Music, glitter on your face and a slowly warming beer in your hand. The 2022 festival summer is already in full swing. After a two-year break for most events, they could finally start up again this year. Maybe you have already been to one or even several festivals already. If so, you probably know that apart from memories of dancing the night away, there is often one thing above all that remains behind: Mountains of rubbish that need to be disposed of at the end of the weekend. Something far from sustainable. But everyone can make their own festival visit sustainable in 2022 with just a few simple changes.

You can already pay attention to sustainability when choosing a festival. For example, are there eco-friendly, separation toilets? What about waste management? Are vegetarian or vegan food options available? Will there even be workshops or presentations on sustainable topics? Event organisers are becoming more and more aware of the changing values of the population and are making efforts to make their events more environmentally friendly and responsible. You can support the organisers’ efforts with your own behaviour.

Travelling by Public Transport

Of course, if you want to take your pavilion, beer tent etc. to the festival site, then bus or train is hardly an option. But if you’re travelling with just a tent and sleeping bag, you should consider using public transport. On the one hand, it’s better for the environment (and also better for your own nerves, if you think about the queues of cars to the car parks …), and on the other hand, you can start the festival before you even reach the site – it’s a relaxed way to socialise as well.

Often organisers use shuttle buses or special trains to transport guests to the festival site. And sometimes there are even incentives in the form of ticket price discounts for those arriving by train.

Bring your own

Disposable tableware and cutlery certainly account for the largest share of festival waste. Plastic cups from the drinks truck aren’t the only thing that gets thrown away after a single use – you’ll see them everywhere on the campsite, too. The easiest way to make your festival visit more environmentally friendly and sustainable is to simply do without disposable tableware.

Take plates and cutlery from home, a reusable cup can always be handed over the bar of the beer truck, and let’s face it: a plastic knife doesn’t cut very well anyway.

Glitz and Glamour

It’s hard to imagine most festivals without glitter, flashy outfits and elaborate make-up. But it doesn’t always have to be bought new. In fact, you’re more likely to find the right clothes in second-hand and vintage shops.

Weiterlesen: Was unsere Kleidung mit der Umwelt mit der Umwelt zu tun hat

When it comes to glitter, you can also make sure that it is sustainably produced and biodegradable. But beware: biodegradable doesn’t always mean that the glitter can be broken down in nature!

Your outfit is ready, bags are packed, the train ticket is booked. We asked our Green Pearls® partners where you can get in the festival spirit in their region and their tips will whet your appetite for a summer full of music and good conversation. Perhaps a mindful weekend of yoga and meditation is more your speed? Or summer evenings with lectures and discussions? With the following tips from the Green Pearls® partners, there is something for everyone, even for those who are not interested in “classic” festivals.

Festival and event tips from the Green Pearls® partners

Good Vibes Festival in Seefeld (1 to 3 July 2022)

The Good Vibes Festival is just the right thing for all yogis or those who want to become one. Initiated by Marcel Clementi, an internationally renowned yoga teacher and speaker, you can get a taste of all facets of yoga. Different trainers guide you through powerful Vinyasa flows or accompany you through relaxing Yin Yoga sessions. Especially for beginners, this is a great opportunity to discover the right yoga style for you. There is also music and a magnificent view of the mountains and the lake.

If you are looking for a place to rest after an eventful day at the festival, then the Naturhotel Aufatmen in Leutasch is ideal. Here you can indulge in vegetarian-interpreted Tyrolean delicacies in the show kitchen after the festival, take a dip in the eco swimming pond or end the day in one of the two saunas. The quiet and natural ambience of the hotel provides the perfect setting for the weekend full of yoga and mindfulness.

But the Aufatmen is not only a great starting point for the Good Vibes Festival. The Musiktage of the Seefeld region, which take place from 4 August, can also be combined with a stay at Aufatmen. Maria and Wolfgang Pfeiffer also recommend a visit in September for the Seefeld Crafts Festival.

Spectaculum in Dobel (19 to 21 August)

After a hearty Zero Waste breakfast in the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, you can head off to a whole series of events. For example, the Spectaculum in Dobel: for the 9th time, the medieval spectacle with knights, damsels and craftsmen will take place around the water tower in Dobel. A varied programme with hourly battles, theatre performances and music will take visitors on a journey through time. Traders and craftsmen offer their wares and, if you wish, you can equip yourself with medieval clothing, jewellery and, of course, a sword.

It’s only a few minutes by car from the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. If you are particularly sporty, you can combine your visit with a hike. The five kilometres or so lead directly through the forest, after which you can relax in the hotel’s spa area with a massage or a round in the mineral thermal swimming pool.

