Experience that festival buzz all year round with these offerings
There’s nothing that beats the feeling of being at a truly great music festival, that is unless you’re at a truly great music festival that also happens to play host to an enormous sports tournament. For adrenaline lovers it just doesn’t get any better. An afternoon on the slopes, or catching the waves, followed by a whole night of dancing.
If you’ve got the itch to get yourself to a music festival this year then check out the following. These festivals will allow you to combine your love of sport with your passion for music.
Boardmasters, Cornwall, England
Taking place in the height of summer on the sunny south coast, you’d assume that weather would not be high on the list of concerns for Boardmasters. However, last year severe weather put an end to Boardmasters, meaning the whole event had to be called off.
Whilst that was a disaster that simply could not have been planned for, it might just make this year’s festival that little bit sweeter. 2020 sees 40 years of Boardmasters, so they’ll be announcing some enormous acts, both in terms of music and in terms of surfing.
The festival has seen the main stage graced by the likes of Stormzy, The Chemical Brothers, and Primal Scream, but it’s not just the main stage that is home to the action. Smaller stages reveal a more personal side to the festival, with the early arrivers breaking a Guinness world record for the world’s largest silent disco on the Thursday before the event truly kicks off.
Of course, Fistral beach is also home to some pretty amazing scenes – from the World Surf League’s qualifying series. Even if you’re not a surfer yourself, it’s so worth catching some of the action on the beach. Some of the feats are truly jaw dropping and could snap you out of even the worst hangover from sheer spectator-adrenaline alone.
If you’re feeling up to some sport then there are loads of beginner friendly options; kayaking, coastal running or beach yoga are all on offer and can really shake away a foggy head. There are instructors on hand all the time who’ll make you feel completely welcome, whether you take to it like a natural, or you spend more time falling over or capsizing. Failing that, you can kick back and relax in a beachside hot tub with champagne on tap. It’s the perfect blend of hedonism and luxury and we are so here for it.
Snowglobe Festival, Lake Tahoe, USA
Snowglobe festival has literally everything a winter sports and music fan could dream of, unlimited access to the pistes and a lineup that features some really big names, as well as some potential new favorites. Even better, the location in Lake Tahoe makes for some super fun after hours adventures. Many festival goers head down to the nearby casino to play the slots, or place bets on who can ski the fastest.
Whilst there’s great fun to be had at the casino, sometimes you just don’t fancy braving the cold, but you needn’t miss out on all the fun. There are some online sites that offer odds on winter sports, so you can place a bet on the skiing without missing any of the bands, or indeed leaving the warmth of the festival tent!
EDM fans will be beside themselves at the lineup for this relatively young festival, the emphasis on great new Electronic music is palpable. There’s something incredibly special about being in such a dramatic landscape, surrounded by deep, thick snow and almost black pine trees. It’s made even more special when the beat drops and the whole crowd moves as one; moments like this truly do feel out of this world.
On top of all of this, the timing of SnowGlobe festival is just perfect, right over the New Year. The festival seems to build and build in anticipation, until on the night the clock (and the crowd) count down from 10. Once they reach 1, a handful of festival goers are pulled from the crowd to press the big button and welcome in the new year. The beat drops and thousands of fireworks fill the air – we challenge you to find a more euphoric way to start the year.
NOS Alive, Lisbon, Portugal
Sun worshippers flock to this little festival in Lisbon; it’s in the middle of July, so guaranteed sunshine and right by the beach that has some of the best waves in Europe. Carcavelos beach offers surf schools for beginners with waves that won’t wipe you out, whilst just a little further along the coast you’ll find Ericera, which is where the big boys hang out. The waves are heavier, faster and harder hitting, but totally exhilarating for the pros.
European festivals have been garnering a great deal of attention recently for their affordability, relative to their cousins in the UK and USA. Not only is NOS festival affordable on a ticket price level, it also has some seriously good food and drink offers. You can grab yourself a sangria for 2 euros (dangerous!) and also get a plate of healthy food and have change from a tenner. The festival feels inclusive in every sense of the word, offering options for carnivores and vegans alike, as well as a handful of different stages which cater to an insane variety of music tastes.
Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Taylor Swift are the big names this year, but the DJ stages play host to some pretty underground types, who have some real talent on the decks.
The other thing that this festival has planned really well is the timetable, the music starts surprisingly late and goes on until, frankly, ridiculously late. This means that if you wanna have a morning sleep on the beach, you won’t miss any of the action. Similarly if you fancy catching some waves then you can do that too – it works for everyone.
If you’re struggling to convince a group of friends to agree on one festival because your preferences are too varied, your budgets too different, or even your waking hours – NOS Alive festival is absolutely the choice for you.
