June
Arcata Bay Oyster Fest (USA)
Festival on a Half-Shell
The Arcata Bay Oyster Festival brings upwards of 18,000 “oysterheads” to this quaint northern California town as visitors and locals alike harvest, cook, and delight in the taste of these delectable mollusks.
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Bluesfest, Chicago (USA)
I’ve Got the Windy City Blues
Each year, the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Special Events hosts the Chicago’s Bluesfest in Grant Park. Featuring some of the biggest and hottest blues artists, this free summer festival near the shores of Lake Michigan demonstrates why Chicago has been referred to as the “Blues Capital of the World”.
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Bonnaroo, Tennessee (USA)
Make Rock and Roll History
For four days in early June, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival brings together the best musical performers from a multitude of genres to a picturesque Manchester, Tennessee farm. Rolling Stone magazine named the festival one of the “50 Moments That Changed The History Of Rock ‘N’ Roll” and the best U.S. festival overall. To see why, make the journey to what may be the best popular music festival America has to offer.
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Download Festival, UK
For Those About to Rock!
The Download Festival started in 2003 as a successor to the Monsters of Rock Festival and may take the crown as England’s best hard rock festival. This festival brings over 100,000 rockers to the town of Leicestershire. Like its predecessor, music industry giant Live Nation organizes the festival and holds it at Donington Park, a former Formula One race site and steeped in WWII history.
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El Colacho - Baby Jumping Festival
Leaping Lucifers the Spanish Baby Jumping Festival
One of the weirdest festivals in the world dates back to 1620 in Castrolillo de Murica, Spain. In this traditional celebration costumed devils jump over infant babies who are lined up on mattresses in the middle of the street. Patrons gather round to cheer, cringe and breathe collective sighs of relief as the babies are cleared from harm’s way. This bizarre event is the culmination of the annual El Colacho festival, which takes place over several days in late May/ early June and is thought to be a mixture of Spanish folklore and religion, though its exact origin is unknown.
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Electric Daisy Carnival, (USA)
A Festival to Rave About
Electric Daisy Carnival is America’s answer to European electronic music festivals. Since 1997, this music festival has been giving thousands a chance to dance into the night during the last weekend in June.
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Fusion Festival, Germany
An Abandoned Airfield Comes to Life with Art for All
In the northeast of Germany, the Fusion Festival brings the former Russian military airfield of Rechlin-Lärz back to life with a celebration of art and music.
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Gay Pride, New York (USA)
The Most Fabulous Parade in the Galaxy
Gay Pride Week culminates with the spectacular Gay Pride Parade. While New York is a sparkling center of the Gay Pride events, cities worldwide have their own celebrations. The most famous celebrations are in San Francisco and Sao Paulo, Brazil (which is the rainbow heavyweight with over 2.5 million attendees).
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Glastonbury Festival, England
Rich in Music, Art, and History
The 4-day Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts is one of the largest music and art festivals in the world drawing tens of thousands of festival-goers to the Vale of Avalon outside of Glastonbury, England. The sleepy area is rich in English history and mythology. The town transforms into a vibrant community filled with friendly individuals, music, and mind-blowing art.
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Gnaoua Festival, Morocco
Get Lost in a Trance at Gnaoua
This June will mark the 14th anniversary of Gnaoua World Music Festival in the coastal town of Essaouira, Morocco.
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Haro Wine Festival, Spain
Bota-licious
Each year on June 29th the small town of Haro, Spain hosts the Haro Wine Festival and wine battle.
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Indigo, Israel
Electronic Oasis
This is a new electronic music festival in a gorgeous oasis location in the desert just 2 hours from Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Inti Raymi, Peru
Worship the Sun, Incan Style
The Inti Raymi Festival takes place just a few miles outside the popular tourist destination of Cuzco, Peru and recreates a traditional Inca Empire celebration coinciding with the Southern hemisphere Winter Solstice. Today, the scripted ceremony honoring the Sun takes place each year on June 24th and is the second largest festival in South America with over than 100,000 visitors.
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Isle of Wight Festival, England
The English Channel Classic
The Isle of Wight Festival, named for the southern England island it takes place on, is a legendary international music festival. This year, it will take place from June 10th-12th and features headliners, Kings of Leon.
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Montreal Jazz Festival
Jazz Record Breaker
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (English: Montreal International Jazz Festival) is an annual jazz festival held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Jazz Fest holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world's largest jazz festival. Every year it features roughly 3,000 artists from 30-odd countries, more than 650 concerts (including 450 free outdoor performances), and welcomes close to 2.5 million visitors (34% of whom are tourists) as well as 400 accredited journalists. The festival takes place at 10 free outdoor stages and 10 indoor concert halls.
