No month would be complete without a festival to go too. The month of August has no shortage of festivals around the world. We’ve put together our list of the top festivals this month which feature things like music, oneness with nature and even throwing tomatoes at your friends.
Edinburgh International Festival, Scotland- August 8-31
The Edinburgh International Festival has been a yearly occurrence in Scotland since 1947. It started out as a way to get citizens to regain cultural interest after World War II. The Edinburgh International Festival features classical music, opera, theater and dance as well as exhibits and workshops. Performers from all around the world are in attendance to showcase their skills at this festival. Highlights of the festival this year include the opening and closing concerts that will feature the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Boom Festival, Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal- August 4-11
The Boom Festival only occurs in Portugal every two years. It features holistic workshops as well as art and music. The atmosphere of the festival is all about peace, love and tranquility. The Boom Festival first started in 1997 and has evolved into a place for individuals from around the world to come together, relax and be at peace. One of the goals of this festival is for people to find a way to communicate with each other through the arts rather than with words. Performances include fire shows, a circus and jugglers.
Wilderness Festival, Charlbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom- August 7-10
The Wilderness Festival in the United Kingdom combines a love of the outdoors, gourmet food, the arts and yoga all together in one venue. It’s known as an upscale hippy festival and is lighthearted and fun. It’s not uncommon to see a doctor doing a yoga pose or a lawyer running around with fairy wings on. Love and happiness are definitely in the air at the Wilderness Festival. Participants can participate in a blind date boat ride or sip a chai latte with their sweetheart while they watch one of the many musical acts such as Burt Bacharach or London Grammar. One of the things that most people look forward to at the Wilderness Festival is the food. Some of the top chefs in the area come together to serve up culinary delights like barbequed lamb shoulder or beetroot salads.
La Tomatina Festival, Bunol, Spain- August 27th
Have you ever dreamed of throwing tomatoes at your family, friends or even strangers? Well if you visit the La Tomatina Festival on August 27th you just might get your chance. This interesting festival first started in 1945 when some of the local youngsters decided to join a float in a parade. They got a little rambunctious and made some of the participants fall off of it. The participants got mad and started destroying everything around them, including a market stall that contained tomatoes. The crowd got mad themselves and started throwing tomatoes. La Tomatina has been described as Spain’s yearly food fight with thousands of people participating in it. There are also festivities that occur a few days before and after the tomato throwing event that include fireworks, parades and a cooking contest. Around 40,000 to 50,000 people used to participate in the tomato fight, but the crowds became too much to handle. Since 2013, only 20,000 people are allowed to participate in it and they have to obtain a ticket beforehand.
If you are looking for a fun way to bring your summer to a close why not go to one of the festivals mentioned above? Yoga, gourmet foods, tomato throwing and listening to good music should be on everyone’s summer bucket list!
