Life is a party, but you have to hang the decorations yourself. So even if it's still ridiculously August and the rain is pouring down from the sky. Goodbye to all the beautiful summer dresses hanging in my closet, screaming to be worn. Hello Burberry trench coat, hello rain boots, hello ruined hair, hello wet saddle. Yesterday I heard somewhere that there might still be a mini warm Indian summer coming here, which would certainly make things a lot cheerier, but we won't wait for that. We'll hang up the decorations. And we do that with three cool festivals that I will definitely visit to close off ‘the summer’. Rain or shine. Umbrella in hand, dear friends around you, and a glass of wine in hand. You won't hear me complain.

Shoeless festival August 30, 31

The name says it all. Upon entering, you hand in your shoes. Dancing barefoot until the sun goes down, so maybe a visit to the pedicure isn't unnecessary.
The spectacle is at Ruigoord, a village I haven't dared to go to until now. It always sounded a bit too... well, rough. The lineup is still a surprise, but you'll mainly hear good disco, deep house, tech house, and techno – interspersed or combined with world music and live instruments.
If you come early, you can catch a yoga or meditation class. There's also a market where you can buy jewelry and vintage clothing. And let's not forget to eat and drink. All the catering there is organic, and there's even a mini à la carte restaurant: dinner for two, in an exciting spot. Will you join me?

Tickets can be here buy

Bachus Wine Festival September 5, 6, 7

And this is not a boring wine gathering where only real sommeliers are waltzing with their glasses and talking about grapes and pressing. No, very hip Netherlands is coming here. A huge festival in the Amsterdam forest, and it lasts three days. Of course, there is a lot of wine, as many as 250 different kinds. DJs are spinning great tracks and there are live performances. And even better news, it lasts the whole weekend. You can buy a ticket via this website. 

Valtifest September 6

http://www.valtifest.nl/home

One of my favorites. Maybe also because it has a challenging theme every year. On the day of the festival, you see dozens of dressed-up people tearing through the city. Everyone goes to this festivity to close off the festival season.
This time it's ‘seven sins’: Greed, Sloth, Lust, Vanity, Jealousy, Revenge, and Gluttony. Well, let loose! I haven't got my outfit ready yet, but I'm going to think about it.