Hay-on-Wye is one of my favourite places to go even when there's no festival gracing us with its…read morepresence. A small village tucked away in the rolling Welsh countryside, filled to the brim with bookshops of all descriptions and twinned with Timbuktu; this is a unique find. But once a year this little town becomes even fuller with excitement and literature. The Hay Festival of Literature and Arts is a mecca for anyone with a love of words and the secrets that can be entangled within them. With writers from all walks, such as Jasper Fforde, Salman Rushdi, Bill Bryson, Martina Cole and Quentin Blake, there really is something for everyone. Each performance, discussion or lecture is individually priced, from £4-£10, and intensive three day courses for £375. This is a week-long festival with an incredibly large selection of activities to take part in. It may well be hard to choose where to go and who to see, but that's about the only problem you'll have should you come to this festival.

Hay literature/literary/book festival (delete as appropriate according to your level of comfort…read morewith intellectualism) is an annual, original, event in a small Welsh town on the edge of the Black Mountains. Set in neatly organised marquees in fields outside the town, it's a big-time publishing love-in, that attracts anorak-wearing book worms, country types called Georgie or Bubbles, earth-mother families and the odd American ex-president. This years event was good for me. I avoided fiction and focussed on behavioural economics, natural capital, craftsmanship and graphic novels. Where can you hear such a varied roster of genres? I came away with ideas for my own work, pleasure and purpose. Just one day at this event will inspire, or do as many more indulgent readers do, and camp out nearby each year with those relatives you don't really like, but are ideally placed for a yearly Maytime visit. I love looking around and seeing a sea of readers, sat in deck chairs, ignoring their friends and just reading. From real, hard bound, books. It's a small, well organised festival with activities and facilities for all, and affordable. If you're a publishing nerd, it's nirvana.

If the regular Carling/Carlsberg/Stella-style options at your local bar are boring your palette,…read moredon't hesitate to head to The Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival, the Campaign For Real Ale's flagship annual three-day drinking fest in Wales. Always rolling out a list of barrelled British ales as long as your arm, with understandable emphasis on Welsh brewers, plus many German beers, every year brings a handful of comedic names - try ordering past example Pheasant Plucker after a couple of pints without accidentally insulting the serving staff. The cider and perry options are plentiful and strong, too. The festivalgoers vary from 14-pint-a-night rugby fan types to stereotypical beardy real ale enthusiasts and though admission is charged that does get you freebies (at the 2010 festival, for example, it was a fiver in with a free beer glass, and under 26s got complimentary beer tokens). The earlier you get there, the better the availability - arrive late on the last day and chances are stocks of most popular drinks will have been drained already. The downsides: the food choices could do with improving, although live entertainment/music will take your mind off any rumbling stomachs. And the venue, Cardiff International Arena, is somewhat grim and lit like a school assembly hall; you'll certainly be left wishing they had an outdoor beer garden. For anybody in doubt over the middling mark: the beer, ciders and perry ranges are as imaginative as such tipples come, it's just the venue makes it more likely that alcohol's depressing qualities will win out if you spend too much time there - and running for 12 hours every day, a serious drinking session is certainly on the cards for those who can last the pace.

The Big weekend is an annual 3 day music festival in the city that encompasses a range of different…read moremusic types and aspects for families as well as the adults. Last year The Zutons and The Lightening Seeds were headlining and this year you can see Chaka Demus and Pliers (I'm excited about that!) as well as Welsh rockers The Blackout and Feeder. There's also a funfair, fireworks and the whole town comes to life.

The summer counterpart to the annual Winter Wonderland, Cardiff's Big Weekend is an event that…read morebrings the whole city to life. Sponsored by Admiral, the Weekend is an annual three day festival based in the heart of the city, completely swallowing up the civic centre and the museum area with its fairground rides, games stalls and massive stage. Every year, the festival puts on three nights of gigs from a selection of local talent, old stalwarts (such as this year's fantastic Chaka Demus and The Pliers) and major contemporary bands such as The Zutons or Athelete, all for free. The atmosphere is always loud, lairy and happy with most people being there just to have a good time. There are the occasional problems amongst the teenage crowd, loaded up on adrenaline and this can put a damper on small pockets of the area, but nothing that isn't resolved quickly. Everyone's too busy thinking of what to do next to stay mad for long.

