Eight of the Most Weird and Wonderful Festivals Around the World

When: The last Wednesday of August each year

Did somebody say food fight? What began in 1945 as a spontaneous battle among friends has now evolved into an internationally renowned spectacle, with the small Spanish town of Buñol transformed into a crimson battlefield every August for the world’s largest tomato fight. Participants hurl overripe tomatoes at each other, creating a playful chaos that drenches everyone in pulpy red juice. Despite the messy mayhem, the festival is meticulously organized, and a must for those who are fans of a little carefree revelry. And don't mind mess, of course.

When: The last Monday of May each year

We're not sure what the person who invented the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling festival was smoking, but we're very glad he-or-she was - after all, what could be more fun than hurling yourself down a perilously steep hill chasing a hefty round of Double Gloucester cheese? That's what happens every spring in the quaint English village of Brockworth, where the cheese can reach speeds up to 70 mph. This local tradition now draws in both competitors and spectators from all around the world, but a handful of the former are known to get injured, so we would probably recommend sitting this one out. The winner does take home the cheese, however, so some may be swayed.

When: Mid-July

If you hung up your Glastonbury boots years ago, there's a different kind of music festival that might pique your interest, and it happens in the vibrant waters off the Florida Keys. Held each July, divers and snorkellers are treated to a surreal symphony transmitted through waterproof speakers suspended beneath the waves at the annual Underwater Music Festival, with tunes ranging from sea-themed classics to whimsical compositions. And it's not just good fun, either - the quirky event is aimed at promoting coral reef protection, combining environmental advocacy with an unforgettable underwater experience where participants often don whimsical costumes to transform the ocean floor into a dreamlike dance floor. Don't mind if we do.

When: July

While an event inspired by a 19th-century legend about abducting women from villages may raise a few eyebrows, the delightfully odd Wife Carrying World Championship held in the small Finnish town of Sonkajärvi is all in good jest. A tournament in which male competitors race while each carrying a female partner, while it was originally meant to be undertaken on rough, rocky terrains with brooks and more, over time the race has been made more comfortable for the participants, though it still includes sand and water pits. Oh, and victors are awarded the wife's weight in beer, only adding to the merriment.