Europe is crawling with festivals throughout the summer, but there are also plenty that start in the mid-August time frame and others that run from September through October. Here are ten favorites for your bucket list. Think food, beer, wine, arts, dance, culture and music.
ISLE OF WIGHT
Bestival | 5-8 September 5-8, 2013
After Glastonbury, this is the British music festival that gets major players at its event, all very Day-Glo diva.
GERMANY
Berlin Festival | September 6-7 2013
The historic Tempelhof Airport is the site for this year’s Berlin Festival (pictured), at which My Bloody Valentine and Klaxons are set to perform. Main gigs will take place on the airfield, whilst hangars four and five will be transformed into clubs when the clock strikes midnight. Attendees can also expect an Art Village and a Silent Arena, dedicated to quiet (read: headphones-on) revelry.
Oktoberfest | September 21-October 6 2013
Munich’s world-famous Beerfest returns this year, with more speciality German beer (Paulaner, Augustiner and other Oktoberfest-approved brews) and accompanying Sauerkraut and Weisswurst than imaginable in one’s wildest dreams.
LONDON
Frieze Art Fair | October 17-20 2013
The Frieze Art Fair in Regent’s Park features 175 leading international contemporary galleries as well as a sculpture park. In addition to being able to see and buy art by over 1,000 of the world’s leading artists, visitors can experience Frieze Projects, the fair’s unique and critically acclaimed programme of artist commissions and Frieze Talks, a prestigious programme of debates, panel discussions and keynote lectures. Frieze London is designed by architects Carmody Groarke and housed in a bespoke structure in Regent’s Park. Located in the heart of London, it is within easy walking distance of the city’s West End.
ICELAND
Iceland Airwaves | October 30-November 3 2013
What began in an aeroplane hangar in 1999 has now evolved into Iceland Airwaves, an eclectic mix of musical acts (this year: Gold Panda, Omar Souleyman, Goat) playing an equally eclectic mix of intimate venues throughout Reykjavik. Many visitors combine the five day festival with a whistle-stop tour of Iceland’s best volcanic bits, including the famous Blue Lagoon (probably because it’s healing qualities make for a perfect hangover cure).
IRELAND
The International Oyster Festival | September 27-29 2013
The International Oyster Festival marks the start of the oyster season. As well as shucking and tasting, there will be a parade and a gala ball. Each year, on the last weekend of September, Galway City celebrates the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival, the most internationally recognized Irish festival after St Patrick’s Day and the world’s longest running Oyster Festival.
Throughout the Irish food festival, there will lots of tantalizing events for all to enjoy; seafood trails, oyster hot spots, oyster opening (shucking) championships including the Oyster ‘Olympics’ or World Oyster Opening Championship, foodie talks & tasting events in some of Galway’s best restaurants, food producer tours, an intimate Food village at The Festival Marquee, a Mardi Gras style Gala Event through the streets of Galway and in association with The Gathering Ireland 2013, the Tribal Oyster Feast Off oyster eating competition along with family activities, live music, cooking demonstrations, ‘Hot Oyster Awards’ cooking challenge and more.
Established in 1954, The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival has welcomed over half a million visitors, consumed more than 3 million oysters – washed down with champagne and stout whilst listening to some of the best musicians in Ireland.
For more of our Festivals, Check out our Festivals & Events page. (Top American Festivals, Top European Festivals)
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
