The Llangollen Fringe Festival, from its humble past has now risen to occupy an important place in the eventful calendar of the UK. Originally a part of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, this Fringe festival has attained legendary status over the years and runs for 10 days every July. The longest festival in Wales, this year it will be held from 14th to 24th July in the magnificent Victorian Llangollen Town Hall, which acts as the centre stage of the event.

Evening Events

Run by volunteers, this non profit organisation attracts visitors from across the length and breadth of the UK. Throughout these 10 days, different artists will mesmerize their audience with music, comedy, craft and skill. Here are some of the famous bands that will grace the occasion.

‘The Selector’- This band from the past still wins the hearts of fans with popular songs and its 2015 album was dubbed by The Huffington Post as the ‘’The Sountrack of Summer 2015’’.

Vangoffey -    Danny Goffey’s album ‘Take Your Jackets off’ and ‘Get In to It’ have earned rave reviews and all credit goes to his new band Vangoffey comprising of a bunch of talented musicians.
Fringe Acoustica – This band with its raw acoustic music charms music lovers has been headlined by Campfire Social.

Dread Zone – This band, a true exponent of Dub and Reggae music is back again to enthral audiences with exciting beats, great vocals and music in the festival’ s 2016 edition.

Some other Events

Besides hosting live music, the fringe festival will also stage a couple of art shows, much to the delight of art connoisseurs. The opening ceremony of this year’s festival will include the performances of Llangollen’s very own Youth Silver Band.

Art exhibition – The exhibition this year will showcase the arts and creation of local artists themed around this year’s art project ‘Structures’.

Cabaret – The pop-up cinema of Llangollen will feature vintage art films, classical music, cabaret and much more. This event is a perfect way to experience the fun and festivities all around.

Burger + Blues – Burger and Blue brings to you an afternoon complete with great live music, delicious burgers and wine, all in an atmosphere of pure fun and joy.

Tickets

The tickets to this festival can be brought for just £86. Upon buying a ticket you can watch every evening concert at Town Hall and enjoy fantastic compositions by Fringe Acoustica for an entire day.

Started in 2004, the Secret Garden Party is an annual independent arts and music festival held at the Mill Hill Field in Cambridgeshire, England. Focusing on this year, the ‘garden-party-gone-crazy’ is scheduled to be held from the 21st of July to the 24th of July. It allows individuals to connect with their creative powers, explore their wildest fantasies and meet thousands of people from different corners of the world.

Secret Garden Party by Angel Ganev CC BY

Theme and Participation

The theme of Secret Garden Party 2016 is ‘The Gardeners Guide to The Galaxy’. To ensure maximum participation, the Secret Garden Party gives over half of all programming money back to the Gardeners – in the form of arts and expression grants. (Readers, please note that the term ‘Gardeners’ refers to the attendees henceforth).

The Mission

Their ‘Mission’, as they call it, is to ‘Explore the world of Science Fiction and imagine a new garden out of the old. Using the inspiration of Arthur C Clarke, Azimov, Philip K Dick and Douglas Adams, we are going to grow our imaginations from childish roots up into something more. In selecting the protocols for this mission, we took inspiration from the past. In 1889, a convention of the ‘gentlemen of the road’ came up with what they called the Hobo Code. We’ve called it The Gardeners Guide To The Galaxy.’

Mission Protocols (i.e. Rules and Regulations)

• If you haven’t come to learn, come to teach.
• Behave honourably at all times and respect the local law and officials.
• Do not take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation.
• Always respect nature; do not leave rubbish where you are playing. You are in a community, pitch in and help.
• Look after your fellow gardeners whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday

(There are few other rules and regulations that need to be adhered to. They are stated in the official website.)

Performers

Renowned performers will show their skills and talents here. Some of them are Izzy Bizu, Hot Since 82, Little Comets, The Temper Trap, The Japanese House, and Band Of Skulls. Eminent DJs include The Martinez Brothers, Hot Since 82, Jackmaster, Waze & Odyssey, Super Flu, Eagles & Butterflies, Jon Sa Trinxa, Mojo Filter, Be Svendsen, and Wild Sirenda.

Other Attractions

Gardeners can look forward to the Vogon poetry readings & spoken word, robo copout, cosmic knitting, mutation station, art constellations, cosmonaut displays, astronaut training, guerrilla science, virtual reality, paint fights, floating dance floors, laser wars, regression sessions space safari and 24-hour woodland parties.

Tickets

There are a couple of options when it comes to tickets. The Adult weekend ticket costs £185.99 (Face Value + Litter Bond + Booking Fee) and the Teen Ticket is priced at £140.50 (Face Value + Litter Bond + Booking Fee). Admission of children (12 years and below) is free of cost! There are two types of instalment plans as well. For other essential details, check out the official website of the Secret Garden Party. Participants need to remember that tickets, deposits and instalment tickets are absolutely non-refundable.

