Strange Events

Bizzare, Quirky and Absolutely Weird Festivals You Must Attend

The earth is filled with so many things to do, places to go and various types of people that it can be very difficult to categorize all of the world’s activities. Luckily, here at Rad we support strange events: the offbeat, bizarre yet wildly entertaining events that happen all over this crazy planet.

Strange Events cover unusual happenings, quirky occurrences and strange events beyond human understanding. No region on earth has spawned as many bizarre sports and strange events as the United States of America, Spain, the British Isles and Thailand. People have an inexhaustible imagination when it comes to inventing downright insane competitions – from wife carrying to bog snorkeling and crazy food fights to fire shows. Be amazed!

The Most Famous…

Ever heard of people chasing cheese at Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling? Every year a cheese wheel races down a steep hill in the English countryside at more than 100 km / h. That’s not completely harmless for the audience, but nothing compared to what the contestants go through trying to catch the cheese: Ouch!

What about the Italian medieval tradition called The Battle of the Oranges which is considered one of the craziest food fight festivals in the world? Thousands of people in full armor throw oranges at each other for three days: Revolution!

Don’t forget La Tomatina, the ultimate, most famous and probably the mother of all food fights. Join 20,000 people fight, throw and dive into 120 tons of tomatoes. We hope you like tomato soup!

Get out of your office chair and into a world of action-packed and thrilling events nearby your next destination. If we haven’t made your life less boring already, then our list of strange festivals will be sure to do the trick. It’s time to pack your bags, get your passport ready and dive right in…

Historical Wild Festivals Around the World

It’s safe to say that everyone enjoys a good festival. Mankind has been gathering together as a community since the dawn of time to celebrate good harvest, seasonal changes or religious milestones. And although plenty has changed since we first walked this earth, the energy at a kick-ass party has stayed constant. Nowadays, modern festivals that celebrate culture, music, food and more are happening nearly every day around the world.

Yet the most bizarre festivals that make you scratch your head bless our list. Whether it contains ties to culturally rich roots or simply just a marketing experiment, we just can’t get enough of the strangest events around the world.

So what are the world’s most bizarre ‘feats of strength’ events?

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Flour Fight Festival 2024
Ibi, Alicante, Spain
28 Dec, 2024
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Burning of the Clocks 2024
Brighton, United Kingdom
21 Dec, 2024
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Krampusnacht 2024
Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria
05 Dec, 2024
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Ottery Tar Barrels 2024
Ottery Saint Mary, Devon, England
05 Nov, 2024
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Samhuinn Fire Parade 2024
Edinburgh, Scotland
31 Oct, 2024
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Wasteland Weekend 2024
Wasteland City, California
25 Sep  - 29 Sep, 2024
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Mothman Festival 2024
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
21 Sep  - 22 Sep, 2024
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Marathon du Medoc 2024
Pauillac, France
07 Sep, 2024
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Cascamorras Festival 2024
Baza, Andalucia, Spain
06 Sep  - 09 Sep, 2024
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La Tomatina 2024
Buñol, Valencia, Spain
28 Aug, 2024
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World Bog Snorkelling Championships 2024
Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, United Kingdom
25 Aug, 2024
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Il Palio di Siena 2024
Siena, Italy
16 Aug, 2024
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Guca Trumpet Festival 2024
Guca, Serbia
02 Aug  - 04 Aug, 2024
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Fêtes de Gayant 2024
Douai, France
09 Jul  - 14 Jul, 2024
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Wife Carrying World Championship 2024
Sonkajärvi, Finland
05 Jul  - 06 Jul, 2024
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Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 2024
Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York
04 Jul, 2024
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Haro Wine Festival 2024
Haro, La Rioja, Spain
27 Jun  - 30 Jun, 2024
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Calcio Storico Fiorentino 2024
Florence, Italy
24 Jun, 2024
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Festival of St John of Porto 2024
Porto, Portugal
23 Jun  - 24 Jun, 2024
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Paso Del Fuego 2024
San Pedro Manrique, Soria, Spain
23 Jun  - 24 Jun, 2024
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Stonehenge Summer Solstice 2024
Stonehenge, Salisbury, UK
21 Jun, 2024
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Pizza Fest – Napoli Pizza Village 2024
Napoli, Italy
14 Jun  - 23 Jun, 2024
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Man v Horse 2024
Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
08 Jun, 2024
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Colacho Baby Jumping Festival 2024
Castrillo de Murcia, Burgos, Spain
02 Jun, 2024
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Cheese Rolling 2024
Coopers Hill, Gloucester, United Kingdom
27 May, 2024
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Beltane Fire Festival 2024
Edinburgh, Scotland
30 Apr  - 01 May, 2024
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Walpurgis Night 2024
Wernigerode, Germany
30 Apr  - 01 May, 2024
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Hillbilly Days 2024
Pikeville Kentucky, USA
18 Apr  - 20 Apr, 2024
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Songkran 2024
Multiple locations across Thailand
13 Apr  - 16 Apr, 2024
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Kanamara Matsuri 2024
Kawasaki, Japan
07 Apr, 2024
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Barbaric, Gnarly and Downright Bloody

A walk down history lane brings us to one of the oldest sporting traditions that still takes place every year in Florence, Italy. Since the 16th century Calcio Storico, has called players from four districts in Florence to battle it out during one of the strangest competitions known to man. Think of it as a cross between soccer, rugby and wrestling where players duke it out in a no-rules, gladiator style match of athletics.

Crowds roar over an arena of men who literally attempt to score at all costs. Broken bones, bloody body parts and agonizing screams are only a small part of this epic battle.
This super local event takes place in the city square and truly reflects the rich history of Florentino. Calcio was originally a game for the rich aristocrats during the Renaissance era as several popes even played the sport in the Vatican City. In its early years the game was even more barbaric.

For decades the violent match included very severe injuries and even death. To make the game even more interesting, bulls were let loose inside the arena to add more confusion for wild finishes. Although certain rules have been put in place since, Calcio Storico stays true to its historical roots and delivers the ultimate glory to the game’s champions.

Celebrate the Nightfall

For a bit less of a barbaric festival, a modernized party might be a bit more up your alley. Do you prefer nighttime over daytime? Intrigued by the moon and stars? Then maybe Thailand’s From the historical cultural events like Full Moon Party is your next bucket list festival.

Loads of fun, but strange as hell. Depending on the time of year, every full moon evening draws crowds upwards of 30,000 people upon Koh Phangan’s Sunrise Beach. The party only escalates as the night progresses with flowing alcohol, trance and house music, and dancing in the water. Bright clothing and glow in the dark body paint brings high volumes of vibrancy to the party.

The festival had gained so much traction in recent years that the island actually had banned the party in 2014. But festival-goers couldn’t be stopped as the party has raged on since with fire skipping ropes and alcohol buckets. The strangest yet best part of the festival is that it takes place over a dozen times each year. Who would have thought the moon could host such a banger!

Have you ever asked yourself what are the weird sports? Rad Season Founder Oli Russell-Cowan chats to Sol Neelman, the most unusual sports photographer that published 2 books about weird sports around the world. There are certainly some events you have not heard of yet...

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