The top summer events of 2009

As well as being home to some of the world's most popular destinations and tourist attractions, the countries of western Europe have a rich tradition of hosting events and festivals that provide entertainment for people of all ages and tastes. Those looking for a truly memorable experience this year can choose from a number of events due to be held over the coming months.

1. La Tomatina, Valencia - August 26th

La Tomatina is on a par with Pamplona's Running of the Bulls as one of Spain's best-known and most popular annual traditions. Held on the last Wednesday in August in Bunol, a small town in the province of Valencia, La Tomatina sees some 20,000 people gather in the streets to pelt each other with tomatoes. Nearly 140 tonnes of tomatoes are carried into Bunol on lorries for the event, which is part of a week-long festival that also features live music, fireworks and more. Standard uniform for the epic tomato fight is an old T-shirt, a pair of shorts and eye goggles.

Those interested in experiencing this unique event can catch ferries to Santander from Plymouth or Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries, or travel on the Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry route provided by P&O Ferries. Bunol is located in eastern Spain, about 40km inland from the city of Valencia.

2. Spraoi Festival, Waterford - July 31st-August 2nd

The Spraoi Festival is described by its organisers as "an annual riot of colour, energy and excitement". It is held every year during the August bank holiday weekend in Ireland, which this year runs from July 31st to August 2nd. The festival attracts artists from all over the world to Waterford in south-east Ireland, with the city's streets and quays being turned into stages for all sorts of performances and events. Highlights for visitors this year will include shows by the French aerial performance company Transe Express and the climactic fireworks show on August 2nd, which can be watched from the city's quays.

Waterford's location in Ireland means that it is easily reached by catching ferries to Rosslare from Pembroke with Irish Ferries or from Fishguard with Stena Line. Travellers can also catch ferries to Dublin from Holyhead with Stena Line and Irish Ferries or from Liverpool with Norfolkline Irish Sea and P&O Ferries.

3. Septembre en Mer, Marseille - August 22nd-October 4th

The Septembre en Mer festival is an annual celebration of the maritime culture and heritage of the city of Marseille, the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region. The port has welcomed sailors and visitors from foreign lands for centuries, stretching back to the arrival of the Greeks some 2,000 years ago. The festival celebrates Marseille's links with the sea with a packed programme of events, including exhibitions, sailing regattas, watersports activities and film screenings. Fort Saint-Jean, Port Cassis and Plage du Prado are among the venues that participate in the festival.

Travellers can reach Marseille by catching ferries to France and heading to the country's south-east coast. One of the most direct travel options is the Dover to Calais ferry route, which is served by Seafrance and P&O Ferries. LD Lines also offers a fast crossing on its ferries to Boulogne from Dover, while Brittany Ferries provides a service from Poole to Cherbourg as well as a Portsmouth to St Malo ferry route.

4. Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge, Belfast - August 13th-16th

Belfast will provide the finish line for the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009, an epic sea voyage that sees a fleet of grand vessels cover a distance of more than 7,000 nautical miles in less than four months. The ships set off from Spain at the end of April and have already visited Tenerife, Bermuda, Charleston and Boston. The final leg of the journey will take the fleet from Halifax in Canada to Belfast, where the sailors will receive a grand Irish welcome. Visitors will be gathering in Northern Ireland's capital to see the impressive sight of more than 40 tall ships coming into port. There will also be aerobatic displays, live music, street theatre, continental markets and other events.

People planning to travel from England to Northern Ireland can catch ferries to Belfast from Liverpool with Norfolkline Irish Sea, while those coming from Scotland can use the Stranraer to Belfast ferry route provided by Stena Line. The Steam Packet Company also offers ferries to Belfast from the Isle of Man. Northern Ireland's other main ferry port, Larne, is served by Stena Line from Fleetwood and by P&O Ferries from Troon and Cairnryan.

5. Bestival, Isle of Wight - September 11th-13th

Following the Isle of Wight Festival in June, the popular holiday island's summer of music will be brought to a close by Bestival, which will be held at Robin Hill country park near Newport in September. The event will feature live performances by a host of big names, including Kraftwerk, Massive Attack, Elbow, Lily Allen, Klaxons and many others. In addition to the music, Bestival-goers will be treated to other events including a fancy dress competition, film screenings and pyrotechnic displays. It was recently announced that tickets for the festival are selling out fast, so people interested in visiting should book soon.

Wightlink is the largest provider of Isle of Wight ferry services, with regular crossings from Portsmouth to the ports of Fishbourne and Ryde. The company also offers ferries to Lymington from Yarmouth. An alternative option is the service from Southsea to Ryde on the Isle of Wight operated by Hovertravel.

Written by Mark Robinson