I went in search of Britain’s under-the-radar festivals – here are the 20 best

From depraved pilgrimages in Andalusia to animist funerals in Sulawesi, I scoured the world for my book Fiesta: A Journey Through Festivity, experiencing some of the most vivid extremes of human celebration. But the further I travelled, the closer I came to a realisation: no one does a quirky festival quite like the British. Whether your idea of a good time is a crop circle convention, steampunk gathering or faery fair, here are some of the quirkiest celebrations happening across Britain through the rest of the summer… Glastonbury Symposium, Somerset Glastonbury Festival may not be on this year, but the UK’s leading alternative conference is in town. Occupying Glastonbury Town Hall for three days of lectures, coffee meetings and workshops, this year’s schedule includes talks on UFO disclosures, crop circles, the acoustics of ancient stones, and meditation sessions in the grounds of nearby Glastonbury Abbey (burial place, according to a cemetery tombstone, of King Arthur and Guinevere, no less). To Sun, glastonburysymposium.co.uk Eyemouth Herring Queen Festival Eyemouth, Borders The Berwickshire town of Eyemouth celebrates its fishing heritage with the yearly Herring Queen Festival and the crowning of a local teenage girl. The coronation ceremony in the harbour is just the beginning of a week of parades, picnics and craft workshops, a tradition which began in 1946 to celebrate the resumption of normal fishing business after the end of the Second World War.To 2 Aug, ehq.org.uk Green Gathering, Chepstow, Monmouthshire Move over, Burning Man: the UK’s answer to an experimental festive utopia is on a smaller and altogether more charming scale. Overlooking the stunning Wye Valley from the town of Chepstow, Green Gathering is the original off-grid festival, a steampunky collection of solar-, wind- and bicycle-powered generators, food stalls and talk tents where speakers expound on topics such as sustainable technology and low-impact cooking. Speakers this year include Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Roger Hallam, while musical artists include Madame Gandhi and Will Varley. 30 Jul-2 Aug, greengathering.org.uk Take in the Good Vibrations in East Sussex strikes a balance between music, partying, and wellness workshops Good Vibrations Society, Uckfield, East Sussex Living up to its name, this festival dishes out the good vibes in spades, striking a balance between music, partying, and wellness workshops. At this year’s do, you can boogie until the small hours to legendary artists including Orbital and Ms Dynamite, before recharging the next morning at a yoga class, in the hot tubs of the Wild Spa or even, heaven forbid, with an organised 5km run.31 Jul-2 Aug, goodvibrationssociety.com Hebden Bridge Steampunk Weekend, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire The attractive market town of Hebden Bridge is taken over for the first weekend of August by gangs of outlaws in top hats, flying goggles, bodices and brass fittings – the ornaments of steampunk fashion, which grew from the neo-Victorian sci-fi genre of the same name. Pick up some steampunk couture of your own at the vintage market, admire a collection of retro cars, and enjoy live Goth, rock and folk bands. 1-2 Aug, facebook.com/hebdensteampunk Robin Hood Festival, Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire There is no greater British folk hero than Robin Hood, whose legacy is celebrated at this festival over three weekends in August – in Sherwood Forest, naturally. Popular with families, this is an extravaganza of jousting displays, costume competitions and medieval-style comedy plays, with a sprinkling of stage magic, music, and medieval food. Pottage, anyone? 1-2, 8-9 and 29-31 Aug, visitsherwood.co.uk/home/robin-hood-festival-2026 Robin Hood Festival in Sherwood Forest is an extravaganza of jousting displays, costume competitions and medieval-style comedy plays (Photo: Rob James) Dornoch Highland Games, Dornoch, Sutherland In the Sutherland town of Dornoch, there is no greater proof of strength and vigour than victory in the Highland Games. From hammer-throwing and stone-putting to the ultimate Highland sport, caber-tossing – all while wearing a kilt – this event gives you the chance to admire some of the finest practitioners of Scottish rural sports. You can enter the contests yourself, if you’re brave enough – or just enjoy browsing the traditional craft stalls, watching the contests and admiring the ceremonial parades of Scottish piping and dancing. 7 Aug, dornoch highlandgames.org Broadstairs Folk Week, Broadstairs, Kent Lovers of British folk traditions should get themselves down to the Kent seaside town of Broadstairs for a whole week of Morris dancing, ceilidhs, acoustic singalongs, mummers’ plays and hooden horses – that is, people in creepy horse costumes running around, causing chaos and asking people for money. While you are in town, be sure to visit the famed Art Deco Morelli’s ice cream parlour and the gorgeous horseshoe beach of Viking Bay. 7–14 Aug, broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk Llangollen Faery Festival, Denbighshire, north Wales Are you bewitched by all things fairy and fae? Those with a sense for the supernatural, particularly kids of all ages, will be enchanted by this event, held at the Llangollen Pavilion amid the stunning forests and hills of the Dee Valley. There are wand-making workshops, magical storytelling sessions, a vintage funfair and a fairy flea market, as well as a chance to meet the cuddly Fairy Bears. Over-16s, meanwhile, can dance the Saturday evening away at the Grand Faery Ball, with flamboyant costumes and live music. 8-9 Aug, northwalesfaeryfestival.com Canterbury Haunted Roadshow, Kingston, Kent Lovers of all things ghoulish and macabre should check out this travelling show of haunted objects, spooky stalls and paranormal speakers, which sets up shop at a converted barn in the village of Kingston, outside Canterbury. Expect tales of hauntings from paranormal investigators, ripostes from sceptics, and the chance to pick up a one-of-a-kind, if slightly creepy, bit of home décor. 