A boutique-ish three-dayer that began life in summer 2010 in countryside near the perimeter of…read moreCardiff International Airport, Watusi is an interesting additional to Wales's undersubscribed festival season, from a collective of the region's promoters. Small in scale but big on ideas, the musical policy is on the laidback side, DJs spinning sounds spanning Brazilian, funk, reggae and Afrobeat music, plus live performers dealing in whimsical folk, indie-rock and audio-visual sets. The atmosphere is similarly tranquil - midway between hippy jam and refined middle-class relaxation - albeit sporadically interrupted by its location directly under the flightpath of the nearby airport. It proves weirdly hypnotic, however, as everything from light planes to international commercial aircraft approach to land at regular interviews. You may not be so impressed should your mornings involve sleeping off the previous night's excesses, of course; compensation is a stunning sea view beyond the festival's fences. The drinks are heavy on local brewers, commendably reasonably priced for a festival (ordinarily carte blanche to charge extortionate money for generic drainwater), and the food, while not such fantastic value for money, is hearty with good vegetarian options. If you don't drive, the trip is only a minor inconvenience, less than 30 minutes walk from bus and rail links. Here's hoping Watusi becomes an annual fixture.

I literally can't wait for this years' Harbour Festival, I only managed to catch bits and pieces of…read moreit last year as I had only just moved to Bristol. This year, 2010, it'll be going down 30th July - 01st August, and do you want to know the best thing about it? It's freeeeeeeee! Amazingly, it's been going for 39 years, and while I wouldn't want to bore you with trivial statistics and facts, what it means is, this weekend has been running for enough years for them to have worked out what works and what doesn't! There will be not one, not two, not three, but eight, yes eight stages with a variety of music for all tastes. It's generally a great weekend, don't miss it!

This much-loved summer festival sees literally hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Bristol…read morefor a weekend of eating, drinking and wishing we owned a boat. Many of my friends come down specifically for this weekend, usually around the end of July, beginning of August. All the boats in the harbour tart themselves up with bunting and the like and there are plenty of food stalls where you can buy everything from candy floss to wheels of cheese! There are plenty of market type stalls if shopping is your thing and all the bars and pubs around the waterfront are jam-packed with people making the most of drinks promotions and the outside seating. A fantastic weekend of entertainment, and it's all for free! Last year I spent it drinking cider and watching VV Brown play on the main stage in a packed Lloyds Amphitheatre and can't wait to do the same this year.

The absolute highlight of summer in Cardiff to me is and always will be the Cardiff International…read moreFood & Drink Festival. If you're a foodie in Cardiff, attending the International Food & Drink Festival is an absolute MUST! -- TIPS: -- ~ Make sure you have plenty of cash on hand way before the event. Nearby ATMs will have a massive queue of people getting cash out. If you can get cash out somewhere else before attending, you can avoid the mad rush to the ATMs. ~ Bring your own bottled water / soft drinks. Drinks here are really expensive, and while meandering around the food stalls trying all the different things, I found myself getting really thirsty and forking out over £2 for a standard bottle of Diet Coke. -- ATMOSPHERE: -- I really enjoy the atmosphere here. You're surrounded by a bunch of other folks who love food as much as you do - what could be better? However, if you're not a crowd person, you might hate it. Try to get there extra early right around opening time, the crowds may be a bit less then. -- FOOD: -- There's a decent amount of variety of food here. The only thing is that I'm hesitant to say that the variety fits the name of it being 'international'. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely some international choices (I loved the paella stand!) the vast majority of places were definitely Welsh/British cuisine. However, there should still be something for everyone here. Again, go and get the paella - amaziiiiinnngg! Not only can you get hot foods here, but you can also check out the Producer's Fayre or Farmer's Market for goods to take home such as regional cheeses, chutneys, and chocolates. Well worth the browse. --- I'm really sad that I have to wait a whole year to come back to the Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival. Definitely a must-go if you're in South Wales for the summer!

A grand event with a perfect setting. The Big Cheese Festival takes place on the last weekend in…read moreJuly in Caerphilly, Wales. In the shadow of the wonderfully preserved and partially restored Caerphilly Castle. A large food tent with all sorts of stuff. Cheese, of course. But also whiskey and baked goods and pies (the savory kind) and beer and Indian foods and more that I just can't recall. Several food trucks with burgers and fish & chips and sausages and just about anything you can cook. At least two coffee trucks too. I bought £20 worth of cheese! Long line of vendor tents with postcards, paintings, all kinds of tchotchkies and goodies. I managed to pick up a sweet pair of ear rings. This year's event had a falconer who brought about a dozen of his birds, demonstrating falconry and even letting some people hold the birds (with the gloves on!). Fresh cider being made. Big demonstration of medieval weaponry, chain mail, shields, swords, pikes and such. The guys even had a bit of a demonstration, looking like they were doing some serious fighting! And of course the castle, which is reviewed separately. I had a grand time and I would recommend this event!

