Essential Travel's Top 8 Unique Summer Festivals 2013

April 24, 2013 - PRLog -- The number of festivals happening appears to be growing year on year: 2013 will offer music festivals of all kinds, food festivals, art festivals and even some festive parades too. It was quite a challenge, but Essential Travel, the UK’s leading airport parking (http://www.essentialtravel.co.uk/airportparking/) and travel insurance (http://www.essentialtravel.co.uk/travelinsurance/) specialist, has narrowed the list down to 8 Unique 2013 Festivals you won’t want to miss - some are new, some are old, and some are just plain awesome.

Yew Tree Beer And Pie Festival: 24 - 26 May 2013
The popular Yew Tree pub in Conderton, Gloucestershire will be playing host to the first annual Yew Tree Beer and Pie Festival. At this festival, you get to tantalise your tastebuds with some of the best pies and beers - all made by local suppliers. There will be a huge variety of pies and beers as well as some hot, yummy BBQs happening. Another plus is that you get to enjoy some live entertainment at the same time from musicians such as Willie and the Bandits, and Soul Remedy. All the hungry festival-goers also get to go for free.

BAMfest: 31 May - 2 June 2013
Enjoy a family weekend away and take a trip to Bedale in North Yorkshire for the first annual BAMfest. BAMfest is an acoustic music festival, bringing you a huge variety of performers of different genres. It’s an event that’s perfect for the whole family - plus it’s great for a weekend getaway as there will be a camping site especially for the festival-goers. The campsite is at the Big Sheep and Little Cow Farm and it welcomes caravans too. Concerts are taking place at the Bedale Hall and the Riverside Club, with youth concerts taking place in the Culture Shack. Ticket prices vary, but buy the Earlybird ones now and you can get a weekend pass with camping for £47 per adult and £15 per person under 21. While you're in Bedale, make sure you do some sightseeing in this little town by visiting historical buildings such as the Gothic St Gregory's Church.

For more information: www.bamfest.co.uk/

Park Life: 8 - 9 June 2013
Park Life is bigger and better than ever before. In 2013, the music festival is moving to a much bigger venue - from Platt Fields Park to the huge Heaton Park in Manchester. With a great lineup of artists and DJs, this is the proper way to welcome the warm summer sun. There are plenty of bars and food stalls available - there are even ones that cater to the vegans out there. You can get yourself a full weekend pass for £69.50, or upgrade to a Hospitality Ticket for £98.50. This may sound pricey, but you get the full weekend pass plus private toilets, cocktail bars and even private food stalls.

International Youth Arts Festival: 6 - 28 July 2013
Venture into Surrey’s Kingston Upon Thames in the month of July and dive into the most creative festival for the youth. The International Youth Arts Festival is perfect for young people that wish to express their creativity; from toddlers, to teens to students. Entering its 5th year in 2013, the festival has proved to be incredibly successful since it began in 2008. Festival-goers get to see all types of art forms such as dance, theatre, music, film, an arty carnival and the circus; right down to face painting for the little ones.

For more information: www.iyafestival.org.uk/creativeyouth/

Buddhafield: 17 - 21 July 2013
About seven miles south of Taunton, Somerset, you will find a festival with a difference: meaning no alcohol and no crazy mosh-pits, but rather a place of healing and well-being. The Buddhafield Festival allows people to practise and learn about meditation and Buddhism - which all ties in with working on your inner wellness. There are workshops to help you understand and study the different areas of Buddhism, as well as themed areas such as Women’s Space and the awesome Kids Area. You can practise Yoga and Tai Chi, or enjoy a massage and other treatments. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a proper festival without some entertainment - there will be music and cabarets for you to enjoy. Tickets are £117 for adults, £40 for kids under 16, and £20 for kids under 12.

Clitheroe Food Festival: 10 August 2013
You will have to have an empty tummy when you go to this festival in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Entrance to the festival is free of charge, but some of the activities will require you to buy a ticket at the venue. Obviously, with “food festival” in the title, there will be tons of delicious foods for you to choose from - and all produce and chefs are strictly local, all hailing from Lancashire. Foodies attending the festival will be treated to cookery demonstrations by Nigel Howarth and Matthew Fort. There will also be workshops, tutored tasting and over 100 stands to shop at. Not to mention all kinds of live music from choirs to bands, and also a lot of activities for children. There is something for everyone here.

For more information: www.clitheroefoodfestival.co.uk

One Love Festival: 16 - 18 August 2013
Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Essex brings you the 6th annual One Love Festival. This ultimate reggae and dub festival started in honour of Bob Marley’s One Love concert in 1978 - and its goal is to push forward the message of peace and love that Bob treasured so much. Named the UK’s best reggae and dub camping festival, this is definitely one to attend for the whole weekend. The lineup this year is huge and includes some great live acts including U-Roy, Black Uhuru, The Orb Sound System, Al Campbell, Joseph Cotton and Creole ft Dub Master to name a few. The lush green campsite has toilets, hot showers, 24 hour security and cafes. A full weekend with camping will set you back £110 per adult and £60 per child. Come and spread the love of peace and music this year and enjoy the sounds of One Love Festival.

For more information: www.onelovefestival.co.uk

Stratford Food Festival: 14 - 15 September 2013
Visit Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford Upon Avon in mid-September this year and you’ll come across the town’s biggest food festival - the Stratford Food Festival. The organisers are expecting about 20,000 visitors, so they’ve moved the event to the Stratford Racecourse for 2013. There will be many cookery demonstrations from local chefs as well as foodie talks about all kinds of food from the local suppliers of fresh produce. Stratford Food Festival has also just announced the famous chef who will be headlining the festival. Prepare to blown away by live baking demonstrations by the famous Paul Hollywood, star of BBC’s Great British Bake-Off. Paul will be giving three baking demonstrations on the Sunday as well as some meet and greet sessions. Tickets will be available on their website from July 2013. Stratford Food Festival 2013 will attract even more visitors than 2012.

For more information: www.stratfordfoodfestival.co.uk