15 Excellent Cultural Events You Need to do this Summer

Need ideas on what to do during summer 2019? If you love music, dance and art, you’re in luck. And its not too soon to start planning. Our correspondent Jillian Tangen has rounded up 15 excellent cultural events you need to do this summer.

the cultural events you need to do this summer

Chances are you’ve probably booked a summer house already or that you’ve started working on (or at least thinking about as in our case) your summer bod.  So surely it’s not too soon to start thinking about all the events taking place during the coming months. But as we know, the summer flies past quickly. Which are the cultural events you really need to do this summer?

there are so many can’t-miss cultural events this summer

We’ve previously shared our top picks for summer festivals in classical music and opera; chamber music; jazz; film; dance; and popular music.

But there are always more cool new events being added to the calendar, so we’re sharing another 15 excellent cultural events that you need to do this summer.

From ballet and opera at the famous Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersberg to flex dancing at New York’s newest cultural hotspot to rocking out in some of Japan’s highest peaks, this summer is full of can’t-miss cultural events.

So rest assured that while the fate of Woodstock 50 may be up in the air, we’ve found some rock-solid festivals, performances and installations to experience in summer 2019.

15 excellent cultural events you need to do this summer

Without further ado, behold our sneak peek at some of the excellent can’t-miss cultural events in theater, music, public art and beyond happening this summer.

1. AfrikaBurn in Tankwa, South Africa.

Meet the infamous Burning Man Festival’s cheeky little sister, Afrikaburn. Set on a private farm 400 kilometres from Cape Town amid rocky terrain, AfrikaBurn’s music meets art vibe draws fun loving music and culture lovers from around the world.  The theme for this year’s event is Ephemerality – the concept of things existing only briefly.  We’re sure the memories created here will be anything but fleeting – April 29 – May 5, 2019

2. Wiener Festwochen in Austria.

The Wiener Festwochen (aka Vienna Festival) offers five weeks of dance, music, theater and visual arts. Covering everything from the classics to the avant-garde, there’s something for nearly every artistic taste at this cultural event this summer .  In addition to 45 different productions, the festival will also feature the work of 430 artists from 19 different countries – May 10 – June 16, 2019

3. White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Here’s one of the most excellent cultural events this summer. Held in the famous Mariinsky Theatre, the White Nights Festival showcases some of the world’s best classical music, opera and ballet.  This year’s festival will kick off with two concert programs. First, a performance of pianist Alexandra Dovgan with the Mariinsky Orchestra. Second, a recital from famed French pianist Lucas Debargue.  The festival’s name comes from the “white nights” that take place in St. Petersberg during the months of May and June as a result of the city’s northerly latitude. The sun stays out for over 20 hours a day, making it a perfect time to stay out all night – May 22 – July 21, 2019

4. Guernsey Floral Festival in the Channel Islands.

Thanks to its geographical location between mainland Europe and the UK, Guernsey is home to beautiful flora and fauna.  During the month of June, many of the island’s private coastal gardens open their gates, offering tours for the annual Guernsey Floral Festival.  Don’t miss the sweet fruit liqueurs at Guernsey’s Haut Maison orchard and distillery. Or walk out to Lihou Island during low tide. The sunsets here are spectacular. – June 2 – 30, 2019

5. Finland’s Midnight Sun Film Festival.

Located almost a hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle you will find the Midnight Sun Film Festival from Finnish film/director brothers Aki and Mika Kaurismäki.  This five day and night festival is a celebration of new cinema that includes a mix of silent works, contemporary Finnish films, recent festival hits and box office classics.  The catch here?  Films are screened around the clock – not that you’ll notice the difference in the endless daylight – June 12 – 16, 2019

6. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee.

