Every year, Bath hosts a lively calendar of events - the Literature Festival in March, spring's International Music Festival and Fringe, summer's Boules Tournament, and autumn's Antiquarian Book Fair, to name but a few. During the Bath International Music Festival in May, concert halls, theatres and churches in the area fill with appreciative audiences; even the streets of the city are taken over in an enthusiastic outflow of mime, music and humour. The Bath International Music Festival in mid-May and the Mozartfest in November bring musicians and artists to Bath from around the globe. The Literature Festival introduces authors to their readers with readings and workshops throughout the city.

Art, craft and design fairs are held throughout the year, attracting collectors and browsers, while various live musical events are organised at Iford Manor and Dyrham Park, sometimes folk, sometimes jazz, sometimes blues.

For sports fans, there's a year-long programme of fixtures, from rugby and football in the winter to the spring Half Marathon and annual summer Cricket Festival. Bath's racecourse, famous for being the highest in the country has regular meetings, while Bath is close to Badminton and Gatcombe for their annual horse trials.

The biggest exhibition in the area, the Bath & West Show takes place every year at the Royal Bath & West show-ground near Shepton Mallet. An agricultural show in origin, you can still see the region's prize livestock and most up-to-date farm machinery. But it's also a major event for shopping and leisure, and is a grand day out for the whole family. The floral city of Bath welcomes flower-lovers from far and wide in the month of May, with the annual Flower Show in Royal Victoria Park. The flower show marks the start of the annual Britain in Bloom competition, when the whole district explodes in a mass of colourful floral displays.

Collectors' fairs take place throughout the year, and include the Decorative and Antiques Fair held in the Pavilion in March, as well as wedding shows, teddy bear and doll fairs, Christmas events and arts and craft exhibitions. With several key venues in the city centre, Bath also has an annual programme of art exhibitions and shows, both contemporary and historical. Look for events in the Victoria Art Gallery, The Hot Bath Gallery and the Holburne Museum, as well as the district's libraries and museums.