'Face-painting and fireworks, dance acts and rock bands: festivals are a huge part of UK life, culture and celebration. '
The UK has some of the biggest, quirkiest, and loudest festivals on earth. From music weekends to traditional events, festivals are a great way to immerse yourself in UK culture.
Music festivals
UK festivals are a staple part of summertime in the UK. From May until September country estates, fields and arenas across the country are turned into giant stadiums, complete with campsites, stages and entertainment tents. Usually held over weekends, these festivals attract thousands of visitors every year.
Glastonbury, the 'grandfather' of all festivals, is one of the UK's most popular events with 135,000 tickets already sold for the 2013 festival. Past acts include David Bowie, Radiohead, Coldplay, Beyonce and Blur - and the festival continues to grow in populairity year after year.
There are many other smaller (but still huge) music festivals around the UK including Bestival on the Isle of Wight, Leeds and Reading weekend and Scotland's T in the Park. Northern Ireland residents can enjoy Belsonic, whose 2013 headliner is Basement Jaxx, while Welsh music fans are getting ready for Green Man, a seven-day festival of performance and music.
Cultural and traditional festivals
It's hard to miss the UK's biggest cultural festival - Edinburgh Fringe - which has evolved into a huge theatre, music and arts festival over the years. Throughout August, the city comes alive with over 2000 shows and events. You can find out more on the Scottish festivals page.
Another Scottish festival celebration is Hogmanay, which celebrates the New Year and often continues into early January. For fireworks fans, Bonfire night, on November the 5th, is a huge UK-wide celebration of fire and light.
Wales' premier cultural event is the magical Eisteddfod festival, an eight-day extravaganza of traditional activities, music, dance and visual arts. Celebrating all things Welsh, the festival travels between north and south Wales, giving people across the country a chance to participate.
2013 sees the Northern Irish city of Derry-Londonderry become the first UK City of Culture. Throughout the year the city will stage hundreds of events, from musicals and traditional Irish dancing to tea dances and sporting events.
2013 sees the Northern Irish city of Derry-Londonderry become the first UK City of Culture. Throughout the year the city will stage hundreds of events, from musicals and traditional Irish dancing to tea dances and sporting events.
You can find out more about events in the UK using the Education UK calendar and explore different regions using the interactive map.