This is a historical, cultural, heritage festival set in and around the grounds of Caerphilly…read moreCastle which is one of the largest castles in Europe and entry to both the castle grounds and the festival is FREE! It all happens on July 29th, 30th and 31st and there is something different every day. How about that, Last time I went to this event I met some medieval knights and they let me try on their gear. Heavy stuff indeed. You'll also see live bands, re-enactments, craft stalls, live acts, cheese racing, fireworks and a whole lot more. There is something for everyone at this festival, and the whole town comes to life. Caerphilly itself is very easy to get to from Cardiff city and if you don't want to take the car it is just as easy to get the train or even bus. Every time I have visited the festival it has been lovely weather and you couldn't ask for much more of a picturesque place to have such a great festival which is an ideal day out for children and adults of all ages.

If you're tearing your hair out trying to find yet another entertaining and engaging activity your…read moreout-of-school kiddies will enjoy, head over to Cardiff Bay's Harbour Festival, where I guarantee at least a few hours of sugar-high fun. Normally held every August Bank Holiday weekend, the Cardiff Harbour Festival offers a range of activities, live music, carnival rides, games, food and craft stalls the whole family will enjoy. Thankfully, this year saw a batch of fine weather, so visitors were able to make the most of the street and water entertainment on offer. Embarrassingly, I panicked yesterday as I looked out my window to see the Royal Artillery Parachute Team pulling a body out of the Bay - thankfully, it was just their teams performing high-speed rescues for the crowds packed along the shores. Phew. Typically, I peruse events like these to investigate the food stalls (I love cheese and cakes), and I'm here to tell you the Festival has enough grub from around the world that will ensure satisfaction any picky eater (try the coconut macaroons the size of your fist!).

August in Cardiff is packed with great summer festivals, and the Harbour Festival (usually held on…read morethe Bank Holiday Weekend) is just one of them. Hosted down in the Bay on Cardiff's redeveloped waterfront, every year organisers keeps their fingers crossed for good weather because it makes it so much more enjoyable when the water's sparkling and everyone can enjoy being outside. There are plenty of water-based attractions, including the Tall Ships, which you can hop on board and explore; a jump by the Royal Artillery Parachute team; and a high speed rescue demo by the RNLI. My favourite, however, is the rather cuddly Newfoundland Dog rescue team's display! Back on dry land, there's a continental market which is good for a browse but a lot of the produce is rather overpriced - and there's also the Welsh Oyster Opening Championships, and plenty of live music and street entertainment. All in all, it's a good day out - particularly if (like this year) the weather holds out!

The Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre is the largest of its kind in Europe. Each year they expand in ever…read morediversifying directions, making it a centrally located, multi-faceted event that has something for everyone, especially families. It's essentially an inner city festival, that spans a weekend. These days The Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre concentrates a lot of its efforts in keeping people entertained as well as educated and informed of the new developments in all things green and edible. The entrance fee is justified for the bands alone, especially considering that 3 Daft Monkeys are putting in an appearance this year. It also features an eco cinema and eco art exhibition this year too. Always well attended, this event is a lot of fun, always buzzing, always refreshing. With more stalls this year than ever before, there will be plenty of delicious food to sample and innovative gadgets and devices to see. Let's hope the weather will be kind to them again this year.

Never a dull moment in Bristol, particularly in the summer months, there seems to be almost…read moresomething going on every weekend. This year, on 29th-30th May is the Bristol Eco Veggie Fayre, which as the name suggests is geared towards all things green. You will be hard pushed to find much meat around, but you will find over 140 stalls with some tasty vegeterian options. There are lots of things going on; cookery classes, veggie awards, live music, presentations... all of which are expected to be seen by around 8000 people over the weekend! A great day out for all the family, here's hoping the weather will be nice. If you've been wanting to become a bit more eco friendly then this is the perfect place to pick up some hints and tips about what you can practically do to make a difference.

I just love independent community theatre companies like this!…read more They've been running since 1996, and they have one major production each year as well as smaller events. They're really friendly and welcoming to anybody who fancies finding out more about it and joining. Their next and upcoming production will be 'Bad Girls' the musical, booked into the theatre at Filton College in October. In fact it's not too late to get involved in this production if you like the idea of it! Tickets are reasonably priced.