Traveling is awesome when you have cool adventures and try new things from different cultures. Festival are like big parties where you can join in on local traditions. And it’s an easy way to make your sightseeing more fun!
No worries! Every year, there are lots of festivals all over the world. We’ve made a list of the coolest ones to help you decide where to go and start planning your dream trip faster.
Carnivale Di Venezia
Where: Venice, Italy
When: February
Dive into the epic vibes of Venice’s ancient streets during the annual fest. Picture this: crowds rocking 18th-century threads, giving you major time-travel feels. And guess what? Cannaregio and Dorsoduro are where the party’s at!Get ready for a blast from the past!
Holi Festival
where: India and Nepal
When: Between the end of February and the middle of March
Holi is a huge global festival known as the Festival of Colors. It’s all about celebrating good triumphing over evil in the springtime. This festival also signals the end of winter and the excitement for the upcoming spring harvest. For both locals and visitors, Holi is a chance to let loose, play, dance, and sing without any worries. Every year, on the day after the full moon in March, people have a blast smearing colorful powder on each other, splashing colored water around, and dancing under sprinklers. The festivities kick off with big bonfires, where everyone sings and dances to stories about defeating the demoness Holika. It’s a real party!
Swedish Midsummer
Where: Stockholm, Sweden
When: June
Every year, Swedes throw a three-day party called Midsummer. They pick flowers, make wreaths, dance, eat, and have a blast on the longest day of the year. The party usually kicks off in the afternoon and goes until midnight. While Stockholm is the ultimate spot for this, many other cities in Sweden also join in the fun in parks. It’s a big, fun celebration!
Rio Carnival
where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When: Begins on Friday and ends on Ash Wednesday
Rio’s Carnival is like no other party. When you think of Brazil’s main city, you think of this big celebration. It’s one of the coolest and most famous parties in the world. Originally from ancient Greece, it changed over time with the Romans and later the Catholic church. Now, it happens just before Lent.
Rio de Janeiro totally rocks as the Carnival capital. Imagine awesome dancing, colorful outfits, lively music, and amazing floats. You can even join a local club and dance and sing at one of the best parties ever!
Mardi Gras
Where: New Orleans, USA
When: February
Mardi Gras, also called Fat Tuesday, is one awesome festival known for being a huge party. Although Christians worldwide celebrate it, New Orleans is super famous for its Mardi Gras celebrations, going all the way back to 1857. The fun includes lively parades with colorful floats and people in masks and fancy outfits in purple, green, and gold, which stand for justice, faith, and power. It’s a blast!
Boryeong Mud Festival
Location: Boryeong, South Korea
When: July
Since its start in 1998, the Boryeong Mud Festival in South Korea has become a popular summer bash. Originally, it was meant to promote cosmetics made from the local mud’s nutrients. Now, it’s all about getting messy and having a blast!
Every year, folks gather at Daecheon Beach for live music, a dip in the nutrient-packed mud, and to try out different mud-based health and beauty stuff. You can dive into the mud pool, zoom down a mud slide, get artsy with colorful mud body painting, whip up your own mud soaps, and tackle the mud maze obstacle course. It’s all about good, messy fun!
Snowbombing
Where: Mayrhofen, Austria
When: April
If you’re up for a great time, Snowbombing is a huge party that happens in Austria every year. It’s all about snow sports, but the music festival part is really awesome. You can check out cool snowboarding tricks by the pros during the day and enjoy a bunch of music acts at night. Trust me, you won’t find a better snowy experience!
Oktoberfest
where: Munich, Germany
When: Mid or late September to the first weekend in October
In 1810, a prince and princess in Germany threw a big party in Munich. It was so much fun that they did it again the next years, starting Oktoberfest. Now, when October comes, people think of cool weather, pumpkins, and Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest is a huge party in Munich that brings about 6 million visitors each year. It’s one of Europe’s biggest festivals and loved all over the world. In the US, lots of cities have their own Oktoberfest parties too. It’s all about local culture, history, games, tasty food, and, of course, great beer. Head to the fairgrounds for shows, parades, fun rides, and lots of delicious treats, plus tons of famous Oktoberfest beer!
San Vino Wine Fight
Where: Haro, Spain
When: June
In Haro, there’s this awesome but not-so-famous European festival. Every year, lots of folks get together early in the morning for a huge red wine fight. All you need is something to hold wine, like a bucket or water gun. Then, you go wild, spraying each other with wine all day and the party keeps going late into the evening. It’s a total blast!
La Tomatina
where: Buñol, Spain
When: Last Wednesday of August
La Tomatina in Buñol is a wild food fight held every August. People have different tales about how it began, from kids joking around to locals expressing their frustrations. It’s a quirky event that gets a big turnout. It used to have 50,000 people, but now they limit it to around 20,000 with tickets. The battle starts with water cannons, then it’s a crazy tomato-throwing frenzy with over 100 tons of squished tomatoes!