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Oil Wrestling Festival, Turkey
Turkish Delights: Oil Wrestling
The Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling festival near Edirne, Turkey delights onlookers with a sporting event that dates back to 1346. Participants cover themselves in olive oil and wrestle as part of what is said to be the longest running sports competition in the world.
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Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands
Over 40 Years of Rocking the Netherlands
Every year since 1970, the Pop at Pinksteren or Pinkpop Festival, has brought world-famous musical act to the Netherlands. The official website for this crown jewel of Dutch festivals claims that it’s Europe’s “longest-running uninterrupted outdoor pop festival.” Get one of 60,000 tickets for this festival and go pink this June.
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Provinssirock, Finland
An International Mix of Talent
The Provinssirock brings together local and international musical talents at the biggest rock festival in Finland attracting tens of thousands enthusiastic fans!
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Rock am Ring (im Park), Germany
Two Festivals, One Weekend
The Rock am Ring (Rock at the Ring) and Rock im Park (Rock in the Park) music festivals will give two German cities the chance to host the world’s top rock, metal, punk, and indie music artists. These legendary festivals share musical acts and attract upwards of 150,000 music lovers combined.
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Rock Werchter, Belgium
Rock out with your Chocolate out!
This Rock Fest has been going on in different forms since 1974. Things really blew up in 1982 and have been going strong ever since. It used to be a mostly local festival but now draws an international crowd and lineup.
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Roskilde, Denmark
40 Years of Rock and Going Strong!
In 2011, Roskilde Festival celebrated 40 years of bringing top music from around the globe to the north of Denmark. The festival has grown from 10,000 attendees in 1971 to needing 25,000 volunteers alone for this year’s gathering.
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Solstice at Stonehenge, UK
Begin the longest day of the year at Stonehenge
Thousands worship the Summer Solstice on June 21st at the ancient historical and mythological stone sculptures of Wiltshire County, England to watch sunrise at Stonehenge.
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Sonar Electronic Festival, Spain
Cutting Edge Music By Day and Night
Barcelona, Spain will host the Sonar International Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art featuring cutting edge music and a conference showcasing the newest breakthroughs in the industry. You may need a siesta to keep up with Barcelona’s party pace. Whether you are a party thrower or a party goer you will find some ear candy and inspiration.
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Summer in Ibiza
Party Island
Looking for a good time? Well hop on a flight to the Mediterranean Spanish Island of Ibiza.
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Summerfest, Milwaukee
The World’s Largest Music Festival
For 11 days in summer, the shores of Lake Michigan at Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Henry Maier Festival Park transform into the self proclaimed “ World’s Largest Music Festival” attracting nearly a million music fans! With over 700 bands playing at 11 stages on a 75-acre venue, Summerfest is sure to entertain you.
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Taormina Film Festival
Mediterranean Film Festival
This Italian film festival held in Taormina, Sicily is consider to be Italy's premiere film event of the summer. It was first established in 1955 as the "Rassegna Cinematografica Internazionale di Messina e Taormina".
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Taste of Chicago (USA)
Brews, Blues and BBQs in the Windy City
The Taste of Chicago is the largest festival the Windy City hosts each year. The 10-day festival in Grant Park features numerous food vendors, music, beer, wine, and other entertainment. This popular festival occurs around July 4th each year, so be sure to plan your trip in advance.
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Wakarusa, (USA)
Mulberry Mountain Hop
Eclectic music mix in this down home rock out near Ozark, Arkansas. It's been growing every year now with sell-out crowds exceeding 60,000.
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White Nights, Russia
Three Months of Sunlight and Fine Arts
Visit beautiful St. Petersburg, Russia between May and July and you can witness some of the finest classical art performances the world has to offer as part of the White Nights Festival. Russian and international stars perform great works of opera, ballet, and music in this cultural event.
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Wimbledon, London, UK
The Ultimate Grand Slam
Starting June 20th, the All England Club in London will play host to The Championships, popularly known as Wimbledon. This highly prestigious tennis tournament dates back to 1877 and is still steeped in tradition.
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Winter Festival, New Zealand
Quirky Fun in the Snow
Winter sports enthusiasts and party lovers should not miss the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival in New Zealand. This June festival is the perfect way to kick off a snowy season in the Southern Hemisphere, perfectly combining sports and fun-filled activities.
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