Dancing girls at Bestival

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More festivals: August

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Festinho

4-6 September

Ever left a festival feeling guilty about overloading on fun and splashing your cash on frivolous fancies (did you really need that UV lighter?). Ease your conscience at this Brazilian-themed bash. All proceeds go to the ABC Trust, which helps Brazilian street children transform their lives. An intoxicating cocktail of not-for-profit fun the bill is headed up by knob twiddling genius Jon Hopkins, Cut La Roc, Flevans, Jon Kennedy Live, hotly tipped folk band, Mawkin:Causley and the ultimate party starters, Carnival Collective. Plus there’s the Cinema Cottage, cabaret and pillow fights.

Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk, CO10 9BA, £20-£60

Offset

5-6 September

The Horrors, The Slits, Future of the Left and A Certain Ratio are this eco-friendly forest affair's main players, with two main stages featuring indie, rock, artrock and electro, plus six smaller stages hosting new and cutting-edge bands and DJs, with more than 200 acts playing. Also offers a full funfair, organic food, traders’ village, art, and a dedicated area for kids.

5-6 September, Hainault Forest Country Park, Fox Burrow Rd, Chigwell, IG7, £50/£28, www.offsetfestival.co.uk

// A Fistful of Fandango 3 //

9-12 September

Indie showcase favourite Club Fandango returns with a third helping of new and emerging talent based on their Dublin Castle clubnights. Camera Obscura, Malcolm Middleton, Fanfarlo and Friendly Fires are among FOF alumni so expect a strong line-up when it's announced later in April.

9-12 September, 229 Great Portland Street, W1W 5PN, 020 7631 8388

// Bestival //

11-13 September

The front-runner of the new spate of festivals who do more than just put bands on, this friendly, cosy, fancy-dress festival has a hot line-up (Kraftwerk, Massive Attack, Elbow, MGMT) and more wacky activities to get involved in than you could shake a home-made rainstick at. Expect a Cockney knees-up, polka tent, pamper lounge, “A Space Oddity”-themed fancy dress competition judged by Lily Allen

£140, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight

// End of the Road //

11-13 September

The last festival of the summer is small (just 5,000 capacity) but perfectly-formed. Steve Earle, Alela Diane, Fleet Foxes, Okkervil River and Explosions in the Sky will play, and bands are invited to DJ, present workshops, put on surprise sets and collaborate.

£115 (6-12 years £30, under-6s free), Larmer Tree Gardens, North Dorset

More festivals: July I August

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// The Tower Music Festival //

11-20 September

Jazz, classical, opera and world music in a jaw-dropping setting. Nigel Kennedy and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Lesley Garrett, dancers from Sadler’s Wells and more entertain well-heeled crowds.

11-20 September, Tower of London, Tower Hill, EC3, 0870 756 6060

// The Mayor's Thames Festival //

12-13 September

Boris Johnson gets stuck into his second Mayor’s festival, now in its 12th year, with workshops, parades, music stages, art. The event features music, as well as art installations, workshops and children's activities with the Night Procession on the Sunday featuring more than 2,000 musicians, dancers, performers and masqueraders.

12-13 September, noon-10pm, South Bank, SE1, free

// thelondonpaper HEADLINERS //

16-17 September

Why, it’s us! Showcasing more than 50 acts in some of Soho's well-known and unexpected spaces, chart-topping acts will rub shoulders with breaking bands. A single wristband system lets people go from venue to venue, catching as many bands as they want. Keep checking back for updates with the first line-up announcements scheduled for the end of May.

various venues, Soho

Bestival inspiration: crazy fancy dress costumes!

Go for free: Win tickets to this summer's best festivals!

Get the gossip from our festivals blog

More festivals: August