Summer weather naturally brings people together for food, fun, and culture. Historically, summer has been a convenient time for communities to celebrate the end of cold, wet seasons and the beginning of hotter days.
That tradition continues today, and while some people appreciate burgers and barbecues, others welcome the season with larger gatherings and festivals, celebrating international holidays. Summer festivals come in all shapes, sizes, and interests, giving you the opportunity to meet new people and enjoy unique experiences. Our team at Remitly has compiled a list of summer festivals for you to discover during your holidays this summer.
Global summer music festivals
Lollapalooza: Chicago, IL, USA
Initially conceived in 1990 as a farewell tour for rock band Jane’s Addiction, Lollapalooza has since become a permanent annual fixture in the tradition of music festivals. The main Lollapalooza celebration is a four-day festival in Chicago’s Grant Park, usually between mid-July and August. In 2023, Lollapalooza is from August 3rd to 6th.
Starting in 2010, the festival branched out and expanded internationally with performances in Brazil, Chile, Germany, Sweden, France, and beyond. However, these international festivals have varying dates, sometimes held in the spring or fall.
While it initially focused on rock bands, Lollapalooza has since opened up to encompass acts from hip-hop, pop, and other music genres. It has become a true celebration of music that places a unique spotlight on modern music, legends from the past, and smaller acts that are on the rise.
Reading Festival: Reading, England
A precursor to and inspiration for Lollapalooza, Reading Festival is considered the world’s oldest popular music festival that is still in operation. Hosted in Reading, England, the festival is a three-day event held every year on the weekend of August’s bank holiday.
Prior to being known as the Reading Festival, it was known as the National Jazz Festival, which started in 1961 and flourished with the popularity of jazz. While the jazz boom eventually declined, by 1971, the festival found a permanent home in Reading and was renamed the Reading Festival. That change came with more inclusive music lineups that hosted popular rock, alternative, punk, and metal acts. By the late ‘90s and early 2000s, the festival further opened up as it hosted more hip-hop and pop acts.
Primavera Sound: Barcelona, Spain
Held in Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona, Spain, every year, Primavera Sound has become one of the most popular music festivals in the world despite being relatively young. The first Primavera was hosted in 2001, but it has since become a fixture of the city, taking place over three days between the end of May and the beginning of June.
By 2012, the festival expanded to Porto, Portugal, and in the modern day, Primavera has editions spanning Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and São Paolo.
While Primaver’s initial image centered on indie rock, part of the festival’s appeal was the fairly wide range of bands and artists. Modern lineups include everything from hip-hop to dance-pop to electronic music.
International film festivals
Toronto International Film Festival: Toronto, ON, Canada
Originally founded in 1976, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has become one of the most famous film festivals on the globe, and much of that comes from it being readily accessible to the public.
TIFF attracts over 480,000 film producers, actors, and general film enthusiasts to Downtown Toronto every year. While the festival initially found venues within Yorkville, it eventually found a permanent home at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
TIFF occurs in the late summer, starting the Thursday after Labour Day and goes for 11 days. Along with screenings of new films and films that need broader distribution, TIFF features lectures and workshops about various topics within the world of making movies.
If you’re a fan of movies, have any curiosity in filmmaking, or just moved to Canada, TIFF is the place to go to meet other film enthusiasts and potentially learn about movies along the way.
Cannes Film Festival: Cannes, France
You can’t talk about international film festivals without mentioning Cannes. Initially founded in 1946, Cannes has become one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. In fact, until 2003, Cannes was simply known as the Festival International du Film (or “International Film Festival”).
Today, the film festival occurs in May every year, gathering some of the greatest actors, directors, and filmmakers in the world.
While Cannes features films from all over the world, it has a reputation for specifically showcasing European films and hosting some of the greatest artists of the medium. The bad news: unlike TIFF, Cannes doesn’t offer tickets to the public, meaning you either need to work in the industry or know someone who works in the industry.
