Somerset is, quite literally, festival country. It gave the world Glastonbury, but reduce Somerset to one field at Pilton and you miss a festival culture that runs from Georgian Bath to the edge of Exmoor, all year round.
The home of Glastonbury — and so much more
Glastonbury casts a long shadow, and deservedly so. But Somerset's calendar is full of festivals with their own strong identities, from classical weekends to cider gatherings to literary festivals in cathedral cities.
Bath's classical and literary tradition
At the other end of the spectrum from a muddy field, Bath brings centuries of culture. The Bath Mozartfest and Bath Bachfest fill the city's Georgian venues with world-class music, while the Jane Austen Festival turns the streets Regency for ten days each autumn.
Cider, folk and the Mendips
Somerset's orchards give it a cider culture you'll find nowhere else, celebrated at festivals like OutCider in the Mendip hills. The hills also hold one of the county's best folk weekends, the Priddy Folk Festival.
Festival towns
Some of Somerset's best events belong to its towns. Frome Festival showcases one of the country's most creative towns, Wells Comedy Festival brings big names to England's smallest city, and Taunton Festival of the Arts anchors the county town's calendar.