Your summer trip to Europe should not only be about drinking at bars in Munich and youth hostels, right? If you’re up for taking a slight detour and exploring Europe, here are some wild, fascinating, strange, morbid and borderline ridiculous festivals that can teach you a lot about the continent’s vibrant cultures.
1. El Colacho
Where: Spain
When: June 7
One of the world’s most bizarre (and frankly terrifying) events is the Baby Jumping Festival (El Colacho) that takes place annually in Spain’s Castrillo de Murcia. An exorcism of sorts – newborn infants are swaddled and placed on mattresses in the street while grown men dressed as Devils jump over them. This act is supposed to cleanse the babies of original sin, but we suppose if “the Devil” happens to lose his footing, all bets are off. El Colacho is certainly one of the more controversial celebrations in the ring of festivals, but with bullfighting and tomato throwing also occupying Spain’s corner, it’s just another addition to the list of the country’s bizarre customs.
2. Venice Biennale
Where: Venice, Italy
When: May 9 to November
If discovering and checking out Europe’s finest art galleries and exhibitions is high on your travel agenda, we sincerely hope you do not miss out on the Venice Biennale.
As one of the biggest international art events, the festival goes on for a good five months where the world’s best and brightest artists new and bold work is displayed. People from all around flock to this city to catch a glance, while world renowned critics form their opinions. The Biennale gets larger and larger by the year, and features over 150 artists from 88 countries.
Fun fact : The Vatican tasked a group of artists to build/create a more contemporary and modern version of the first chapters of the book of Genesis.
3. Festival No.6
Where: Portmerion, Wales, UK
When: September 3
The perfect destination for backpackers and travellers, Festival No 6 has earned itself more than a few accolades for being intimate, stylish and awe-inspiring. The festival, which brings together the whole town, is also a healthy alternative to over-crowded and hedonistic EDM festivals, with its family-friendly camping areas and activities.
The music at boutique gala suits its setting perfectly, with a eccentric range of rock, folk and techno. Over the past two years artistes like James Blake, My Bloody Valentine, The Smiths and Manic Street Preachers have performed here. Stages are set at different venues in the village i.e the town hall, the amphitheatre, the stone boat and the field over-looking the sea, among other spaces.
4. Festival Of Giants
Where: Douai, France
When: July 12 to 14
Taking another turn for the weird, here is a festival that is a 500 year old tradition in france. Every July, in Douai massive human effies/statues of the Gayant (giant) family are paraded on the streets in the midst of dancing, singing and overall revelry. People flock to the streets in their wackiest/medieval outfits to witness a longstanding cultural tradition of the land. The biggest ‘Gayant’ happens to Monsieu Gayant, who towers to 28 feet and weighs around 820 pounds.
5. Festival of Near Death Experiences
Where: Pontevedra, Spain
When: July 29
Founded by those random Russian dudes who like to hang from skyscrapers…
Okay, so here’s the context – Similar to Mexico’s festival of the dead, Spain likes to celebrate the people who nearly died? On this day very drab-ly dressed family members carry people who had near-death experiences in the past year to their catholic Church where a large mass is held. The most unusual aspect being, old men without families must carry their own coffins to the mass. Later, the procession moves to the Church cemetery where they sing “Virgin Santa Marta, Star of the North, we bring those who saw death.”
6. Wife-Carrying Championship
Where: Sonkajarvi, Finland
When: July 3
Inspired by a gang of thieves that was notorious for stealing women from villages in the late 1800s, the Wife-Carrying Championship undoubtedly boasts some honorable roots. First introduced in Sonkajarvi, Finland – this sport expects competitors to carry their female companions through a special obstacle track in the fastest time. Running downhill with a woman squeezing your head between her thighs probably doesn’t sound like the ideal way to spend a hot afternoon, but when the light at the end of the tunnel (the grand prize) is your wife’s weight in beer – you will certainly want to ‘run for your wife’!
7. Oktoberfest
Where: Munich, Germany
When: Late September to October
Not the usual summer festival but definitely something taking a sabbatical from work for, Oktoberfest is pretty much the largest beer centric festival in the world held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 16-day festival running from late September to the first weekend in October with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810.
8. World Body Painting Festival
Where: Austria
When: 3 to 5 July
Austria’s body-painting festival is a vibrant cacophony of music, colours and art. And it’s happening this July. BPF, ‘a fusion of body and beats’, is being held on 3 to 5 July, colouring the streets of Poertschach, Austria. Their lineup features global indie acts like Gentleman, the reggae/dancehall veteran from Germany, Pineapple Express, a live electronic act from Italy, City Lights Calling, an acoustic band homegrown in Austria and many more.