The best late summer festivals

Family fun in Devon

A last-minute escape where the children can let off steam. The Devonshire leg of this outdoor adventure festival at Powderham Castle – headlined by Bear Grylls – still has tickets for its four-day smorgasbord of activities. The family pass (£510 for two adults and two children) includes camping for the duration and activities such as kayaking, rugby sessions by Rugby for Heroes, archery and climbing walls, as well as music (bands include James, The Feeling and Ash) and speaker sessions with explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Olympic athlete Mark Ormrod. Evening-only tickets for the bands are from £42.50.

Silverstone pays tribute to Senna

An annual petrolheads’ pilgrimage, this event runs from qualifiers on the Friday to race days on the Saturday and Sunday, which include Formula One three-litre cars from ’66 to ’85. The show also pays homage to F1 legend Ayrton Senna, with its biggest-ever display of Senna-driven cars at Silverstone – the circuit where the Brazilian won more races than anywhere else. Elsewhere, there are plenty of food and wine tastings, stunt shows and live music, including an appearance by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Evening tickets are priced from £25.

A bibliophile gathering in north London

Alan Bennett is top of the bill at this book-lovers’ gathering with the charm of a village fête. He takes to the stage on Saturday alongside documentarians Adam Low and Martin Rosenbaum to discuss his life, work and forthcoming documentary celebrating his 90th birthday (to be aired on the BBC this autumn). On the same day, author Elif Shafak discusses her new novel There Are Rivers in the Sky, while critic and broadcaster Jay Rayner looks back on 25 years of reviewing restaurants. On Sunday, Michael Palin discusses his new book uncovering the life of his great-uncle, who died in the trenches of northern France. Tickets are available per event from £8 – and events in the community tents are free.

Goodwood’s vintage parade 

A chance to dress in vintage chic and check out classic cars. Transporting visitors back to the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, it lines up stars from the worlds of Formula 1, Le Mans, the Isle of Man TT, NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula E, touring cars and MotoGP. Expect appearances from F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart and former world champion Jacques Villeneuve, plus a vintage fun fair, a drive-in cinema and a celebration of Britain’s first televised Western on its 75th anniversary, complete with cowboys. The event sells out fast but admission-only tickets are available for the Saturday, priced from £80 per person, in addition to hospitality tickets.

Financial Times all-stars

FT journalists meet politicians, power players, authors, actors and more for a day of lively debate, alongside tastings, masterclasses and general pet parading on the lawn of Kenwood House. This year’s extravaganza on the Heath hosts luminaries such as actors John Lithgow and Lesley Sharp, entrepreneur Deborah Meaden, author Plum Sykes and architect, artist and filmmaker Jayden Ali. There are book signings, complimentary spa treatments and places to eat, including Ottolenghi. Subscriber tickets are £178 each and non subscriber passes are £190 each.

Flat-racing for foodies at Ascot

A new event in the calendar marries flat-racing with artisanal food. Between bets, racegoers can mingle among artisan food stalls, try barbecue at the Smoke & Fire pop-up, take in live music or head down to the Furlong Club to watch live cooking demonstrations. Chefs taking to the stage include Alex Payne, Adam Smith, Sarah Frankland, Ascot’s Ben Dutson and Farmer Tom. Adult admission for the Queen Anne Enclosure is £20.

A fire walk for David Lynch fans

This homage to the Mulholland Drive director will host actors who have starred in his films, alongside panel talks, costume competitions and a screening of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Appearances include Dana Ashbrook, who played Bobby Briggs in Twin Peaks; Sabrina S Sutherland, Lynch’s right-hand woman; and Lesley Dunlop, who starred in The Elephant Man. On the Saturday expect to see Robert Engels, co-writer of Twin Peaks, and cinematographer Ron Garcia, speaking on online panels. There is live evening music in “Slow Club”, a space recreated from the Blue Velvet set design. VIP tickets, £310; weekend admission, £170; day tickets, £93.50

London Design Festival heads east and west

LDF is across both sides of the city this September. To the east, in Shoreditch, Vitra has teamed up with Artek at Tramshed to show reimagined pieces by Paul Smith, while Lee Broom is debuting his Alchemist lighting collection; in the west, Focus/24 at Chelsea Harbour’s Design Centre showcases launches, talks and tours, and the Brompton Quarter (bromptondesigndistrict.com) features an array of events too, including a survey of working with wood at the Sarah Myerscough Gallery. Most of the events are free, see the programme for details.

Oxford celebrates in song

With 70 events across the city, including in the Levine Building at Trinity College, this fortnight-long celebration of song offers evening recitals complemented by events focused around chamber and choral music, talks, tours and masterclasses. It will also stage world premieres, including Kafka-inspired work by Can Bilir, and a reimagining of the Bhagavad Gita by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail. Some events are free, others are priced between £4 and £34.