Event-o-Rama: 12 Must-Dos in August
August 01, 2012
4 min readThere are some amazing events on tap all over the world this summer. Here’s just a taste of what you can do and see in August:
- Tiring of the Olympics? Travel to Wales for the World Alternative Games (August 17-September 2) instead. Events include gravy wrestling, office chair racing, bog snorkeling, and worm charming.
- Get messy at the world’s biggest food fight, La Tomatina (August 29). Join tens of thousands of people who are heading to Valencia, Spain to hurl more than 100 metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes at each other. The results are fairly grisly, but full of toothy grins.
- Confront the past at the Hiroshima Lantern Floating Memorial (August 6) in Japan. Thousands of cube-shaped paper lights drift down the Motoyasu River to honor those who died in 1945. The event is held every year on the anniversary of the bombing to promote world peace.
- Race a camel at the Maralal Camel Derby (August 17-19) in Maralal, Kenya. This annual race brings together “the finest camels in the north” as well as both amateur and experienced riders.
- Wax nostalgic in a thoroughly British way at Rewind: The 80s Festival (August 17-19). With live music, movie screenings, and huge parties, you’ll leave Henley-on-Thames, England wishing it was 1985.
- Satisfy your appetite for Grade-A cuisine at South Africa’s Good Food & Wine Show (August 23- 26). Improve your cooking chops by watching some of the best chefs in the world go to work. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s a whole theater dedicated to chocolate demos.
- Trek out to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to be a part of one of the world’s largest pop-up communities. To cap off the week-long Burning Man Festival (August 27-September 3), a 40-foot effigy is torched in front of more than 50,000 spectators. You have to see it to believe it.
- “Make Air, Not War” at the Air Guitar World Championships (August 22-24) in Oulu, Finland. According to air guitar proponents, wars would end, climate change would stop, and all bad things would disappear if everyone in the world took up this “instrument.”
- Pay tribute to the King of Rock and Roll. The 35th annual Elvis Week (August 10-18) in Memphis, Tennessee will feature concerts, film screenings, and tours of Graceland. And, of course, lots and lots of impersonators.
- Try racing, Fred Flintstone style at Australia’s Henley-on-Todd Regatta (August 18). Teams run on land in bottomless boats, a spoof on the somewhat staid atmosphere that surrounds English river races. Only in Australia.
- Indulge in some of the best seafood around at the Maine Lobster Festival (August 1-5). Featuring a huge parade, the crowning of a Sea Goddess, and more than 10 tons of lobster, it’s one of New England’s biggest — and quirkiest — events.
- Put on your dancing shoes at the Buenos Aires Tango Festival (August 14-28). Thousands will come to see watch world-renowned tango dancers compete in the Dance World Cup, as well as enjoy live music and good eats.
Go Further
Animals
- Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
- Animals
- Feature
Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them? - This biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the AndesThis biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the Andes
- An octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret worldAn octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret world
- Peace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thoughtPeace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thought
Environment
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
- Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security, Video Story
- Paid Content
Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security - Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?
History & Culture
- Strange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political dramaStrange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political drama
- How technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrollsHow technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrolls
- Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?
Science
- The unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and MounjaroThe unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and Mounjaro
- Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.
- Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of yearsJupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of years
- This 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its timeThis 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its time
Travel
- Spend a night at the museum at these 7 spots around the worldSpend a night at the museum at these 7 spots around the world
- How nanobreweries are shaking up Portland's beer sceneHow nanobreweries are shaking up Portland's beer scene
- How to plan an epic summer trip to a national parkHow to plan an epic summer trip to a national park
- This town is the Alps' first European Capital of CultureThis town is the Alps' first European Capital of Culture