularly, a few people faint just watching the event, so this is a remarkable sight
in the nanny state of England, but parking is a nightmare - 15,000 spectators rolled up in 2009.
|
24 - 28 May
[Memorial Day weekend]
30 Aug. - 4 September
[Labor Day weekend] |
USA, California, Strawbery Music Festival - one of America's most popular music festivals held twice a year at the picturesque Camp Mather site on the edge of Yosemite National Park.
|
26 May |
USA,
Summer Redneck Games in East Dublin, Georgia.
Tongue-in-cheek competitions such as the Mud Pit Belly-Flop, Hubcap
Hurl, Dumpster Dive. It will be hot and dirty!
|
26 May - 8 June |
ENGLAND, Isle
of Man TT Races. The ultimate event for bikers. Watch racers
on 37 miles of narrow, winding, stone walled roads travelling at way
over 150mph, then get out there yourself. Death is no stranger to
this event.
|

June 2012
7 - 10 June |
USA,
Tennessee, the Bonnaroo Music Festival - an award-winning festival [Rolling Stone Magazine's Best Festival of 2008], with its multiple stages of live music of all kinds. 96km/60 miles outside of Nashville.
|
10 - 12 June
[on the second weekend] |
ENGLAND, Download Festival - the UK's largest rock and metal music festival, held at Donington Park, Derby, near East Midlands Airport.
Download is known for its relaxed community feel. Weekend tickets include camping; also available are Day tickets, Family tickets, Kids offers and Early Bird specials.
|
8 - 10 June |
SCOTLAND,
near Inverness, RockNess - an annual music fest in a picturesque setting at Clune Farm on the banks of Loch Ness in Dores. With a spectacular view of the lake, this is considered by many to be the world's most beautiful festival environment.
|
19
- 23 June |
ENGLAND,
Ascot, Berkshire Royal
Ascot Horse Racing - The poshest of posh UK events, with mad
hats de rigeur for ladies and tails for gents.
|
21
June
[same date every year] |
ENGLAND,
Wiltshire Stonehenge Summer Solstice - midsummer night ritual with all sorts of druids, hippies and new age wackos. Fascinating and this is your ONLY chance to touch the stones, normally they're out of bounds.
|
19 - 22
June
|
ENGLAND, Cambridgeshire, near Huntington, Secret Garden Party -
an arty independant music/art festival where visitors walk around in fancy dress. The event has a theme each year and develops into a temporary community, featuring several music stages, theatre shows, films, games, talks, workshops and art installations. Secret Garden Party offers original and extraordinary activities similar to USA's Burning Man. Kids love it too!
|
22 - 24 June
|
ENGLAND, Isle of Wight Festival - the revived legendary festival of the late 60's is now held annually at Seaclose Park, Newport since 2002.
|
26 - 30 June 2013
NO Festival in 2012, but 2013 Ticket registration is now open!
|
ENGLAND, Glastonbury Festival, Somerset, England - a massive, multiple music event, with different stages featuring
different music, but heavy on rock variations. The closest
to Woodstock most of us will ever get. Camping is fine...but why does
it always rain? Tickets are VERY difficult to acquire so book many months ahead!
|
27 June -
1 July and
3 - 8 July
[Closed on Monday 2 July] |
USA,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Summerfest - also know as 'the Big Gig' - is the world's largest musical jamboree, attracting one million people. Held annually for 11 days either side of Independance Day weekend, though NOT on the 4th of July, with more than 800 bands on 11 stages.
|
29 June - 25 August
|
USA,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa
Fe Opera - a brilliant series of shows in a superb new opera house.
|
30 June, 4,
7 - 11 July |
USA, Washington DC Smithsonian Folklife Festival - Smithsonian Institute, National Mall. Music, song, dance, crafts, cooking, storytelling,
discussions.
|
late June -
mid August |
USA, various cities, Lilith Fair - a summer touring music show, featuring only female artists and performers.
|

