The Sunday Times April 24, 2022 9Travel Plan ahead
The Afro Nation festival in Portugal has
attracted top stars such as Femi Kuti, left;
head to Albania’s riviera for wellness and
tunes at Inner State, above and belowF
rom debut events
in Tuscany and
Albania to annual
staples that stretch
on to the sands of
Croatia and Barcelona,
Europe’s beach festival
scene has never been bigger
or more varied.
A world away from the
raves of old, a new breed of
events offer yoga at dawn,
watersports between sets,
bijou boat parties and live
musicians rather than just DJs.
The luxury market has
blossomed as festivalgoers
demand high-end facilities.
Fine dining and vegan options,
ideally locally sourced, are
now standard; clean sites,
posh loos and sustainability
are also hitting the right notes.
Some beach festivals offer
glamping for those keen to stay
on site, but because of the heat
— the season runs from June to
September — it’s best to stay at
a nearby hotel or apartment,
allowing you to come and go
as often as you like.
In many cases day passes
are available, but it’s better
to turn a weekend into a full-
blown holiday by joining fringe
events or adding a few days
either side of the main
jamboree to strike out further
afield. Here is where to party
in paradise this summer.
TUNES IN TUSCANY
Held in the beachside Bussola
Domani Park on Tuscany’s
Mediterranean coast, a
40-minute drive north of Pisa,
La Prima Estate is a new
venture from the promoter
of the nearby Lucca Summer
Festival, a month-long series
of pop concerts, which dates
back to 1988. Daytime
activities include yoga at
sunrise, surfing, cooking
lessons on the beach, art
shows, trekking and cycling
with professionals. Six
evenings of 10,000-capacity
concerts — headliners include
Duran Duran, Jamie xx and
the National — are followed
by afterparties at clubs
in the town of Lido di
Camaiore, where you’re
likely to be staying.
Details Day passes from
£35pp or see the website for
upcoming offers for a three-
star hotel, beach umbrella
and two concert tickets from
£230pp per day; June 21-26,
(laprimaestate.it). Fly to Pisa
from £46pp one way
(britishairways.com)BIG NOISE IN
THE BALEARICS
You’d be forgiven for assuming
Mallorca Live was akin to Ibiza
Rocks, given it’s held in a
former waterpark a 15-minute
walk from Magaluf. Far from it.
Having started as a music and
food fiesta to promote home-
grown talent, the festival has
grown in size and moved from
spring to June — but it retains
its friendly, local feel. On its
fifth anniversary it features
Supergrass, Muse andfree for under-16s. There is
glamping on site, but far
better to stay in the historic
town of Tisno, halfway
between Split and Zadar,
with lots of restaurants,
16th-century churches
and a variety of
accommodation. Take
a day trip to Vransko Jezero
Nature Park, with Croatia’s
largest lake, or try diving
lessons with Tramonto Diving,
based in Tisno
(divetramonto.com).
Details Day tickets from
£50pp, week passes £232pp
or £156 if you buy as a
group of five; July 21-28
(suncebeat.com). Fly to
Zadar from £27 one way
(ryanair.com)
Continued on page 11→Details
Weekend tickets
£252pp; July 1-3
(afronation.com). Fly to
Faro from £89pp one way
(britishairways.com)FAMILY-FRIENDLY CLUBBING
IN CROATIA
The Garden Resort in Tisno,
Croatia — part white sandy
beach, part pine-shaded forest
dotted with hammocks — hosts
festivals all summer. If you’re
looking for a family-friendly
event, SuncéBeat is your best
bet. This week-long holiday
festival in its 13th year makes
the most of its location with
daily boat parties, an open-air
club, secluded chillout areas
and beach cocktail bars. Kids
of all ages are welcome and it’scovers hip-hop and
R&B and features
Burna Boy, Popcaan and
Wizkid, who sold out
three nights at London’s O2
Arena this year. The first Afro
Nation festival in 2019 was
nominated for best overseas
festival at the UK Festival
awards, and this twice-rolled-
over second edition promises
to be an even more glamorous
weekender with boat parties,
an Afro spa, sand sculptures,
a main stage on the beach
and clubbing from dusk till
dawn. Pack flip-flops, heels,
designer bikinis and a selfie
stick. Stay in Portimao, which
is famed for its Old Quarter, or
the nearby seaside resort of
Alvor, which has cobbled
streets and Moorish heritage.There’s yoga
at dawn, bijou
boat parties and
watersports
between setsLisa Verrico selects Europe’s
liveliest beachside festivals
offering more than just music
Christina Aguilera. A market
area offers shops, bars and
food stalls. Stay in Palma (25
minutes by taxi, 40 by shuttle
bus) or the closer sandy beach
resorts of Palma Nova,
Peguera or Camp de Mar.
Details Day tickets from
£49pp, weekend tickets
£145pp; June 24-26
(mallorcalivemusic.com/en/
festival). Fly to Palma from
£39pp one way (jet2.com)PARTY IN SOUTHERN
PORTUGAL
As the popularity of Afrobeats
explodes around the world,
the pioneering Afro Nation
festival has some of the
scene’s biggest stars
performing on a vast beach on
the Atlantic coast. The bill alsoLIFE’S A
BEACH
LAURENCE HOWE