Head to the home of country music for one of summer’s cannot miss concerts.  Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival features everything from jam bands to folk rock music and even hip hop.  This year’s headliners include The Lumineers, Phish, Childish Gambino and Cardi B.  In addition to music the weekend also includes a 5K race, yoga and watercolor painting to name a few things – June 13 – 16, 2019

7. Art Basel in Switzerland.

We couldn’t make a list of major cultural happenings around the world without including the most famous and prestigious international art show of them all, Art Basel.  This is one of the best cultural events this summer. Dubbed the “Olympics of art world” by the New York Times, you will find some of the world’s best contemporary art here thanks to the 4,000+ paintings, sculptures, installations, performances, photographs, prints, video and multimedia art on display – June 13 – 16, 2019

8. Paris Jazz Festival.

With over 120,000 spectators last year, Paris Jazz Festival has established itself as one of the greatest events on the European jazz calendar.  With a daring and eclectic line up, the festival is a great place to catch big names, as well as emerging talents as they perform in the city’s beautiful Parc Floral – June 30 – July 22, 2019

9. Summer at the Lumberyard in the Hudson Valley.

The Lumberyard Center for Film and Performing Arts in New York’s Catskill Mountains is celebrating the season with Summer at the Lumberyard.  The schedule was just announced, and there will be seven different guest performers over the course of this season. The summer kicks off with a visit from the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, followed by dance performances from Ephrat Asherie and Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane. There will also be theatrical events from 600 Highwaymen, Elevator Repair Service, Machine Dazzle, and The Team – July 6 – September 1, 2019

10. Verbier Festival in Switzerland.

There may possibly be no better place to enjoy classical music than the spectacular Alpine setting of Switzerland’s Verbier Festival in the Alps.  With repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary, the festival presents 60 performances, masterclasses, talks, screenings and education events over the course of 17 days for visitors to enjoy.  The hills will most definitely be alive with the sound of music this summer – July 18 – August 3, 2019

11. Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay.

Held near beautiful Byron Bay, Splendour in the Grass is Australia’s biggest winter festival.  What began as a one day event in 2001 has transformed into a major three day festival filled with music from some of the world’s top artists together with camping out amongst the stages and stars.  This year’s headliners include Tame Impala, Childish Gambino and Chance the Rapper – July 19 – 21, 2019

12. Maze at NYC’s The Shed.

The Shed at Hudson Yards is already well on its way to becoming one of the top spots for artistic invention in NYC.  This summer it will be home to a powerful new production from street dance pioneer Reggie ‘Regg Roc’ Gray that explores the puzzles, poetry and  the challenges of human coexistence.  At Maze, a small audience will stand face to face with masters of flexn, a form of street dance with roots in Jamaican bruk up and other styles.  Dancers will include teaching artists and students from The Shed’s FlexNYC program, which engages youth in Title I public schools, public housing developments and other community-based organizations by exploring social issues through self-expression – July 23 – August 17, 2019

13. Fuji Rock Festival in Japan.

The Fuji Rock Festival is considered the biggest alternative and pop music festival in all of Asia.  And while the word rock is in the title, the artists who perform here aren’t all rockers.  Last year’s lineup featured the likes of N.E.R.D, MGMT and Bob Dylan to name a few, while this year’s will include Sia, The Chemical Brothers, The Cure and Janelle Monae.  With over 13 stages and 200 acts over three days, this festival is a must for music lovers – July 26 – 28, 2019

14. Statues for Equality at Rockefeller Plaza

Married Australian artists Gillie and Marc Schattner, known as Gillie and Marc, will unveil their most ambitious public art project to date this summer in New York’s Rockefeller Plaza.  Last year the couple unveiled Dogman and Rabbitwoman throughout the streets of NYC, much to social media’s satisfaction.  Their new project, Statues for Equality promises to be even bigger. It will depict 10 powerful women, including Oprah Winfrey, Gabby Douglas and Jane Goodall, to highlight the gender gap in the city’s public statues, of which only 3% are of women – August 26, 2019

15. New public art installation in Paris

The Champs-Élysées in Paris will soon have a new, permanent art installation. Six translucent sculptural fountains are being installed on a roundabout at the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées. The project, which cost close to $7 million, is just over half a mile from the Arc de Triomphe. French brothers Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec are the designers who crafted the piece, which uses Swarovski crystals to add extra sparkle to the City of Lights.

what’s on your list?

Those are what’s on our list for some excellent cultural events you need to do this summer. With so much to choose from, it’s hard to pick a favorite. Perhaps we’ll see each other in Rockefeller Plaza for the next social media frenzy?  Or is there something we might have missed that you are looking forward to? Be sure to keep an eye on our monthly calendars for even move happenings in the world of luxury this summer. Until then, get planning!

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Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier. Formerly, she was a Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in NYC and is married with three young children. She loves cross country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.

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