If you’re looking for a reason to get out of town this month, check out July’s best festivals around the world.
Lucca Summer Festival, July 2-26, Lucca, Italy
If the vineyard-filled countrysides and artistic roots of Tuscany alone aren’t enough to make you pull the trigger on a flight to Tuscany, consider this month’s Lucca Summer Festival, an annual concert that brings mega music names to this quaint town on the Tyrrhenian Sea. This year’s headliners include The Eagles, Elisa, The National, Stevie Wonder and the Backstreet Boys.
Wife-Carrying World Championships, July 4-5, Finland
You can rest assured the unlucky husbands who accidentally drop their spouses during this month’s Wife-Carrying World Championships will never hear the end of it. Still, couples from around the world will head to Finland this weekend to prove their love during this annual event, in which husbands hoist their wives over their shoulders and make their way through obstacles like sand, fences and pools. Less-than-athletic couples can take home a prize for being the most entertaining or best dressed, too.
Knysna Oyster Festival, July 4-13, South Africa
Why settle for buying your oysters at the local fish market when you could have so much more fun picking them yourself on the shores of South Africa? This month’s Knysna Oyster Festival delights with all the oysters you can eat, whether you opt to get dirty and dig for them yourself or indulge in one of the festival’s numerous oyster tastings. Beyond the shellfish, the festival includes outdoor activities like bike rides and rugby, a comedy festival and art exhibitions.
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, July 4-13
Head to Winston Churchill Square to witness more than 1,500 performances by musicians, jugglers, acrobats and more. And if you’re feeling inspired by these performers you can participate in workshops to become a busker, too. Take part in juggling, dancing and stilt walking workshops available to people of all ages. Between kids’ events and “late night madness,” there is something for everyone at the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival.
Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta, July 6, Darwin, Australia
Drinking is a favorite pastime in the Australian city of Darwin, and the locals make sure nothing goes to waste in the aftermath. Empty beer cans, soda cans and milk cartons are fashioned into boats or floats for this annual regatta off the coast of Mindil Beach. Dozens of boats enter the competition each year, drawing inspiration from everything from dragons to viking ships.
Hemingway Days, July 15-20, Key West, Florida, United States
Author Ernest Hemingway fell in love with Key West, and any time of year, visitors can see where the bearded writer penned many of his famous novels with a visit to the Hemingway House. In July, though, Hemingway fans won’t want to miss the sea of white beards and red berets that descend upon Key West for the annual Hemingway Days Festival. Fishing tournaments, writing competitions, a birthday celebration and the famed look-alike contest keep this quirky festival entertaining.
Secret Garden Party, July 24-27, Cambridgeshire, England
Summer is filled with outdoor festivals celebrating music and art, but if you’re looking to add a dash of whimsy to your festival-going, don’t miss the lakeside Secret Garden Party held on the last weekend in July in Cambridgeshire. This year’s theme of “Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road” will be headlined by classic hip hop collective Public Enemy.
Gilroy Garlic Festival, July 25-27, Gilroy, California, United States
This pungent bulb gets a lot of flack for wrecking breath and wreaking havoc on vampires, but its culinary merits will be redeemed this month at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival in California. Cooking demonstrations, a garlic cook-off and even garlic-themed bands keep the crowds entertained, but you’ll find the most fun hiding at the stalls of “Gourmet Alley.” Try the garlic ice cream, and don’t forget to bring some breath mints.
(Main image: psflannery)
