Oh we do like to be beside the seaside . . .

EASTBOURNE’S spring beer festival, Beer and Cider by the Sea, serves up more than 100 real ales, a wide variety of ciders and perries, and an abundance of cocktails and wine along with great entertainment from live bands.

Back for a fifth year the festival (May 26-28) celebrates Eastbourne’s great position as a seaside town just minutes from two award-winning breweries, the home of the National Cider and Perry Collection, and many vineyards dotted across the Sussex countryside.

Half of the real cask ales on offer will be provided by local breweries.

www.VisitEastbourne.com

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Beer and cider by the sea

EASTBOURNE’S spring beer festival, Beer and Cider by the Sea, serves up more than 60 real ales, a wide variety of ciders and perries, and an abundance of cocktails and wine. 

Back for a fourth year the festival (May 27-29) celebrates Eastbourne’s great position as a seaside town just minutes from two award-winning breweries, the home of the National Cider and Perry Collection, and many vineyards dotted across the Sussex countryside. The event is fully undercover.

Half of the real cask ales on offer will be provided by local breweries.

Tickets can be booked at www.EastbourneTheatres.co.uk, and for more information, go to www.VisitEastbourne.com

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St Albans food and drink fest

ST. ALBANS, Hertfordshire, hosted the UK's first beer festival in 1974. It has grown over the years into the town’s mini Oktoberfest, making the St. Albans Beer and Cider Festival (September 30-October 3) a must-attend event in the real-ale calendar. 

There will be more than 350 real ales, ciders, perries, and foreign beers across the festival's six bars. 

Roger Protz, one of the world's leading beer writers and editor of the Good Beer Guide, will be hosting a beer-tasting session on October 2. 

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Coming up in Eastbourne …

EASTBOURNE’S family-friendly bonfire procession returns this autumn (October 3) for an evening of traditional English folk celebrations.

The procession starts at 7.30pm and culminates with the bonfire lighting between the bandstand and Wish Tower, fire juggling, and a firework display on the beach.

THE town’s annual three-day beer festival, now in its 13th year, opens at the Winter Garden on October 8.

Visitors can taste real cask ales on tap from a range of more than 160, all selected for the festival by local CAMRA members. There will also be bars serving wine, cider, and international bottled beers.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33037982@N04/4828187075">Eastbourne</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Fun in the forest

NATIONAL FOREST attractions and events this summer include:

Opening in July, the High Ropes course at Conkers is a dare-devil must with a 70ft zip wire; younger visitors can tackle the Low Ropes through ten different challenges.

This year's ten-acre maize maze at the National Forest Adventure Farm is a fiendishly intricate design of a giant JCB digger that will have visitors puzzling their way around three miles of paths, viewing towers, and bridges 

(July 11-September 6).

The Gibbon Forest at Twycross Zoo has four-moated islands and paths into the heart of the gibbon habitat. And there’s the Giraffe Savannah with a viewing platform to see world's tallest animals.

The National Forest Wood Fair (August 31) at Beacon Hill Country Park offers rural fun. See lumberjacks and chainsaw carvers in action, have a go at eco art or hitch a ride on a tree lift. 

The Mercia Marina at Willington is the largest inland marina in Europe … 24 acres of mood-enhancing lake.  There are countryside walks and boat trips, and a boardwalk promenade of boutiques. 

The Burton Real Ale and Jazz Festival (July 17–18) gets things swinging with a weekend featuring eight bands and a range of beers. 

The Strawberry Fields Festival at Heather (August 7–8) offers comedy, DJ sets and live and electronic music across five stages. 

www.nationalforest.org

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21042507@N00/519939222 >dalek, kaia, daniel</a> via <a href=http://photopin.com>photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>, http://www.flickr.com/photos/95721592@N00/6108264152bear reaching for bee hive</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com>photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license), </a>, http://www.flickr.com/photos/66239816@N08/16870889368 Mercia Marina</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>, http://www.flickr.com/photos/12568962@N00/12745946205">Gosport Beer Festival</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>

Celebration on the coast

SIDMOUTH’S Sea Fest (May 1-2) .... The festival aims to build on the success of the Ham Fish Wall – a permanent mural built by the community on town’s seafront. 

It will be a coastal celebration highlighting sustainable development, responsible tourism, and community participation.

The festival is part of a two-year European Union-funded project which brings together networks in England, France, Belgium, and Holland to collaborate on common issues faced by coastal communities, in particular those in which inshore fishing has played an important role. 

Join us in welcoming visitors to Sea Fest from the coastal town of Hastings and the fishery village of Arnemuiden in Holland as part of the TourFish project.

Old Sea Fest favourites returning include;

The Fish Kitchen – fish filleting, preparing and cooking demonstrations, and tasting with very special guest chefs and local fishermen.

