Photo Credit: EXIT Photo Team
When traveling abroad, there is so much to fit into that short (or long) time you may be visiting. One thing that can be different to experience is an international music festival. There are endless amounts of festivals all over the world that people travel to attend. A festival experience may not be your typical weekend during your trip, but it is worth considering, especially during your time in Europe. These are seven of the most notable and unique music festivals.
EXIT - Serbia
EXIT is a music festival that started in 2000 as a student movement for fighting for freedom in Serbia and Balkans. Since then, it has become an award-winning festival that people travel from all over the world to attend. It takes place at the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad, Serbia. EXIT is a four-day long festival that always begins on the second Thursday of July. The most noted stages at the festival are the main stage, the dance arena, the explosive stage and the fusion stage. This year it will be extra special because it is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love. This festival does not cater to just one genre; the artists all vary. EXIT offers everything from rock to electronica to reggae and everything in between!
Secret Garden Party - England
Secret Garden Party takes place in Abbots Ripton, England. This annual arts and music festival began in 2004 as a small festival with only one stage, but has grown to a larger festival with about 15 stages now. Because it is an independent music festival, it strays from mainstream artists and there are surprises at every turn. Some highlights of the 2016 festival included a paint fight, fire walking and mud wrestling. This music festival is unlike any other and filled with lots of free spirited fun.
Tomorrowland - Belgium
Tomorrowland is one of the most notable electronic music festivals in the world. It began in 2005 and has grown to have about 180,000 visitors this past year. It is held in Boom, Belgium and caters to the electronic genre. Huge names have performed at Tomorrowland such as David Guetta, Avicci, Swedish House Mafia and Steve Aoki. The festival has playlists that are updated every Wednesday for dedicated followers and fans to listen to and get excited about the next festival. It is a two-day festival and there are legs in the US and Brazil for those who might not make it all the way to Belgium.
Glastonbury Festival - England
Glastonbury has been a music festival that began decades ago and keeps getting better. It began in 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died. It used to be free admission for all and the attendance in 1971 was 12,000 people. Glastonbury is the largest greenfield festival in the world and to date has had about 175,000 attendees. Majority of the staff are volunteers because the money that this festival brings in goes to charity organizations. Some of the recent headliners included Coldplay, Kanye West, U2 and Beyoncé. During the 1980s, performers such as Van Morrison and Elvis Costello headlined quite a few times. This festival is five days long during the summer and tickets for 2017 are already sold out. This festival is so unique because of how long it has been around and how much it has grown since 1970.
Colours of Ostrava - Czech Republic
Colours of Ostrava, also known as Colours, is the largest music festival in the Czech Republic and a huge event for central Europe. It began in 2002 and has grown to become a huge extravaganza since 2002. At the most recent festival in 2016, it offered 350 programs on 20 different stages. Not only concerts, but theater performances, films, art activities and more were offered. It is a free and independent festival that does not play any specified genre and wants the festivalgoers to feel uplifted while there. Colours encourages people to attend and feel the sense of belonging and appreciation of music and art.
Bestival - England
Bestival is a four-day music festival that takes place in Isle of Wight, England. It was started in 2004 by music producer, Rob da Bank, and his wife. When it first began, it attracted 10,000 guests and the attendance level has grown to over 55,000. It is usually held during late summer to compliment the beauty of Isle of Wight. This diverse and alternative festival is known for having a fancy theme during the Saturday of the festival. Bestival set the Guinness World Record for the most people in fancy dress at any one event in 2010. This festival supports a wide range of Isle of Wight based charities and it is a founding member of the Greener Festival Alliance. Some headliners have included Outkast, Major Lazer, Sam Smith, Stevie Wonder and The Cure.
The Insomnia Festival - Norway
The Insomnia Festival is an innovative electronic music festival that has been held annually since 2002. The name comes from the sleep disorder known as insomnia, and it was chosen because the festival targets people who love to go clubbing. The name suggests instead of sleeping to stay up all night at the festival. The first few years it was heavily Norwegian, but it has gained international traction over the past few years. This festival is unique because it is a nonprofit event that aims to form a creative mix and platform for artists. Insomnia is one of the more creative festivals and does not have many mainstream artists because the focus is on innovation.
