Not one to miss a good party? You’re in luck – there are hundreds of celebrations around the world just waiting to welcome party-goers. From centuries-old cultural celebrations to honoring the truly bizarre and peculiar, festivals remain a form of expression that links heritage to individuality. Carouse at Carnival or party with a pint at the biggest beer festival in the world. Whether you’re observing your ancestry or paying homage to the aliens, we’ve gathered together some of the most famous – and most unique – celebrations to help inspire and ignite your festive side.
Celebrating World Culture
Cultural and religious celebrations make up the majority of worldwide festivals. Honoring your culture – or someone else’s – at an annual festival is a way to express the fundamentals that make each culture unique.
Make new friends and keep the old at the Holi Festival in India. Holi celebrates the triumph of good over bad. Held at the end of February each year, Holi revelers gather in the streets to celebrate the colors of spring by soaking each other with colored powder. The various colors signify the blossoming of new life in springtime and honors budding relationships – old and new.
From India to Israel…the ancient celebration of victory over oppression has become a favorite among the Jewish people. Purim celebrates the story of Jewish victory over a Persian plot to persecute the Jews. Taken from the book of Esther, children dress up as their favorite story characters and noisemakers are used to signify the displeasure of Haman, the villain in the ancient story.
Thinking of celebrating world heritage closer to home? East coast travelers will rejoice in Washington, DC’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The national festival celebrates the original gift of the 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC in 1912. The festival is full of arts and crafts and a parade marking the start of Cherry Blossom season.
Head west to take part in the yearly Renaissance Faires, which depict the Elizabethan period to the finest degree. Held in numerous spots around the world (the largest are held throughout California), the Renaissance Faires are filled with jugglers, magicians, musicians and other performers in traditional Elizabethan garb.
Cinco de Mayo Travel: The Top Destinations for May 5 Celebrations
Before you pack the piñata for your Cinco de Mayo trip, just remember: May 5 is not Independence Day in Mexico, as many think. Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla when Mexican troops defeated the French Army in 1862. You could head to Mexico to celebrate, but May 5 is only considered a holiday in two cities. A better alternative? Book a flight to one of the many cities in the U.S. that devote an entire weekend to the Mexican holiday.
Denver: When it comes to Cinco de Mayo, bigger is better -- from margaritas to festivals. Head to Denver in May for the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the United States. More than 400,000 people celebrate each year in the Mile High City with parades, non-stop entertainment, arts and crafts, foods, rides and more. The event is free. The event, titled “Celebrate Culture,” is held at the Downtown Civic Center.
San Diego: More than 250,000 people can’t be wrong when they head to California for Cinco de Mayo. Touted as the West Coast’s “premiere celebration of arts and culture,” Fiesta Cinco de Mayo is free to all and features music, food and a reenactment of the Battle of Puebla in historic Old Town San Diego along San Diego Avenue.
With more than 200 performers (including some for children) and vendor booths, it’s best to download the site plan to get a sense of where you should start and end. Need something for the younger members of the family? Check out the Fiesta Kids Village, which includes activities and crafts. Hungry? The Fiesta Food Court showcases food vendors with seating and tables nearby.
Los Angeles: If you’re looking for education during the Cinco de Mayo holiday, L.A. might be your best destination. Check out the educational and cultural workshops on Olvera Street. Kids can learn how to make piñatas and Mexican flags, while the rest of the family can be entertained by Battle of Puebla storytelling and traditional folk music. Olvera Street’s marketplace also showcases vendors selling Mexican souvenirs and authentic Mexican cuisine. The event, as well as entry into Olvera Street, is free.
Chicago: If you can’t head to the West Coast (or already live there), consider the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Chicago’s Douglas Park. While there is entertainment, food and rides, there is also a soccer tournament, banquet and parade.
If you’re a sports fan, check out the two-day soccer tournament. Four of the largest soccer teams in Illinois play against each other in front of more than 30,000 fans. The Scholarship Banquet supports Hispanic students in the area by awarding scholarships during a night of dining and dancing. Although the various Cinco de Mayo celebrations usually occur over the course of two or three days, it’s best to check the individual event Web site to ensure the exact dates each year.
