Year after year, Nottingham's festivals, fairs and shows provide enjoyment for all ages. Good clean family fun guaranteed! 

Don't miss

Nottingham Light Night 
12 February Nottingham 
Join us in Nottingham's city centre for another exploration of the city after dark. There are a host of things to see and do so plan your route for a night filled with culture and lots of surprises! This year also sees the return of the Big Wheel from 12 February to 11 April. Further details can be found at: www.mynottingham.gov.uk/lightnight

Robin Hood month
May 2010, Nottinghamshire 
Ridley Scott's new blockbuster movie about the legendary figure, starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett opens nationwide on 15 May. Come and join a month of events and exhibitions to celebrate the release.

City Pulse Music Festival
29-31 May 2010, Nottingham 

Nottingham Riviera 
24 July-5 September, Nottingham 
Old Market Square is transformed into a beach, complete with promenade, to bring some summer fun to the heart of the city.  

Nottingham Pride
31 July, Forest Recreation Ground, Nottingham 

Nottingham Riverside Festival 
6-8 August, Victoria Embankment Nottingham 
A celebration of music from around the world, funfair rides and amazing fireworks make for a great weekend by the Trent. This year, in support of Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, Gable Events are launching the second Dragon Boat Challenge to be staged as part of the Nottingham Riverside Festival. The Dragon Boat Challenge takes place on Sunday 8th August and up to 50 crews are expected to battle it out over the 200m race course on the River Trent at Victoria Embankment watched by thousands of spectators.

Nottingham Food and Drink Festival 2010
23-26 September, Old Market Square and Nottingham City Centre
The second annual Nottingham Food and Drink Festival will be welcoming a host of celebrity chefs including Gino D’Acampo, Ainsley Harriott and Nottingham’s own Sat Bains to the Old Market Square. Come along and enjoy cooking demonstrations, regional food and drink market and special offers at restaurants across the city.
For more information and booking details visit http://www.wearenottingham.co.uk/foodfestival.php

Goose Fair
6-9 October, Forest Recreation Ground
- FREE ADMISSION, one of Europe’s largest travelling fairs with over 500 attractions makes its annual stop in Nottingham

Robin Hood Beer Festival, Nottingham Castle
14-17 October
- the Nottingham Branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale are pulling out all the stops to make sure 2010 will be even bigger and better! 2009 saw a world record 600 different top quality real ales on offer, plus an even larger selection of traditional ciders, perries and country wines than ever before. There'll be live entertainment at the Victorian bandstand and the majority of the beers will be served in the main marquee on the top green which will contain even more stalls. A variety of hot and cold foods will be available, both in the main marquee and spread around the grounds, with a much wider choice than before. See www.nottinghamcamra.org

Robin Hood Pageant
30-31 October, Nottingham Castle, 11am - 4.30pm
- Nottingham Castle has become synonymous with Robin Hood and the medieval stories of the legend. This unique annual event creates an atmosphere of a time long past. Relive the life and times of the legend of Robin Hood and his arch enemy the Sheriff of Nottingham. For one weekend, the castle green comes alive with action. The outlaws and Sheriff's men come to blows, on and off horseback.

Wander through the grounds, and experience what life was like in a medieval encampment. See the artisans at work, be enthralled by jesters, wandering minstrels, storytellers and actors - or even test your skills at archery. Find out more on the official http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1020 

nottdance10, Nottingham 
5-24 October
- see top art events for full details. ‘nottdance, the feather in Nottingham’s cultural cap’, according to Times art critic Donald Hutera. Nottingham based company Dance4’s annual international festival of dance and performance features the UK premiere of a performance by Bodies in Flight during morning commuter time and the Street Dance troupe gets the community to add their own unique stamp to the performance. This contemporary dance event continues its commitment to challenge, experimentation and innovation through a programme of artists and choreographers from around the world. Find out more at www.dance4.co.uk/nottdance

GameCity 5
27-31 October, venues across Nottingham
- a unique festival celebrating the modern culture of videogames and interactive entertainment. GameCity explores videogames in new ways, uncovering the most interesting parts of their culture and inviting visitors to join in. There’s games to play, speakers to meet and learn from, music to dance to and plenty of surprises.

Anchored around the city’s Old Market Square, the event is being billed as the most accessible GameCity yet. While an events list has yet to be confirmed, last year’s GameCity was headlined by Media Molecule, featured a director’s commentary from Martin Hollis and David Doak on N64 favourite GoldenEye 007, and saw Harmonix and SCEE help launch the National Videogame Archive. Video game trade shows aren't unique but GameCity, started by Nottingham University, aspires to be something more than a trade show. As the GameCity website states, the idea is to show how gaming affects society at large and move it “out into the streets, shops and cinemas of Nottingham.” This is the third year of the videogames festival, check out the website for more info www.gamecity.org

Firewalk (Bonfire Night Extravaganza)
5 November, Nottingham Castle
- Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind (NRSB) charity fundraising event. For more details email events@nrsb.org.uk. Or call Vicki or Lydia on 0115 970 6806

Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show
7-8 November, Newark Showground, November
- Newark & Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society’s Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show provides a bright weekend of entertainment for anyone interested in our historical agricultural machinery and vintage vehicles. With the majority of over 400 exhibits under cover inside permanent halls, centre of attraction will be the Marshall and Turner displays in the Lady Eastwood Pavilion while three new marquees will feature specific makes of tractor, celebrating their unique contribution to this country’s heritage. For advance tickets and/or further information on the show, contact the Showground office on 0870 224 1035 or visit the online shop at www.newarkshowground.com

Diwali Gala
21 November, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
- following the success of last years’ event, it'll again be hosted at the Royal Concert Hall. More details to follow at www.asianarts.org.uk. A very special ghazal evening is also in the pipeline

Christmas in Notts
November - December, countywide
www.christmasinnotts.com

Cultural event highlights each year include:

• Nottingham 'One World, One City' Festival in May and City Pulse music event (spring bank holiday May)
• the Nottingham Caribbean Carnival, which returned after a year's absence in July 2007
• lots of exciting events organised by the Nottingham Asian Arts Council in around Nottingham. Email Bhavesh Jani for further details or visit www.asianarts.org.uk
• Towards the end of the year the city centre is awash with light and colour for Diwali and Christmas, with the sights, sounds and smell of the traditional German Christmas Market and craft markets.

Other dates for the diary can be found on our What's on listing. To find out more about city and countywide events, contact Nottingham tourism centre on 08444 77 5678. And to be one of the first to know about Notts’ events and special offers, click here and join our quarterly email subscribers list.