Festivals around the world are growing, big time: UK festivals alone are up from 496 in 2007 to 929 this year. But while you may have heard of Glastonbury, Reading and Latitude, you may not know of some lesser-known festivals around the world. In this article, we’ll introduce you to three of the best celebrations across the world.
1. kaZantip. If you thought you were testing your mettle by hanging out for a few days at Glasto, think again. kaZantip is an enormous Ukrainian festival taking place over more than five weeks. It’s staggeringly huge, with around 150,000 self-styled ‘paradiZers’ making it to the Crimean peninsula. Its scale has had it branded as ‘Europe’s Burning Man’.
Any festival that has its roots in an abandoned, semi-finished atomic energy station is going to be good, and kaZantip – named after the headland that bears the deserted nuclear plant – is no exception to this obvious rule. Three hundred DJs (spread over 14 dance floors) pump out electronic music 21 hours a day. The unofficial dress code seems to be ‘skimpy, with a side of tan’. It’s a haven for beautiful people to be around beautiful music in a beautiful place. Tempting, no?
2. Australia Day. On the more family-friendly end of the celebration spectrum lies Australia Day. Occurring annually on 26 January, Australia Day aims to celebrate all kinds of down-under wonders. There are loads of activities and events across the country, with everything from sporting events to speeches to early-morning Zumba for kids. This year will see the Madden Brothers, a.k.a. Good Charlotte, making a headline appearance to sing a song comprised of lyrics gathered by the KFC Australia ‘Good Times’ campaign. Outside of Oz, Australia Day is barely recognised – something that deserves to change, really. It’s hugely family-friendly and held at the height of Australian summer. What’s not to like?
3. Boom. Portugal’s finest in eco-festivals brings a fresh breeze of neo-Buddhism, psychedelic music and general principled socialism over six days in August. Rather than rave about it for you, I’ll deliver their “five ideas for a nice Boom”:
- The ‘Middle Way’. Boom is all about chilling out and taking care of your mind and body. Don’t push to extremes – that’s the ethos of the ‘middle way’.
- Leave No Trace. Any rubbish is yours to pick up and dispose of. Boom aims to leave the Portuguese coast with no sense of having been spoiled!
- Keep an Open Mind. Boom is a mixture of a thousand different types of culture: don’t freak out, no matter how weird things get. If you need time out, take time out to yourself.
- Respect Nature. Boom is about acoustic, honest, self-sustaining harmony with nature, not about destroying it. Consider every action you take and think about whether or not Mother Nature would be proud of you for doing what you’re doing.
- Participate. Pick what you’ll do each day and stick to it. Be friendly to everyone. Talk to people. Get out of your comfort zone. Remember, according to the website, “YOU are Boom!” – make it something you’re proud to be a part of.
You can see how these principles would lead you to have an excellent and relaxing time while enjoying the music, art, dance, and other cultural activities at the festival.
So, there are three excellent options for celebrations and festivals across the world that you definitely won’t want to miss! Do you have a favourite festival that you want the world to know more about? Let us know in the comments box below!