At Castle Events we have been known to plan some pretty exciting and innovative events here at home and around the world. Each event has its own unique set of goals and logistics; whether it’s empowering an audience or rewarding performance, attracting a large crowd or creating an exclusive program, planning for parking and restrooms, finding power and water sources for the catering crew, closing roads to traffic or working out a good contingency plan for weather or unforeseen emergencies, each event provides us with its own set of challenges. Check out some of these unique events hosted around the world. As an event planner I am always thinking about what it takes to make things happen. The logistics, the purpose or audience makes them extraordinary events…or just plain wacky!
Underwater Music Festival, Big Pine Key, Florida
Each year hundreds of divers and snorkelers gather in the beautiful waters off Big Pine Key, Florida to enjoy this quirky music festival. Music is broadcast via underwater speakers suspended by boats while costumed performers play cleverly crafted instruments such as the Great White Harp, Fluke-a-lele and Harmoni-Crab. The event is intended to raise awareness of ocean reef preservation. This year marked the festival’s 30th anniversary.
International Pillow Fight Day
This day of pillow fighting is now hosted in over 100 countries world-wide. As Amsterdam organizers say “it turns happy adults into happy kids – and happy kids into even happier kids.” The site gives instructions on how to host a pillow fight in your own city. One of the first rules: never ask permission. Sometimes I wish we could do this!
More Spam is eaten in Hawaii than any other state – over seven million cans per year. Celebrating the Hawaiian love affair with the canned meat, the Spamjam is a street festival attracting more than 25,000 people. Some of the finest Hawaiian restaurants serve up dishes using Spam as the main ingredient, with proceeds going to the local food bank.
Rain Day Festival, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
When planning an outdoor event we always hope for good weather or at least a good back up plan, but organizers of this event are actually praying for rain. Rain Day started back in 1874 as a bet between a merchant and local farmer that it would rain on his birthday. The bet stuck and each year more and more people gathered to see who would win. Now a full-fledged festival that has put the town of Waynesboro, PA on the map, it has rained 114 days of the 141 years. Place your bets for July 29, 2015!
Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio
Many events have us seeing double but this one takes it to a whole new level. It is the largest gathering of twins in the world with over 2,000 registered attendees and includes fun for all ages, golf tournaments, a “double take” parade and contests.
Lopburi Monkey Buffet Festival 
Thousands of primates live in the town of Lopburi, Thailand guarding the local temples. In order to thank them, a buffet of enormous proportions is set out for them every November. Over 4,000 pounds of food is served. Think about the menu planning!
International Segway Polo World Cup – Woz Cup Challenge
Yes, it’s polo played on Segways! The sport started around 2004 in San Francisco and has been gaining popularity ever since. The Woz Cup, named after Apple co-founder and segway polo player Steve Wozniak, is considered to be the world cup of segway polo. The event is held annually in locations around the world such as New Zealand, Barbados and Sweden. The next Woz Cub will be held in Cologne, Germany in 2015.
El Colacho, or the Baby Jumping Festival
Spain has some very interesting festivals including the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona and La Tomatina in Valencia (the tomato throwing festival) but this one takes the cake. The photo says it all. The event planner in me cringes at the contingency planning.