Refreshments and Food - Local real ales, ciders, teas, coffee and more plus the finest freshly caught, picked and selected food to buy throughout!

Creativity on the Coast – arts, crafts and more. Print your own t-shirt, explore your artistic talents, learn about how the coast can come to life in creative crafts. Plus the Sea Fest knitting.

Coastal Heritage Exhibition – we are delighted to be hosting an exhibition of the inshore fishing heritage of the Dutch coastal town of Arnemuiden at Sea Fest 2015 (see separate press release). Learn about the history of the fishermen’s jumpers in Arnemuiden and Zeeland and how it links to Sidmouth’s own fishing heritage.

The Sea Fest Fish Hunt – in partnership with Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce; discover the Sea Fest shop windows and find the Fish to win a prize.

Storytelling & Games – stories from the sea including a very special reading of a new biography of one of the most loved and well known fishermen in Sidmouth, Brixham and many other coastal areas. And of course .... The Fish Stocks! – plus many more games.

Evening events with Live Music and more – book early! Featuring amongst others Gordie Mackeeman & his Rhythm Boys - Award winning old time roots music with energy that will yank you up by your collar and get you dancing all night!

http://sidseafest.net

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Picture Credit: "Sidmouth - The Esplanade" by Dave Bevis via Wikimedia Commons; Courtesy sidseafest.net

Beer geeks' rev up for the New England craft beer weekend

FROM the Ginga' Ninja to the Big Claw Pilsner, New England takes its beer seriously. 

The weekend of June 26-28 marks the 10th annual New England Brewfest, a weekend of beer-infused social events. 

Think you know good beer? Prove it! 

With 33 breweries and over 100 beers, we can all but guarantee you’ll try something new at Saturday Night: ON TAP at the New England Brewfest. 

Along with great beers to try, there will be vendors selling all things beer-related, a homebrewing demonstration, a variety of food for purchase, and live music.

Here’s the Deal:

What does my admission ticket include?

Every ticket includes admission into the event, an official tasting glass, all beer samples during the event, live entertainment, and free parking. VIP ticket holders can enter the festival at 3pm (along with other great perks) and General Admission ticket holders can enter the festival at 4pm. 

Regardless of whether you choose to partake in beer sampling or not, a VIP or General Admission ticket is required to enter the event.

What should I bring?

Folding/camp style chairs.

Your ID! This event is 21+ and ID is required to enter.

Your dancin’ shoes. Great live music will be playing throughout the event.

For visitors wanting more of New Hampshire's breweries, the Granite State has published a map of its finest breweries.

Tickets for Brewfest – in New Hampshire’s White Mountains – go on sale in April 2015. The minimum age limit for visitors is 21.

Nebrewfest.com
Discovernewengland.org
Discoveramerica.com

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Picture Credit: Courtesy Nebrewfest.com 

The Vikings are coming!

THE annual Jorvik Viking Festival (February 14-22) is a celebration of York’s Viking heritage organized by the York Archaeological Trust. 

The largest Viking festival in Europe, it attracts more than 40,000 visitors to the city and commemorates the celebrations – called Jolablot– the Vikings held each February to welcome the approach of spring and the end of winter hardships.

http://jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/festivals/jorvik-viking-festival

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Picture Credit: Courtesy jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk

Cheers, London!

LONDON BEER WEEK (February 16-22) is a celebration of craft beers, ales, lagers, and ciders.

With pop-ups and parties, masterclasses, and self-guided beer tours around some of the best venues in the city, London Beer Week has something for everyone … except, of course, beer drinkers!

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A first for Dartmouth

DARTMOUTH in South Devon is holding its first beer festival this year. 

The one-day event is planned for February 21.

More than 20 real ales from South Hams breweries will be showcased, and there will be opportunities to meet the brewers. Entry £7, which includes a festival beer glass and four half pint beer tokens.

www.discoverdartmouth.com/festivals-and-events

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Picture Credit: GoHoliday via Wikimedia Commons

Berlin, the capital of fun

BERLIN has narrowly beaten London to the title of “most fun” city in a poll of travellers commissioned by travel review site GetYourGuide and – er, Berlin-based – GoEuro. 

The German capital was among 1,800 cities ranked according to categories such as “bars”, “clubs”, “shopping”, “adult entertainment” and “activities”. Factors such as the average price of a beer were also taken into account.

While it did not finish top in any of the major categories – London’s clubs and concerts, Tokyo’s bars and shops, and New York’s activities were voted the world’s best – it did enough across each area to get to the number one spot. Berlin’s beer was also the cheapest of the top 25 cities.

Paris came in at number three.

