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If you haven’t made any plans for next week’s Bank Holiday, here’s a run-down of date ideas and days out – many of which are free!

And if you’re looking for someone to share the three-day weekend with, login to JustSingles.com and see who’s online.   Bank holiday is still a few days away – and you never know what might happen!

And if you have an event you’d like us to spread the word about, let us know and we’ll try and include it in our blog.

Liverpool

The Mathew Street Music Festival in Liverpool is a free event which takes place on Sunday and Monday of the Bank Holiday with 6 stages and 11 themes, including Country and Irish music. The festival has its own three day Fringe event which includes 54 indoor venues hosting new and up-and-coming bands.  Visit Matthew Street Music Festival for the full line up.

London

Notting Hill Carnival – Europe’s largest street festival, also takes place on the Sunday and Monday of the Bank Holiday.  Thousands descend on the capital to dance through the streets of London, following the parade of fantastical costumes and the reggae-socca beats.  If you’ve never been before, make sure you veer off the main route and find some of the sound systems lodged in the squares and cul de sacs around the carnival route.   See Notting Hill Carnival for more information.

If the carnival isn’t your scene, head south of the river to the National Theatre on the South Bank for Watch This Space – an alfresco festival of arts.  You can enjoy free theatre, circus, dance and music in the sunshine from Friday through to Monday, and up until the early hours on Friday and Saturday night.  This event is suitable for all the family, so if you and your date have children it could be the perfect Bank Holiday day out!   For a full programme visit  National Theatre: Watch This Space

Edinburgh

August is festival month in Edinburgh and the Bank Holiday weekend is the finale for the city’s multiple arts and cultural events, including the Edinburgh Fringe which has launched many acts and comedians including Rory Bremner, Steve Coogan, Jenny Eclair, the Reduced Shakespeare Company and The League of Gentlemen.  Visit http://www.eif.co.uk/ and http://www.edfringe.com/ to see what’s on.

Bristol

Contemporary art fans should head to Bristol’s City Museum & Art Gallery for the final weekend of Banksy Versus Bristol Museum – an exhibition by the subversive graffiti artist Banksy.   According to reports, the secretive Bristol-born artist charged the council £1 for staging the exhibition on the condition that all CCTV footage of setting it up is destroyed.   It’s open until 8pm on Saturday and Sunday of Bank Holiday weekend – so you and your date can enjoy an afternoon of art before heading out for something to eat.  See Bristol’s City Museum & Art Gallery for opening hours.

Leeds

Leeds West Indian Carnival is celebrating 42 years of the street party with several processions taking place over the Bank Holiday weekend, kicking off with the King & Queen Show on Friday night at 7pm in Millennium Square.  For the route and photos of last year’s event visit Leeds Carnival.

Cornwall

If you and your date are both rugby fans then head to Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay this Bank Holiday for the O2 Scrum on the Beach (29-30 August, 12pm – 11pm).  It’s free to attend and you can watch and play beach rugby, meet England players, test your skills in the O2 Play Zone and eat ice cream.   The England players will also be on the lookout for teams with a talent, and those who are good enough will be asked to play at Twickenham in a special tournament!  See the O2 Scrum for more details.

If you prefer food to rugby then pop down to Cornwall’s Newlyn Fish Festival at the harbour on Monday 31st August from 9am to 5pm.  There’s a market, music and an array of fish dishes to try.  Visit Newlyn Fish Festival for more info.

Cardiff

And whilst we’re on the subject of seafood, if you and your date are foodies then head to Cardiff’s Harbour Festival taking place every day of the Bank Holiday.  There’ll be fish demonstrations from members of the National Federation of Fishmongers, a French market, live music and children’s activities.  On Monday it’s the Welsh Oyster Opening Championships – and you don’t have to be Welsh to enter!  Visit Cardiff’s Harbour Festival for all the details.

Manchester Pride 09

Whatever your sexual orientation, you can guarantee there’ll be a fantastic atmosphere at any LGBT event so if you and your date enjoy a party with plenty of music, comedy and dancing, then head to Manchester Pride. This year’s event sees performances from Little Boots, Frankmusik, Freemasons, Kid British, Booty Luv, Bananarama, Tommy Sparks, Peter Andre and Kelly Wilde.  For details visit Manchester Pride 09.

It’s also the Mardi Gras in Cardiff over the Bank Holiday and you’ll find comedy, dance and performance in Coopers Field behind Cardiff Castle on the Saturday and Sunday.  There’s a main stage, cabaret tent, dance tent and market, with a choir and opera on the main stage on Sunday.  Visit the Mardi Gras Facebook page for all the details.

Tags: Date Ideas

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009 at 9:51 am and is filed under Dating Tips & Ideas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.