Whether you want to listen to jazz, indie or rock music, or be part of a carnival or parade, there are free UK festivals to suit all tastes – just use the map below to pick your area.
Alternatively it may be possible to get into the big paid for festivals without paying a penny, though it can take some work, see the stewarding guide below.
Description: An outdoor sunken amphitheatre which hosts a variety of free events - from free films, free music and free theatre to local community events and activities.
Description: Wide variety of music and entertainment, arts and crafts, trade stalls, farm animals & exotic species, brass bands, storytelling and a funfair.
Description: Street arts, carnival, pyrotechnics, illuminations, art installations, exhibitions, river events, massed choirs, circus, music and dance, food and feasting.
Description: Northern Ireland's version of the Gay Pride Parade. Explores Belfast's diversity with a week long celebration that features a programme of events to appeal to the most diverse range of tastes.
Description: A family-friendly festival with lots of free music from local bands and orchestras, Irish dancing and a laser light show. Please note the festival is predominantly free but some events may charge.
Description: A kind of Scottish version of the Gay Pride Parade. Events spanning comedy, music, film, theatre, visual art, performance art, literature, club nights, education events, community arts projects.
Description: Apply for free tickets online. Event for young people aged 12-25 to have fun, take part and be better informed. Features celebrities as well as local bands.
Description: Live music showcases, DJ sets, product samplings, model talent searches, fashion flashes, beauty treats, after parties, health and lifestyle advice.
Description: With live music from Scouting for Girls and Matt Cardle, brass bands, parades, parties and open-air concerts there's something for everyone to enjoy throughout June, July and August.
Description: The festival offers a diverse range of musical genres ranging from folk, and ska, through jazz and blues, to rock and thrash metal, and classical music.
Description: Live music, street & open-air theatre, children's entertainment and funfairs that take place in the city centre and around Cardiff Bay. Some events throughout the festival will charge for admission.
Description: Over 50 Welsh producers gather to sell cakes, wine, sweets, chocolate, cheese, pickles and more. Includes entertainment and a grand fireworks display.
Description: 2 day music festival showcasing some of the best talent from East Anglia and further afield. Featuring popular American trio, Pearl and Beard.
Description: A showcase of international & local artists, Bristol's circus and street theatre talent, as well as a display of ships & boats and fireworks.
Description: Acoustic folk festival, with free activities in pubs with over 90 acts, dancers, workshops, exhibitions, market, refreshments & kids' entertainment.
Description: The green festival offers music, poetry, a healing and well being area, food stalls, an environmental education display, and a children's area.
Description: Urban music festival featuring live bands at various venues across the city. This year's lineup includes Roots Manuva and We Are Scientists.
Description: UK's biggest free pop party with a celebrity line-up. Tickets are distributed via a ballot system. Apply online from 8am on Mon 21 May - 10pm on Sun 17 June 2012, max four per person..
Description: Music, theatre, walks and tours, sport, food and drink, craft, kids' activities and events for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Torch Relay.
Description: Live music, a procession, kids activities, carnival, world musicians, club stage, fringe events, music, craft and dance workshops, and other art.
Description: A traditional, fun festival set in the picturesque medieval town's square and surrounding streets, celebrating the olden days of hop picking in Kent.
As well as the free UK festivals listed above, there are a few ways to get into sold out festivals for free.
Volunteering with V Inspired
The national young volunteers service V inspired, has a scheme where 16-25 year olds can volunteer at festivals.
You can either apply to be part of the young talents’ group (if you can dance, sing etc.) or for ‘normal’ volunteering opportunities around the site.
Apply online, you’ll need to volunteer four hours each day the festival runs, the rest of the time you can just enjoy the music!
Places still available for 2011:
Leeds Festival
Latitude Festival
Camp Bestival
The
Big Chill Festival
Beautiful Days Festival
Shambala Festival
Womad Festival
One Love Festival
Reading Festival
Underage Festival
T4 on the Beach
Volunteering through charities
Some big charities like the Samaritans and Oxfam look for volunteers to help at big festivals. Though don't volunteer if you're in it just for the free ticket, approach a charity you really believe in and do the work properly.
The Festival Samaritans provide volunteers for big festivals such as Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading. You have to be either an existing Samaritan or ex-Samaritan to be eligible. Unfortunately applications for 2011 have now closed but you can apply online in January 2012 for next year’s festivals.
Oxfam provides stewards and campaigners, who’ll have to work three shifts (eight hours 15 mins each shift) over the duration of big festivals like Isle of White, Latitude or Womad. You can apply online for as many festivals as you want but applications have now closed for 2011.
Odd jobs like litter picking & car park attending
It’s not easy to make a festival run smoothly, and extra help is always required with anything from car park assistance and tent pitching to litter picking. Organisers usually go through site services that provide staff specifically for festivals.
DC Services provide safety stewards, traffic marshals, recycling and litter teams to the likes of Reading, Leeds, Glastonbury and Proms in The Park festivals (check its events calendar). You get paid to work there, plus you’ll get free meal tickets and free festival entry. You can apply online for jobs and shifts depend on what job you’re applying for. You’ll have to be over 16 or 18 depending on the job.
Places still available for 2011:
Sonisphere
T4 on The Beach
Latitude
Magic Loungeabout
The Big Chill
Green Man Festival
Reading Festival
Leeds Festival
Electric Picnic
Proms in the Park
You can volunteer to pick litter at festivals like Womad, Sound in the Farm or Solfest when you apply online with Network recycling. You’ll have to work from 12 to 18 hours (depending on festival) in shifts during or after the event and you'll get fed. You will have to pay a £15 admin fee.
Places still available for 2011:
WOMAD
Shambala
Lounge On The Farm
Standon Calling
Hot box provide volunteers for anything from assisting festival goers with directions to helping them pitch their tents. If your application is successful, you’ll have to work 3x8 hour shifts for the duration of the festival. Hotbox have spaces for Latitude, The Big Chill, Leeds & Reading festivals.
Places still available for 2011:
The Big Chill Festival
Latitude
Reading Festival
Leeds Festival
Volunteering for festivals independently
Another option is to check with festival organisations directly to see if they’re looking for volunteers. They usually have a dedicated are on their website for this.
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The national young volunteers service V inspired, has a scheme where 16-25 year olds can volunteer at festivals. 
It’s not easy to make a festival run smoothly, and extra help is always required with anything from car park assistance and tent pitching to litter picking. Organisers usually go through site services that provide staff specifically for festivals. 
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