Tribeca Festival – New York, NY, USA
Tribeca is relatively one of the newer film festivals in the world. Founded in 2002, Tribeca is hosted in the neighborhood of Tribeca, found in the borough of Manhattan, every June for 11 days. Since then, the festival has seen massive growth, hosting over 150,000 attendees with over 600 film screenings, and like other festivals, Tribeca offers a variety of jury-based awards.
In terms of film, Tribeca has primarily focused on smaller, independent features and short films. It has also expanded to showcase works from a variety of different media, including music, video games, television, and audio storytelling.
International food festivals
Maine Lobster Festival: Rockland, ME, USA
Along with craft beer, lighthouses, and beautiful foliage, Maine is best known for its great lobster, and the Maine Lobster Festival is a true celebration of that shellfish. Held during the first weekend of August, this festival encompasses five days of good food and drinks, entertainment, parades, and cooking contests, all involving the humble lobster.
Visitors can learn more about Midcoast Maine and the people who live there while enjoying delicious lobster at this internationally renowned festival.
Stragusto: Trapani, Sicily, Italy
Hosted in the Fish Market of Trapani, Stragusto is a summer celebration of street food from across the Mediterranean. Along with local Sicilian cuisine, you can enjoy dishes from Greece, Morocco, and beyond, all while enjoying the sights and sounds of the Piazza Mercato del Pesce.
Stragusto is a five-day event in late July, giving you plenty of time to eat to your heart’s content.
Singapore Food Festival: Various venues, Singapore
While it might be small, Singapore has an immensely nuanced and delicious food scene. The Singapore Food Festival is an annual celebration of the country’s diverse, multicultural food scene.
Typically held around late June to the end of July, the Singapore Food Festival spans across the small country. It includes events for all tastes, from Sweets Alley (a celebration of desserts and sugary treats) to Cafe Boulevard (a site to appreciate artisanal coffee drinks and pastries).
From tea festivals to talks about food sustainability, make sure you plan so you can see and eat everything you want.
International cultural festivals
Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival: Tokyo, Japan
Festivals, known as matsuri, are wildly popular and plentiful in Japan. Local shrines or temples usually sponsor these festivals, and nearly every city has at least one matsuri in the late summer or early autumn.
Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival is potentially the oldest fireworks festival in the world. The first was held in 1733 and has largely maintained its focus as a celebration of fireworks (or hanabi). It is now the most popular of these festivals, attracting over a million attendees every year.
Many attendees dress in traditional kimonos and enjoy refreshing food and beverages before the major attraction of the festival: a fireworks display competition that lasts upwards of 90 minutes.
La Tomatina: Buñol, Spain
Most people visiting or moving to Spain probably know about the Festival of San Fermin and the running of the bulls. However, La Tomatina offers something a little different.
Initially celebrated in 1945, La Tomatina is a weeklong festival at the end of August, culminating in a massive food fight involving tomatoes. The food fight completely covers the city (and the festival goers) in tomato juice, peels, and debris.
The city also hosts a variety of unique events leading up to the tomato fight, including paella contests, parades, and fireworks. And don’t worry, the city hoses down the area afterward. The natural citric acid in tomatoes actually acts as a cleanser, leaving the streets cleaner than before.
Mount Abu Summer Festival: Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India
Mount Abu Summer Festival is a two-day event that celebrates the community, tradition, and cultures in the state of Rajasthan. Hosted in May, the festival features a wide range of activities that showcase the art and identity of the Rajasthani people. Local musicians sing beautiful ballads, and people perform Ghoomar and other traditional folk dances.
Competitions occur throughout the celebration, including boat races, horse races, and tug of war. To replenish your energy, food stalls set up throughout the area serve tasty local cuisine.
Summer is a beautiful time to kick back, relax, and celebrate the good things in life. Use this guide to find an international festival near you during your holidays this summer.
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