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Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

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Home > Archives for Free events

Archives for Free events

Whitby Krampus Run 2018 - photo by Cassandra Sutton

Have yourself a quirky little Christmas

Looking for something other than the usual seasonal markets to get you into the festive spirit? Here’s our pick of quirky Christmas events…

Yorkshire Festival of Story 2021

Yorkshire Festival of Story looks for a happy ever after

More than 50 events will fill the programme at this year’s Yorkshire Festival of Story, with a vibrant variety of performances, discussions and masterclasses…

Light Up Lancaster 2017

Interactive installations Light Up Lancaster

This weekend, life-size polar bear sculptures and an interactive robot snail Light Up Lancaster…

States of Mind at Bloomsbury Festival

Tigers, muck and strolls at Bloomsbury Festival

Enjoy shows, art, walks and talks at this year’s Bloomsbury Festival in London as neon sculptures, street feasts and happiness exhibitions fill the area…

Lakes International Comic Art Festival LICAF 2021

Sketching and stunts at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival

This month, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (LICAF) returns to the Cumbrian town of Kendal with exhibitions, live drawing and workshops…

Light Night Leeds

Art in the dark at Light Up Leeds 2021

Make the most of autumn by discovering art in the dark at this year’s Light Up Leeds. There’ll be ten zones full of colourful and inventive installations…

Festival of Thrift 2021

A gyroscopic flying machine and walkabout puppet theatre at Festival of Thrift

This weekend, celebrate sustainability and culture at the Festival of Thrift in North Yorkshire with shows, workshops and quirky performances…

The Dogstagram pop-up booth at Leadenhall Market with sausage dog Pomegranate

Try some Dogstagram glam at a pop up photo booth

This month, you can take your pooch for a photo session with a difference in London, as the Leadenhall Dogstagram pops up in the City…

Pepper Pot market hall in Chagford, Devon - By Nilfanion - Wikimedia UK

Chagford’s film festival returns to Dartmoor

Chagford Film Festival opens in Devon for a week of screenings and special events including dog-friendly films and a scarecrow trail…

Solidarity Posters ©V&A

Discover Lost Treasures in Oxford

Whether you like delving into social history, love your graphic design or enjoy an unusual exhibition, Lost Treasures of Revolution will peak your curiosity…

JOY 2021 by Turtlekey Arts

Artists bring JOY to Hammersmith

This month, the JOY Festival opens at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, celebrating work from established and emerging disabled artists…

The Egyptian House in Penzance (Image: Rosser1954 via Wikimedia Commons)

A quirky tour of Britain

To celebrate the Tour of Britain, this week we’re taking a quirky tour of Britain. Join us on an eight stage journey…

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance - Staffordshire

Watch a quirky dance with horns in Staffordshire

Start your Monday off right, by watching a quirky dance take place in Staffordshire. The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is an annual local custom…

Weymouth's Sense of Unity parade (Image: Sarah Hickson)

Dorset fills coast and countryside with art and performances

This September, there’ll be two weekends of outdoor art and performances in Dorset for the Inside Out festival…

Rural Retreat © Judith Jones, 2020

Devon exhibition is hiding in plain sight

An intriguing new exhibition in Devon will have you looking much closer at the artworks. Why? Because each piece has something hidden in it…

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Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

Make some noise for Whitby’s Krampus Run
Whitby Krampus Run 2018 - photo by Cassandra Sutton

As Father Christmas makes his annual visit to towns across the UK this weekend, there’s another, much darker character making his way to Whitby in North Yorkshire…

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