Held December 10 through 17, the Mevlna Festival celebrates Rumis eternal spirit with sacred music and Whirling Dervishes dancing. I've personally attended Tomorrowland - and it certainly lives up to the hype! This list has no specified timeline. Lets be honest, traveling the world is only as fun as the exciting adventures you embark on and the new experiences you have as you discover foreign cultures. In additions to the music, you can also find arts and crafts, food and drinks, a comedy tent, cinema tent, Ferris wheel, silent disco, parades, and yoga. Kicking off with a night-time bonfire where people gather, sing and dance, the next day is a carnival of colours where everyone frolics about throwing dye powder, squirting water guns and coloured water-filled balloons, uniting friends and foes, rich and poor, children and big kids at heart. The masks are worn by caretos, meaning disguised as the devil. Erin Medlicott Being a highly spiritual country, festivals are at the heart of people's lives in India. (more) Find your next incredible journey on Australian Traveller. Centuries later the tradition continues, with Guatemala having the distinct pleasure of hosting one of the most elaborate Holy Week celebrations in the world. But Semana Santa, as the holiday is known in Spain and much of Latin America, offers a much more elaborate approach to the celebration. Immerse yourself in nutrient-rich mud at the mud pool, slip down the mud slide or embrace your artistic side by body painting with colored mud, make your own mud soaps and challenge yourself on the mud maze obstacle-course. 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Best Cultural Festivals Around the World Guide (Arranged by continent) Black-necked Crane Festival (Bhutan) Harbin International Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival (China) Holi Festival (India/Pakistan) Naadam Festival (Mongolia) Songkran Festival (Thailand) Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (Morocco) Timket Festival (Ethiopia) Harbin is transformed into a winter wonderland with seismic ice sculptures across the city, adorned with lights and lasers, drawing thousands of artists and art enthusiasts alike. To celebrate the traditional New Year, Thailands Songkran Water Festival is held every April all over the country. Some are created by famous Spanish artists and have been used by brotherhoods for centuries. Locals and tourists alike are invited to take part in one of Belgiums most popular yet unusual festivities, the International Bathtub Regatta on the gorgeous Meuse River in Dinant. In spite of the fairly ominous name and the air of mystery surrounding it, Burning Man is one of the most popular festivals in the US. Record attendance: 450,000. The biggest carnival in the world, Rio Carnival is the major drawcard for the nation. A highlight of the Kyoto festival is the Yamahoko Float Procession, featuring floats akin to beautifully intricate works of art. In fact, its important enough that it was added to UNESCOs Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. If youre looking for a hotel in Fes for the World Music Festival, check out Palais Faraj Suites & Spa, Riad Naila or Dar Mfaddel. Legend has it that the whole thing started when some local boys joined a parade alongside musicians, Giants on stilts, and Big Head figures. It has been taking place every summer in Budapest since 1993. Photo: Till The Money Runs Out. Da de los Muertos or Day of the Dead easily outshines even the most vibrant Halloween celebrations with its unique blend of ancient indigenous and European Catholic traditions. Also known as Veskha or Buddhas Birthday, Vesak is a traditional Buddhist holiday. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ofrendas (altars) are constructed in both public spaces and private homes, and are often richly decorated with pumpkins and . Looking to book your next trip? Check it out! 50 Most Popular Festivals of the World. The holiday, which last through April 15, is traditionally a fairly subdued affair. (The History & Principles of Responsible Travel), 50 FascinatingFacts About Indian Culture (By Region), 15 Harmful Traditions & Cultural Practices Tourists Should Never Support, Indian Animals: A Guide to 40 Incredible Indian Wildlife Species, 10 Eco Lessons in Quotes from the Lorax (Dr Seuss Conservation Classic), 25 Symbols of Christmas: This History & Meaning of Traditional Christmas Decorations. There are certainly larger and more raucous celebrations of Saint Patricks Day than the one thats held in Dublin, Ireland every March. READ MORE:The 20 Best Cultural Festivals Around the World. Since then, his followers, the Melvlevi Order (better known as the Whirling Dervishes) have celebrated his teachings of tolerance and religious