One of the best ways to travel is to take part in a local festival. Whether it’s a massive musical event like Coachella or Tomorrowland, a cultural celebration like Mardi Gras or a holiday festival such as Dia de Los Muertos or Songkran, it’s a great way to meet people and learn more about the country you’re visiting.
Here’s my guide to some of the best festivals around the world!
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras (also known as Fat Tuesday) is a celebration of food and revelry before the first day of Lent. It’s a final party where you indulge as much as you like before forty days of fasting and abstinence.
The festivities go on for two weeks in New Orleans but culminate in wild bacchanalian parties and colorful parades during the five days around Mardi Gras. Don’t miss out on eating your weight in King Cake, attending the masquerades and keep an eye out for the famous Krewes of the carnival (the private party clubs that organize some of the best parades during the season).
Rio Carnival
The Rio Carnival in Brazil is the biggest carnival in the world. The event attracts nearly 5 million people each year and tons of people travel from around the world to see it.
The Carnival is held 40 days before Easter, and the highlight of the event is the Samba Parade. The local communities have their own Samba schools, and each one competes against their rivals during the Carnival.
Tomatina Festival
Launched in 1945, Tomatina is a giant food fight. The festival has been held on the last Wednesday of every August for 50 years in the small town of Bunol, Spain.
During the event, the small town swells up to 40,000 attendees who back the streets in anticipation for the dump trucks of tomatoes. The mayhem only lasts for an hour, and you’ll want to smash the tomato in your hand before you throw it so that no one gets hurt.
Holi
Holi is an ancient Hindu spring festival and is mainly celebrated in India and Nepal. It’s known as the “the festival of colors” or “the festival of love” and marks the end of winter.
It takes place between late February and mid-March and lasts for a day and a night. People celebrate by drenching each other with water balloons and water guns before covering each other in an array of dazzling colors.
Lantern Festival
Celebrated on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month, the Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year. It’s China’s most important festival, and it has been an annual event for the last 2,000 years!
The lighting of the lanterns is the most important part of the festival. The lanterns have a symbolic meaning and are used to pass on blessings.
Whether it’s to wish health for an unborn child or to wish success and happiness for the New Year.
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival and is held annually in Munich, Germany. The festival takes place over three weekends, and it attracts more than seven million people from around the world.
Historically, the event started as the marriage ceremony between Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in 1810. Today, it’s one of the biggest annual celebrations in Europe, and it’s famous for its rides, attractions, musical performances and plenty of beer!
Burning Man
Burning Man is one of my favorite events to attend! While it’s not considered a “festival,” I’ve included it here because it’s one of my favorite cultural experiences in the world.
I’ve been to four burns in Black Rock City and even got to experience AfrikaBurn in South Africa. While it’s not for everyone, if you’re open-minded, I think it’s an event that you need to experience at least once in your life.
The event attracts over 60,000 people to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert and is all about community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. With extreme climate conditions and a remote location, it’s not an event that you can attend without proper preparation.
Carnevale
Similar to Mardi Gras and Rio Carnival, the Venetian Carnevale in Italy is a massive celebration before the restrictions of Lent begin. It usually starts two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Fat Tuesday.
The festival is famous around the world for its grand masquerade balls, concerts, markets, and elaborate Venetian masks.
