“I’m still a kid inside, and adventure is adventure wherever you find it.” –Β Jim Dale
From mountain climbing toΒ sleeping on a hammockΒ suspended between cliffs, Β The Sherp has racked up a comprehensive list of festivals which will excite, inspire and guarantee you that rush of adrenaline.
1. Slackline Festival/International Highline Meeting
Where: Italy
When:Β Around October, dates TBA
Italyβs International Highline Meeting is one of the most spectacular and dangerous festivals to ever be held on the globe. The event takes place in the northern Italian alps at Monte Piana, near Misurina, and gathered extreme slackline enthusiasts from around the world.Β Besides the fact that the slackers spend a good part of their days their days (and nights) on slacklines suspended hundreds of feet above the Italian dolomite Alps, the meeting has all the trappings of a normal festival β a kitchen, a bar, and awesome musical jam sessions. Attendees can also attend a Yoga workshop or take tandem paraglider flights.Β Previously held in Ostrov, Czech Republic, the festival brings daredevils from all around the globe who sleep in hammocks suspended thousands of feet in the air, at night. Just so you know, Slackline events take place all over Europe as well.
2. Vail Mountain Games/GoPro Mountain Games
Where: Vail, Colorado, USA
When: June
The GoPro Mountain Games are USA’aΒ largest celebration of adventure sports, art and music and they return to Vail, June 9 – 12, 2016.Β Professional and amateur athletes from around the world converge upon the mountains and rivers of Vail to compete in nine sports for more than $110,000 in prize money. This event includes fantastic and death-defying events (xtreme moutain biking, kayaking, rappling, white water rafting) for all ages including Β dogs with special talents as well. The GoPro video below is a apt amalgamation of what the festival really is about.
3. Kila Raipur Rural Olympics
Where: Raipur, India
When: February
(Image Courtesy:Β AP Photo/Sanjeev Sya)
An unassuming festival that attracts thousands and thousands of tourists every year, the Kil Raipur Sports Festival is a rural festival depicting salt-of-the-earth sport and games from Punjab. If you do manage to make it to this 3 day event, do not miss out on the bullock cart races, camel races, the tractor races, the horse dance(?!) and last but not least the legendary tug-of-war. This competition is akin to entertainment for the locals, so it is taken quite seriously and is demonstrative of some serious skill. If you’re into adventure sports and are backpacking across northern India, this would be an apt pit-stop for you.
4. Gravity Adventure Festival
Where: South Africa
When: August
South Africa’s flagship Adventure extravaganza includes Kayak races, downriver croc races, trail runs, sprint adventure races, paddling events, mile swims and much much more.Β The great thing about this event is its diversity in competitions and of course is beautiful venue, being the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve and it’s surroundings.
5. ChampakulamΒ Boat Race
Where: Allepey, Kerela
When: July
This festival is world renowned and for good reason! Even though you may not be able to participate in the boat races, watching them is enough to get your adrenaline racing. As the largest team sport in the world, the festival takes place in aΒ cute village of Alappuzha district. Boats used are of various types including the famous snake boats that are known for being blades through water. Around 50 professional men sit on a single boat, who oar through the calm waters of River PamdaΒ – the race being the ultimate test of endurance and speed!
6. International Climber’s Festival
Where: Lander, Wyoming, USA
When: July
(Image Courtesy: Max Moore)
The International Climbersβ Festival wasΒ established in 1993Β by climbers for climbers. Now in its 22nd year of existence, over 500 climbers descend upon the small western town of Lander, Wyoming for the celebration of climbing and the climbing lifestyle.
Β 7. Veko Extreme Sports Festival
Where: Norway
When: September
Great physical and mental endurance is the key driving force of this enormously famous and reputed festival. If you’re somebody with honed skills for white-water rafting, mountain biking, skateboarding and sky-diving you need to get to this Norwegian festival asap. The Ekstremsportveko event is held in the rocky yet beautiful surroundings of Voss, accompanied by fantastic skylines and waterfalls. The long running event also includes music concerts, street art displays, workshops and second hand markets for attendees entertainment.
8. Fort William Mountain Festival
Where: Scotland
When: February
For those of you who feel at home at the top of a snowcapped mountain, or love the idea of trekking up one, Β this is a festival best suited for you. The Annual Fort William Mountain Festival is Britain’s best adventure retreat for amateurs and professionals alike. Mountain culture is the epicentre of the event, which celebrates great climbers, hosts lectures and workshops, and even takes your through guided walks if need be. For active adventure junkies there is an indoor ice climbing wall, which happens to be the largest in the world and a guided hike up the highest mountain in Scotland namely Ben Nevis.
