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September holidays: 5 quirky events you can’t miss

Add sparkle to your September by enjoying a short break holiday at any one of these fantastic festivals and events taking place across the UK.

 

Blackpool Illuminations

Switch on 31st August, shining brightly until 4th November

This is the 100th year of the iconic Blackpool Illuminations and the show, dubbed ‘England’s Northern Lights’ and the ‘greatest free show on earth’ will be extra special this year. Three of team GB’s Olympic medallists are turning on the Illuminations and the switch-on party will also feature popsters including Little Mix, Amy Macdonald and Scouting for Girls. Highlights of the Illuminations include 1000 strobe lights, a galaxy of 2,000 multi-coloured lights, a corridor of bright white stars, gigantic twinkling snowflakes, street art displays and the return of the giant rocket tram.

World Bellyboard Championships

2nd September, Cornwall

The (tongue in cheek) World Bellyboard Championships takes place in Chapel Porth, just south of Newquay, on 2 September. This is a surfing challenge stripped backed to basics and free to enter – the only kit you need is a swimsuit (or fancy dress) and a wooden board. Entry is open to all comers – from kids to wave-riding grannies.

 

Peebles Highland Games

9th September, Scottish Borders

With a roar and a red face, the Peebles Highland Games get underway in September. The games feature the best of Scottish Pipe Bands, Highland Dancers and strong men, with an array of challenges throughout the day. Bands and dancers will be judged on performances in a variety of categories, but it’s the muscle men who will leave you gasping as they chuck heavy hammers, toss cabers and go head to head in a 70-yard dash in their kilts.

 

The Agatha Christie Festival

9-16th September, Torquay

Whodunnit fans from around the world make their way to the English Riviera each year for this celebration of Agatha Christie, one of our most beloved crime writers. Torquay and the surrounding towns are transformed, with a murder mystery promised around every corner. Festival goers dress up in their 1920s and ’30s best, and there are theatre performances, panel events and even a sea swim dedicated to the novelist.

 

Harvest at the Eden Project

8-16th September, Cornwall

Running for the second year, the Harvest at the Eden Project is a magnificent festival of food with top chefs and experts showing you how to make the most of your own home-grown food. There are talks and demonstrations and you can get involved (and messy) with grape treading, apple-pressing and flour-milling. Once you’ve squashed, stomped and crunched you can try tasting, with lots of freshly picked foods, beer and wine to devour. There are loads of local suppliers and producers so if you haven’t sown your own seeds this year, you can simply enjoy the fruits of their labour!