Festivals in Great Britain: 2008
- Here's a list of the most important events in Great Britain for 2008. For more information about these and other events, please visit www.visitbritain.com, www.visitlondon.com, www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk, www.yorkfestivals.com, www.bathfestivals.org.uk, and www.whatsonwhen.com.
- NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates at the festival or local TI's website.
- Great Britain has several "bank holidays" when you can expect closures. These sometimes differ in Scotland, England, and Wales (as noted below).
- Related travel information in Great Britain.
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Britain |
| Jan 1-2 | Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's celebration with music, street theater, carnival, begins on Dec 31; www.hogmanay.net or www.edinburghshogmanay.org) | Scotland |
| Feb 10-15 | London Fashion Week (for fall clothes; also held in Sept; www.londonfashionweek.co.uk) | London, England |
| Feb 13-17 | Jorvik Viking Festival (costumed warriors, battles; www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk) | York, England |
| Feb 23-March 2 | Literature Festival (www.bathlitfest.org.uk) | Bath, England |
| March 21 | Good Friday (bank holiday) | England & Wales |
| March 23 | Easter Sunday | Britain |
| March 24 | Easter Monday (bank holiday) | England & Wales |
| May 1 | May Day (some closures) | Britain |
| May 5 | Early May Bank Holiday | Britain |
| May 3-5 | Spring Flower Show (www.bathnes.gov.uk) | Bath, England |
| May 3-25 | Brighton Festival (theater, music, dance; www.brightonfestival.org) | Brighton, England |
| May 7-11 | Jazz Festival (www.keswickjazzfestival.co.uk) | Keswick, England |
| May 16- June 1 |
International Music Festival (www.bathmusicfest.org.uk) | Bath, England |
| May 20-24 | Chelsea Flower Show (www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea) | London, England |
| May 23- June 8 | Bath Fringe Festival (theater, walks, talks, alternative music; www.bathfringe.co.uk) | Bath, England |
| May 26 | Spring Bank Holiday | Britain |
| Early June | Late Music Festival (www.latemusicfestival.org.uk) | York, England |
| June 6-7 | Beer Festival (www.keswickbeerfestival.co.uk) | Keswick, England |
| June 14 | Trooping the Colour (parade with military bands & pageantry to celebrate the Queen's "official" birthday; www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk) | London, England |
| June 17-21 | Royal Ascot (horse races at Ascot Racecourse; www.ascot.co.uk) | near Windsor, England |
| June 21 | Summer Solstice | Stonehenge, England |
| June 19-22 | Royal Highland Show (Scottish "county fair" with food, crafts, flower show, livestock; www.royalhighlandshow.org) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| June 23-July 6 | Wimbledon Tennis Tournament (www.wimbledon.org) | London, England |
| July 3-12 | Early Music Festival (www.ncem.co.uk/yemf.shtml) | York, England |
| July 8-13 | International Eisteddfod (concerts, song competition, dance; www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk) | Llangollen, North Wales |
| July 31-Aug 3 | Folk Festival (www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk) | Cambridge, England |
| July 26-Aug 4 | Gay Pride Festival (www.brightonpride.org) | Brighton, England |
| Aug 1-23 | Military Tattoo (massing of pipe and drum bands; www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 3-25 | Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy; www.edfringe.com) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 4 | Summer Bank Holiday | Scotland |
| Aug 8-31 | "Official" Edinburgh International Festival (music, dance, theater, opera; www.eif.co.uk) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Late Aug | Notting Hill Carnival (Caribbean-style parade, music, and food; www.londoncarnival.co.uk) | London, England |
| Aug 25 | Summer Bank Holiday | England & Wales |
| Aug 29- Nov 2 |
Illuminations (waterfront light festival, "switch on" ceremony on Aug 29; www.blackpooltourism.com) | Blackpool, England |
| mid Sept | London Fashion Week (for spring clothes; also held in Feb; www.londonfashionweek.co.uk) | London, England |
| Sept 19-28 | York Food Festival (www.yorkfoodfestival.com) | York, England |
| Sept 19-28 | Jane Austen Festival (www.janeausten.co.uk) | Bath, England |
| Nov 1 | All Saints' Day | Britain |
| Nov 5 | Bonfire Night, a.k.a. Guy Fawkes Night (fireworks, bonfires with effigy burning of 17th-century traitor Guy Fawkes) | Britain |
| Nov 27-30 | St. Nicholas Fayre (markets, music, entertainment; www.yuletideyork.com) | York, England |
| Dec 1 | St. Andrew's Day | Scotland |
| Dec 7 | Traditional Christmas Fayre (music, crafts booths; www.keswick.org) | Keswick, England |
| Dec 25 | Christmas Day (bank holiday) | Britain |
| Dec 26 | Boxing Day (bank holiday) | Britain |
| Dec 31-Jan 2 | Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's celebration; www.hogmanay.net or www.edinburghshogmanay.org) | Scotland |