Get out & about this July
Spend the day in the sun at an artisan food and drink event near you.
If you're looking for some events to add to your calendar to help get you in the mood for the summer holidays, have a look at our top picks from across the country. These foodie festivals are family- and purse-friendly – all the makings for a great day out. For an even more comprehensive list, check out our best food festivals guide that will keep you going until the autumn.
Lymington Seafood Festival, 12-14 July, New Forest
One of the UK’s leading boutique food festivals, with views across the Solent, this event is packed with the south coast’s most delicious seafood stands, craft ales, gins, a rum shack and Hattingley Valley supplying award-winning bubbles.
Where: Bath Road Park
Tickets: £3 (children) and £10 (adults), lymingtonseafoodfestival.co.uk
Cardiff Food & Drink Festival, 5-7 July, Cardiff centre
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Discover artisan foodie products and a packed farmers' market, and graze around the Street Food Piazza. The bandstand will have a full programme of live music to entertain you all day.
Where: Cardiff Bay
Tickets: free, visitcardiff.com/food-drink
Alderfest, 5-6 July, Shropshire
Gather your friends and family for an activity-packed weekend. Kids can try circus workshops or the climbing wall, and you can even bring your own paddle board or kayak to enjoy some time on the lake before music from the likes of S Club and Scott Mills.
Where: Alderford Lake
Tickets: from £33 (children) and £69 (adults).
Use code GOODFOODMAG for 15% off tickets, alderfest.com
Mela Festival, 13 July, Southampton
This long-standing summer highlight celebrates modern and traditional Asian culture through music, dance and family activities. The festival attracts around 30,000 visitors from across the south coast and is free to attend, making it the largest free festival in the region.
Where: Hoglands Park, Southampton
Tickets: free, artasia.org.uk/mela-festival
Inverness Highland Games, 13 July, Inverness
The famous Games are back with competitions, attractions and trade stalls for a brilliant family day out. A shuttle service to the Games will also be running all day to make it a little bit easier for people to get to and from the park.
Where: Bught Park
Tickets: £10 plus booking fee, invernesshighlandgames.com
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