Europe’s wildest festivals will challenge your courage and curiosity. You’ll chase an 80-mph cheese wheel down a deadly hill in England, dodge flying tomatoes in Spain’s La Tomatina, and witness men jumping over babies at El Colacho. In Finland, you can compete in wife-carrying championships, while Scotland’s Up Helly Aa lets you embrace your inner Viking with torch-lit longship burnings. These extraordinary traditions are just the beginning of Europe’s festival madness.
Key Points
- Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling in England offers thrilling entertainment as participants chase a wheel of cheese down an extremely steep slope.
- La Tomatina in Spain transforms Buñol into a massive food fight where 20,000 people throw over 100 tons of tomatoes.
- El Colacho in Spain features men dressed as devils jumping over babies in a unique ritual dating back to the 1630s.
- Up Helly Aa Fire Festival in Scotland celebrates Viking heritage with 1,000 torch-bearers and the burning of a Viking longship.
- Wife Carrying Championship in Finland challenges couples to complete a 253.5-meter obstacle course with unique carrying techniques.
The Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling (England)
While many festivals celebrate with music, food, or dance, England’s Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling takes a uniquely daring approach: chasing an enormous wheel of cheese down a perilously steep hill.
If you’re feeling brave, head to Gloucestershire on Spring Bank Holiday, where you’ll witness daredevils pursuing a 9-pound Double Gloucester cheese wheel as it hurtles down a 180-meter slope at speeds up to 80 mph.
This centuries-old tradition, possibly rooted in pagan solstice rituals, now attracts thrill-seekers from over 20 countries. The event’s first written record dates to 1826, though it’s believed to be much older.
From ancient pagan roots to global spectacle, this wild cheese chase draws adventurers worldwide to its perilous slopes.
Don’t expect safety measures – there’s no official organization, and participants tumble down the treacherous 1:2 gradient at their own risk.
While broken bones aren’t uncommon, the chance to catch that elusive cheese keeps competitors coming back year after year.
La Tomatina Tomato Fight (Spain)
Tens of thousands of thrill-seekers descend upon the small Spanish town of Buñol each August for what’s arguably the world’s largest food fight.
Armed with goggles and closed-toe shoes, you’ll join participants from over 50 countries hurling more than 100 metric tons of tomatoes during the hour-long La Tomatina festival.
The tradition began in 1945 when a parade riot led to thrown tomatoes, and despite Franco’s temporary ban in the 1950s, it’s now a globally recognized event.
You’ll want to arrive early for the famous “palo jabón” greased-pole contest that kicks off the mayhem.
Remember to squish your tomatoes before throwing them (it’s an official rule), and don’t forget to pack a change of clothes – you’ll need them after the town’s fire hoses wash away the red aftermath. Since 2002, participation has been limited to 20,000 ticket holders to ensure safety and manageability.
Up Helly Aa Fire Festival (Scotland)
Each January, Scotland’s Shetland Islands erupt in a spectacular display of fire and Viking heritage during the Up Helly Aa festival, where torch-bearing warriors illuminate the winter darkness.
This ancient celebration, rooted in Norse traditions since the 1820s, transforms Lerwick into a mesmerizing spectacle of flames and festivities. The term Helly means holiday in Old Norse, reflecting the festival’s deep cultural roots.
You’ll witness three unforgettable highlights:
- A grand procession led by the Guizer Jarl, a chosen Viking chief in authentic period costume
- Over 1,000 torch-bearers marching through town in 40+ squads
- The dramatic burning of an 8-meter Viking longship, crafted by local volunteers
The festival’s recent inclusion of women in 2024 marks a historic shift in tradition, while its £1 million tourism boost keeps the local economy blazing.
Don’t forget to book early – tickets sell out faster than a Viking ship on fire!
Baby Jumping Festival – El Colacho (Spain)
Since its inception in the 1630s, Spain’s most daring festival has challenged both gravity and common sense as men dressed as devils leap over rows of peacefully sleeping babies.
You’ll find this peculiar tradition, known as El Colacho, in the town of Castrillo de Murcia, where it’s held annually during the Corpus Christi feast in June.
Dressed in vibrant red and yellow costumes, these daredevil jumpers, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums, leap over mattresses lined with infants under one year old.
While it might make you gasp, there’s never been an incident – these well-trained jumpers are experts at their craft. The devils wield whips and castanets as they perform their daring jumps over the babies.
The ritual symbolically cleanses the babies of original sin, though the Catholic Church isn’t too thrilled about this unorthodox method of spiritual purification.
Wife Carrying Championship (Finland)
In the charming Finnish town of Sonkajärvi, competitors gather every July for what’s undoubtedly the world’s most peculiar athletic event – the Wife Carrying Championship. This unique competition, inspired by 19th-century tales of cattle thieves carrying women, challenges participants to navigate a grueling 253.5-meter obstacle course. The event has grown so popular that winners qualify for World Championship events in Finland.
