The Irish Redhead Convention

The Irish Redhead Convention, one of the most famous festivals in Ireland, draws thousands of redheads to the Irish village of Crosshaven to celebrate "all things to do with having fabulous red hair, the rarest hair colour in the world."

The festival includes a variety of events "The Best Ginger Awards," which include "the most freckles per square inch," "Best Wannabe Redhead," and "the world's greatest ginger beard." The event featured over 40 ginger-themed events. The Irish Redhead Convention has raised approximately €30,000 ($33,887) for its charity partner, the Irish Cancer Society, to date. Because redheads are predisposed to melanoma and other forms of skin cancer, the festival aims to raise awareness about the importance of being "SunSmart."

In a news statement, event founder Joleen Cronin stated, "Through social media, the redhead community is truly worldwide, and it is fantastic that the festival attracts people from as far away as Australia, Europe, and the United States." Among other things, festival-goers participated in the "ginger jig," which set a world record for the largest redhead traditional ceili dance.

Time: August

Location: Crosshaven, Ireland