15 of the Best Festivals in the World
Festivals are a great way to have a fantastic time with others while engaging with local customs in a tangible way. Each year there are tons of different festivals around the world to choose from, but don’t fret, we’ve got you covered! We’ve crafted a list of the best festivals in the world so you can prioritize your dream trip sooner.
Oktoberfest
Celebrated annually in Munich, Germany from mid-September to the first weekend in October
- On average, it attracts 6 million visitors to the city
- Brings together aspects of local culture, history, fun and games, food, and beer
Krampus Run
Christmas meets a nightmarish take on Halloween in Austria
- Celebrated annually in late November and through December
- Krampsus is depicted as a horned Christmas devil that severely punishes or even kidnaps naughty children
- In some Alpine towns, realistic costumes are crafted so that the devil can go knocking on doors and walking down the street to’scare’ or ‘punish’ misbehaving children.
Semana Santa
Lavish floats, intricately designed carpets, huge religious processions and colorful religious displays bring thousands of people out to the streets to celebrate the spiritual and the cultural.
- Mix Spanish tradition, Catholic faith and indigenous cultural beliefs to create perhaps the most highly anticipated week of celebration in Guatemala.
La Tomatina
The ultimate food fight festival held every August in the town of Buñol, Spain
- In the past, the festival has attracted 50,000 people, but in recent years, a ticket system has been introduced to keep the number of participants at or below 20,000
Dia de los Muertos
Celebrated annually in Mexico on the 31st and 2nd of November
- A blend of ancient indigenous and European Catholic traditions, it is a joyous celebration of life and death
- Most Mexicans visit cemeteries and graves to pay respects to dead relatives and friends
Carnival of Venice
Celebrated 40 days before Easter, on Shrove Tuesday
- Dates back to the 11th century, but came to international acclaim in the 18th century
- Thousands of tourists and locals flock to the streets in costumes and masks to enjoy music, dancing, street parties, and theatrical performances
Holi Festival
Celebrated in India and Nepal between the end of February and the middle of March
- Dubbed the Festival of Colors, Holi is a springtime celebration of all things good prevailing over evil
- Commemorated each year on the day after the full moon in March, people spend the day smearing richly colored powder on strangers, friends and relatives, throwing colored water at each other, and dancing under water sprinklers
Boryeong Mud Festival
It was originally conceptualized to provide PR for a range of cosmetics created using the nutrient-rich mud from the area, but it has grown into Korea’s most popular summer festival.
- Immerse yourself in a fun-filled mud pool, slip down a mud slide, and embrace your artistic side.
Burning Man
Last Sunday in August to the first Monday in September
- Celebrates community cooperation, participation, self-expression, and de-commodification
- A full-fledged, thriving temporary metropolis established just for the festival
- Almost everything that happens is created and influenced entirely by its citizens
Yi Peng Festival: Lantern Festival
It is celebrated annually in the second lunar month of the year as part of the festival of lights in Northern Thailand.
- Festivities include a parade, live music and dance shows, handicraft sessions, and releasing lanterns into the night sky, which symbolize letting go of past misfortune and making a clean start.
Songkran Water Festival
Celebrated annually in April, Thailand
- Sprinkling water signifies blessing, purging, and newness
- Festivities include bubbles, performances from professional dancers, religious processions, and other ways to keep cool
- People of all ages come out armed with soakers or buckets of water
Albuquerque International Balloon Festival
The largest annual international event held in the US, it is celebrated over the first or second week of October every year.
- From a mall parking lot in the 1970s, it has grown to become the largest ballooning event in the world, with over 600 brightly colored balloons launched annually.
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
An annual thematic winter festival that takes place in Harbin, China, and is the largest ice and snow festival in the world.
- The festival is preceded by the Ice Lantern Festival and is one of the highlights of the Chinese New Year.
St. Patrick’s Day
Celebrated annually on March 17, marking the anniversary of the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and celebrates all things Irish
- Different towns and cities host their own street parades and celebrations, but Dublin is the common favorite
Rio Carnival
Begins on Friday and ends on Ash Wednesday
- Rio de Janeiro has earned its title as the Carnival capital of the world with its famous samba dancing, colorful eye-catching costumes, pulsating music, magnificent float displays and electrifying energy
- Join a samba school or a local samba club