Unico - World Festivals

Welcome to ‘Unico’- a new festival calendar, covering some of the unique events unknown to many, bizarre to others and nostalgic to locals. The calendar will be revised monthly until we have a collection for a full year. Everyone is encouraged to participate by suggesting festivals below in the comments.

Enjoy!

August 2008

July 30-August 3 The Testicle Festival Clinton, MT, USA Boneless, with 70% protein. Join the 26th annual Testicle Festival and see how much bull you can take.

August (first week) Camel, Donkey, Yabbie Racing Festival Charleville, Australia You thought camels could not race? In this festival, camels, donkeys and yabbies are all presented in their best light. Don’t be surprised if your camel decides to take a nap in the middle of the race. This promises to be a long, slow-moving festival filled with laughter.

August 1-3 Twins Days Festival Twinsburg, OH, USA Have a twin? You could become an exhibition.

August 3 Liar’s Festival Moncrabeau, France The Liar’s Academy founded in 1748 will be hosting yet another festival where the biggest liar walks away with the crown. Join these professional liars as they tell everything but the truth.

August 5-10 Fete de la Nouvelle France Quebec City, Canada This year celebrates the 400th year of Canada’s oldest city, Quebec City. Relive the lives of the first European settlers as everyone dresses up in traditional clothing and presents their heritage through dance, performance, music and food.

August 8-9 Sauna World Championships Heinola, Finland In Heinola sauna bathing is considered a sport. Do you have the heats to compete?

August 10 Pig Festival Trie-sur-Baïse, France A fun filled day including a championship of the best pig imitation and best pork sausage eater. Come with open ears and a big appetite.

August 15 Hungry Ghost Festival Hong Kong, China A festival connecting the living and the dead, the earth and the heaven, the body and the soul.

August 16 Il Palio- Horse Race Siena, Italy It only takes 90 seconds for the riders to make three circuits around Piazza del Campo. However this is a game of life and death being played for over 600 years.

August 23 Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships Narva, Estonia A Finnish tradition, depriving from the fact that Finns are very phone fashion-conscious. Competitors choose a suitable phone and their preferred throw- traditional over the shoulder throw, freestyle throw or team throw..

August 25-September 1 Burning Man Black Rock Desert, USA It is hard to explain what the Burning Man is. Maybe it can be summarized as crazy, bizarre and curious. You must see it for yourself!

August 27 La Tomatina Buñol, Spain Not keen on throwing phones? How about tomatoes? A once in a lifetime experience, where escapism is unheard of. Over 40 000 people participate in this tomato battle. A straight forward game, with very few rules- pick a tomato, squish it and throw it into the bloody air of red bodies.

August 27 Football in the River Burton on the Water, England Tired of playing dry football? How about trying it in the river?

August 29-October 5 Matchmaking Festival Lisdoonvarna, Ireland Forget online dating. This is the real deal in finding a match. After all, the tradition has been around some 100 years in Ireland.

March 21-September 5 Alkmaar Cheese Market Alkmaar, The Netherlands Say cheese...Alkmaar has been hosting a unique cheese market since 1593. Enjoy a fun filled day with a traditional cheese carriers’ guild, where 30 men compete in teams towards the fastest cheese carrier hosted by the cheese father.

The Calendar can never be complete. Do you know any other festivals or events? Please post them in the comments.