When people think ‘festival’ they have a pretty firm image in mind. It’s usually a gin-hazed picture of muddy tents, suspiciously heavy loaves of bread, wet wipes and the sort of gross bathrooms you will one day be forced to explain to a trauma counsellor.
But there’s a whole world of cool, unique and amazing festivals out there that don’t require you to sacrifice basic human dignity for the sake of a flower crowns and Kendrick Lamar (yes, even for his latest album). And now’s the time to start planning.
Want to get into a supersoaker battle with a Thai grandma? Dance with skeletons in a Oaxaca graveyard? Consume Korean kimchi on an industrial scale? There’s a festival for you. No wet wipes required, baby.
Check out my guide to the most incredible world festivals and parties you really need to check out.
1. Carnaval, Brazil
When: February
Where: Brazil
This is one of the world’s biggest street parties in Brazil, held February each year. The party consists of numerous music bands, dancers and thousands of partying locals and foreigners, all equally determined to have a good time. Top places to experience Carnival include Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. Be sure to try the Cachaca, the local brew that will really get you into the party mood.
While hostels and hotels fill up fast ahead of this event, if you know you are going to be in the city around this time, make sure you book tickets for the main Rio de Janeiro Carnival parade in advance.
Usually the Carnival kicks off on the 8th of February and run all the way through to the 12th. The atmosphere in the city during this period is electric, with scantily-dressed samba dancers, steel drum players and floats parading through the streets. There is so much to see and do it can be difficult to pick out the highlights, but the procession of the samba schools on February 10th and 11th is a must. You might want to get there when the doors open at 17:00 local time to secure the best spot, with the opening ceremony starting at 20:00 and the parade an hour later.
2. Ibiza Closing Parties, Spain
When: September
Where: Ibiza, Spain
Ibiza celebrates the culmination of its nightlife season every September by throwing huge parties in a week that has been referred to as the most hedonistic week of the year. Party every single night at any of their numerous clubs, and you do not have to worry as the club opening days are staggered so you will not have to miss out on one party for another. Dance and socialize the night away; it is sure to be a week to remember.
3. Oktoberfest, Germany
When: September 16 – October 3
Where: Munich, Germany
Prost! Grab your stein and wave it around like you really enjoy oompa-music. This is Oktoberfest, baby. Most major German cities will have a big Oktoberfest celebration, but Munich is the undisputed epicentre of this beer-swilling shindig.
Numerous beer tents are erected, each with different themes and personalities. Choose one of your preference and head in for all-you-can-drink beer! Although admission is free, no one is allowed to go in once tents are full, which happens quickly so be sure to head over there in the morning. Take our advice and book a table online (they open in April). You can rock up and hope to grab a seat at Augustiner-Festhalle or Marstall-Festzelt, but good luck with that one. Once those Germans sit down, they ain’t getting up again. Also, bite the bullet and suit up in Trachten costume. It’s the one place on earth where it’s cooler to be in a lederhosen than out of one.
Definitely a party for those who love their beer! This is the world largest beer festival held in Munich, Germany, and usually takes place between September and October.
4. Las Fallas, Spain
When: March
Where: Valencia
In honour of St Josephs Day, locals in Valencia, Spain, burn huge papier sculptures amidst a roaring street party fuelled further by Sangria, the tasty local brew. Be sure to purchase your own sculpture depicting local and international politicians are usually available for sale and have fun torching them while partying the night away with friendly locals and fellow travelers all having a rocking good time.
5. Full Moon Party, Thailand
When: Every month
Where: Thailand
Keen to visit the beautiful Thai islands? Book a trip to Koh Phanyan and experience the legendary and amazing Full Moon Party! Search Full Moon Party dates to plan your trip. Also check my Full Moon Party survival tips to ensure you stay safe and enjoy the best time possible.
6. Songkran Festival, Thailand
When: April
Where: Thailand
Celebrate Thai New Year in Thailand, with a big splash. This is a party with a difference, as Thai’s usher in the New Year by having a huge festival where your sole aim is to drench everyone around you with water and have a thoroughly good time while doing it. Whether with water guns, buckets, water balloons or bottles, you too can join the fun throughout towns and cities in Thailand. The festival-like atmosphere and water concept makes for a fantastic party experience, enhanced of course, by the abundance of the local whiskey. This festival takes place in April. View my top Songkran festival tips.
7. Gnaoua
When: June 29 – July 1
Where: Essaouira, Morocco
It’s okay if you haven’t heard of Gnawa music. Not many people have. It’s a mystical, religious chanting style indigenous to Northern Africa, often based on repetitive chants that can last for hours (you can see why it has trouble cracking the Top 40). Each year in Essaouira, Gnawa players gather (along with jazz, pop, rock and soul musicians) to celebrate Gnaoua, one of the weirdest and coolest music festivals going around. Thousands cram the port city and dance in its labyrinth streets. Markets pop up everywhere and musicians of all styles jam together to create strange musical fusion. Glastonbury this is not.