July Events 2012
28 June - 7 July
28 June - 7 July 2013 |
CANADA,
Montreal International Jazz Festival. Free outdoor megashows as well as indoor performances. Montreal
Travel
|
29 June - 25 August
|
USA,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa
Fe Opera - a brilliant series of shows in a superb new opera house.
|
6 - 15 July |
CANADA, Calgary Stampede in Calgary,
Alberta - a 10 day world-class rodeo riot, a wild yet comradely festival
enjoyed by the whole of 'Cowtown'. Events include Chuck Wagon racing,
rodeos, a spectacular parade, country music performances and free
pancake breakfasts!
Stampede vs Italy's Il Palio!
|
16
- 29 July |
IRELAND,
Galway Galway Arts Festival - Ireland's
biggest arts jamboree, with all kinds of entertainment, street, theatre,
music, kid's, exhibitions, concerts...
|
16 - 17 July |
ENGLAND, Bognor Birdman in
Bognor Regis, West Sussex - wildly costumed nutters jump-fly off Bognor
pier attempting to win a big distance prize, or just 15 seconds of
celebrity. Audiences chill on the beach. England
Travel Guide
|
20 - 29
July |
USA,
Cheyenne, Wyoming Cheyenne
Frontier Days
- 10 days of wild west action of every kind at the world's largest rodeo.
|
20 - 29
July |
CANADA,
Alberta, Edmonton's Capital EX [previously Klondike Days] - 10 days of concerts,
racing pigs, racing bath tubs, racing rafts and probably racing prices,
though the pancakes are free.
|
26
- 29 July |
ENGLAND,
Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire WOMAD - [World of Music Arts and Dance] impressive world music festival, with
70 artists from 30 countries on 7 stages. Family friendly.
|
28
July - 12 August |
USA,
Abingdon Virginia
Highlands Festival. A huge arts and crafts show, with a plenty of entertainment, antique market and more.
|
29 - 31
July 2011
TBA for 2012 |
USA,
North Carolina, Wilmington, Cape Fear Blues Festival. An annual 3 day blues fiesta in venues across the city, including Saturday's big concert at the Legion Stadium.
|
26 - 29
July |
ENGLAND, Cambridge Cambridge Folk Festival - the real deal for the folks who like the music. 'A festival with a prestigious reputation for quality music in intimate
surroundings.' |
August 2012
29 June - 25 August
|
USA,
Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa
Fe Opera - a brilliant series of shows in a superb new opera house.
|
6 - 12 August TBC
|
USA,
Sturgis, Black Hills, South Dakota Sturgis Rally, also known as Sturgis Bike Week - Hog Heaven as thousands of Harleys make a spectacular sight and sound while their owners party hard. Harley owners are born to be wild so accommodation is mostly camping, with plenty of sites available.
|
3 - 5 August
|
USA,
Chicago, Illinois, Lollapalooza [which means an extraordinary event] - an eclectic musical celebration held in Grant Park annually. It offers a wide range of sounds including punk, heavy metal, alternative rock and hip pop. This is considered to be one of the world's most eco-friendly events.
|
10
- 19 August |
IRELAND, Kilkenny Arts Festival- music,
theatre, dance, exhibitions set in superb surroundings.
|
10
- 12 August every year [International] |
IRELAND, Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry.
A large and loony street fair with plenty of singing, dancing and
horse shows, and all overseen by King Puck - a goat. Ireland
Guide
|
9 - 19 August
|
USA,
Des Moines, Iowa State Fair - an annual summer hoe-down attracting more than one million people and featuring one of world's largest livestock shows, the state's largest arts event and nearly 200 food stands.
|
14
- 19 August |
CANADA, Montreal Pride Celebrations - a huge performing arts festival, gay, but not exclusively so. Free concerts, shows, parties
conferences and more in attractive Montreal.
|
10
- 20 August |
IRELAND, Fleadh Cheoil - a huge celebration of Ireland's music, dance and arts, with over 10,000 musicians roaming and playing all over the place. Hosted by a different town every year.
|
20 - 26 August 2012
19 - 25 August 2013
[the third week]
|
USA, Washington State International Kite Festival [WSIKF] - a week-long kite celebration and competition run by the World Kite Museum and held annually on Long Beach.
|
26
- 27 August [the last Sunday and Bank Holiday every year] |
ENGLAND,
London, Notting Hill Carnival - fiesta with music, dance, and parade by London's Caribbean community; sponsored
by London Pickpocket Support Group.
|
27 August - 3 Sept.
[Labor Day] 2011 Art theme:
Rites of Passage |
USA, Burning Man Black Rock Desert near Reno, Nevada - a week of
unique, liberal and artistic madness, culminating in the torching
of many structures. Expensive and organisation will be required, but
this could be a life changing experience. Burning
Man Pictures and Information | SW
USA Map
|

