No dye allowed: the redhead-only European festival that draws thousands every year

Red hair is the rarest natural hair color in the world with less than 2% of the global population possessing such locks. Being so unique, this hair color can draw attention as it can truly stand out in a crowd. Sometimes it can even lead to those who possess it to be bullied.

However, an annual event in the south of the Netherlands gathers redheads together and lets them take pride in their flaming locks. At the end of August, from all over the world thousands of redheads converge on the city of Tilburg to enjoy food, music and special workshops tailored to their particular needs.

It all started with a photoshoot

Two decades ago, Dutch artist Bart Rouwenhorst needed red-headed models for an art project in a local newspaper. He needed just 15 but received ten times that many responses. So, he invited them all.

The attention the project received was overwhelming, so he organized another for the following year and thus the Redhead Days festival began. It is now the biggest annual gathering of redheads in the world, attracting tens of thousands.

The title as the “largest gathering of people with natural red hair” was made official by Guinness World Records in 2013 when 1,672 redheads posed for the group photo.

Everyone welcome, well almost...

Mind you that attendees don’t have to be red-headed, everyone is welcome to the admission-free, three-day event held in Tilburg’s Spoorpark. That is except for dogs.

Unfortunately, the organizers explain, canine friends are not allowed in the park. Also, only “natural” redheads are allowed to attend the photoshoot on the final day of the festival.

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