For many, festivals are the highlight of their summer. The atmosphere, eclectic fun loving people and varied performances just create the perfect environment for a sunny day! Why not spice up summer even more and include a visit to one of these ultimate summer festivals in Europe in your plans? The season is already alive and kicking with Glastonbury taking place at the end of June, but these top picks take place slightly later in the season, meaning there’s still plenty of time to book your tickets! Take a look at our recommendations below…
Festa del Redentore, Venice
July
Venice is wonderful to visit at any time of year but if you are planning a summer trip, take note of the dates of Festa del Redentore; one of this canal carved city’s most popular summer events! An annual event since 1576, it was originally started in celebration of the end of a plague epidemic; now it’s just an excuse to party! The fireworks truly set this event alight, illuminating the sky at the end of the night when they start at 11.30pm. During the day, a regatta is the main focus as is the Church of Redentore. A cultural but fun filled affair, this is a firm favourite among the many colourful and exciting summer festivals in Europe!
Fringe Festival, Edinburgh
Mid-August to early September
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the pinnacles of the UK festival circuit. Combining culture with comedy, it’s the largest event of its kind and thousands of people from all over the world make their annual pilgrimage to Scotland to experience it. There are thousands of performances over the course of the month at hundreds of different venues around the city! The beauty is that you can pick and choose exactly what you want to see from the vast selection of paid and free events, so everyone’s experience will be personalised and unique to their own tastes! From theatre, to music, stand-up comedians to skits and street performers, your emotions are in for some turmoil but one thing is for sure; you won’t fail to be entertained!
National Eisteddfod, Wales
Late July to early August
The largest travelling festival in Europe, the National Eisteddfod festival in Wales is undoubtedly the highlight of the welsh calendar. Welcoming in excess of 160,000 visitors over an eight day period, the festival is hosted in various locations all over Wales each year, ensuring that plenty of people get to join in the fun. It’s been celebrated annually since 1176 and as such, it’s firmly rooted within the Welsh culture, celebrating everything about this wonderful country! Don’t be put off if you don’t speak Welsh though; after all a smile is the world’s shared language and you will definitely experience a warm welcome here. The pink high top tent is the focal point of the festival and sees all sorts of performances and events covering music, arts, literature, sports and science, with singing, dancing and eating all thrown in for good measure!
Soundwave, Croatia
July
Croatia is definitely clambering to be the best summer festival destination in Europe; through the summer months, you will be hard pressed to find a weekend that doesn’t feature some kind of event! One of the best however is definitely Soundwave festival which usually takes place in mid to late July. This year the dates are 18th – 22nd July. Naturally the music is a pretty important aspect and it’s self-publicising the event as having the best line up to date which will good news for music lovers! It’s the atmosphere and other activities which really set this one apart from all the rest though; not to mention the stunning setting in Tisno, Croatia.
La Tomatina, Spain
August
This inclusion probably comes as no surprise; most people have heard of La Tomatina but this bizarre festival sounds so fun that if you are in Spain you really should try to include this event in your plans! It’s proved so popular in previous year, when thousands of people from around the world descend on the village of Buñol, that this year a crowd limit of 20,000 people and ticketed entrance has been introduced. The rest of the festival will continue as usual, with 100,000kg of tomatoes brought in to ensure the largest food fight in the world goes off with its usual bang!
What festivals are you planning on visiting this summer?
If you aren’t planning on attending any this year, what’s the best festival you’ve been to before?
Thanks for posting this. It looks like summer is the time of year to go to festivals in Europe. La Tomatina looks like so much fun. I’ll be sure to bring a change of clothes if I go.
Thanks for your suggestion Tom; I hadn’t heard of this one but I will definitely check it out!
Anybody visiting Ireland should not miss Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co. Kerry; on the ring of Kerry. It takes place over three days and always on the 10th; 11th and 12th of August. This year they are celebrating the 400th anniversary so Friday 9th of August is also added.
It would have been sacrilege not to include it Laura! 🙂
La Tomatina is held just a few km away from where I live. I am happy you have included this festival in your list.
I have heard of Electric Picnic; it’s definitely a festival I would like to attend at some point. I do agree though, some of the smaller, random festivals are just as good as the larger events!
The only problem is, there are just too many festivals to choose from 🙂
Here in Ireland, Electric Picnic is about to celebrate its 10th year. Its always great fun and Im hoping to get back this year after a 2 year absence. Galway is the place to be in August. I love the Galway Arts festival (begins in July) great atmosphere around the town and the caliber of music acts they have been able to attract has really improved over the years. There are actually more festivals in Ireland than ever before – though mostly small in size however these ones can somethimes be the most fun 🙂
Good suggestion Rory, thanks!
How was Serbia? I’ve heard good things!
A really good one is EXIT in Belgrade, Serbia. I’ve never been to it, but when I was snowboarding in Serbia, several people were raving about it. http://www.exitfest.org/