September Events 2012
30 Aug. - 4 September
[Labor Day weekend]
24 - 28 May
[Memorial Day weekend] |
USA, California, Strawbery Music Festival - one of US's most popular music jamborees held twice a year at the picturesque Camp Mather on the edge of Yosemite National Park.
|
1
September
[1st Saturday in Sept.] |
SCOTLAND,
the Braemar Gathering [Highland Games] - traditionally odd Scottish sporting events and massed
pipers in a scenic setting in Scotland.
|
1 - 30
September |
USA,
California Los Angeles, L. A. County Fair -
the largest fair in the USA features everything from pig racing to
rodeos and big name bands.
|
3
- 5 September
[Labor Day Weekend] |
USA, Seattle, Washington State, Bumbershoot at Seattle Center - a 3 day music and art festival with over 2,000 artists, many world famous, perform art of every kind from top flight rock to comedy, drama, poetry and bizarre
sculptures.
|
6 - 9 September |
ENGLAND,
Isle of Wight, Bestival -
a 3-day music festival and party set at Robin Hill Country Park, known for its annual fancy dress competition, so make sure to dress suitably strangely. It is kid-friendly, too.
|
8
- 18 September 2011
TBA for 2012 |
CANADA, Toronto International Film Festival - TIFF is one of world's most important film fests known for its independance and lack of financial consideration in their selection of movies.
|
9 - 25
September |
USA,
south of Seattle, Washington state, Puyallup Fair - also known as the Western Washington Fair, draws more than a million visitors annually to see rodeos, concerts, kid's rides and chow down on a huge variety of food offerings.
|
22 September for parade
17 September for Waikiki Hoolaulea [a street party with food and music] |
USA,
Hawaii, Aloha Festival, Floral Parade - a hugely colourful and smelly occasion to celebrate Hawaiian culture in Oahu starts a series of
events all over the islands.
Hawaii Pictures
|
21 - 23 September |
USA Monterey Jazz Festival in California.
This, the oldest and longest running jazz festival in the world, always hosts some big
names but also has workshops, exhibitions and other appropriate entertainment.
|
TBA for 2012
24 Sept. Melbourne
25 Sept. Perth 2011 See Oct. for Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney
|
AUSTRALIA, Parklife - a one day outdoor music festival focusing on dance, held in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, followed by an 'After Life' Party.
|
30
September |
USA,
San Francisco, California Folsom Street Fair
- wacky S & M, leather fair.
|
28 Sept. - 1 October |
SOUTH
AFRICA Hermanus Whale Festival - Hermanus [Western Cape] various events but much of the time will
be spent lounging on cliffs watching as whales cruise by. Cape
Pictures
|

October 2012
1 October Brisbane 3 October Adelaide
21 October Sydney 2011
TBA for 2012
|
AUSTRALIA,
Parklife - a one day outdoor music festival focusing on dance, held in Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, followed by an 'After Life' Party.
|
9
October 2011
TBA for 2012
|
USA, Florida, Miami Carnival - a huge citywide rave, with much Latin influence, especially dancing. The last Sunday in Calle Ocho culminates in a parade that is the highlight of the week.
|
24 October - 4 November |
IRELAND, Wexford Opera Festival - a small
but perfectly formed and positively regarded event in a brand new
Opera House on a new date. Ireland Guide
|
24 - 28 October |
USA,
Las
Vegas Professional Bull Riders World Finals -
the 45 toughest hombres in the west ride the baddest bulls in one
of the world's most colourful cities. Las
Vegas Pictures
|
31 October 2011
TBA for 2012
|
USA,
New York City, New York's Village Halloween Parade - a colourful and spooky occasion with over 20,000 scary monsters on
the prowl among the bands, puppets and assorted weirdos. From 7pm.
|

November Events 2012
24 October - 4 November |
IRELAND, Wexford Opera Festival - a small
but perfectly formed and positively regarded event in a brand new
Opera House on a new date. Ireland Guide
|
5
November [same day every year] Carnival procession on Saturday before
5 Nov. |
ENGLAND, Devon, Ottery
St. Mary Tar Barrels - huge flaming barrels are carried
around this little rural town. The procession and fireworks are on the Saturday before the 5th of November, Guy Fawkes Night.
|
5
November
[same day every year] |
UNITED KINGDOM, and some of its former colonies including Canada and New Zealand, Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night - an annual nationwide event with fireworks displays and lighting bonfires.
|
6
November 2011
TBA for 2012 |
ENGLAND, London to Brighton Veteran Car Run [LBVCR] - the world's longest running motoring event. Ancient car lovers will need to find a comfortable viewing location for this London [Hyde Park] to Brighton [Madeira Drive] event for hundreds of pre-1905 vehicles; it starts at dawn and motors will begin to fart across the finish line from about 10 am.
|
22 November
28 November 2013
[4th Thursday in Nov.]
|
USA,
New
York City, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - specialising in monster helium balloon figures. 9am-noon.
|
December 2012
29
Dec - 2 Jan [Same days every year] |
SCOTLAND, Edinburgh's Hogmanay - one of world's best New year Celebrations, a truly wild and wooly underwear occasion with a torchlight procession, a Fire Festival,
fireworks, concerts and much insobriety, in a city dark yet strangely
light... Edinburgh
Guide, Edinburgh Pictures
|
31
December |
ENGLAND,
London + AUSTRALIA, Sydney + USA, New York. New Year's Eve Fireworks
and general carousing.
|
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