Bank Holiday weekend: The best things to do, from Manchester Pride to Liverpool's prosecco festival

How to make the most of the last long weekend of the summer

Hopefully the holiday will be sun-soaked (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The long weekend is almost here, so celebrate your last Monday off for four months by heading to these weird and wonderful events up and down the country.

The Beast

London’s Alexandra Palace will be home to the world’s largest inflatable obstacle course this bank holiday weekend. At 272m long and with 32 obstacles, The Beast is every childhood game show crammed into one long bouncy dream. There will also be street food stalls, cocktails, prosecco on tap, craft beer and live DJs to keep you fed, watered and entertained between bouncing.

25 to 28 August; tickets £20.

thebeastlondon.com

Liverpool Prosecco festival

Mark the official end of the summer by surrounding yourself with the sparkly seasonal tipple. Head down to the Crypt of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool, where there will be more than 30 types of fizz for tasters to try. The festival also has Italian food stalls, live music and a Peroni bar for those who shy away from the Italian wine.

29 to 30 August; entry £9.50.

proseccofestival.co.uk

The scooter rally should provide a weekend of perfect photo opportunities (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

International Scooter Rally

More than 5,000 modern and vintage scooters will descend on the Isle of White over the Bank Holiday for one of the world’s largest scooter rallies. The colourful Vespas and Lambrettas will take part in a number of events over the weekend, but the most spectacular is the ride out towards Sandown on Sunday afternoon.

25 to 28 August; free.

visitsoutheastengland.com

Carlisle Fringe Festival

The Cumbrian city’s streets will see outdoor performances, cabaret, comedy and a street theatre programme as part of the festival. There will also be a 1950s style street party, with tables laid throughout the city centre on Carlisle Pageant Day and an international market, with stallholders selling food from around the world.

18 to 28 August; shows range from free entry to £14.50 a ticket.

carlislefringe.co.uk

This year's Manchester Pride parade theme is "Graduation" (Getty Images)

Manchester Pride

This year marks 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK and 2017’s Manchester Pride, always an event to remember, promises to be the best yet. The parade will take place on Saturday 26 August with a “Graduation” theme, and there will be music across the weekend from a wide range of artists including Clean Bandit, Example, Faithless and Katrina and the Waves.

25 to 28 August; free.

manchesterpride.com

Leeds West Indian Carnival

Europe’s longest running authentic Caribbean Carnival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Five headpieces have been commissioned for 2017, themed to represent the key stages of the journey of the carnival from the Caribbean to Leeds and the new pieces will go on tour to allow everyone to try them on. A host of events lead up to the main parade on Monday; expect a colourful weekend of soca music, steel pans and Caribbean food.

18 August; most events are free, others from £2 to £10.

leedscarnival.co.uk

World Gravy Championships

Rossendale in Lancashire will host a world-class sporting event like no other this weekend. Contestants must wrestle in gravy - a pool of Lancashire’s finest - for two minutes and points are scored for fancy dress, comedy effect and entertainment as well as wrestling ability. Fighters are hosed down after their bout by the local fire brigade.

28 August; entry £2.50.

worldgravywrestling.com