Music and Film Festivals
If it’s New Orleans, it’s the Jazz Festival. One of the biggest music festivals in the nation and the largest festival in Louisiana, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates the state’s rich musical roots. Usually held the last week of April, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival welcomes world-renowned entertainers and hundreds of thousands of music lovers.
Take a jaunt to Switzerland for the Montreux Jazz Festival, which takes place in Montreux this July. Welcoming a range of performers from soul to rap to classic and rock-and-roll, the Montreux Jazz Festival features the best jazz performers in the world and a host of other musicians leading the way in music and arts.
One of the most famous musical festivals in the world is the International Festival in Edinburgh, usually held toward the end of the summer. Scotland welcomes the best-of-the-best in opera, theater, music and dance from around the world.
If film is your calling, don’t miss the coveted Cannes Film Festival, held every spring in the glamorous city of Cannes, France. Featuring Hollywood’s A-list and a red carpet long enough to cover Hollywood Boulevard, the Cannes Film Festival is a celebrated event of movies, entertainment and motion picture trends.
Food and Drink Indulgence
If you love a good food fight, head to Spain for the Tomatina celebration. This annual gathering in the town of Bunol (Valencia) celebrates the region’s produce by hauling it at people. As you would guess by the name the produce du jour is tomatoes, so if you’re not into the red stuff consider avoiding the region in August.
Seafood lovers flock to the east coast to celebrate the king of crustaceans at the annual Maine Lobster Festival. Held every July in Rockland (near Portland), the Maine Lobster Festival features parades, entertainment, craft vendors and of course, all the lobster you can eat.
It wouldn’t be a festivals write-up without mentioning the biggest beer festival in the world – Oktoberfest. Held every fall in Munich, Germany, Oktoberfest has been a time-honored tradition since 1813. Millions of people raise their beer steins in Munich for a weeklong beer binge.
Carnivals and Carousels
One of the biggest dress-up parties in the world is held annually the flamboyant Rio de Janeiro. Carnival is the city’s most spectacular festival full of floats, parades and masquerades. Rio’s Carnival is held 40 days before Easter – a wildly indulgent festival engaging in all the vices banned during the 40 days of Lent.
Rio isn’t the only place to revel for Carnival. If you’re looking for more religious significance and less lavishness, head to Venice for the Italian city’s annual Carnival celebration. It’s not quite as crazy as Brazil, but Venice features its own unique spin on welcoming spring. Parades are more focused on the church, but the food and festivities are just as fun.
If you’re looking a quick way to celebrate without all the chaos, hop a flight across the pond for the UK’s Notting Hill Carnival. Held in August, the Notting Hill Carnival in London is a celebration of England’s Caribbean community. Make no mistake – this Carnival is full carousing for the purpose of show. Feathers and sequins line the streets and as millions of party-goers engage in rum drinks and dance to steel drum bands.
All Hail the Odd and Outrageous
There’s a festival for everyone…
Self-expression is the fundamental of first amendment rights and nowhere is this more obvious than at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nevada. This annual tradition of self-expression ends with the “Burning of the Man,” a large sculpture that serves as the focal point for the week-long celebration. Thousands of people gather in Nevada to express their souls through art and ideas. One rule: There are no rules. Eccentric customs and birthday suits are often the garb of choice.
Interested in other life forms? Join the folks in Roswell, New Mexico, for the annual Alien Festival held in July. Since the mysterious crash in 1947, Roswell has been a town consumed by alien fascination and unexplained life forms. The Alien Festival features story-telling of UFO sightings, costumes and live music.
Now that you’ve got some ideas, get out and party! Hundreds of festivals take place around the world every year – find the one that fits your lifestyle and take part in the celebrations. Need more ideas? Check out our Useful Links Categories for additional vacation ideas.
*Cinco de Mayo festival information courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle
Melanie Nayer
© Cheapflights Ltd
Updated September 2008
