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Cheltenham Folk Festival:
An array of the best national and local artists.
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Snowdrop Season at Rococo Gardens, Painswick:
Famous for its snowdrop display and range of spring cyclamen. The Rococo Garden is a fascinating step back to a flamboyant and sensual period of English garden design. |
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Bath Shakespeare Festival:
A vibrant festival featuring theatre, dance, comedy and music from around the world.
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Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations, Stratford-upon-Avon:
A weekend festival of events including strolling players & musicians, Shakespeare Morris dancing, English folk dancing, Shakespeare birthday concert & RSC birthday performance & charity ball.
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Cheese Rolling, Cooper’s Hill, Gloucester:
The ancient tradition of chasing a ‘cheese’ down the hill, a custom which originally ensured the villagers’ right to graze sheep on the hill.
>>Youtube video
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Cheltenham International Jazz Festival:
Presenting the best in contemporary jazz from around the world.
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Badminton Horse Trials, near Bath:
International 3 day horse riding event including cross country, dressage and show jumping.
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Bampton Day of Dance:
A day of dancing through the village - Morris dancing typically involves six dancers, in a performance formation of two lines of three, plus various ancillary characters such as fool and cake/sword bearer.
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Robert Dover’s Cotswolds ‘Olympick’ Games, Chipping Campden:
Inaugurated by Robert Dover in 1612, the 'Cotswold Olympicks' consist of old sports such as obstacle races, tug-of-war, backsword fighting and shin-kicking. Resurrected in 1951 as part of the nationwide festival of Britain and held annually from early 1960s. After the competitions a torch lit procession wends its way to the town square for more entertainment. The games are followed the next day by the Scuttlebrook Wake.
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Scuttlebrook Wake, Chipping Campden:
Crowning of the May Queen, fancy dress parade, maypole dancing and Morris dancing.
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International Textile Festival, Stroud:
The Festival is now in its fourth year, and is the UK's only Festival that celebrates and profiles contemporary textile art linked through to traditional textile culture.
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Woolsack Races & Traditional Street Fair, Tetbury:
Every year teams compete in pairs to relay a 60lb woolsack up and down Gumstool Hill between The Crown and the Royal Oak pubs in the fastest time. The races form the central attraction of a charity fund-raising day which includes an all day street market, charity auction, village fete, street entertainers and marching bands.
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Wychwood Music Festival, Cheltenham Racecourse:
The Wychwood Music Festival was launched in 2005 by a group of festival enthusiasts wanting to create an intimate and thrilling weekend festival experience.
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Well dressing, Bisley:
First held in 1863. Rev Thomas Keble established the tradition shortly after he had tidied up and formalized the village's main water supply in Wells Road, Bisley, The act of dressing wells with flowers has pagan origins, with its roots in the worship of the life-giving force of water but it could be that Rev Keble simply wished to mark the restoration of the wells.
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Blenheim Palace Jousting Tournament, Woodstock:
Featuring the ‘Knights of Royal England’ Jousting contest including Falconry displays.
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Tewkesbury Food & Drink Festival:
The Tewkesbury food and Drink Festival is now entering its fifth year and
has become an established event on the local and regional food events
calendar. The festival will take place at the Vineyards, with the beautiful
Abbey in the backdrop.
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Bath International Music Festival/Bath Fringe Festival:
The world famous Bath music and fringe festivals offer a diverse range of British and International performers in a variety of mediums in some of the best venues Bath has to offer.
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Blenheim Flower Show:
A must for all keen gardeners (as well as those who prefer to regard it as a spectator sport), this show, inaugurated in 2001, goes from strength to strength.
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Burford Dragon Parade:
Local children from the primary school ‘walk’ the dragon down the High Street, commemorating the victory of King Cuthbert of Wessex over King Ethelbald of Mercia in 752AD.
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Wood Weekend at Cogges Manor Farm Museum:
Try your hand at Saxon weaving and hear about the traditional life of a shepherd, watch the rural craft of spinning as well as sheep shearing through the ages.
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Shakespeare in the Park, Blenheim, Woodstock:
The Oxford school of drama returns with more classic drama in the glorious setting of the Pleasure Gardens.
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Longborough Festival Opera, Nr Moreton in Marsh:
High quality opera in the Cotswolds. The Opera house seats 480, complete with an orchestra pit accommodating up to 65 players.
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The Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford:
The worlds biggest military airshow with dramatic air displays.
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Cheltenham International Festival of Music and Fringe:
Presenting the best sounds in classical music as well as fringe events.
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Gloucester Blues and Heritage Festival:
Bringing blues and blues rock to pubs, clubs and other venues in and around the city
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Living Heritage Oxfordshire Craft Fair at Blenheim Palace:
A collection of over 100 stalls and stands offering a wide range of traditional and more unusual crafts, with arena activities and children’s amusements throughout the day.
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Gatcombe Horse Trials, Gatcombe Park, near Tetbury:
A 3 day equestrian event held at the home of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
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The Water Games, Bourton-on the-Water:
This game is played on the day of the local fete. It began with the coronation of Edward VII and is a five-a-side football match with a difference. It’s played in the stream of the river Windrush. |
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Painswick Ancient Clypping Ceremony, St Mary’s Church, Painswick:
Annual traditional folk event to celebrate the church where local people join hands round the church and sing the ‘Clypping Hymn’ as part of an open air service.
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Jane Austen Festival, Bath:
A programme packed with a huge diversity of events in tribute to Bath's most famous resident, set against the backdrop of this elegant World Heritage City.
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The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival:
One of Britain’s foremost literary events with 10 days of readings, performances and other live happenings.
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Bath Christmas Market:
Bath Abbey serves as a wonderful backdrop for this traditional Christmas market with stalls, carol singers and mulled wine.
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A Christmas Festival, Warwick Castle, Warwick:
Enjoy the festive atmosphere of the castle prepared for Christmas.
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The Enchanted Wood, Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury:
A magical illuminated trail through the trees in the beautiful setting of the national arboretum.
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Christmas Concert, Bath Abbey:
Family concert with the Bath Abbey choir including carols for choir and audience in the magnificent setting of Bath Abbey.
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Carols by Candlelight, The Pump Room, Bath:
Held in the beautiful Georgian pump room. Performed by a choir, but including carols that the audience are invited to participate in.
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Victorian Christmas Evening– Bourton on the Water:
Traditional victorian dress, carol singing, shopping and the switching on of the Christmas tree.
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Christmas at Blenheim, Woodstock:
A truly magical time at the Palace when Christmas trees sparkle in the great court and sumptuous decorations adorn the state rooms.
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