Notting Hill Carnival
Where: Notting Hill, London
When: August
In August, there’s this lively carnival that happens over the long weekend. The streets light up with colorful floats, dancers, and drummers. People work hard for months to make this event awesome, and it’s something everyone, young and old, can have a blast at. Whether you want to watch the cool floats or join in the dancing, it’s a top-notch way to spend a day in London during August.
Albuquerque International Balloon Festival
where: Albuquerque, USA
When: Early October
The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is a huge event in the US. It happens in early October and is all about colorful hot air balloons floating in the sky. It started small in the 1970s but now it’s the biggest balloon event in the world with almost 600 balloons taking off each year. There’s a lot more than just balloons – there are cool light shows, fireworks, music, and fun stuff to learn. It’s a great time for everyone!
Dia de los Muertos
where: Mexico
When: October 31 – November 2
DÃa de los Muertos, or ‘Day of the Dead’, is a lively Mexican celebration that’s even more vibrant than Halloween. It’s a special time to remember loved ones who have passed away.
People in Mexico use bright colors and happy feelings to honor them. They make pretty altars, bake a special bread called ‘pan de muerto’, go to costume parties, visit friends, and leave gifts at altars. They also create colorful sand art and light candles.
In the city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, DÃa de los Muertos is a big deal. It happens from October 31 to November 2, with lots of activities leading up to it.
DÃa de los Muertos isn’t about scary things. It’s a cheerful celebration of life and death. Many Mexicans go to cemeteries to show love for their family and friends who have passed away. Outside the bigger cemeteries, there are stalls selling sweets, treats, and even rides.
Songkran Water Festival
where: Thailand
When: April 13 – 15
In Thailand, they have a big water festival called Songkran every April to ring in the New Year. But Chiang Mai’s celebration is extra special and a must-see because it’s the most exciting holiday in Thailand.
For Thai folks, splashing water means giving good wishes, cleansing, and starting fresh. In this modern version of old customs, people of all ages come out with water guns or buckets, ready to spray water on everyone, whether they know them or not.
The festivities also have bubbles, cool dances by pros, processions for religion, and other fun ways to stay chill. It’s a really fun time!
In Thailand, they have a big water festival called Songkran every April to ring in the New Year. But Chiang Mai’s celebration is extra special and a must-see because it’s the most exciting holiday in Thailand.
For Thai folks, splashing water means giving good wishes, cleansing, and starting fresh. In this modern version of old customs, people of all ages come out with water guns or buckets, ready to spray water on everyone, whether they know them or not.
The festivities also have bubbles, cool dances by pros, processions for religion, and other fun ways to stay chill. It’s a really fun time!
Day of the Dead
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
When: November
Dia de los Muertos is an old Mexican tradition. People celebrate in different ways, but one cool thing is a big parade to remember those who’ve passed away. Anyone, even visitors, can join in and dress up with the locals. Plus, there’s yummy food, drinks, and music – it’s a big party!
Burning Man
where: Black Rock City, Nevada
When: Last Sunday in August to the first Monday in September
Burning Man is a big, cool festival in the US. It happens in a special city called Black Rock City, just for the festival in the Nevada desert.
People come together in late summer to enjoy art and being part of a community. They believe in working together, expressing themselves, and not making everything about money.
At Burning Man, everyone can be an artist. People share their talents through sculptures, performances, and other creative things, all connected to the festival’s theme that year. Burning Man is different from your usual festival. In Black Rock City, almost everything comes from the people who are there, and everyone gets to be a big part of the fun!
Hogmanay
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
When: December
For a unique New Year’s celebration, go to Scotland for Hogmanay. It’s like ringing in the new year with a Viking twist. There are concerts, bonfires, music, and even a Viking parade. This two-day celebration is something everyone should try at least once!
Yi Peng Festival: Lantern Festival
where: Chiang Mai, Thailand
When: Full moon of the twelfth lunar month (typically Mid-November)
Yi Peng is a special festival in Northern Thailand, celebrated with lanterns. Chiang Mai hosts the biggest celebration with amazing displays and fireworks.
During Yi Peng, homes and public places are decorated with colorful lanterns. There’s a parade, music, dance shows, and releasing lanterns into the sky.
For locals, it’s about letting go of troubles and starting fresh.
You can find a good spot to watch the lanterns or join the crowd releasing their own. It’s a beautiful event!
Semana Santa
where: Antigua, Guatemala
When: Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter Sunday)
When the Spanish came to Guatemala in 1524, they brought Semana Santa (Holy Week) with them. This tradition continues today, and Guatemala hosts one of the biggest Holy Week celebrations in the world.
They have fancy floats, colorful carpets, and big religious parades that bring lots of people to the streets. Semana Santa mixes Spanish customs, Catholic beliefs, and local traditions, making it a highly anticipated celebration in Guatemala.
Holy Week is the time leading up to Easter Sunday, which remembers the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. They celebrate with parades featuring special floats.
conclusion
In conclusion, these 15 festivals from around the world are some of the best. They show how people come together to celebrate, have fun, and share their cultures. Whether it’s the bright colors of Holi or the lively Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, each festival has its own special charm. They remind us that no matter where we’re from, we all love to come together and have a good time.
