Festivals are considered to be one of the most exciting and wonderful experiences in life, for sharing joy and spreading good humor with everyone and all social disparities. At a festival, like the ones featured below, you can’t help but sing, dance and participate among all the other people attending the event.
There is really something beautiful about the power of traveling and festivals to be near people and celebrate our existence. If you’re feeling that way, then here are 20 must-do festivals in your life. And if you’ve been to a festival that isn’t on this list, feel free to comment right below the article!
Holi, festival of colors in India
Holi is an old Hindu festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The celebrations begin with the lighting of a bonfire on the eve of Holi. Then the party people throw colored powder absolutely everywhere to spread the joy and share the happiness with everyone.
Kuwana Festival of Lights in Japan
With over 7 million LED lights, the Nabana No Sato Botanical Garden celebrates winter in elegant style. Most of the park is powered by batteries charged with solar panels during the day, minimizing the effect of the celebrations on the environment.
Up Helly Aa: fire festival in the Shetland Islands in Scotland
Up Helly Aa is a festival that marks the end of Yule, a winter celebration, and sends viewers back in time. In Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands, thousands of people march through the streets in Viking costumes. The procession ends with a throwing of torches to set a replica longship ablaze.
The Carnival of Venice
In 1162, the Republic of Venice emerged victorious from an attempted invasion. In the victory, the people of Venice celebrated the event in San Marco Square. Now the Venice Carnival marks the start of Lent. What has not changed since the first carnival, however, are the exquisite outfits.
Glastonbury Festival, England
Since 1970 Glastonbury has been one of the biggest and best music festivals in the world. In 2013, 135,000 people attended to listen to live music from the Arctic Monkeys and Rolling Stones, as well as to attend dance, comedy, theater and circus performances.
Fiesta de Cascamorras in Spain
Guadix and Baza are two towns located in Granada, a community in southern Spain. Historically, the two cities are neighbors, sisters, and rivals. Over 500 years ago, a worker from Guadix found a buried sculpture of the Virgen de la Piedad. A group of Baza stole the virgin before she could be returned to Guadix.
Every September 6, the Cascamorras, a jester dressed in a brightly colored costume, travels from Guadix to Baza with the intention of stealing the sculpture of the Virgin of the Piedad. It ends with a harmless battle of paintings. On September 9, the “Cascamorras” returned once more to Guadix without accomplishing its task and, as a reprimand, was sprayed with paint by the inhabitants.
Rainforest World Music Festival, Kuching, Borneo
In the middle of a tropical forest, thousands of revelers gather to celebrate the music of the world and the most iconic music bands. Every year in July or late June, and for 3 days, dozens of bands from all over the world, covering all types of music you can imagine, come to perform in front of a crowd of 30,000 people.
International sand sculpture festival in Pêra, Portugal
It is the biggest sand sculpture event in the world. This festival extends over 1400 m² of beach. Each year, 60 artists use more than 35,000 tons of sand to create 50 amazing works of art. The FIESA takes place between May and October.
Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Michigan
The Electric Forest Festival is a four-day musical event that focuses on electronica and jam groups. Held in June, the natural setting and the spectacular play of light blend together to create a surreal wild experience. Part of the proceeds is donated to a neighboring municipality of a few thousand people.
White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia
The White Nights Festival is an artistic event that takes place every year in St. Petersburg on Polar Day, when the sun is still visible at midnight. During the event, one can attend the “scarlet sails” sailing on the Neva, accompanied by fireworks, animations, in front of millions of spectators. The tradition of this evening dates back to the end of World War II, when different schools in Saint Petersburg decided to organize a big party to celebrate the end of the school year.
Day of the Dead in Mexico
Day of the Dead or “Día de Muertos” is a Mexican holiday where people come together to pray and remember friends and family members who have passed away. The holiday itself dates back several thousand years since it was celebrated by the Aztec people. The celebration, which usually runs from October 31 to November 2, features elaborate costumes and an assortment of traditional dishes.
Elephant Festival in Jaipur India
Elephants have an important role in Indian culture and in March they are celebrated during their own festival. It all begins with a procession of elephants dressed in magnificent costumes and covered with extravagant jewelry. Events include elephant polo, races, and tug of war. It is definitely one of the most beautiful festivals for animal lovers.
Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan
Every February, for seven days, hundreds of monolithic sculptures are visited by millions of people. The Snow Festival began in 1950, when six high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park after several parties were suspended during and after World War II. In 1955 the diversity of participants increased with the addition of sculptures of the self-defense forces. Since then, the festival has grown at breakneck speed and is taking place to mind-blowing proportions.
Inti Raymi, the sun festival in Peru
During the time of the Inca Empire, the Festival of the Sun was one of the most important times of the year. The ceremony pays homage to Inti, the sun god. Since 1944, Peru has organized a theatrical performance of the procession every June in honor of the ancient Incas, attracting thousands of participants.
The Garma festival in Australia
The Garma Festival is a celebration held by the Yolngu people, the Aborigines of Australia. The festival aims to encourage the practice, preservation and maintenance of traditional dance, song, art and ceremony. It also aims to share the knowledge and culture of the Yolngu with those lucky enough to be invited. This festival takes place in the heart of Arnhem Land in early September.
The Lantern Festival in Asia
The Lantern Festival has been celebrated since Antiquity on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunisolar calendar. People of Chinese and Vietnamese descent come to the temples with thousands of lanterns adorned with intricate yet beautiful designs. At the end of the night, the lanterns fly away in a superb spectacle that symbolizes letting go of your own past.
Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada
Burning Man is an annual event that celebrates culture and art in the last week of August. Performers build dozens of massive installations, while musicians entertain crowds of over 50,000. It all ends by burning a large wooden man, who has already measured more than 30 meters high.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Festival in the United States
The world’s largest hot air balloon festival sees more than 750 hot air balloons come together for nine days of festivities. The Fiesta started in 1972, when 13 balloons gathered for a 770 KKOB radio birthday party. At the end of the event, you will have stiff neck. It’s the best summer destinations to go with family and friends.
La Tomatina, in Buñol, Spain
Legend has it that this tomato battle began in 1945, when locals threw vegetables at rabbits to prevent them from devouring fruit from a stall. Some people were affected and a “war” began. Today, on the last Wednesday of August, 20,000 revelers toss over 150,000 tomatoes in a single day, just for fun.