We’ve enjoyed a late bloom of the fabled English summer but now we’re looking forward and are busy booking up our social calendars to take our minds off the colder days ahead. Here, we bring you festivities from around the globe which are sure to raise your spirits and get you reaching for your passport.
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival – Ireland
[Photo by Jennifer Boyer – Flickr]
Known as Europe’s largest match-making event, the quirky Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival draws in singles looking for love from across the globe each year. This year’s event takes place from the 2nd September through until the 9th October giving you plenty of time to meet your match.
The month long event takes in a number of dances, drinking and live music. However, one of the real draws is Willie Daly – one of the last matchmakers. Willie has been taking care of matchmaking business for the last fifty years and has brought together thousands of happy couples. As such, every year you will find a queue of hopeful singletons lining up to receive his wisdom.
Oktoberfest – Munich
We know it’s a little confusing but the majority of Oktoberfest doesn’t actually take place in October, but instead during the sunnier month of September. These two weeks of festivities begin in Munich on the 17th September this year. The event is thought to draw in over 6.4 million guests each year and it’s not hard to see what keeps bringing people here. There is hearty food abound, rambunctious dancing and of course, lots and lots and lots of beer.
dealchecker tip: Download the official Oktoberfest app to find out which the quietest beer tents are, and get the beers in more quickly!
The Hermanus Whale Watching Festival – South Africa
This year, the Hermanus Whale Festival celebrates its 25th year bringing together nature lovers and culture enthusiasts time and time again. The sole focus of these festivities running from the 30th September – 2nd October is the preservation of the southern right whale which migrates through these parts in autumn months. In fact, there are often sightings of these majestic creatures over the course of the festival. However, that’s not to say that there’s not plenty more on offer to entertain you – there are food stalls to peruse, arts and crafts to take part in and live music to jive to.
London Design Festival – England
Closer to home, the London Design Festival brings a medley of events to the capital. There are films and photos celebrating other cities around the globe, collections of objects which have shaped the world in the Victoria and Albert museum, and galleries full of gorgeous, practical design pieces. The events and exhibitions are varied and there is something to capture the imagination of even the most aesthetically uninterested.
This year’s design festival takes place from the 17th to the 25th September and bookings for the majority of events are now open.
Happy holiday hunting from the dealchecker team!
