It’s the last bank holiday weekend of the year, so make the most of it and head to of one of the many fantastic events and activities taking place across Leeds. Here’s a selection of the best from Leeds’ official tourism body Visit Leeds.
Every year Leeds Festival attracts thousands of music fans to Bramham Park for a weekend of headline acts and festival fun, with Arcade Fire, Blink 182 and Guns N’ Roses set to perform on the main stage. The festival is now sold out, but this year for the first time a Leeds Festival Fringe will be taking place from 19-25th August 2010. Gigs are scheduled at eight venues across the city acting as a great warm up to the festival proper, or as an exciting alternative for those who missed out on tickets.
This summer’s family events programme once again features the incredibly popular Harewood Steam Rally. Hissing-smoking Steam Engines, melodious steam-powered organs and a VIP guest appearance from Thomas The Tank Engine will make this weekend a fantastic day out for all the family. From 29th-30th August 2010.
Stimulate your senses with an early morning visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, one of the world’s leading open-air galleries, set in 500 acres of parkland. Catch James Turrell’s artwork at its best, as the first dawn light illuminates the Skyspace chamber, followed by breakfast and fresh coffee in the YSP restaurant. Sunrise in the Skyspace event, 28th August 2010.
Cheer on some of the world’s top jousters at The Royal Armouries Museum as they clash head to head for The Queen’s Golden Jubilee International Joust trophy. Watch the drama build through the heats on Saturday and Sunday, reaching a climax on Bank Holiday Monday when the overall champion will claim his trophy at a spectacular finale.
Europe’s longest running Caribbean carnival is back for its 43rd year! The Leeds West Indian Carnival has events lasting the whole weekend, culminating in a parade at Potternewton Park on Bank Holiday Monday. Expect great food, live music, dancing and amazing costumes. And don’t forget the carnival is a free event!
The Technique & Asylum Garden Party at The Faversham has become a force to be reckoned with – a landmark on the yearly calendar for those who are discerning about the way the spend their bank holiday Sundays but who want to party properly. They will be celebrating their 5th birthday in style with artists including Omar-S all the way from Detroit, and the cutting edge, electronic musician Matthew Dear. As the last garden party of the year, this is always a sell out event!
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News is just in this evening that the Great North Swim – scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday – has sadly had to be postponed to a later date (or may even have to be cancelled). We’ve had a few sunny days here in Cumbria and, with more good weather forecast, there are concerns about the levels of blue-green algae in the water and the safety implications that this has for swimmers. This is desparately disappointing for those who had planned to take part, particularly since some have no doubt already travelled to the area. Swimmers will be able to take part on the new date in 2010 (if indeed there is one), get a refund on their entry fee, or defer their entry until next year.
Extremely popular with locals and visitors alike, the annual 
With over two acres of marquees set in the magnificent grounds of 
One thing us Brits are known for is being a little eccentric, but would you really want to go so far as eating raw stinging nettles (not the harmless boiled variety)…!?