15 Aug, parameetworld.com Embrace the strong stuff at the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, Newchurch, Isle of Wight “Eat, drink, stink” goes the slogan of this event, for those who love to celebrate the pungent side of life. Food, of course, is the main attraction, with distinctly garlicky overtones to even the most unexpected dishes: garlic ice cream, garlic popcorn and garlic fudge are all on offer, if you’re brave enough. There is also a sweetcorn eating contest, BMX stunt shows, beer tents and musical performances – along with live kitchen demonstrations, so you can take some cooking tips home with you along with your halitosis. 15–16 Aug, garlicfestival.co.uk Green Man, Bannau Brycheiniog, Powys A tripartite celebration of the arts, science and environmentalism, Green Man has won plaudits for becoming a major fixture on the festival circuit while retaining its pro-charity, anti-corporate ethos. Alongside established musical acts (this year’s headliners include Mogwai, Wolf Alice and Four Tet), Green Man has an extensive programme of science talks, this year featuring the likes of climate campaigner Tori Tsui and water activists from Surfers Against Sewage. Throw in some mind-bending cabaret and the natural beauty of Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), and Green Man is a winner. 20-23 Aug, greenman.net Rock N Roll Circus, Norwich, Norfolk Rock music and the circus have a lot in common – flamboyant showmanship, risqué routines and very tight trousers – so bringing the two together is a no-brainer. Combining some big names in music – this year’s edition welcomes James, The Streets and The Kooks – with some of the country’s finest circus performers, Rock N Roll Circus descends on Earlham Park in late August. Expect to see high-wire acts and fire-breathing and hear bone-rattling guitars. 20-23 Aug, rocknrollcircus.co.uk/norwich Just So Rode Hall Estate. Scholar Green, Cheshire The attractive landscaped grounds of the Georgian country house Rode Hall are the backdrop for this family-focused extravaganza of music, food and fun. There will be giant 8ft puppets teaching kids about ecology, foot-stomping folk bands and the cherished annual tradition of a play fight featuring unusual weapons – in the past it has been pillows and blancmange, this year it is odd socks (clean ones only, please). Be sure to check out the Craftivism area, where workshops are held focusing on pottery, banner-making and all manner of other arts and crafts. 21-23 Aug, justsofestival.org.uk Shambala is a festival of colourful costumes, samba and silliness (Photo: Luis Kramer) Shambala, Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire A festival of colourful costumes, samba and silliness, Shambala has always done things a little differently. It is worker-owned, the food stalls are all plant-based, and the venue is not usually announced until you have bought your ticket – although this year’s event, not for the first time, is being held at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire. The woodlands become a stage for workshops on permaculture and sustainable living, there is a fantastic range of activities for children, delicious vegan food and experimental artists including, in 2026, Swedish psych-folk band Goat. 27-30 Aug, shambalafestival.org Bog Snorkelling, Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys Lying deep within the dramatically named Desert of Wales – a remote region of peat bogs and ragged rolling hills – lies Llanwrtyd Wells, a former spa resort which claims to be Britain’s smallest town (population: 850). When the health tourism boom waned in the 20th century, the town had to fill its hotels and boarding houses by other means, so it devised a packed programme of some of Britain’s wackiest sports. Between June’s Man versus Horse Marathon and November’s Real Ale Wobble comes the World Bog Snorkelling Championships, which involves contestants – usually in fancy dress – donning snorkels and masks and splashing their way down a swampy channel, hoping to be the quickest. 30 Aug, green-events.co.uk/world-bog-snorkelling-championships World Gravy Wrestling Championships, Bacup, Lancashire Rivalling bog snorkelling for the title of Britain’s strangest sport is gravy wrestling, which comes to Bacup Cricket Club. A giant inflatable paddling pool is filled with the finest Lancashire gravy before contestants in fancy dress attempt to wrestle each other over the edge of the ring as the adoring crowd throws Yorkshire puddings into the arena. Will two-time winner George Young retain his crown this year? Visit to find out. 31 Aug, worldgravywrestling.com Take in the sights, sounds and smells at the World Gravy Wrestling Championships (Photo: Karen Jackson) Strange Days Festival, Vale of Pewsey, Wiltshire This “Fortean Glastonbury” is three days packed with talks by thinkers from the fringes. This year welcomes crypto-zoologist Richard Freeman talking about his adventures hunting the yeti and Mongolian death worm, Dom Joly discussing conspiracy theories, and “paranormal godfather” Lionel Fanthorpe on his life exploring the bizarre. The setting is the garden of the Barge Inn, a boho pub in the village of Honeystreet in the bucolic Vale of Pewsey. The whole area, apparently, is a hot spot for strange happenings – so check out the neighbouring Crop Circle Visitor Centre. 4-6 Sep, strangedaysfestival.co.uk World Black Pudding Throwing Championships, Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester I spoke too soon – gravy wrestling isn’t even the weirdest sport in north-west England, let alone Britain. Contestants flock from across the world to take part in the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships, which take over the town of Ramsbottom each September and involve hurling a black pudding (the pride of Bury) towards a plinth topped with giant Yorkshire puddings. It is a symbolic nod to the War of the Roses, but most of all it is a gloriously eccentric occasion, kicked off with a bagpipe procession and rounded out with a mini music festival at The Oaks pub. 13 Sep, visitmanchester.com Egremont Crab Fair, Cumbria Taking its name from a historic in tradition which the local mayor gave away baskets of crab apples, this is one of the oldest local fairs in the world, dating to 1267. Alongside a funfair, food and beer tents and quintessentially British games such as bingo and darts, are unusual contests including a pram race, pipe-smoking and horn-blowing competitions, and, most famously, the World Gurning Championships, as contestants contort their faces as much as humanly possible. 19 Sep, egremontcrabfair.com ‘Fiesta: A Journey Through Festivity’ is out now in paperback (Icon Books, £11.99)