My regular look ahead to events happening next month that would probably be in my events guide, if only they weren’t happening outside the psychological barrier of the M25 motorway.

If you like these monthly suggestions, then you might also like the latest book from fellow London blogger, Tom.

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Chatsworth Country Fair
1st Sept
The Country Fair hosts one of the largest Horse Driving meets of the year, one of the biggest hot air balloon lifts in the country after Bristol. Chatsworth, Derbyshire

Faversham International Hop Festival
1st Sept
Held on the 1st full weekend in September it sets out to commemorate the golden days of hop-picking when families would come to Kent and pass the evenings with music and stories. Faversham, Kent

The Burghley Horse Trials
5th-8th Sept
Three days of horse events and shows. Stamford, Lincs.

The Sheriff’s Ride
7th Sept
The Ride dates from Queen Mary’s Charter of 1553 in which Lichfield was separated from Staffordshire and made a separate County with a right to appoint its own Sheriff. Lichfield, Staffordshire

RAF Leuchars Air Show
7th Sept
The Airshow will be the 65th to be held at RAF Leuchars. The Theme of this year’s event is ‘Attack and Protect’, which is the RAF Leuchars Station motto and reflects both the rich heritage and current priorities of the base.
St Andrews, Fife

Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival
7th Sept
The Festival is open to everyone and over 40 crews are expected to battle it out over the 200m race course, watched by several hundred spectators. Fen Ditton, Cambridge

Carshalton Straw Jack
7th Sept
A straw figure made from the previous year’s harvest is paraded around town then burnt at the end of the day. Carshalton, Surrey


The Braemar Gathering

7th Sept
Commonly known as the Highland Games, international athletes will be among those taking part in the “heavy” and “track” events. Braemar,
Aberdeenshire

Shackerstone Family Festival
7th-8th Sept
For over 15 years the Shackerstone Family Festival has taken over the village  for the first weekend of September. It brings together a large number of different family attractions that are centred around the village. Shackerstone, Leicestershire

Malpas Yesteryear Rally
7th-8th Sept
Annual rally since 1972 with steam engines, heavy horses, working demonstrations and rural crafts. Malpas, Cheshire

Duxford Air Show
7th-8th Sept
In an outstanding aerial spectacle, the very best historic and modern aircraft display in the skies over this famous airfield. Duxford, Cambridgeshire

Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing
7th-8th Sept
Rushbearing dates back several centuries to a time when rushes were simply a floor covering in churches. Each year, it was out with the old and in with the new. Over many years this tradition has gradually turned into a celebration and a holiday involving music, morris dancing and revelry Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire

The World Black Pudding Throwing Championship
8th Sept
Each competitor stands at the Golden Grid and throws three regulation Bury black puddings at a stack of Yorkshire puddings which are balanced on a 20ft high platform. Ramsbottom, Leics

World Bellyboard Championships
8th Sept
Annual competition based on the earliest form of surfboarding. No wetsuits, no leashes and no swim fins. Chapel Porth, Cornwall

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
9th Sept
The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, performed at the Barthelmy Fair in August 1226, is one of the few ritual rural customs to survive the passage of time. After collecting the horns from the church, the Horn Dancers perform their dance at locations throughout the village and its surrounding farms and pubs. Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire

St Giles Fair
9th-10th Sept
The Fair evolved from the St Giles’ parish wake of the early seventeenth century, which later became known as St Giles’ Feast. It is now a large funfair in the town. St Giles’, Oxford

Westmorland County Show
12th Sept
The Westmorland County Show is one of the largest one day Agricultural Shows in the country and certainly one of the oldest. Milnthorpe, Cumbria

Heritage Open Days
12th-15th Sept
The equivalent of London Open House Weekend — but UK wide. Various

Blenheim Palace Horse Trials
12th-15th Sept
Famous horse events with show jumping, cross country events and various country fairs and stalls. Woodstock, Oxfordshire

Findon Sheep Fair and Village Festival
13th-14th Sept
Friday Night begins with a funfair on the green then a barn dance and curry in the marquee. Saturday is the fair itself, with craft stalls, sheep displays, sheep judging and other displays on the green. Findon, West Sussex

Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre
13th-15th Sept
Country fair with steam engines, heavy horses, fair, fairground and flying displays. Biggleswade, Bedfordshire

Goodwood Revival
13th-15th Sept
Well-known faces from most motor sport disciplines will be in action at this year’s Goodwood Revival, including Formula One stars, rally winners, endurance racing champions, tin top tearaways and top bikers. Goodwood, West Sussex

Hop Hoodening
14th Sept
Expect Morris men accompanied by the Hooden Horses and lots of hops from the local harvest. The Hop Queen will arrive amidst a bower constructed of hop-bines and everyone makes their way into the Cathedral Canterbury, Kent

Newent Onion Fayre
14th Sept
As the world’s only event of its kind dedicated to the onion family, visitors have enjoyed fun-filled fayres of live music, entertainment, street stalls and shows for centuries, and this year is hoping to surpass all others. Newent, Gloucestershire

Midland Game and Country Fair
14th-15th Sept
Renowned as the annual meeting place for country sports enthusiasts, the Midland has evolved into a comprehensive countryside event that now attracts more than 90,000 visitors. Weston Park, Shropshire

Village at War Weekend 2013
14th-15th Sept
Stoke Bruerne’s annual Village at War event is the only wartime vintage themed canal festival. Stoke Bruerne, Northants

Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival
14th-15th Sept
All the usual favourite food and craft stalls will be there with a few new additions and lots of great music on both days Sturminster Newton, Dorset

The Festival of the Plough
15th Sept
Attractions include horse ploughing, vintage tractor ploughing, steam ploughing, static tractor display, vintage cars, craft tent, poultry exhibition, model display, stationary engines, terrier racing. Epworth, North Lincs.

Egremont Crab Fair’s Gurning Contest
21st Sept
Egremont Crab Fair and Sports was established in 1267, which makes it one of the oldest fairs in the world. It combines ancient and traditional events with modern attractions – and the famous gurning contest. Egremont, Cumbria

Grand Henham Steam Rally
21st-22nd Sept
Steam engine rally and country fair with displays, rural crafts, helicopter flights and vintage fairground. Southwold, Suffolk

The Berkshire County Show
21st-22nd Sept
Country fair with horse driving, pig showing skills; taste Britain’s finest foods and watch cookery demonstrations; sample the best craft and watch traditional crafts in action. Newbury, Berkshire

Annual Clypping Service
22nd Sept
The clergy of St Mary’s Church will encircle the church and dance will walking around the church – part of a restored ancient tradition. Painswick, Gloucester

Burgess Hill Bonfire Society
28th Sept
Several processions through the town with flaming fire carts (barrels), and a bonfire at the end along with fireworks. Burgess Hill, Sussex

World Stone Skimming Championships
29th Sept
The championships are held every year on the last Sunday in September. Anyone of any age and any level of skill can enter. Each competitor is allowed 3 skims using specially selected Easdale slate skimming stones. Oban, Argyll, Scotland.

Surrey Ploughing Match
29th Sept
There are ploughing competitions which draw up to around 85 ploughmen, including heavy horse ploughing. Eashing, Surrey

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2 comments
  1. Andrew says:

    Carshalton isn’t really outside London – it’s between Sutton and Croydon in zone 5, and very much inside the M25.

  2. Adam says:

    Hadn’t heard of Heritage Open Days but I’m definitely interested in this year’s London Open House – should be interesting.

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