UK events: February 2017
Lunar New Year
Manchester
28 January to 4 February
Chinese New Year is celebrated in many cities around the UK – with Manchester’s St Anne’s Square hosting a food market and craft stalls. Don’t miss the 175-foot paper dragon dance in the warm light of the lanterns.
Jorvik Viking Festival
York
20 to 26 February
Take a trip back in time to the Viking Age with the 33rd Jorvik Viking Festival, recognised as one of the largest in Europe (Jorvik is the Viking name for the city of York). From 20 to 26 February, join re-enactments, encampments, and even have a go at shooting a bow-and-arrow. You’ll feel like you’ve just arrived from northern Europe in the 10th Century.
Edinburgh Student Arts Festival
Edinburgh
9 to 17 February
Get creative! Engage with emerging performance artists, visual artists, speakers, and workshop holders as they showcase their latest work to their fellow performers and the public.
Wales versus England in the RBS Six Nations rugby championship
Wales
11 February
Watch Wales and England battle it out in the second round of the RBS Six Nations Championship playing the quintessentially British sport of rugby.
Pancakes at Sewerby Hall
Yorkshire
22 February
Join in the age old tradition of pancake tossing – celebrated around Shrove Tuesday (the first Tuesday before advent). Using the ‘luxuries’ left in the larder (butter, milk, eggs), families would customarily cook pancakes, and flip them for good measure.
Showzam!
Blackpool
11 to 14 February
Showzam(!) will be returning to Blackpool from 11 to 14 February. Enjoy street performers, a carnival ball, and magic and illusion shows, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour showcasing how all the fire-eating and plate-spinning is presented in front of your very eyes.
Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide game
Peak District and Derbyshire
28th February
Witness a historical ‘football’ match take place over a three-mile stretch, as the Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide football game is played over Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday (28 February to 1 March). A leather ball is thrown into the air and into the ‘hug’, a large group of players who try to move the ball to their goal by pushing against the opposition, resulting in crowds of individuals ready to fight for their town’s honour.
European Beach Fishing Championships 2017
East Yorkshire
24 to 26 February
Make your way to the Paul Roggeman European Beach Fishing Championships 2017 to witness the sight of over 1000 keen anglers battling it out to grab the biggest catch without heading out to sea! From 24 to 26 February, the championships spans over 20 beaches along the East Yorkshire coast.
Behind-the-scenes at Blenheim Palace
Oxfordshire
Until 28 February
Find out about how this 18th Century UNESCO World Heritage Site, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, has been preserved and carefully restored.
Fife Jazz Festival
St Andrews
3 to 12 February
Head to east Scotland where a range of concerts will cover all forms of the genre, from jazz to swing and blues, and much more in between.
For more ideas on things to do in February, take a look at the VisitBritain website.