What can I do in Bristol during the Bank Holiday weekend?

I am not able to remember if it was the same last year but this May's Bank Holiday is full of festivals. It's been several weeks that most of the hostels are fully booked in Bristol with people coming if it's not for the VegFest, they are coming for the Love Saves the Day festival or Dot to Dot. The fact is that there are still some tickets available for the festivals so if you haven't plan anything for the long weekend, here you have some ideas:

23-24 May: Bristol VegFest 

I went to Bristol VegFest last year because Caravan Palace was playing. It was a great a great night of music, although pretty cold and rainy at the Amphitheatre. You can read about it here. This time it's Boney M who is leading the lineup. 

For those who don't have a clue who Boney M is, just type "Rivers of Babylon" or "Daddy Cool" on Youtube and I'm sure you will recognise the songs. Boney M was one of the biggest groups to stand out in the pure disco dancing 70s and 80s. Every discotheque around the world played Boney M when my mom was young and crazy! LOL. I'm sure she would love to be here! 

There are other interesting bands playing throughout the weekend too, for instance, Abba Gold (tribute to Abba), Peter Hook and The Light, Goldblade and many more. Check the whole programme here. Advance tickets for Friday cost 15 pounds but I found a deal on Groupon and Friday tickets cost 9.90  pounds (buy here).

Website: http://bristol.vegfest.co.uk/

24 May: Dot to Dot

This is a festival I also mentioned last year (read here) although I didn't have the chance to go as tickets were sold out. The festival started nine years ago in Nottingham and has established itself as the UK's premier festival for unearthing the hottest new talent around the globe (at least, that's what they say at their website). The festival takes place in Manchester on Friday, in Bristol on Saturday and in Nottingham on Sunday.

The lineup are Peace, Drenge and Real Estate although many more bands will be spread in different venues all over Bristol: O2 Academy, Trinity, Thekla, The Lousiana, The Fleece, Exchange, Start the Bus, The Birdcage, Stag & Hounds, The Lanes, Brewdog and Roll for the Soul. Advance tickets cost 22 pounds booking fees included and can be bought here.

Website: http://www.dottodotfestival.co.uk/

24-25 May: Love Saves the Day

Last year, they had a different name for each day of the festival ("Love Saves the Day" and "Love Saves Sunday") but apparently this year, the have chosen to keep the same name for both days. You can read about our experience last year at Love Saves Sunday, it was amazing! (Here) I really enjoyed the atmosphere, the place (Castle Park), the festival... 

This years lineups are Annie Mac, Eats Everything and Hercules and Love Affair on Saturday, and SBTRKT, Jamie XX and Neneh Cherry on Sunday. Advance tickets now cost 39.50 pounds on Sunday (Sorry, tickets for Saturday are sold out already!) and can be bought here. Volunteering is also possible for this festival and in return, you'll receive free entry to the festival, t-shirts, light refreshments during your shift and the opportunity to earn a Love Saves The Night ticket. Check the official website for more information.

Website: http://lovesavestheday.org/

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ ABOUT...
VegFest 2013
http://greatlittleplacecalledbristol.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/parisian-mischievousness.html
Dot to Dot 2013http://greatlittleplacecalledbristol.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/dot-to-dot.html
Love Saves Sunday 2013
http://greatlittleplacecalledbristol.blogspot.com.es/2013/05/all-you-need-is-love.html

Speaking of Love...

I have never celebrated St Valentine's day. Never ever. Neither did I celebrate when I had a boyfriend nor when I didn't have; neither did I celebrate it when I was in love nor when I wasn't. St Valentine's day means nothing else than an ordinary day for me.

I walked around Broadmead today and Mr. Valentine followed me everywhere I went. Big red hearts and discounts all over, on basically anything: jewellery, clothes, lingerie, complements, perfumes, electronics, stationary...

Shops were basically suggesting I should indulge myself buying chocolates and sweets I never buy, that I should get a sexiest lingerie and undress for my lover, and that I should have dinner in a fancy restaurant to prove my love for somebody.

It makes me sick to realize there are people whose world revolves around a person, whose personality vanished the moment they began the relationship, and decide to make the St Valentine's day a very special day. Why just on St Valentine's day? Why not on any other day?  Why not on every other day?

We are surrounded by people we love, who had always be by our-side and we keep forgetting about them. I personally can't remember the last time I said "I love you" to my mom, dad or the rest of the family; or even to our closest friends who have been there, come hell or high water. Even more important than saying it is prove it, though. And a couple of flowers and chocolates don't achieve that.

Keep in mind: you don't find love, you build it.