If you’re not into medieval show fights and knights, you might enjoy the Woodröckle, a small rock festival that can only take place in a scaled-down form this year. Another popular event is the traditional bonfire, where a 20-metre-high woodpile is set on fire. And wine lovers will get their money’s worth at the annual wine festival.

A Love Beyond Festival

This year’s festival will be held for the second time by our Green Pearls® partner CERVO Mountain Resort Zermatt after a successful inaugural event. Here you can spend a whole weekend relaxing and practising mindfulness. In addition to music events, there will be panels on sustainability topics, art workshops, yoga and offers on spirituality. The whole thing is complemented by an overnight stay directly at CERVO Zermatt, where you can round off your festival visit with Ayurvedic-inspired rituals or an Onsen bath. In addition, you will be provided with delicious meals made from regional and sustainable ingredients. A weekend where you can concentrate entirely on yourself.

In addition to A Love Beyond, CERVO offers a whole range of other events at the hotel itself. There is also always something going on in Zermatt itself. Running enthusiasts may be familiar with the Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon. It is considered one of the toughest runs in Switzerland. It’s also an experience as a spectator, and relaxing in the hot stone bath at CERVO Zermatt is twice as soothing. Music lovers might enjoy the Zermatt Music Festival & Academy. Or let yourself be carried away by Zermatt traditions at the Folklore Festival.

Korkyra Baroque Festival

Music, holidays, beach and more. If you travel to the eco-aparthotel The Dreamers’ Club in September, that’s exactly what you’ll get. A baroque festival was launched in 2012 to put the local music scene in the spotlight. Since then, concerts by various artists have taken place annually in the first half of September, which combined with the architecture of the locations creates an almost magical event. In the meantime, the music festival is considered a must-see of the global music scene and attracts music lovers from all over the world to Croatia every year. Before heading to the concerts in the evening, you can enjoy the Croatian Adriatic coast during the day after a breakfast of fresh and regional products. The beach is only 50 metres from the hotel. SUPs, a rowing boat or motorboat are also available.

In July and August, The Dreamers’ Club also highly recommends watching a Moreška, a traditional sword dance. These take place every Monday and Thursday at 9pm. Another event worth marking in your calendar is the Marco Polo Festival, which celebrates Korčula’s history with lots of good food, wine and music. It ends with the Black Island Wine Festival, so lots of good wine on a balmy summer evening in Croatia.

Sagre and Festival del Maro (mid-July)

In the small Ligurian town of Borgomaro, a large, traditional festival takes place every year in mid-July. The Relais del Maro is the perfect starting point to enjoy the Italian atmosphere from early in the morning until late in the evening. Start the morning with a great breakfast of local specialities, spend the day exploring the village and its surroundings or simply relax in the hotel’s garden with swimming pool. In the evening, locals and guests come together to enjoy good food, wine and the balmy summer night. Dancing and singing are just as much a part of it as strolling through the typical Italian village streets and deep conversations over a glass of local wine.

For several years now, there has also been the music event Festival del Maro, where musicians and singers create beautiful shows and magical moments in the market square. A chance to dive deep into the local culture, talk to the locals and experience Liguria up close. For more tips on other Sagres in the neighbouring villages, ask the staff at the hotel directly.

Erlangen Poetry Festival (25 – 28 August)

Erlangen ushers in autumn every year with the Poetry Festival. And where better to stay for such a festival than at the Creativhotel Luise? Thanks to its central location, the almost one hundred individual events, readings, lectures and discussions are always only a short distance away. Literary enthusiasts and bookworms get their money’s worth when they stroll from reading to reading, listen to the debates on current, social and political topics or explore the latest publications with the children in the picture book meadow. The final discussions about what they have experienced during the day can then take place in the hotel garden or on the roof terrace, or be analysed at the delicious zero-waste breakfast the next morning.

A top recommendation of the Creativhotel Luise for the summer is the Sternla SchlossStrand. It offers Baltic Sea flair in Bavaria, where warm summer evenings can be endured easily with a cool drink in hand. For music lovers, there is jazz and classical music in the Westbad and all those who love to use their own vocal chords will have a great time at the Sing-Ding Singing Festival.

Whether you’re a festival-goer or not, it’s worth taking a closer look at the tips from our partners. Often, a visit to the festivals can be wonderfully combined with a sustainable short trip or vacation, during which you can discover even more of the surroundings. Our feet are definitely itching and we would love to go right away. With a reusable mug in our luggage, of course 😉

Which fetes or festivals do you enjoy? Or have you already been to a festival this year? Let us know your top sustainability tips for your next festival visit!

You like this article? Pin it and share it with your friends!