The exciting adventures you take and the wonderful meetings you have while studying other cultures are what make the world enjoyable. Festivals are a terrific chance to interact directly with local customs while having a great time with others. Not to mention, it’s a really simple and enjoyable way to liven up your travel arrangements.
There are many festivals to pick from all across the world, so don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! To help you prioritize and get started on planning your ideal vacation sooner, we’ve put together a list of the festivals worldwide.
Table of Contents
10 Top Festivals in the World
1. Carnival Venice
The Venice Carnival, or Carnevale di Venezia, originated in the 11th century and became popular around the world in the 18th century. Every year, during the weeks leading up to Carnival, thousands of visitors and residents swarm the streets donning elaborate masks and costumes to take in the festivities, dancing, music, and lively atmosphere.
In addition, there will be outdoor street parties, sumptuous 18th-century-style galas held in stunning old Venetian buildings, live theater shows with humorous and intriguing traditional folk characters, and an award ceremony to honor the best masks and costumes at the end of the carnival.
Location: Venice, Italy
2. Holi Festival
Without question, one of the largest religious celebrations in the world is Holi. Holi, referred to as the Festivals of Colors, is a spring celebration of good winning over evil. In addition, the holiday heralds the end of winter and the joyous celebration of the forthcoming spring harvest season’s abundance.
Holi provides an opportunity for both locals and visitors to play, dance, and sing carefree. Celebrated annually on the day after the March full moon, people paint vibrantly colored powder on friends, family, and strangers, toss colored water at one another, and dance beneath water jets. Large bonfires with singing and dancing on the eve of the festivals mark the start of Holi celebrations, which are centered around Hindu legends about the burning of the deity Holika and its connection to the holiday.
Location: Nepal, India
3. Rio Carnival
Everything compares to Rio’s Carnival. In fact, it is almost impossible to consider Brazil’s capital city without considering its celebration of Carnaval. The carnival that takes place in Rio de Janeiro is among the world’s most fascinating and popular cultural events. Even though the festival’s roots are in the ancient Greek celebrations honoring the god of wine, Dionysus, the Romans changed Carnival over time to honor two of their own gods. Later, the Catholic Church added its own changes, and the festivals was observed right away before Lent.
Rio de Janeiro continues to be the world’s carnival capital thanks to its well-known samba dance, vibrant, attractive costumes, pulsating music, amazing float displays, and exuberant spirit. Join a local samba club or samba school and enjoy a world of world-class events where you may dance, sing, and have a good time.
Location: Rio’s Carnival, Brazil
4. Boryeong Mud Festival
First played in 1998 The coastal village of Boryeong, South Korea, hosts the relatively young Boryeong Mud Festivals. Though the festival’s original purpose was to promote a line of products made with nutrient-rich mud from the region, it soon rose to popularity as Korea’s hottest summer event. The Boryeong Mud Festival is now just a fantastic excuse to get funky and muddy.
Every year, festival-goers flock to Daecheon Beach to enjoy energetic live music, a dip in the nutrient-rich mud, and a chance to sample a variety of mud-related health and beauty offerings. At the mud pool, immerse you in nutrient-rich mud, slide down the mudslide, or explore your creative side by creating your own mud soaps, body painting, and taking on the obstacle course of the mud maze.
Location: Boryeong, South Korea
5. Oktoberfest
A German crown prince once married his princess in 1810. The kind royals threw a ton of celebrations for the entire Bavarian population in Munich, and since everyone had so much fun, they decided to repeat the event the following year and the year after that. Oktoberfest was born as a result. These days, the majority of people associate October with chilly temperatures, pumpkins, and, of course, Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest is one of the biggest festivals in Europe and is very popular across the globe, drawing an average of 6 million visitors to Munich annually. So much so that other major US cities have duplicated the festivities of Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is a few weeks of amazing celebration that combines elements of the rich local culture, history, games, fun, and food with excellent beer.
Location: Munich, Germany
6. La Tomatina
In the month of August, the village of Buñol hosts the biggest food fight event, La Tomatina. The genesis tale of La Tomatina can take many different forms, from innocent child pranks to attacks on a terrible musician to people expressing their anger and frustration at municipal council members.
This unique event and fair combat draw large crowds. The famous La Tomatina has welcomed more than 50,000 guests in the past, but in more recent years, a ticketing system has been implemented to cap the attendance at 20,000 or fewer. Over 100 tons of overripe tomatoes are ground up and thrown all over the one-hour battle, which starts with the firing of water cannons.
Location: Buñol, Spain
7. Albuquerque Ballon Festival
The largest annual international event hosted in the USA is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The first or second week of October has heralded in the beautiful moving image display of vibrant hot air balloons soaring through the crisp fall air for almost 40 years.
The Balloon Fiesta began modestly in the 1970s at a mall parking lot with less than 15 hot air balloons. Over time, it has grown to become the world’s largest ballooning festivals. One of the most documented events on Earth is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which launches close to 600 beautifully colored balloons every year. The magic at Balloon Fiesta is completed by laser light displays, pyrotechnics, live band performances, and interactive education, all of which make sure that there is enjoyment for everyone.
Location: USA, Albuquerque
8. Dia de los Muertos
In order to honor those they love who have passed away, Mexicans create stunning altars, bake and decorate pan de muerto, host and attend costume parties, visit friends and leave gifts at temples, make vibrant sand textiles, and light candles. They also bring bright colors, upbeat attitudes, and rich traditions to the celebration of their dearly departed.
One of the largest annual celebrations in the southern Mexican city of Oaxaca is Día de los Muertos, which takes place between October 31 and November 2. A variety of associated events precede and celebrate the festivities.
Día de los Muertos is a joyful celebration of life and death, not just all things weird. A great deal of Mexicans visit graves, and graves in memory of deceased family members and friends outside the larger graves are set up with sellers offering sweets and snacks as well as carnival rides.
Location: Mexico
9. Songkran Water Festival
Thailand celebrates the Songkran Water Festivals in April to celebrate the country’s traditional New Year. However, because Songkran is the biggest celebration in Thailand, Chiang Mai’s version of the festivals is famous and not to be missed.
For Thai people, the symbolism of water splashing has historically meant blessings, purging, and freshness. People of all ages come prepared to shower friends and strangers alike with super soakers or buckets of water in this modern twist on traditional beliefs.
Religious processions, bubbles, professional dancers’ performances, and other entertaining ways to stay cool are all part of the festivities.
Location: Thailand
10. Burning Man
One of the most popular festivals in the US is Burning Man, with its more frightening moniker and enigmatic aura. In Black Rock City, Black Rock Desert, Nevada, there is a thriving, full-fledged temporary metropolis created specifically for the Burning Man festival.
Artists are invited to freely share their talents through creative or interactive sculptures, performance art, and other media that coincide with that year’s festival theme. At Burning Man, the community explores many kinds of artistic self-expression. A regular celebration is not what Burning Man is. Nearly all events in Black Rock City are totally the product of the city’s residents, who actively participate in the experience.
Location: Black Rock City
Conclusion
These festivals happen to be the greatest and most memorable to attend in the world because they provide a range of cultural experiences, from vibrant events and positive songs to traditional rituals and amazing food.
