Annual celebration of kite flying now in its 20th year. The first weekend of September attracts swathes of kite designers and enthusiasts to Ashton Court Estate, wind permitting. It's a family affair.

Ashton Court Estate; Take bus numbers 358 & 359 from the Central Bus Station;
www.kite-festival.org

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Europe's largest organic food festival held annually on the first weekend of September. A heady mixture of food, circus, drink, live music, celebrity chefs and The Observer's Seeds of Change photography exhibition draws the throngs to the harbourside location.

Harbourside
Take any bus to the city centre or 20 minutes walk from Bristol TM station;
www.soilassociation.org.uk

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Huge sound systems, Jamaican patties, jerk chicken and curried goat. Much loved colossal street party held over the first Saturday of July every year. A celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture and the community of St Paul's.

The entire neigbourhood of St. Paul's on the first Saturday of July.

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Its been roundly criticised for taking on blatant corporate sponsorship but it is still first and foremost the Bristol Community Festival. Held annually over a weekend in the middle of July, it attracts roughly 100,000 and costs very little to get into. The music and performance on each of the stages is essentially local with a few big name acts thrown into the mixer. The city is awash with parties over this weekend, a great time to be in Bristol. Get yourself a pear cider and make sure you've booked the Monday off work.

Ashton Court Estate;
www.ashtoncourtfestival.com

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Weird and wonderful inner-city music festival that has been compared to Sónar in Barcelona. It takes place over the first weekend in June each year. The focus is on Stokes Croft as well as other venues across the city hosting gigs. The spirit of eclecticism means the festival organisers want you to hear music you wouldn't have previously chanced upon, be it experimental electronica, Brooklyn punk rock or folk ballads. There are workshops and Venn Radio which broadcasts the festival highlights over the weekend.

Various venues in Stokes Croft and around Bristol;
www.vennfestival.co.uk

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Renowned Bristol jazz joint named after Duke Ellington. The live music every night ranges from traditional New Orleans to more modern interpretations. The walls and ceiling are plastered with old and new jazz posters evoking memories of gigs and artists. Each year over the August Bank Holiday weekend The Old Duke holds its own jazz festival which takes over the lower end of King Street.

45 King Street BS1 4ER
www.theoldduke.com

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Each year, usually on the third Saturday of August, St Mark's Road is shut to traffic and given over for the day to music, dancing and food stalls. It's a small and family-friendly community event Easton style.

St Mark's Road, Easton BS5;
Take the Severn Beach suburban line to Stapleton Road station.

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Family Camp is a small festival for families in south Devon which is lively but very safe for kids. It's only about 750 people and has a lovely atmosphere and loads to keep the kids entertained. I get involved with all sort of workshops, but my partner just watches bands or wacky performances and hangs around. We meet lovely people every year and then continue to Cornwall for more holiday! Its amazing!

It's in south Devon, and they have a website - www.family-camp.org.
They release more location info nearer the time but state that it's around 2 hours from Bristol as a guide.

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