Nothing gives you a unique look at a place quite like a festival. It really lets you dive into the culture, meet the people and see a side of life there beyond the tourist facade. The world is full of weird and wonderful events that you’ll truly never forget so here are some of the best cultural festivals in the world for a trip you’ll never forget.
Mardi Gras- New Orleans, USA
When: Usually celebrated during the two weeks before Shrove Tuesday, which is the day before lent starts.
Here in the UK, Shrove Tuesday is more commonly known as Pancake Day. Yes, dedicating an entire day solely to the consumption of one specific breakfast food is pretty fantastic, but it doesn’t quite compare to Mardi Gras. For two weeks the entire city of New Orleans is engulfed in the carnival atmosphere, with parades and events and happening every day. By the final five days, the population of NOLA as doubled in preparation for the biggest and best celebrations. Grab your beads, a frozen margarita and a masquerade mask to hide your inevitable shame when you can’t help but get carried away in the chaos.
St Patrick’s Day – Ireland
When: 17th March although the closest weekend will be full of activities.
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in most of the western world, and while an argument can be made for the USA putting the biggest show (Chicago dyes their river green for Christ’s sake!), it’s missing one thing…The Irish. Yes, when the 17th March rolls around, every American suddenly remembers that their mum’s cousin’s boyfriend’s dog had an Irish mum to give them an excuse to get even more wasted than they had originally planned, but that’s just not as good as the real thing. Head to Dublin, where a jam packed festival weekend itinerary includes a hell of a lot more than just drinking. There’s a parade, the Gaelic Games and a whole host of other cultural events, all finished with a whole heap of Irish charm (and Guinness).
Holi – India
When: The date varies based on the moon and the Hindu calendar. It usually falls in March but can sometimes happen in February.
Also known as the Festival of Colours, Holi is celebrated in India to signify the start of spring and the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated by covering yourself, loved ones and strangers (and everything else around you) with brightly coloured paint, in a day dedicated to pure enjoyment. Events now take place all over the world but the religious significance has somewhat been lost and the atmosphere is just not the same as experiencing it with locals in India.
Oktoberfest – Munich, Germany
When: It runs for 16 days with the last day being the first Sunday in October
A festival dedicated to drinking beer with all of your friends? Sign me up! Oh, and don’t forget the incredible Bavarian food, traditional folk music, funfairs and dancing! It’s easy to see why several million people attend Oktoberfest every year and how the concept has spread far and wide. The original one, however, stays true to it’s roots, only serving traditionally brewed beer that is made within the city limits of Munich.
La Tomatina – Bunol, Spain
When: The last Wednesday in August
Name a better way to spend a day than launching tomatoes at 45,000 strangers. You can’t can you? What’s the point?! I hear the sceptics ask. There is no point. No aim, no rhyme or reason. And that’s the beauty of it. Why not? The world’s biggest food fight is part of a week long festival in the town of Bunol, near Valencia. Other events include parades and dances and there’s even a paella cooking competition so it sounds well worth sticking around for, even after the last tomato has been washed from your hair.
Take a break after the festival with a beach break from Holiday Gems. Check their site for the latest deals.
Carnival – Rio
When: The 6 days before Ash Wednesday
Often referred to as the greatest show on Earth, Carnival is one of the biggest, brightest parties in the world. Attracting around 5 million people per day with parades, samba dancing and amazing food, Rio is widely known for putting on the best Carnival in the world. It really is a feast for all of the senses with the eye-catching costumes providing just as much enjoyment as the music that blares out all night long. Put on your jazziest outfit (and then add a lot more sequins) and start dancing!
King’s Day – The Netherlands
When: 27th April
Don’t own any orange clothes? That’s probably for the best, but to celebrate King’s Day properly, you should probably expand those fashion horizons. Buy an orange top you really should never wear again and head down to Amsterdam for the celebration of a lifetime. Traditionally, the day is used to celebrate the royal family but nowadays, it’s more an excuse to just have fun. The best way to experience the day is from the river so do your best to hire a boat (look into this WELL in advance), stock up on the beers and take to the water with thousands of other orange coloured people.
Songkran – Thailand
When: 13-15th April
Songkran, the Thai version of New Year, is the perfect way to let out your childish side. They celebrate with a giant, nationwide water fight that is meant to represent goodwill, compassion and thankfulness. And they’re right, nothing screams thank you like blasting your neighbour in the fact with a water bomb. At heart though, it is of significant religious value and activities such as cleaning temples and performing good deeds are also important for Buddhists during this time.
Looking for more adventures? Check out my 30 Trips to Take Before You’re 30 Bucket List here
Running of the Bulls – Pamplona, Spain
When: 7-14th July
Fancy running through a crowded street in a Spanish village whilst being chased by 6 bulls? No me neither, but for thousands of people, this is the highlight of their year. The run dates back to the 15th century and (crazy) people from all over the world now travel to take part in the infamous event, maybe for the adrenaline rush, maybe for the bragging rights. Do you think it’s worth it? Just the thought of the insurance premium is enough to scare me off.
Have you been to any of these events? What would you add to my best cultural festivals list?
Katie x
Disclaimer: This post has been sponsored by Holiday Gems. As always, this post still only contains my honest opinions.
Great list! I’ve also switched to a healthier lifestyle and training with SportMe running app for my first 5k race. Sneaking in my running routine into my travel destinations is super challenging, and your blog posts are super inspiring.