“… I found myself inside a marquee that doubled as a science lab and lecture room for the Nordic Food Lab, as run by the head chef of the world’s best restaurant, Noma. It was a hardcore science of cooking seminar complete with charts and equations which fell deaf on a starstruck audience. But somewhere in that room I realised how motivated some people are by their passion for food and it’s where I discovered mine. Oh, and it’s also where I discovered my unrequited love for seaweed ice cream.”

"My favourite thing about festivals is that they make you feel at once immediately part of a community and also strangely separate from the real world for a few days. I love immersing myself in all the unique atmospheres: whether it's at a music festival in Iceland, a flower parade in Colombia or a tiny town fair in Latvia, every one is different!"

“I met my partner at a festival – at the top of a snow-capped mountain in Austria – and upon reflection I can see how festivals really are the perfect backdrop for love stories. All those new faces and friendships coming together through mutual interest – it just oozes with potential for new beginnings and everlasting memories…”

"My favourite thing about festivals is definitely the atmosphere. People are there to relax and have fun - and it really shows! I think a good festival is not just an event, it's a mindset."

"I love festivals of all kinds – food festivals, gay Prides, but music festivals are my favorites. I love how they bring people together, everyone is in good spirits, the atmosphere is fantastic, people are celebrating something together they are all passionate about."

“Festivals are like breaks in time, where all people are on the same page, having fun together. Festivals are a great opportunity to travel abroad and meet local people in very open-minded conditions, as everyone’s very friendly (and drunk!(, most of the time.”

The award-winning Budget Traveller has revolutionised travel for the stylish, design-led budget-conscious traveller with his internationally successful projects Luxury Hostels and Cool Budget Hotels that have been featured in the New York Times. But why does Kash love festivals?

“Well, any dream festival of mine would involve two things: costumes and cheese. Las Fallas in Valencia is one festival that seems to do that well. If you've got costumes and cheese, you're golden!”

“I love the way a festival draws you into its own little world. You can spend all day exploring and discovering and still feel like there's more to do. Where else do you have so much happening in just one area? And it's all there for you!”

"It’s the raw creativity. All the rules are in flux. People feel things they'd never feel elsewhere - a connection with each other and with things they won't be able to put into words, but will recognise when it comes out in their work and in the way they approach the rest of their life. At festivals, Things Really Happen."

"To me, festivals are a magical hub of people sharing the same passion - like a huge playground for adults, full of art, music and kindness. Every festival is different and every festival is inspiring in its own way - the smaller, the better."

“I love festivals for three reasons; the people, the people, the people. Coming together, sharing the atmosphere, and having a great experience that you'll always remember. Whether everything goes to plan or disaster strikes, it's great to look back at. And you get to enjoy it all over again for years to come, whenever you share the story with someone else."

“My dream festival would be an international food festival with a lot of different and delicious (and not necessary healthy) food. Accompanied by good drinks and great music in the background and sharing all this with likeminded people. That’s my kind of heaven.”

"I think of festivals as an intimate peak into aspects of the local culture and way of life that might otherwise remain masked to an outsider. Throw in good food and a chance to make new friends, and you have the perfect recipe to (re)discover a place! "

“My dream festival would be Victorian-themed and have freak shows and death-defying circus acts, it would smell like freshly cut grass and caramelised nuts and there would be masked balls and fancy dress. Music would be performed by tango acts and swing bands. Fairy lights would be hung above those enjoying the festivities.”

"I have been going to music festivals since I was 14 and love the creativity with which these festivals are run -both by the organisers as by the visitors. I'm curious to experience many other types of festivals around the world, focused around arts & culture, heritage and local food."

"I have fond memories of my first Glastonbury festival back in 1999, it was all a bit of an adventure. From the long train journey and bus ride out into the country to pitching tents in the dark and waking up to be surrounded by thousands of tents, it was a unique experience. The variety of music and acts on stage was mind blowing and you're able to wander around the site stumbling across quality live acts... it's best to not have any fixed plans at Glastonbury! I also have great new years memories from Dublin's Gathering and Edinburgh's Hogmanay, two wonderful cities that know how to party!"

“I’d say I’m a festival addict. I once spent a whole summer making pancakes at festivals in the UK – just so I could be in the atmosphere. Later I worked on Oxfam’s festival campaigns. There’s nothing quite like the collective smile of a festival. They bring out the best in everyone.”