Sziget Music Festival ()
From unique to traditional, trendy to unconventional, the variety of festivals in Europe is worth experiencing. Summer in Germany is festival season, so don’t miss your local carnival (kerwe) or the nearby castle’s medieval fair. But, if you are ready to move beyond the small fairs and onto some extravagant events, plan to visit one of these top European festivals.
DelfSail | Delfzijl, Netherlands | June 13-16, 2024
This tall ships get-together is only held every five years, so if sailing aboard a historical vessel is on your bucket list, plan to attend this rare event. Roughly half a million people attend the most recent DelfSail festival in 2016. Held on the local harbor, entrance is free. The area is full of vendors, nautical employment and training information, food and drink, and lots of entertainment on the massive stage. The highlight, however,is seeing all the historical and exotic tall-masted sailing ships and their crews from around the world. There are also options to get out on the water. You can book a ride around the harbor on a ferry-style motorized craft to see all the tall ships or take a two-hour cruise aboard an authentic sailing ship. Visit the website delfsail.nl (Dutch), and book sailings by clicking “Arrangementen | Stap aan boord.”
Madrid Orgullo (MADO) | Madrid, Spain | June 28 – July 6, 2024
Otherwise known as Madrid Pride, MADO is the largest LGBTQIA+ event in Europe. The weeklong event begins in the Chueca neighborhood, an area of Madrid known for its embracing of LGBTQIA+ -run businesses. The festival opens on July 3rd. There are plenty of street parties and with bands of six stages throughout the area there is no way to miss out on the fun. Beyond that, however, MADO aims to open dialogue with exhibitions, political discussions and cultural displays. The pinnacle event here is the massive Pride parade of floats, businesses and people sprawling through downtown Madrid on Saturday, July 6th. It usually starts in the evening and runs for hours late into the night, and with two million people in attendance last year it will be hard to miss! Visit www.madridorgullo.com for more details.
Sziget Festival | Budapest, Hungary | Aug. 7-12, 2024
One of the largest music festivals in Europe, the Sziget (pronounced sig-et) Festival bills itself as an island of freedom and it is, in fact, on an island. Óbuda island lies in the middle of the Danube River as it flows through the northern part of Budapest. There are 60 stages across the island, with artists coming from across many musical genres – from rock and reggae to pop and techno. The entire island is consumed with the music festival, and attendees become “Szitzens” with many people choosing to camp or glamp on the island for the six day event. Beyond the music are other artistic venues like circus and traditional performances, a museum and high-adrenaline rides. Book three or six-day passes at szigetfestival.com
Lofotr Viking Festival | Lofotr Viking Museum, Norway | Aug. 8-11, 2024
Held at the site of the largest Viking longhouse ever excavated, the Lofotr Viking Festival is special in its full immersion into Viking life. The Lofotr Viking Museum hosts the festival, so you get to enjoy the longhouse, the Viking feasts and boats in addition to festival events. The festival program aims to be as authentic an experience as possible with numerous reenactors who camp on-site and participate in craft demonstrations of everything from wood carving to making clay pots, and beer brewing to Iron Age cooking. There are musical performances and theater events, plus special Viking boot camps for kids who can even ride the horses. The market area has vendors from all over the Viking world ready to sell you a new mead horn or fur-lined cloak. The museum also offers its regular activities like sailing and rowing on a Viking ship, archery and axe throwing. Then, of course, are the fighting shows that bring everyone to battle ground to see who will win. Tickets for the museum and Viking dinner are available online at www.lofotr.no/en, festival passes must be purchased when you arrive.
British Science Festival | University of East London | Sept.11-15, 2024)
This festival is huge and is a gathering of scientists, innovators, inventors, researchers and artists with a goal of bringing their work to the general public. Run by the British Science Association, 2024 marks the 193rd anniversary of the gathering. This historic event was where the terms ‘scientist’ and ‘dinosaur’ were first used, where a wireless transmission was first demonstrated and the discovery of electrons was first announced. The Science Festival is held at different locations each year, typically on a university campus. There are talks about cutting-edge research and exhibitions to enjoy, plus plenty of activities and interactive elements to try. The entire experience is geared toward people 16 years old and older, and especially visitors without a scientific background. The festival is free, but you will need to book tickets ahead of time for most of the individual events. Visit britishsciencefestival.org for booking.
