From multicoloured sheep and nearly-dead people sitting in coffins, to full-bodypaint and matchmaking dances, in her second festival focus Veronica Stivala takes notes on some of the most unusual events being held this summer.

Paint me beautiful

What: World Bodypainting Festival
Where: Pörtschach, Austria
When: June 29 – July 6

This festival of freakishly beautiful bodies was first inspired by an interesting photo. Alex Barendregt, a local travel agent, first held the first World Bodypainting Festival in 1998.

Although it started as a small affair, the festival has grown to become the best event of its type in the world, founding the modern body-painting art movement and attracting tens of thousands of visitors.

Shock factor is key and artists and models from more than 40 different countries do their utmost to impress and disturb. Themes such as Artificial Intelligence are chosen to help with the judging process.

If you’re brave and lucky enough, you can volunteer your body as a canvas and have part or all of you painted.

www.bodypainting-festival.com

Thinking laterally

What: Latitude Festival
Where: Henham Park, Suffolk, England
When: July 17-20

What is a festival without a flock of multicoloured sheep?

The organisers of Latitude Festival must have noticed this great gap in the festival world and situated their wonderfully creative, family-friendly festival amid fields populated by brightly-coloured sheep (achieved through vegetable dye and PETA approved).

Prepare to be delightfully surprised as you stroll through woods lit with fairy lights to a gondola-filled lake.

Discover hidden DJ performances in the woods, watch pop-up theatre, listen to literature and poetry readings and, of course, listen to some great music, all in a carnival atmosphere.

Headlining this year’s festival are the Black Keys, Bombay Bicycle Cub and The Editors, to name a few.

And there’s going to be stand-up by Dara O’Briain and disgruntled pub landlord Al Murray. Such fun.

www.latitudefestival.com

Dying to go…

What: Festival of Near-Death Experiences
Where: Las Nieves, Galicia, Spain
When: July 29

Have you recently dodged a speeding car, or narrowly escaped getting electrocuted as you put up the Christmas tree lights, with wet hands and not wearing any shoes?

If so, or even if not, you might wish to check out what is surely one of the strangest festivals around.

Celebrated in Galicia, a northwestern town that for many centuries was isolated from the influences of Catholicism, this festival sees solemnly dressed family members carry those who claim a near-death experience in the past year to the church, where a Mass is celebrated around noon and where the near-dead often sit in their coffins.

Despite the weirdness, it attracts thousands of, erm, die-hard fans, who flock to the tiny town of Las Nieves specifically for the event.

So if you’re keen on going, plan early.

www.fest300.com/festivals/festival-of-near-death-experiences

Far from the fringes

What: Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
When: August 1-25

Three weeks, 40,000 performances, one festival. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the largest arts festival in the world, attracting nearly two million people each year.

Pubs, streets, university halls and even public toilets become venues for performances as the festival virtually takes over the whole city for the month of August.

Whether you’re into stand-up comedy, whodunit plays, dance or alternative physical theatre, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Its popularity grows each year so book early to avoid steep accommodation costs or not finding anywhere to stay.

This is not cause to not go however, as shows run through the night, so although you may end up lacking sleep, you will definitely not be culturally deprived.

www.edfringe.com

Birds and the bees

What: Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival
Where: Lisdoonvarna, Country Clare, Ireland
When: August 29-October 5

The art of matchmaking is incredibly important to the 1,000-strong Irish community of County Clare farmers who pride themselves in pairing up couples.

It all started when young men would stay at home to tend the farm, while the women would head to Dublin to find a job.

Due to the gender imbalance this created, the need for a festival of fun, flirting and frolic arose.

Although this is not the only matchmaking festival, Lisdoonvarna was probably the first, for their event dates back some 150 years.

Dancing is the highlight of this festival, held in the hometown of celebrated matchmaker Willie Daly, with Irish jigs being one of the primary ways for men and women to determine whether they are compatible.

So bring your comfortable shoes; the dancing starts at noon every day and goes on late into the evening.

www.matchmakerireland.com

The best fest

What: Bestival
Where: Newport, Isle of Wight, UK
When: September 4-7

The highlight of this multi-award-winning festival is the costume parade. This year’s theme is Desert Island Disco, so don’t forget your disco beachwear.

Headline acts include OutKast, Foals and Beck as well as Basement Jaxx, Paloma Faith and Candi Station.

Following on from last year’s successful Port, this year will again see the maritime magnificence that is The Port: a mind-expanding, oceanic vision, nestled near the Ambient Forest.

Featuring a landlocked harbour and the good ship HMS Bestival as its centrepiece, this is the music hedonist’s heaven.

Party to your heart’s content and revel in the astonishing aerial displays and insane pyrotechnics.

Robinson Crusoe, eat your heart out. Getting shipwrecked never felt so good.

www.bestival.net