A quirky summer in Finland

Summer is traditionally blessed with an embarrassment of top festivals for music and entertainment fans.

However, those looking for something a little different would do well to look beyond the more obvious choices such as England's Glastonbury, or Scotland's T in the Park, and look to Finland.

This Scandinavian country has a mind-bogglingly bizarre array of festivals on offer, from celebrations of wife-carrying to games of swamp soccer.

There are around 20 quirky festivals taking place in Finland over the summer, from June to early September.

Forgetting the ball-and-chain jokes, in Sonkajärvi between June 30th and July 2nd husbands get the chance to carry their wives in a race across a water-filled obstacle course to find the fastest spouse team.

Or if it is a more traditional marital activity you are looking to enjoy, perhaps the annual Kissing Competition in Visuvesi on July 22nd and 23rd is of more interest, where couples lock lips for hours and hours in a bid to win.

The racier minded should head to the Kutemajärvi Sex Festival, which runs from June 30th to July 1st.

Including lectures on sex (in Finnish, so you may need to brush up on the lingo), stalls selling adult products and open balconied beer tents to while away the summer evenings, the event is an enlightening and tasteful experience.

Getting down and dirty in an altogether sportier fashion are those playing swamp soccer in Hyrynsalmi.

The championship takes place between July 14th and 16th, and is now a very popular event, attracting 278 teams vying for top honours on a sinking football pitch.

Finally, if you really want to leave the stresses of work behind and forget about modern life, a cathartic way of doing this is at the mobile phone throwing championships at Savonlinna.

For information on the above Finnish festivals and many others, go to www.visitfinland.com
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