8. Boryeong Mud festival
When: July 21-30
Where: Boryeong, South Korea
Getting muddy when you have a nice hot bath to look forward to is fun. Getting muddy when all you have to look forward to is more mud is no fun at all. That’s a motto that Boryeong embraces big time. It’s the world’s biggest mud festival. There’s mud slides, mud pools, mud wrestling and mudslinging (literally – no name calling). Afterwards you can clean off and go celebrate with a big bowl of kimchi beef. Did we mention the mud is meant to have mystical healing properties? Why do you think hippos have such good skin? Think about it.
9. Cuba Carnaval
When: July
Where: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Rio may be the booty-shakin’ Carnaval capital, but it’s fair to say the secret’s out on that one. Rock up to the Samba Drome expecting a boutique, personal experience and you’ll probably have an aneurism. Off-the-beaten-track it is not. But one that no-one talks about is Santiago de Cuba Carnival, the time-warp island’s biggest celebration. Comparsas carnival bands take to the streets (along with thousands of locals, some still in hair curlers and carpet slippers) to form massive conga lines. At night, the big floats come out, and everyone gets silly on cheap rum and salsa music. It’s Cuba at its most colourful. And that’s saying a lot.
10. La Tomatina
When: August
Where: Bunol, Valencia, Spain
The world’s most famous food fight. A fruit-exploding war zone where tomatoes zip and whine like sniper’s bullets. For one day of the year, little Bunol’s tiny population gets an influx of 20,000 travellers from all over the world (it used to be open-slather, up to 50,000 people, but the town limited ticket sales back in 2013). Rumour is the whole thing started when some angry Bunolians threw tomatoes at a local councilman back in the 40s. People thought it was a good idea, and they’ve been doing it ever since. Book early, hotels from the surrounding countryside fill up really fast. Wear closed-toed, heavy-soled shoes too – broken glass gets trodden into the tomato street-slurry and it can get pretty dangerous for your feet.
11. Halloween
When: October 31
Where: Salem, USA
It might seem weird that a town famous for its witch trials in the 1600s is actually encouraging all things spooky and magical, but Salem knows it’s on to a good thing. What’s the use with having a generally ominous vibe if you’re not gonna monetise it with a big Halloween festival? Good on ’em, we say. Salem has become America’s unofficial Halloween capital. There are ghost tours, something called Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery, live music venues, markets, street food and even a recreation of a famous witch trial (The People vs Bridget Bishop, if you’re interested), you even get to be on the Puritan jury. Needless to say, costumes are mandatory. Showing up in a t-shirt and jeans will haunt you forever.
12. Day of the Dead
When: November 1
Where: Oaxaca, Mexico
Here’s some advice: don’t call it Mexican halloween. Dia de los Muertos is a serious, spiritual festival for locals in Mexico, a chance to go to cemeteries with loved ones and welcome recently departed family members. In downtown Mexico City of course you’ll get quite a different experience, but that’s why we like celebrating Day of the Dead in Oaxaca instead. There are fewer crowds, less noise, and you get to experience the celebration like the locals do. Papier-mâché skeletons shimmy down the streets, women paint their faces up like Catrina (the female skeleton symbol of Dia de los Muertos) street vendors serve piping hot cochinita pibil tacos and craft stalls pop up all over the place. It’s the rave from beyond the grave.
13. World Kimchi Festival
When: November 4
Where: Seoul, South Korea
I don’t care who you are, kimchi is delicious, and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise. And it’s not just me who appreciates what happens when you ferment cabbage and chilli. In Gwangju, South Korea, they unleash a kimchi apocalypse once a year in the form of the World Kimchi Festival. You can taste a massive variety of kimchi flavours (yep, there is more than one). You can can make baechu kimchi (basic cabbage Kimchi) or gat kimchi (Leaf Mustard Kimchi, whatever that is) and fry buchimgae pancakes. This is what dreams must taste like.
14. Buṅga Dyaḥ Jātrā
When: April
Where: Kathmandu, Nepal
It’s one of those things you wouldn’t believe unless you saw it first-hand. A 60ft tower, built of hand-cut logs and pine needles, wobbling through the alleyways of Kathmandu, pulled by teams of chanting locals, so high they have to cut power lines to let it through, plunging whole suburbs into darkness. The road beneath the wheels burns with flaming offerings and people are singing and dancing everywhere in the streets. This is Buṅga Dyaḥ Jātrā, one of Kathmandu’s three chariot festivals. It will definitely crack your Top 3 Chariots of All Time. Definitely something to experience if travelling in Nepal.
There we have it! Do you have any favourite festivals? Let me know!
