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Global Calendar: The Top 5 Events In July
Summers weren’t made for sitting on the sofa. Liven up your July with these festivals and events around the world, from the transformative to the just plain fun
High Sierra Music Festival
Quincy, California, USA
3-6 July 2025
In the land of sunshine and superstars, you can hardly throw a macramé crop top without hitting some music festival or other, but occasionally an event comes along that makes you want to take the path less travelled. In this case, the path leads to the majestic mountains of the Pacific Northwest, about 3 hours north of Sacramento, and a music festival that prides itself on its position along the far outer banks of the mainstream.
No profit-driven music-for-the-masses here: At High Sierra Music Festival, the food is organic, the vibe inclusive, the music alternative and the tickets affordable. The performers may not be headlining Coachella any time soon, but their musical stylings – spanning reggae, jazz, electro, bluegrass, funk and more – are pleasers for a crowd of melophiles who truly appreciate a well-crafted tune. But beware: this festival is addictive. So much so that the same participants return year after year, with people who grew up coming here now bringing their own youngsters along to enjoy the side programme of kid-friendly offerings, like puppet parades, sing-alongs, art activities and even a dedicated family campground and family stage.
Knysna Oyster Festival
Knysna, South Africa
4-13 July 2025
Tasty bivalves might be the showstoppers here, but it’s not only about oysters at what organisers call “South Africa’s premium sport and lifestyle festival”.
Athletics play a central role in the festivities, with participants young and old entering any number of competitive events, from cycle tours to open-water swims, marathons and various foot races, including a trail run, a colour run and a sunset wine run. There are also football, padel, netball and rugby tournaments, as well as a Knysna-style Amazing Race that sees participants solving clues and competing in athletic challenges. When you need to refuel, check out the festival’s many food-centric offerings, like the night market, wine festival, gin-tasting cruise and, of course, various oyster-shucking and -eating competitions. The lemon squeeze on top of this fresh half-shell is the event’s dedication to philanthropy, with a percentage of each year’s proceeds benefiting local charities.
San Fermín Festival
Pamplona, Spain
6-14 July 2025
It’s known around the world as ‘the running of the bulls’, but in reality, this cultural tour de force is so much more.
The traditions and folklore that make up Pamplona’s San Fermín festival date back to the summer fairs of the Middle Ages, when cattle merchants would herd their animals into the city, and bullfighting eventually became part of the customs. Over the years, fireworks, tournaments, religious ceremonies and other events joined the festivities, which today see this Spanish city of 200,000 inhabitants burgeon to more than one million. Join the heaving crowds dressed in white with red bandannas and sashes – a nod to the Christian martyr after whom the festival is named – for ten days of music, dance, song, parades, processions and strong Spanish wine. While the main event is arguably the daily chasing of the bulls through the city streets to the bullfighting ring, some may object to the inherent animal cruelty; they may consider instead attending the Running of the Nudes two days before festival, when animal-rights activists sprint through Pamplona in various states of undress in an effort to “expose the naked truth” about bullfighting.
Reggae Sumfest
Montego Bay, Jamaica
13-19 July 2025
There’s no party like a Jamaican party – especially when that party revolves around the country’s most-loved cultural export: reggae.
Reggae Sumfest calls itself “the greatest reggae show on earth”, and nobody’s really disputing that claim. For more than 30 years, the festival has brought together legends of reggae, dancehall and adjacent genres, from R&B to ska and reggaeton, with 2025 headliners including the likes of Toni Braxton, Tarrus Riley, I Wayne, Vybz Kartel and Masicka. Get ready to bust a serious move and bask in the feel-good party vibes from sunup to sundown and beyond. Don’t miss the community-minded Family Fun Day or the lively street party night with blasting boom boxes and local food stalls around every corner. Need a bit of R&R in between events? Simply pick a beautiful beach to relax on – Montego Bay has plenty to choose from.
Shambhala Music Festival
Salmo, British Columbia
25-28 July 2025
361 days a year, you’ll find nothing more than a bunch of cows, pigs and chickens on this 500-acre family farm about 7.5 hours’ drive east from Vancouver (or 2.5 hours north of Spokane, Washington). But for four days every summer, this peaceful corner of southwestern British Columbia becomes a magnet for EDM lovers seeking to enjoy nature, music and wellness with a cohort of like-minded festival-goers.
Ravers in search of a wild time should look elsewhere; despite its decent size with six stages on offer, Shambhala Music Festival’s aura is a mellow one. Perhaps it’s the no-booze-on-site policy, or the programme of yoga, meditation and craft workshops that has everyone squarely in the zen zone. Or maybe it’s the festival’s ethical, sustainable ethos and remote natural surroundings that promote a grounded vibe. Either way, visitors can expect an open and friendly community atmosphere, as well as a dedication to music, art and creativity that make it worth the pilgrimage year after year.
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