What types of festivals are there?
From music festivals to film festivals & more: festival types to suit everyone’s taste
When people think of festivals, they immediately think of summer music festivals with an impressive line-up of artists. However, therearen’t just open-air music events, as there are also all different kinds of other events such as cultural events or events that take place over a couple of days. These types of events aren’t like a typical festival as they all have different themes. In this guide, you can find out more about the different types of festivals and there are also some practical tips on planning your first trip to a festival.
What types of festivals are there?
The term festival usually refers to large-scale cultural events lasting several days, but it also refers to religious festivals, regional folk festivals or harvest festivals.
Music festivals: the most popular type of festival
When you think about a festival you tend to think about music festivals, where various solo artists and bands perform. Music festivals differ from regular concerts because of the size and duration of the event and the variety of artists performing. Very popular music festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza in America, Rock in Rio in Brazil, Tomorrowland in Belgium, or the Glastonbury Festival in the UK often attract many international festivalgoers. At smaller festivals, the variety of performances and types of music are quite often limited, which means only the fans who like a certain type of music enjoy the festival. There are different types of music festivals such as rock/punk, heavy metal and pop.
Types of festivals for creative minds: arts and culture festivals
Behind the different terms, there is usually a colourful mixture of different types of arts. Art fairs or arts and culture festivals usually feature contemporary theatre performances, dance performances, and cabaret. Furthermore, films are shown, concerts are held, and exhibitions of visual arts or performance artsare organised so that all art lovers get their money's worth.
There are other cultural festivals that focus on a specific art form. The term "festival“ is more commonly used for opera and theatre.
Most people like to take photos or videos at a festival as it is an exciting experience. Try not to focus too much on taking photos or videos and don’t worry about them being perfect. It's best to just live for the moment and to not worry about getting great shots of the crowd enjoying the high spirit atmosphere. This is because you will rarely look back at old blurry pictures and videos.
Types of festivals for film fans: film festivals
During film festivals many films are shown and there are a lot of events where films are given an award by a jury and/or the audience. Many film festivals also have a catered programme with lectures, panel discussions and workshops, which evaluate, for example, current events and industry trends. Short film festivals usually have a similar concept, but they focus only on short films, which can’t exceed a given run time.
Types of festivals for book lovers: literature festivals
Literature festivals are all about books, poems, and other forms of literature. A typical literature festival programme includes book readings, interviews and discussions with authors and there are also workshops and literature competitions such as a poetry slam. The programmes have a lot to offer and there is something to suit everyone’s taste.
Types of festivals for the whole family: child-friendly festivals
Child-friendly festivals are also called children’s festivals. These types of festivals last for several days and they have a lot of events, which are geared around children and families. Children's festivals usually have a child-friendly music and dance stage programme, playground equipment, arts and crafts activities and other hands-on activities that are entertaining and educational at the same time.
Festival guide: festival essentials & packing list
You're probably looking forward to your first festival, but you're probably thinking about what to take with you and what’s the best way to get everything done. You may also be thinking about which performances to see or which workshops to attend. There is a lot to consider such as the perfect tent, meals and practising good hygiene at a festival. We have put together a useful festival checklist and the most important tips on preparing for a festival so that is it easy and stress-free.
Festival tips for whatever the weather
Whether it’s raining or the sun is shining you are going to certainly remember your very first festival for a long time. From heat to long periods of rain you should come prepared for all weather conditions so that you can enjoy your time at the festival. There are also some safety tips on hearing protection and protecting your valuables from being stolen. These tips will help you to prepare for going to a festival. In our survival guide for festivals, you will find the most important survival tips for a stress-free festival visit.
Festival outfits for women: inspiration & outfit ideas
Festival season is all about good music, a lively atmosphere and, above all, stylish outfits! In the article below, you'll find lots of inspiration for the trendiest festival looks for women. Whether you love boho chic, athleisure or glam-rock styles, there's a festival outfit to suit your taste. We'll show you how to party in style and comfort at any festival.
Festival outfits for men: casual styles for summer festivals
A summer filled with festivals is just around the corner. If you're still looking for the perfect festival outfit, then you've come to the right place. From casual basics to rock-inspired outfits and extravagant festival styles, our article offers you plenty of inspiration. Whether you want to stay true to your personal style or make a fashion statement, we'll show you the trendiest festival outfits for men.
Festivals for families: tips for taking your child to a festival
It’s a dream come true for a lot of festival-loving parents when they can attend a festival with their children and see their favourite artists performing live. However, your focus should be on your child’s well-being and safety. Therefore, a lot of parents ask themselves what type of festivals are suitable for families and from what age their children can attend a festival with them. In this article, we will show you how you can tell if a festival is child-friendly and the policies of attending a festival with a child.
Festivals generally produce a lot of rubbish. Despite the party festival atmosphere all festivalgoers should not produce any unnecessary rubbish or leave the event and camping area in an untidy way. Disposing of your rubbish at festivals is usually very easy as there are several large rubbish collection points.
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The image sources in this text are in chronological order:
Cover photo: iStock.com/Oleh_Slobodeniuk
1. Image in text: iStock.com/South_agency
2. Image in text: iStock.com/andresr
3. Image in text: iStock.com/Halfpoint
4. Image in text: iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages
5. Image in text: iStock.com/gpointstudio
6. Image in text: Jacob Lund – stock.adobe.com
7. Image in text: iStock.com/PeopleImages