The summer is half way through and many people still haven’t had a chance to escape out of the hustle and bustle of the city and rest. If you are one of them, you still have the time to correct this situation. Language Connections is happy to provide you with the 7 Summer Festivals around the world that are coming up for the rest of summer 2013. Even if you already had a vacation, plunge into these festivals’ atmosphere by reading this article!
1. “Just for Laughs” Comedy Festival | Summer Festivals
Location: Montreal, QC Dates: July 10 to July 28, 2013In July, while walking on the streets of Montreal, you will often hear laughter blaring from all over. If you do not understand English or French – the largest street festival of laughter in the world will just pass you by. Dozens of famous comedians and hundreds, if not thousands, of unknown comedians entertain the townspeople with their daily sketches, reprises and pantomimes. Groups of producers and agents hunt here for new names for their shows and programs. This comedy festival is attended by such famous artists and stars like Pamela Anderson, Cheech & Chong, Brad Garrett and many more. The festival’s venue may be at different clubs throughout the city. Every year in July there is sought to be around 2 million people who come to watch the performances of more than 2,000 comedians on the streets. Come and join in on the fun!
2. “La Tomatina” Food Fight Festival | Summer Festivals
Location: Bunol town near Valencia, Spain Dates: August 28, 2013Each year, tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the Spanish town of Bunol (Buñol), to take part in street battles, where the main weapon is tomatoes. Yes, tomatoes! Initially the festival was held in honor of the patron saint of the city- St. Louis Bertrand and Our Lady, and was considered to be an ordinary religious holiday. It is said that in 1945 during this holiday’s parade young people started a fight near the town’s main square and used vegetables from a stand nearby as weapons which led to a huge tomato fight that became a tradition. The main rule of the battle is to crush the tomatoes before throwing them in order to prevent any accidents. On the night before the fight in Buñol, there is a paella preparation competition – the Spanish national dish of rice, fish, seafood, chicken with spices and olive oil. La Tomatina festival lasts a week, during which the participants of the event, in addition to the battle with tomatoes can enjoy the music concerts, dances, holiday parades and fireworks. Come and join if you are not afraid to get dirty!
3. Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning | Summer Festivals
Location: Readington, New Jersey Dates: July 26 to July 28, 2013The Festival of Ballooning is one of the biggest festivals of aeronautics in North America, as well as a very spectacular and popular event. It is held annually on the last weekend of July near the airport of Solberg Readington (NJ, USA), and dates back to 1983. This festival of balloons, not only has a long history, but also is considered among one of the best festivals in America, and was awarded a prize as “Best Special Event.” Every year, about 200,000 visitors come here with their families from all over America and the world. For three days, the sky over the airport Solberg in Raedington is brightened by the colors of the rainbow, where more than hundred balloons rise at the same time. It is an indescribable view! The highlights of the festival are shaped and decorative balloons. It includes huge diverse themes such as the proud eagle with over 40 meters of height and an incredible wingspan, giant rabbit tireless Energizer, an American flag, a Pepsi can, a huge model of the Flat Earth and many more. At the end of each day, the holiday crowd, already stunned by the abundance of entertainment, can witness an evening filled with fireworks and balloons with lights and music.
4. Pflasterspektakel | Summer Festivals
Location: Linz, Austria Dates: July 18 to July 20, 2013Pflasterspektakel is a celebration of street art in all its diversity where you can expect an interactive presentation of different genres such as theater improvisation, mime, music, poetry, dance, circus arts, painting, clowning and many different shows. It covers the entire city with bright color decorations and fills the city with lively music and laughter. With over 130 theater companies and artists from all over Europe, you will be able to attend hundreds of performances and shows. Children can enjoy the performances of clowns, jugglers, acrobats, dancers and mimes. In the evening, guests and residents of the city will experience colorful fireworks. The Djemaa el Fna, a market place in Marrakesh, was an inspiration to Siegbert Janko to create Pflasterspektakel festival that is celebrated up to date. During these 26 years of the celebration, the organizers claim to learn how to create a memorable and friendly atmosphere transmitted to the entire city itself. Come and witness high quality performances from all over the world in one city!
5. Boryeong Mud Festival | Summer Festivals
Location: Daecheon Beach, South Korea Dates: July 19 to July 28, 2013The most famous and the largest festival in South Korea is Boreyong Mud Festival – Festival of the marine mud in Boryeong. There aren’t any colorful carnival processions, beautiful embellished platforms or colorful costume dressed characters – here is dirt, mess and joy. First Sea Mud Festival was organized in 1998 to promote the mud as cosmetics. Since then, it was regularly held at Daecheon beach near the town of Boryeong and annually attracted millions of souls wishing to wallow in the mud. If you think that this South Korean’s unusual festival is a symbol of great love for dirt, then you are mistaken. The fact that Boryeong mud contains large amount of useful minerals for skin, draws more tourists into the Festival. Throughout the festival week there are a variety of events such as wrestling, horse racing in the dirt, mud slides, tunnels with mud rain, contests for sculptures out of mud, mud dances and shows, as well as mud massages and spa treatments, and many more interesting activities. Each year around 80 million tourists from all over the world come to South Korea just to experience and participate in the Boryeong Mud Festival of the sea.
6. Obon Festival
Location: Japan Dates: August 10 to August 18, 2013Obon Festival is a colorful festival that transmits the spirit of Japan throughout the city with the decorations, people dressed in kimonos and yukatas, traditional music and dancing. Do you want to see how families start floating lanterns into the water to honor the spirits of their ancestors with light? It looks very spectacular! Obon is the name for paper lanterns symbolizing the souls of ancestors. This event is dedicated to stretching back to the world of the dead and expressing gratitude towards ancestors by the Bon-Odori dance. This is due to the ancient Buddhist legend about the Buddha’s disciple who used his powers to see his dead mother. Obon Festival appeared thanks to a miraculous interlacing of Buddhism and the traditional beliefs of Japanese. The descent tradition of the festival includes the floating of paper lanterns into the river which then becomes covered with thousands of lights. After lighting the lamp, the fireworks-a set of fiery colors- cover the sky as if to say to us that the souls found their shelter. This Festival best captures the spirit and life in Japan!
7. SpiceMas Carnival
Location: Grenada Island Dates: July 26 to August 13, 2013Does celebrating Independence Day with street shows, parades, rousing music, contests and other activities sound engaging? Like other Caribbean carnivals, carnival in Grenada – is one of the most colorful and high-profile events in the life of the local population. From the 26th of July till the 13th of August Grenada explodes with exuberant color and noise. Grenada Star contestants will compete with each other for the crown of the carnival, as well as will compete for the title of the Monarch Soca Music Artist and Calypso. Multi-colored Devils will walk around the island to the accompaniment of rock musicians during a party of J’ouvert. All of Grenada will be dancing to live music and DJ mixes, while on the last day of the carnival you can witness the parade and the bands. Put on your brightest clothing and join this happy holiday!
Please share with us any festivals you visited or would like to visit!
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