What is it: A brand new festival event that combines the five pillars of mindfulness, fitness, food, music and laughter to create a fun and enriching experience for the mind, body and soul. Expect a revolving wide range of fitness and dance classes from Martial Arts to Ballet Yoga to stretching and flexibility, multiple experience tents including comedy, meditation and kids club, and some of the tastiest street food vendors, with numerous world cuisines on offer. Suitable for all the family. An annual one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, usually attracting more than 1,700 boats and around 16,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world. Competitors come from all over the world and follow the 50 nautical mile course, which starts and finishes in Cowes. This is the longest-running competitive short film and animation festival in the UK. Based at Watershed in Bristol’s historic floating harbour, the week-long programme pulls together some of the best short films from around the world alongside a series of special big screen events, a comprehensive industry programme and free public screenings. This is a chance to see films from 90 seconds to 20 minutes, across all film-making genres and made by film-makers and animators from across the world. Teams competing for this quirky title slip and slide about in lukewarm gravy, and win points for pinning the opposition down in the gloop. The event was started in 2007 and brings out the crowds in force to laugh at the proceedings, while TV cameras and the press often record it for audiences all over the world from Australia to the USA. Bristol Pride is a week-long series of events dedicated to the city’s LGBTQ+ community ­to spread the message of love and equality for all. The week’s finale is a Pride Parade through the city as part of a colourful outdoor music and arts celebration. Entertainment includes a funfair, market stalls, bars and a Community Area.

Insider tip: head to the outer space area when other action winds down to immerse yourself in otherworldly audiovisual artwork This Belfast-based festival covers theatre, dance, classical and roots music, visual, film and digital arts and literature in the capital of Northern Ireland. Desmond O’Halloran Music Weekend Aug 24-26: Celebrating the Inishbofin maestro with concerts, workshops, arts events and free traditional and folk music trails across island venues and landscapes. Promising an unmissable late summer reverie on the beguiling Connemara island, with contemporary music legends, Galway favourites and exciting new stars. inishbofin.comNew Music Dublin Apr 20-23: Festival of adventurous new music for curious ears, at the National Concert Hall and other venues. Festival director John Harris’s selection from across the spectrum of contemporary music. newmusicdublin.ie Follow one mile of magical illuminations for a big helping of festive cheers at Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland, one of West London’s highlight winter events. This wonderful family-friendly festival takes place on the Glanusk Estate in the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park and features far more than just great music. Visitors can also enjoy live comedy acts as well as watch films, theatre and live poetry.

Around 100 Highland games and gatherings take place in Scotland each year. Each one has a mix of piping, athletic events and Highland dancing. Dublin Book Festival Nov 8-12: Author discussions, book launches, walking tours, a family and schools programme. dublinbookfestival.com Belfast TradFest Jul 23-29: World-class musicians bring the city to life for seven days of concerts, sessions, céilí, music masterclasses, plus The Olllam on July 28th promising a belter in Mandela Hall. belfasttradfest.com Bestival consists of four family-friendly days of live music and premier DJs and is one of Britain's most colourful festivals, with dressing up encouraged and even a Roller Disco. Previous years have seen headliners such as The Cure, Rudimental and Hot Chip take the stage. Spirited, inspiring, Scottish – this festival puts on hundreds of whisky-inspired events over six days. Discover the passion behind the world’s finest whiskies at this virtual event in spring, with the chance to enjoy some of the Scottish spirit in real life, at a later festival scheduled in November.

Insider tip: find the Boomtown Jobcentre, get assigned a ‘job’ and earn Boomtown Dollars, which can buy you all kinds of fun

Every year Regent's Park transforms into a foodie wonderland for four days of summer eating, drinking and entertainment. Past years saw around 40 of the city's best restaurants dish up their finest dishes for the ultimate alfresco feast, while 200 producers provide a bounty of the best food and beverages from Britain and around the world. Where to eat: you’re in a city with great vegan food, so why not try one of Brighton’s best vegan restaurants The annual New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival sees the Newcastle Ice Queen and her entourage of local community participants parading through the streets of Newcastle, culminating in an early-evening fireworks display. The renowned Hay Festival of Literature and Arts, held annually in a tented village on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park, aims to bring together some of the greatest contemporary authors and the most exciting new voices in literature and the arts. Past speakers and performers have included Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan, Chelsea Clinton, Michael Woolf, Jake Bugg, Laura Mvula, David Walliams, Simon Schama, David Olusoga, Rose McGowan, Dara O'Briain and many more.This midsummer walking festival stages events across Moray including walking challenges, gentle ambles and other outdoor events. From the foothills of the Cairngorms to Moray’s award-winning coastline, participants can enjoy long summer days exploring coastal, hill, forest, river and town walks. Held close to the lovely Regency town of Cheltenham, this National Hunt race meeting attracts prize money second only to the Grand National. Famous for the roar arising from the stands as the tape is raised for the start of the first race, the excitement continues to build until its climax with Friday’s signature Gold Cup – one of the greatest of all jump-racing events. This year’s event will be held as a televised event due to Covid-19 restrictions. Tipperary Dance International Festival Oct 2-15: The 14th annual festival of cutting-edge national and international programme of live dance events across the county, indoor and outdoor performances, masterclasses, schools performances and roundtables. tipperarydance.com