Read the manga people you won't regret it. After all I know you all want to know what happens next
As stated a few times now the anime is up to ch 253 atm (so you can start at ch 255), the next few chapters are bridge chapters between the two arcs (the current "S-class trail" arc and the "Year X791" arc,
I'm sure all of you have figured that out based on the events of the latest episode already and scenes from next week) so like any bridge between two arcs it takes a few chapters for things to start clicking with what is going on, but after that the next arc has been even better than this arc IMHO. However we are about to get Fairy Tail's first real filler arc in the anime (not like those few horrible mini arc episodes with that squid eating girl and the fake metal dragon hopefully, but a full length filler arc none the less). So for anyone who wants to know what is going to happen next, now is the time to start reading the manga.
Anyone who's watched any of the big three knows what filler arcs
can be like and while there are some good filler arcs out there, most aren't as good of quality as the real plot (as with any rule there are debatable exceptions). Since when you get down to it a filler arcs can't change the dynamic of the core plot in any meaningful way (unless they know what is going to happen in the manga which requires communication between the manga author and the anime crew or choose to deviate from it like FMA did and FMA:Brotherhood later fixed). The most you'll usually get is a new supporting character who will make most of there appearances in subsequent filler arcs but only minor spots where they throw in a comment/joke or two in none filler episodes. Other that it most filler arcs are just that, filler with almost nothing from the filler effecting the rest of the plot (except maybe the next filler).
So once again now is the time to pick up the manga if you want to know what will happen next and remember Fairy Tail isn't one of those series where reading the manga ruins the anime, in fact I think it's the opposite and it adds to the experience since quite often the anime fleshes out some events I wished the manga delved more into (for instance Cana had more hints that Gildarts was her dad in the anime while in the manga it just happened and everyone went "WTH O.o?" when she revealed it when she found the grave).
PS: Also of note the manga has for more fan service and blood... think the ova where Erza smashed Levi's head into the wall when she called her a pervert for the type of books she liked and there was blood everywhere and Lucy looked terrified at what Erza did
and in that same ova every girl was wearing next to nothing half the time
If that isn't your thing, oh well... but if it is, read Fairy Tail asap.