EDINBURGH SCIENCE FESTIVAL
There are several science festivals but let's not forget Edinburgh was the home of the Scottish Enlightenment. Insanely enthusiastic programming means you can dip into biodiversity, robotics, evolution and carbon capture before you've even had coffee.
City Art Centre, Edinburgh (0131-553 0322), 9-22 April. sciencefestival.co.uk
STRAWBERRY FAIR
This was one of a number of festivals that were shut down last year due to security demands from the police. But this year, the famous freak-magnet Strawberry Fair is back on. It's still free, still dependent on volunteers and the local community (the security guards are the only people who get paid), and there will be samba, poetry, knitting, drawing – and, of course, strawberries.
Cambridge, 4 June. strawberry-fair.org.uk
TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS FESTIVAL
Held in the hometown of the Dorset martyrs, whose legal victory in 1836 was a major step forward for the British trade union movement, this warm-hearted festival, magnificently catered by the Women's Institute, mixes politics, music, poetry and comedy, and is capped every year with a blood-stirring speech from Tony Benn. Inspiring.
Tolpuddle (01305 848237), 15-17 July. tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk
THE STURMINSTER NEWTON CHEESE FESTIVAL
Any festival that includes a game called "squeeze, sniff and taste" has to go on the itinerary. It has gained an enviable reputation for being a treasure trove of cheeses – Windswept Cow, anyone? – as well as a wonderful family day out.
Sturminster Newton, 10-11 September. cheesefestival.co.uk
ABERGAVENNY FOOD FESTIVAL
This little market town still has a working market hall, and hasn't had its heart gouged out by an out-of-town supermarket; it's surrounded by small farmers and producers with a great restaurant, the Walnut Tree, just down the road. The festival, which is both strongly local and a brilliant party for anyone who comes along, now has around 200 stalls and hundreds of food-related events. In Abergavenny Castle there are always shows and demonstrations – a group of mushroom fanatics up there will even identify any mushroom you care to bring them.
Abergavenny, 17-18 September. abergavennyfoodfestival.com
WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL
Tucked into the south-western corner of Scotland, laid-back Wigtown was designated Scotland's National Book Town in 1998 and has nearly 20 bookshops – that's one for every 50 residents. It welcomes writers such as Iain M Banks, Roddy Doyle and Barbara Trapido for conversation and contemplation of whisky. It's the sort of festival people get possessive about.
Wigtown, 23 September – 2 October. wigtownbookfestival.com
FESTIVAL OF HISTORY, IDEAS & PHILOSOPHY
The details for this brand new festival are still sketchy, but the vision is exciting. Malmesbury is the birthplace of Thomas Hobbes and is keen to turn itself into a "philosophy" town.
Malmesbury, 14-16 October. philosophytown.co.uk
THE KIRKWALL BA' GAME
Rugby looks like a game of Connect 4 compared to the famous Ba' Game, played twice a year in Kirkwall and usually the cause of a few broken noses. The men of the town divide into two (the Uppies and Doonies), a ball is hurled into the crowd and then they kick and shove each other through the streets to get the ball to their own side of town. No refs, no whistles, no time limit – just a lot of men, whisky and paramedics.
Kirkwall, 25 December and 1 January (01856 872856). visitorkney.com
LAUGHARNE WEEKEND
Ramshackle and a bit unpredictable, the Laugharne Weekend really is true to the spirit of Dylan Thomas. This was his hometown, and the basis for Under Milk Wood. A very young book festival for rockers and boozers, performers in its five-year history have included Howard Marks, Patti Smith, Julian Cope, Stuart Maconie and former members of the Fall.
Dates tbc. thelaugharneweekend.com
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