Says Paul Sullivan, the Daily Telegraph’s Berlin expert: ‘Berlin’s nightlife is justly world-renowned thanks to unpretentious dress codes, an inherently low-key/low-hype culture (many clubs are hidden away and don’t allow photography of any kind) … and a propensity to stay open until the last person is more or less stretchered out.

‘From slick spots like Watergate and Weekend to industrial behemoths like Berghain and Stattbad Wedding, the party never seems to end here, and the beers and eventual taxi home won’t break your wallet either.’

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Picture Credit: "Berlinale palace" by Flickr user Solar icon  via Wikimedia Commons

Year-end fun at Australia’s biggest folk fest

FOR those heading to Queensland, Australia, for the Christmas holidays, the annual Woodford Folk Festival returns for its 29th year, from December 27 to January 1. 

The country’s largest gathering of local and international artists and musicians, the festival explores the full breadth and depth of cultural, artistic, social, and food diversity Australia has to offer. 

This year's festival will see more than 2,500 artists perform across 35 venues

Tickets are on sale at www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

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Picture Credit: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

Adelaide barley stars in new botanic beer

BARLEY grown in Adelaide’s Botanic Gardens is playing a starring role in a limited edition beer. 

Brewers Coopers have collaborated with the Lobethal Bierhaus to produce Botanic Ale, with all proceeds going to the Botanic Gardens.

Only 2,111 pints of the new beer are being produced. It will be sold through the Lethal Beerhouse and the Botanic Gardens Restaurant in bottles and keg.

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Prost!

THIS year’s Munich Oktoberfest attracted 6.4 million visitors. They consumed approximately 7.7 million litres (12.3 million pints) of beer, four million roast chickens, and 1.2 million sausages.

The Oktoberfest began as a celebration of marriage of Bavaria’s Prince Ludwig and Saxony’s Princess Therese in October 1810.

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Wild Boar in Sussex

WILD BOAR WEEK in Rye, East Sussex, starts on October 25.


Wild boar is celebrated in a week-long event featuring walks, talks, and tours, plus more than 20 pubs, restaurants and hotels showcasing boar and other medieval and game dishes on their menus. 


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Picture Credit: GoHoliday magazine

Mine’s a pint on Corfu!

THE Corfu Beer Festival (October 8-12) offers five evenings of entertainment – plus exceptional beers and food from both Greece and Britain – in Arillas in the north-west of the island.

There’ll be tours of a Corfu micro-brewery, cookery demonstrations, dancing, and live music.

www.corfubeerfest.gr

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Picture Credit: via Wikimedia Commons

Game for all

Female Harris' Hawk - "Parabuteo unicinctus takeoff2"
by Flickr user Dave-F (David Friel) - via Wikimedia Commons

FROM falconry to archery, jousting to fishing and all things in between, the Robin Hood Game & Country Show (October 18-19) spans the entire Newark Showground and is a celebration of country life and gaming.

"Modern-Knight 2"
by David Ballderivative work via Wikimedia Commons

The East Midlands biggest Game & Country show with plenty entertainment (and shopping) for all the family - 

Spectacular displays and fun-fueled demonstrations - there really is something for everyone...! 

"Broken lances"
by Easyv via Wikimedia Commons

There are knights, archers, owls, ferrets, falcons, horses, dogs and trade stands aplenty - whether you're stocking up on country clothing along Countryman's Walk, sampling the delicious foods in the Festival of Food & Drink, or just out for a fun-packed day, you'll love this years show....www.robinhoodcountryshow.co.uk

 

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Be merry in Nottingham

Nottingham Castle gatehouse
by Cosmicutencil [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

THE Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival, with Nottingham Castle as a backdrop, attracts thousands of people every year.

Chat to artisan brewers and see why Nottinghamshire is known as a real ale capital. This is the date for your diary: October 8-11.

Starting from £10

.....tickets are available to purchase online  (www.seetickets.com) or ........
.....at the Nottingham Tourism Centre.
www.beerfestival.nottinghamcamra.org


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Up in the air in Albuquerque

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - "Mass Ascension"
by a4gpa  via Wikimedia Commons

THE annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (October 4-12) is the largest gathering of balloons and balloonists in the world. 

Held across more than 100 acres in Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico, visitors can enjoy balloon rides, fireworks displays and music, as well as traditional New Mexican food.


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Gozo beer festival

"Tscaz olkrus ubt" by © 2005 by Tomasz Sienicki  via Wikimedia Commons 

WANT to go to a German beer festival, but don’t fancy going to Germany?

The Ghawdex Oktoberfest in Marsalforn on Gozo could be the answer, er, except that it’s in September, not October.

Gozobus, Marsalforn

by Felix O via Wikimedia Commons

Enjoy German beer, sausages, weisswurst, leberkaese and music … plus the sunshine that you might not get in Bavaria in October.

September 19-20  Try http://govillasandcottages.co.uk/malta2

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