An Ode to Joy | Weird , Wild , Wonderful Festivals
Cheese Rolling Festival Gloucestershire , England This first festival takes place right down the road from the fictional location of my favorite British crime drama , Midsomer Murders . And like the show , it ’ s overflowing with quirky , charismatic characters participating in unusual activities against the backdrop of the charming and verdant English countryside . Travelers seeking joyful experiences should rest assured that the Cheese Rolling Festival does not feature any murders , but instead is a contest that ’ s sheer bananas as competitors chase plump wheels of cheese down the harrowingly steep Cooper ’ s Hill in the town of Brockworth .
Divided into men ’ s , women ’ s and kids ’ races ( the kids go uphill instead ), the rules are simple : the first person to reach the bottom ( along with their cheese ) wins . Competitors tumble , ankles get sprained and grass stains abound , but you ’ ll still be cheering from the sidelines like a maniac along with locals and fellow travelers for the Cheese Rolling Champion . At the end of the day , it will be clear that you ’ ll carry fond memories of cheese and England with you forever . Extra perk : the festival is an easy day trip from London .
After tea , all species gather as the humans deftly sidestep an array of Kongs and tennis balls and organize their nearly 500 Goldens into a joy-inducing group photo on the lawn of the estate . As evening turns to dusk , the last drops of light ripple across hundreds of dog heads during a torchlight procession from the kennel field to the Guisachan House , rounding out one of the happiest festivals in the world .
P . S . Start planning now — the next gathering is in 2028 .
Cheese Rolling Festival
Guisachan Gathering Tomich , Scotland Every five years , furry blonde magic descends on the Scottish Highlands as hundreds of Golden Retrievers ( and their humans ) gather at the Guisachan House , the ancestral birthplace of the breed in 1868 . While the humans enjoy a spot of afternoon English tea outdoors , the fourlegged stars of the festival are nearby engaging in games , woofing and general doggo activities .
Golden Retrievers Playing
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