Hats off to Gloucester this month as the city launches its first Hat Festival(01452 415 155/hatfestival.co.uk).

Over two days (July 13 and 14) be headand shoulders above the rest and show off your creative side by joining in theFiesta of Hats parade (free for all) which will add a riot of colour as it makesits way through the centre of the historic town. There will also be millineryworkshops including one for tiaras for pre-wedding belles as well as onefor vintage fascinators.

The Greenwich Summer Festival (greenwichsummerfestival.co.uk) takesplace in the beautiful grounds of the Old Royal Naval College. Situated along thebanks of the Thames, the 40-day festival combines dance, comedy, theatre andmusic.

Highlights include a celebration of dance from July 4-8 and comedy actsincluding Mark Watson, Rufus Hound and Sean Lock at the Greenwich ComedyFestival (greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk) from July 13 to 20. Ticket prices vary.

Sir Tom Jones headlines Osborne House’s Summer Concert series.

The Isle of Wight venue, a former residence of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert,welcomes the veteran Welsh singer over the weekend of July 28 and 29.Wightlink (0871 376 1000/wightlink.co.uk) offers three nights at Gurnard Pinesfrom £249pp (two sharing), self-catering. Price includes tickets to the concertand return ferry travel (car plus four passengers).

As the Olympics gets under way in London, a different sort of Games comes toBlists Hill Victorian Town (01952 433 424/ironbridge.org.uk) near Ironbridge, Shropshire, on the weekend of July 28 and 29. Try your hand at Leek Flingingand Cabbage Hurling, both quirky pastimes from the Victorian era.

The Community Games weekend is part of the official London 2012 Cultural Olympiad in the West Midlands organised by the Ironbridge Gorge Museums.

A two-day air show is taking place at the Grand Pier (grandpier.co.uk) inWeston-super-Mare from July 23 to 24. The event will see a host of world-classair display teams take to the sky including the Red Arrows and vintage aircraftsuch as a Spitfire and a Dakota.

The Breitling Wing Walkers will also be flyinghigh over the scenic coastal setting, strapped to Boeing Stearman biplanes. Admission free.