Yeah, music festivals are cool, but have you ever found a festival that is so niche and up your street that you’re convinced that a wish you made as a child has finally came true? Take a look at just some of the most unusual festivals that we’ve found and are desperate to pay a visit to.

No matter who you are, there’ll be a festival that fits you. So take a second to get inspired by the lesser-known festivals of the world and start filling up your 2024 diary. Don’t forget your Trtl Pillow so you arrive refreshed and ready for your underwater-bog-snorkeling-food-fight (don’t worry, read on and it’ll all make sense.)

 

If you’re a wannabe rockstar:

Air Guitar World Championship — Oulu, Finland

 

This amazing festival brings together the best air guitarists in the world to promote world peace - a cause we can get behind! To quote from their website “According to the competition ideology, wars will end, climate change will stop and all bad things will vanish when all the people in the world play the air guitar.”

 

Taking place in August, this festival is one to tick off the bucket list if you’ve ever watched School of Rock or caught yourself in the mirror pulling some moves that would make your Dad proud.

 

 

If you’re a fan of mud baths:

World Bog Snorkelling Championships – Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales

 

This festival is for those who don’t mind getting a bit dirty. Described in Lonely Planet as one of the world's top 50 'must-do' experiences, grab your snorkel and let’s get boggy. If you don’t fancy trying to win a World Championship, you can still come down, sit back and enjoy a beer while watching other people get muddy and smelly.

 

 

 

If you listen to music 24/7:

Underwater Music Festival - Florida

This incredible festival takes place in the Florida Keys - and by ‘in’, we mean ‘IN’. Much like the name suggests, this underwater festival takes place in the sea and sets out to raise awareness of coral preservation.

 

Divers and snorkelers are treated to a sound system like no other. A pre-selected playlist is streamed underwater and you can pull dance moves that those on the land never could. So pick up a “Trom-bonefish” and live out your Little Mermaid dreams.

 

If you just want to be happy:

Golden Retriever Festival - Scotland

If you enjoy exploring Scotland and smiling at dogs on the street, then the Golden Retriever Festival might be for you. Taking place where these dogs were first bred at Guisachan House in the Highlands there are plenty of human and dog events that take place to get involved in - haggis-hurling, anyone?

 

 

If it’s your dream to take part in a food fight:

La Tomatina - Buñol, Spain

 

If you’re going to take part in a food fight, you may as well take part in “The World’s Biggest Food Fight”. Having started in 1945, La Tomatina is the place to be if you want to spend an hour pelting each other with tomatoes. Rapidly growing in size due to the social media coverage every year, this festival seems like the perfect place to get your recommended Vitamin C.