Travel & Transport

Tourists intending to travel by single-decker buses can use the service of the Big Green Coach. All their coaches drop off or pick up at the official SGP coach park near the entrance. Others coming by train should get down at the Huntingdon Railway Station. It’s closest to the venue.

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The renowned music festival called T in the Park was started in 1994. Over the years, it has been held across many places, with the last edition being at Strathallan, Perthshire. Originally conceptualized as a two day event, it has over the years turned into a three day affair. The Strathallan Castle will again play host to this year’s festival, which will last from 8^th to 10^th July.

Scotland by Martin de Lusenet CC BY

Tickets and Accommodation

You can choose to stay at a campsite for the entire duration of the event or opt for a single day visit.  By buying camping tickets, you get easy access to the festival. For access to the park without camping, the WEEKEND NO CAMPING ticket rightfully serves the purpose. One can also choose to camp with added luxury by buying VIP tickets which come with a range of entitlements. ‘The Residences’ offer accommodation with facilities such as premium showers, a private café and a host of entertainment options.

Changes Made to the Arena and Campsite

Organizers of this festival have left no stone unturned to ensure that this year’s event is bigger and better than the last year. The size of the entire arena has been increased by a third of its original size. The campsite area has also been remarkably increased with ‘The Residences’ finding refuge at a better location with beautiful surroundings. A BAND-A-OKE and a host of entertainment options are in place to fuel the frenzy of visitors.

Artist line up for 2016

Like every year, the 2016 edition will also feature some famous international artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Roses Disclosure, Calvin Harris, Alesso, Travis, Diplo, Jeff Mills and many more. Stages have been placed at better positions to ensure unhindered viewing further separated by distinct zones.

Transport Facilities

The best way to reach the venue would be by boarding a bus that will run across designated routes on dedicated lanes to and from a specially designed Bus Station. The Big Green Coach will provide transportation services to anyone coming from England and Wales. City Link, the official coach provider of this event will cater to the travel requirements of people from Northern Island and Scotland. People bringing their campervans need not worry as a dedicated space has been created in close proximity to the campsite.

Supported by Dark MOFO, Events Tasmania and the Huon Valley Council, the annual Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest is a 3-day event celebrating the significance of the apple in the Huon Valley.

Tasmania by dany13 CC BY

The festival will light up the winter nights with exciting bonfires, dance performances, folk music and storytelling. Mouth-watering food and refreshing beverages will be offered to the participants. Read on to know more about the festival.

Venue: The Apple Shed, 2064 Huon Highway, Grove TAS 7109

Date: 15th – 17th July, 2016 (Friday to Sunday)

Traditions

Continuing with an age old tradition, wassailing will take place to awake the cider apple trees and scare away the evil spirits for ensuring a good harvest of fruit in the autumn season. Wassail King and Queen lead the procession song. Afterwards, the Wassail Queen is lifted up into the branches of the tree where she is supposed to leave a toast soaked in wassail, from the Clayen Cup, as a present to the tree spirits.

Storytelling

Back in the old days, folks gather around the fire to share stories with each other. Huon Valley Mid-Winter Fest attempts to recreate those beautiful moments. During the festival, well known storytellers such as Philip Rush, Tara Smith, Jackie Kerin, Emily and Ben Conolan will share interesting tales with the listeners.

Food & Drink

The delectable food and beverages can be enjoyed by all. Few of the eating venues that can be visited are Black Box Kitchen, Black Mountain Smokehouse, and Our Little Vegan Kitchen. You can enjoy dishes and drinks like cake kombi, hand-crafted Lark Single Malt Whisky, and Flammkuchen.

Music

Professional artists will add more value to the fest with their performances. From folk to jazz, everything will be played here. Some of the artists and bands that’ll perform here include The Crooked Fiddle Band, Willie Wagtails, Grim Fawkner, Rowena Wise, George Begbie and Guerilla Zingari.

Costumes and Prizes

Individuals dressed up especially for Wassail have a chance of winning attractive cash prizes. On Saturday, Best Male wins $250, Best Female Runner Up takes away $100, and Best Child receives $250. On Sunday, the Best Family wins $500 and Best Family Runner Up takes away $250.

Tickets

Tickets will be sold in three pre-sale releases, with a limited number available in each release. Interested people can choose between Weekend Pass, Friday Tickets, Saturday Tickets and Sunday Tickets. Travellers should check out the official website for more information regarding the same.

How to Get There?

There will be free buses moving around the valley picking up people from two locations: Village Green and Skinner Drive. Furthermore, there’ll be special buses running from different places around the south of Tasmania.

