January 27, 2017 • lifestyle • Views: 3706

Unique festivals in budding destinations mean the festival scene is thriving right now. And no matter what your style, this year there’s something for everyone! Along with cosy winter evenings at home, one of our favourite things about this time of year is planning an exciting festival escape, an adventurous trip or a combination of the two for the year ahead. We’ve put together 7 unforgettable festival getaways to get you inspired for 2017, from the Austrian Alps and the Costa Rican jungle, to affordable Eastern Europe and the Moroccan desert:

February: Envision Festival, Costa Rica

Starting out as a backyard event where beach meets jungle in Uvita, Costa Rica, the Envision Festival has grown into one of the world’s leading green events. Festival days are filled with inspirational talks, surfing in the Pacific, and yoga and movement classes from some of the world’s top instructors. Envision evenings start with sunsets on the beach and continue with world music, reggae, performance and dance. If a festival for mind, body and soul sounds like your cup of tea, it’s almost time to start packing; there are just a few weeks left before Envision 2017 kicks off! Envision takes place from 23-26 February 2017. Find out more at envisionfestival.com  

April: Snowbombing, Austria

If raving in an igloo sounds more your style, then make time in April for a trip to the Austrian Tyrol. Recently awarded ‘Best Small Festival’ at the European Festival Awards, the Snowbombing Festival takes place more than 8,000 feet above sea level in the alpine resort of Mayrhofen. Along with igloo raves and enchanted forest parties, Snowbombers can look forward to mountain-top stages, 650 km of pure piste, chairlift speed dating and much more. Throw in a world-class music line-up, including Dixon and De La Soul for 2017, and it’s easy to see how Snowbombing earned itself the title of World’s No. 1 Music Festival on Snow! Snowbombing takes place from 3-8 April 2017. Find out more at snowbombing.com

July: Bilbao BBK Live, Spain

Combine Basque cuisine and culture with 3 days of music at Bilbao BBK Live 2017. High up on Kobetamendi Hill, BBK festival-goers get gorgeous views of Bilbao and its beaches while listening to a world-class line-up – Depeche Mode, The Killers and Justice are already confirmed for 2017. In a repeat of last year, Basoa – the festival’s dance music space in a beautiful woodland clearing – will once again host all-night parties with appearances from some of the top names in electronic music. Bilbao BBK Live takes place from 6-8 July 2017. Find out more at bilbaobbklive.com

July: EXIT Festival, Serbia

The first of our Eastern European festival picks takes place in a fortress on the River Danube in Novi Sad. In terms of the music, there’s something for everyone, but EXIT prides itself on being something bigger than a music festival: Starting out as a student social movement in 2000, it’s still EXIT’s mission to spark positive social change, support humanitarian and cultural charities, and provide a platform for creative industries in the Balkan region. Renowned for its amazing energy and atmosphere, EXIT is still one of the best-value festival experiences to be had in Europe. Exit Festival takes place from 6-9 July 2017. Find out more at exitfest.org

July: Positivus Festival, Latvia

A stunning coastal and woodland setting in Salacgriva, Latvia, gives Positivus Festival-goers a chance to hang out in a hammock or cool off in the Baltic Sea between soaking up diverse music, art and dance, and shopping for designer local crafts. An exciting line-up of indie, pop, hip hop, synth and electronic artists has earned the biggest arts and music festival in the Baltic region 3 ‘Best Medium Sized Festival’ nominations at the European Festival Awards. Positivus takes place from 14-16 July 2017. Find out more at positivusfestival.com

August: Mysteryland, The Netherlands

The world’s longest-running dance festival is proud holder of a Julie’s Bicycle ‘3 Stars Green Industry Certificate’ – the highest award for sustainability in the creative industries. As well as sustainability, Mysteryland’s focus is the best the world of electronic music has to offer. Mysteryland’s huge lifestyle and culture programme also includes interactive light installations, theatre, street performances and much more. If it’s all getting a bit much, take some time out in the Healing Garden before getting back to the dancefloor for the rest of the weekend! Mysteryland takes place from 26 – 27 August 2017. Find out more at mysteryland.nl

September: Oasis Festival, Morocco

For the last of our festival getaways for 2017 we’re heading to the hottest new destination on the festival scene – North Africa. For a late-summer break fusing Moroccan culture, cuisine and dramatic desert landscapes with cutting-edge music, yoga and massage head to the luxury Source music resort for the Oasis Festival in September. Just outside the ‘Red City’ Marrakech, the laid-back dance festival features stage-side pools, lush gardens and authentic local street food, not forgetting world-class house DJs. Oasis takes place from 15 – 17 September 2017. Find out more at theoasisfest.com   Pictures courtesy of globalpublicity.co.uk

Tags: 2017, culture, festivals, inspiration, travel