Unusual UK events in April.

April has its eye on summer, but it gets there in several very different costumes. Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire Festival takes its performance up Calton Hill, Hastings’ Jack in the Green mixes processions with traditional dance and music, and Minehead’s hobby-horse custom looks ahead to May Day. Some celebrations straddle the two months, so read the full event dates rather than assuming an April listing means everything happens before May begins.

Hungerford’s Hocktide is another sort of spring occasion, with the Tutti Men, flower-decked poles and the town's ceremonial business. A little reading beforehand pays off: knowing which roles you're looking at can turn a puzzling encounter into the highlight of your visit. The guide explains the custom and the parts visitors can watch. A local ceremony isn't automatically an invitation to join in everything or copy what the participants do.

For a fair rather than a procession, Kirkcaldy’s Links Market turns the spotlight on the seafront and its rides and stalls. It's a different proposition from a single timed performance, and may suit a group that likes to set its own pace. Compare that with the organised programme at something like Jack in the Green or Beltane. Think about the atmosphere, entry arrangements and time outdoors your companions will enjoy, rather than picking from the most dramatic photograph alone.

April's page is especially worth reading alongside the calendar. Easter can shift which holiday games land in March or April, and the start of a May celebration may belong here even when its best-known moment comes later. Check the exact edition, current programme and any booking before settling your travel plans. Use the map to choose a place you'd like to explore as well as an event. One unhurried spring outing, with time to understand what's going on, is quite enough to be getting on with.