Festivals, conferences and exhibitions are excellent ways to bring together like-minded individuals in the pursuit of any one common goal but, while the topics of business endeavors usually top the list of events around the world, the weird, wacky and downright fun are no less available.
If you need a break from the rigors of business and a busy life, consider taking time out for one of these five fun and weird exhibitions around the world:
1. Festival of the Dead in Salem, Massachusetts
The site of the infamous Salem Witch Trials continues to live up to its weird and spooky reputation with its annual Festival of the Dead, an event that brings together the public and the creepily innovative with events ranging from history lessons to an exhibition of products and services aimed at the superstitious public; a career in ghost hunting can begin here, quite literally! Rid yourself of a pestering spirit by purchasing the appropriate potion, learn to better detect the spirits of the dead and attend a fun series of events including a Halloween Ball; the Festival of the Dead in Salem offers it all!
When & Where: Historic and modernly enjoyable Salem, Massachusetts is the fitting home of the Festival of the Dead, taking place through October of each year.
2. Glastonbury Symposium 2012
Hailed as one of England’s oldest and longest-established “alternative” conferences, the Glastonbury Symposium offers a platform for the debate and discussion of subjects like UFOs, crop circles, metaphysics and more, all taking place over a jam-packed three-day schedule this July at the Glastonbury Town Hall. Whether you are particularly interested in the topics at hand or not, you can bet that this is one conference that no attendee will soon forget!
When & Where: The townhall in Glastonbury, England is the home of this year’s symposium from July 27-29, 2012.
3. Musee de l’Erotisme, Paris
Paris, France plays host to many museums, exhibits and events given its rich history and vibrant modern culture but no one place puts on a show quite like the Musee de l’Erotisme, a museum housing and showing off off things tawdry and naughty. Open year-round, each floor of the museum follows a sexual theme, showcasing imagery, artefacts and art that detail the progression of sexual awakening and realization in France and around the world.
While it may be surprising given the museum’s topic, the entire setup is very tasteful and instructive, offering the silly, surprising and blush-worthy alongside a telling inside look at just what it means to be human. Not so silly that those under 18 are allowed to enter, though!
When & Where: The Musee de l’Erotisme in Paris, France is open and accessible year-round! Find more awesome French exhibitions at FranceMagazine.com
4. Twins Days in Twinsburg
Twins of the world unite! Twins Days in the aptly named town of Twinsburg, Ohio plays host during the first full weekend of every August to pairs of twins, fraternal and identical, from around the world as they indulge is wacky and wild twin-themed events. With more than 1,700 sets of twins already registered for this year’s event, Twins Days 2012 promises to offer a full exhibition of products and services aimed at the pairs alongside themed fun and games, making for an unusual and very unique weekend for everyone in attendance.
Non-twinned people are welcome also, for a nominal fee at the gate, of course!
When & Where: The aptly-named town of Twinsburg, Ohio is the annual home of the Twins Days event, running this year from August 3-5.
5. Necropolis Exhibition in Moscow, Russia
It may be a morbid occupation but apparently even funeral home directors have a keen sense of humor on the subject of death as is evidenced in the title of the world’s largest funeral product show: the Necropolis Exhibition.
Drawing so-called “death professionals” from around the world, this Moscow-based trade show and exhibition showcases products like embalming fluid, caskets, the latest in makeup and wigs and more from the world of morticians and after-death specialists, making for a fun – but still creepy – atmosphere that anyone can enjoy.
When & Where: This year’s Necropolis Exhibition will be held in the Russian capital of Moscow from October 25-27, 2012.