You’ll witness teams tackle:
- Dry obstacles like sand traps and log hurdles
- The infamous “widow maker” water hazard
- Rocky terrain that tests even the strongest carriers
If you’re thinking of competing, you don’t need to be married, but you’ll need a partner weighing at least 49kg.
The grand prize? The carried participant’s weight in beer and five times their weight in cash! Most competitors opt for the Estonian carry technique, where the “wife” hangs upside-down around the carrier’s neck.
Battle of the Oranges (Italy)
Three days of citrus-hurling chaos descend upon the Italian city of Ivrea every February, as thousands gather for Europe’s largest food fight – the Battle of the Oranges.
You’ll witness nine teams hurling over half a million pounds of Sicilian oranges at each other, reenacting a historic rebellion against Napoleonic forces. The festival’s roots trace back to a 12th-century legend where a miller’s daughter beheaded a tyrannical ruler to free the city.
If you’re planning to watch, don’t forget to wear a red Phrygian hat – it’s your safe pass as a non-combatant. The battles start promptly at 2 PM each day, with spectators gathering early to secure the best viewing spots.
Between battles, you can enjoy free traditional meals of beans and polenta, while soaking in the medieval atmosphere of torch-lit parades and age-old ceremonies that celebrate liberation from oppression.
Underwater Music Festival (Norway)
Apologies, but I notice the facts provided actually describe an Underwater Music Festival in the Florida Keys, not Norway.
This unique aquatic celebration takes place at Looe Key Coral Reef, where you’ll experience music in a whole new way – 4.3 times faster than sound traveling through air! Since Bill Becker founded this festival in 1985, it has grown into a beloved tradition that raises awareness about coral reef preservation.
Here’s what makes this festival truly extraordinary:
- Musicians play custom “sea instruments” like the “trom-bonefish” and “sea-phan flute”
- Costumed performers dressed as mermaids dance through coral formations
- Waterproof speakers broadcast ocean-themed tunes while you snorkel or dive
You’ll need to dip at least 6 feet below the surface to join this four-hour underwater concert, but don’t worry – you can still enjoy the festivities from the surface if you’re not a certified diver.
Mud Festival at Boryeong (Netherlands)
While the Crazy Festivals in Europe and Mud Festival at Boryeong list this event as being in the Netherlands, the facts clearly indicate this festival takes place in Boryeong, South Korea. Since 1998, this muddy extravaganza has transformed from a local cosmetics promotion into a global phenomenon attracting millions of visitors annually. The festival showcases therapeutic mud properties that have been valued in Korean wellness traditions for generations.
| Activity | What You’ll Experience |
|---|---|
| Mud Slides | Thrilling descent down giant mud-coated slopes |
| Mud Baths | Therapeutic soaking in mineral-rich mud |
| Mud Wrestling | Slippery competitions with fellow festival-goers |
| Mud Painting | Creative body art using colorful mud |
You’ll find this mid-July festival at Daecheon Beach, where you can enjoy everything from K-pop concerts to mineral-rich mud treatments. For just $8-10, you’ll get access to premium zones where you can slide, splash, and get thoroughly muddy!
Monkey Buffet Festival (Gibraltar)
From mud-soaked revelry in South Korea, we turn to a primate paradise that’s been mistakenly attributed to Gibraltar. This fascinating festival actually takes place in Lopburi, Thailand, where over 2,000 crab-eating macaques feast like royalty each November.
The festival, established in 1989, honors these primates as descendants of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey deity. Local residents believe that feeding the monkeys during the festival will bring goodwill from spirits.
You’ll witness an extraordinary spectacle where monkeys indulge in:
- Two tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Traditional Thai sticky rice delicacies
- Special desserts served across four daily feedings
If you’re planning to attend, mark your calendar for November 24, 2024.
While the monkey population has grown to 3,000, recent sterilization efforts and relocations help maintain harmony between humans and their simian neighbors.
It’s a unique celebration that combines cultural reverence with tourist-drawing entertainment.
Night of the Radishes (Spain)
Despite its name suggesting Spanish origins, the Night of the Radishes actually takes place in Oaxaca, Mexico, where skilled artisans transform oversized radishes into stunning works of art.
This unique tradition dates back to the 16th century when Spanish conquistadors introduced radishes to Mexico, and creative merchants began using carved radishes to attract Christmas shoppers.
You’ll find these mammoth radishes, weighing up to 10 pounds and growing 2 feet long, transformed into intricate sculptures of everything from religious figures to elaborate cathedrals.
The festival happens every December 23rd in Oaxaca’s town square, where you’ll need to arrive early to beat the crowds. The best carved radish sculptures are rewarded with cash prizes in pesos.
Artists spend three days carefully carving their masterpieces, using toothpicks and water to keep their ephemeral art fresh for the brief but spectacular display.
The Last Word
Europe’s festivals are like a circus of cultural chaos, where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. Whether you’re hurling tomatoes in Spain, chasing wheels of cheese down steep hills in England, or watching men leap over babies, these events showcase humanity’s wonderful weirdness. You’ll find yourself immersed in traditions that defy logic but create unforgettable memories. Don’t just read about these festivals—pack your bags and experience the madness firsthand.