Accommodation Options

Crabtree House, Driftwood Cottages, Hobart Hideaway Pods, Southern Lights Hotels, and Port Huon Cottages are some of the accommodation choices available to guests.

Boardmasters by Mirry CC BY

Cornwall’s very own Boardmasters Festival is back again in 2016 with four days of fun and activities. To be held in the town of Newquay, this event has become one of the biggest music festivals in the UK and blends fine elements of live music, surfing, skateboarding and much more. Be a part of the festival from 10th to 14th July and witness, what promises to be a rousing celebration of surf culture and the hottest music in town.

The Stage

Stage is where the magic usually happens and the organisers have ensured that it is indeed a big one. The ‘main stage’ which hosts the biggest names of the music industry generally steals the limelight. ‘Unleashed Stage’ is where the grooviest summer tune hits electrify the atmosphere rendering a pulsating experience. Mavericks are hosted by ‘Land of the Saints’ that maintains an independent spirit and continues to grow bigger and better with each passing year. Acclaimed as the heart and soul of the festival, ‘The View’ enchants visitors with music by up and coming artists in a scenic landscape with riveting views of the ocean. This is the stage where the likes of George Ezra and Newton Faulkner began their musical journey before grabbing headlines. If a taste of hottest club music by professional Dj’s is what you want to delve into, nothing will be more gratifying than heading to the ‘Point’, host to the ultimate beach party. Apart from the above, many other stages also enthrall music lovers throughout the event.

It’s Also about Surfing

Boardmasters, since its inception in the year 1981, has been much more than music and now occupies a formidable place in the professional British surfing arena. Head to the beach and be a spectator to many pro surfers fighting for the coveted Broadmasters Crown. There is hardly a better place than Newquay to hone your surfing skills owing to the consistent waves of the sea and tides. Complete your surfing itinerary with a visit to Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, known to be a sea surfer’s paradise.

BMX Meets Skateboarding

Skateboarding is another popular highlight of the Boardmasters festival. Every year the Fistral Beach serves as the sporting arena for professional and amateur skateboarders from round the globe. A mini ramp is set up where the very best of skating can be seen. BMX as a sport has always been a crowd puller and a similar mood is reflected at the Boardmasters festival as well. A strong contingent of BMX athletes sweats it out in a park built exclusively to serve the purpose amidst a mesmerising backdrop of a large crowd cheering all along.

Starting on the 1st of July in Knysna, The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is a 10-day celebration meant for foodies, sports buffs and families. During the festival, activities such as oyster eating, oyster shucking, oyster farm tours, and oyster recipe challenges are held.

Attended by more than 50,000 visitors annually, the venue offers countless oysters along with mouth-watering molluscs that are cooked in different ways. Beyond these, the festival features world-class sporting events for an absolute adrenaline rush. The two major ones are the Pick n Pay Cape Times Forest Marathon (half marathon), and Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Cycle Tour.

This family-centric festival has something for everyone! Events like Bingo! With Local Celebrity, Imperial Auto Festival of Golf: Parent and Child, The Rockets Concert, and Kids Pavement Art entertain people of all age-groups. Coffee lovers should participate in the ‘Marley Coffee Orientation Courses’ to learn about the origin of coffee and the different processes it goes through before reaching potential customers. An information booklet will be given to each person participating in this course. For an amazing night, dinner and dance with the SA Navy Dance Band is a must!

All in all, 100 mid-week events are there, including certain new ones such as the Geo Oyster Geocaching Competition, Navigation Drift Dive Challenge, Pick n Pay Fun Event for the disabled, and Night of 1000 Pictures.

History and Significance

This festival was first celebrated in 1983 and, over the years, it has successfully established itself as one of the most popular events in the Western Cape. The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival also acts a prominent charity platform to ensure everyone benefits out of it!

How To Get There

By Road

Knysna, also known as the ‘Pearl of the Garden Route’, is accessible from Cape Town (500Km) via the N2 National Road. Its neighbouring towns are George and Plettenberg Bay. While driving, stick to the speed limit. There are speed cameras on the N2 National Road.

By Plane

One may board flights via Johannesburg or Cape Town for landing in George Airport – the nearest airport to Knysna.

Accommodation

Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is internationally famous. Thus, travellers coming from any corner of the world should book their accommodation in advance. There are multiple online websites that’ll assist them in finding the room of their choice! Those planning to stay overnight can check out the accommodation options on the Garden Route. These fulfil the requirements of both luxury and budget travellers.

Town Attractions

After commemorating the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, tourists should explore the various magnificent hotspots of the town. Some of them are the Garden of Eden, Prince Alfred Pass, Scarab Village, Margaret’s Viewpoint and Bollard Bay.