Don't miss: the (hopeful) return of Ruffy’s lab, hosted by Rüf Kutz label boss Ruf Dug, where you’ll find anything from retro video-games sessions to workshops and DJ sets, all with a house-party feel

This festive outdoor light festival boasts hundreds of illuminated characters and scenes that transform the estate into a winter wonderland; with each year boasting a new theme.When the brothers united for The Victory Tour in 1984, it became the highest-grossing concert series ever staged in the United States. Actor Timmy Creed performs GAA-themed one-man play Spliced at First Fortnight festival. Photograph: Conor McCabe Photography

Insider tip: go off-map – the deeper into the forest you go, the more you can immerse yourself in a meticulously crafted universe Insider tip: find the Boomtown Jobcentre, get assigned a ‘job’ and earn Boomtown Dollars, which can buy you all kinds of funAn annual one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, usually attracting more than 1,700 boats and around 16,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world. Competitors come from all over the world and follow the 50 nautical mile course, which starts and finishes in Cowes.

St David is the patron saint of Wales and this day is a celebration of all things Welsh. Expect plenty of red dragons adorning Welsh flags, as well as parades of daffodils, leeks and flags of St David himself. Traditionally, the capital of Cardiff holds a National St David's Day Parade, but this year the event will be celebrated with a 72-hour digital festival from 26 February-1 March, featuring events ranging from yoga and music to cookalongs and celebrity appearances. Featuring the best children’s and teen authors, incredible illustrators, favourite characters, professional storytellers and the biggest names in children’s literature from across the world. Lumiere, the UK’s biggest light festival, will return in 2021. The biennial illuminating event will allow visitors to see the city transformed by an array of eye-catching light displays, with art installations giving a whole new look to architecture and public spaces. Bristol Pride is a week-long series of events dedicated to the city’s LGBTQ+ community ­to spread the message of love and equality for all. The week’s finale is a Pride Parade through the city as part of a colourful outdoor music and arts celebration. Entertainment includes a funfair, market stalls, bars and a Community Area. Celebrate Mozart’s music, and that of his contemporaries or those influenced by him, in a glorious feast of classical music performed in some of Bath’s most beautiful and inspiring buildings.

West Cork Chamber Music Festival Jun 23-Jul 2: One of Europe’s premiere chamber music festivals, with world-class musicians in the beautiful west Cork town of Bantry. Highlights include The Biber Mystery Sonatas (postponed from 2022) performed by Ensemble Vintage Koln with newly commissioned poems by Ruth Padel. Also: Armida Quartet, Pacifica Quartet, Ragazze Quartet, Ardeo Quartet, Ensemble Diderot, Alina Ibragimova, Viviane Hagner, Caroline Melzer and Trio Gaspard. westcorkmusic.ie JULY This literary festival will celebrate its 72st anniversary in 2021 and will see the launch of major books, as well as talks, workshops and performances touching upon subjects as diverse as history, politics, sport, food and fashion. What is it: Celebrating the best of the 80s, Rewind Festival pops up in three different locations throughout the summer: Rewind Scotland, Rewind North and Rewind South, with mostly the same (albeit slightly varied) musical line-up, but all are an absolute blast. Another particularly family-friendly affair, there’s also a fun fair and kidzone – and 80s dress up is definitely encouraged.

Galway Film Fleadh Jul 11-16: International film festival for feature films and shorts, bringing audiences and filmmakers from around the world together. Plus Junior Film Fleadh screenings and events. galwayfilmfleadh.com Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival Oct 5-8: The 20th year of the literary festival in the historic town of Nenagh and the environs of Lough Derg, including poetry/ fiction, historic readings, discussions and a lake tour. dnlf.ieSpirited, inspiring, Scottish – this festival puts on hundreds of whisky-inspired events over six days. Discover the passion behind the world’s finest whiskies at this virtual event in spring, with the chance to enjoy some of the Scottish spirit in real life, at a later festival scheduled in November. A ‘must-not-miss’ event on Yorkshire’s LGBTQ+ calendar, Leeds Pride is the biggest event of its kind in Yorkshire. Past years have been the city burst to life with a diverse line up of acts at Millennium Square, a march through the centre of Leeds and the biggest parties until the early hours. Insider tip: make the most of the South Downs by doing some hiking; here’s even a special route mapped out for festival-goers Dingle Lit Nov 17-19: Promising the best little book festival in the west, with events in English and as Gaeilge. Literature lovers converge in the scenic west Kerry Gaeltacht for a mix of author events, atmosphere and Dingle magic. dinglelit.ie