ecstasy achieved through dance by way of a festival. Bret Love; lead photo By Gianluca Ramalho Misiti (Flickr: sem ttulo-25)CC BY 2.0via Wikimedia Commons. I want emails from Road Affair with travel updates and marketing. Head to the Wiesn (fairgrounds) to enjoy agriculture shows, costume processions, fun fair rides, historical and cultural displays, all the food you could possibly eat and of course the copious amounts of beer Oktoberfest is famous for. It commemorates the last week in the life of Christ, including the entry of Jesus and his disciples into Jerusalem, the crucifixion, and resurrection. Check out the Royal Frenchmen Hotel and Bar, Hotel Peter and Paul or Omni Riverfront New Orleans. Check out Harbin Joy Boutique Hotel, Harbin Airport Daily Inn or Qihang Hotel Harbin Taiping Airport. DollarFlightClub orAirfarewatchdog to find a cheap plane tickets. Since 1996 an entire festival of parades, fireworks and general revelry has surrounded the March 17th celebration of St Patricks Day. It may not be quite as big as Coachella or as iconic as Lollapalooza. BoredPanda staff. The most important religious festivals such as Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, Diwali, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha serve to mark out the year. Looking for hotels inRio de Janeiro for Carnival? The Clearwater Jazz Holiday. 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. Most Mexicans visit cemeteries and graves to pay respects to dead relatives and friends while stalls for selling sweets and treats, as well as carnival rides are set up on the outside of the larger cemeteries. The average daily temperature in winter is around 1.8 F, and lows of -31 F are dauntingly frequent. A water fight on a national scale, Songkran in Thailand is the celebration of the Buddhist New Year. The great climate also makes for ideal conditions for a massive, country-wide flea market you have to see to believe. It was even recognized by the UN as one of the worlds most significant events in terms of contributing to the dialogue between disparate cultures around the world. Initially, water played a part in this auspicious day by being poured over statues of Buddha, but these days, the drenching isnt just reserved for deities and its purpose of purification is applied to everyone who doesnt take shelter. Here are 10 Asian festivals that are full of adventure, tradition and diversity to explore for a lifetime memory. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most famous food festivals in the world and also the most prominent festival in Thailand. Processions of Nazarenos walk the streets at night during Semana Santa in Sevilla, Spain. Sziget Festival has announced a number of bands and artists for their 2023 event, with Billie Eilish, Florence + The Machine, and Imagine Dragons featured as headliners. Thats because their Vesak Festival uniquely includes thoranas massive, temporary structures designed to impress, covered with colorful lights and paintings. A nine-day celebration, the vegetarian festival is arguably the most interesting although the title is somewhat misleading. Although its celebrated right across Brazil and other Catholic countries, Rio de Janeiro has long been regarded as the place to experience Carnival, drawing millions of event-goers every year. Visitors have a whole week to enjoy live performances of their favorite artists, listen to the music of various genres, and take part in other cultural events. It might not make him leave you alone, but hopefully itll keep him out of your dreams. The arrival of the Spanish to Guatemala in 1524 also brought the tradition of Semana Santa (Holy Week) to the Latin American countrys shores. At the base of this extraordinary monument is where youll find the World Sacred Spirit Festival, which takes place over three days in mid-February. Again, the number of these days can vary worldwide. It was originally conceptualized to provide PR for a range of cosmetics created using the nutrient-rich mud from the area but the festival quickly became Koreas most popular summer festival. The date varies from country to country, but the week-long celebration in Sri Lanka (which annually begins on the day of the full moon in May) is widely considered among the best. When: Begins on Friday and ends on Ash Wednesday. Australian Traveller Media acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which we live and work, and pays respect to Elders's past, present and emerging. To honor those that came before, Mexican families build private altars in their homes, known as ofrendas. But Montreux benefits from its picturesque location on the stunning shores of Lake Geneva. The Lazarim Carnival includes a drum parade and feasting on tasty stew. In spite of the fairly ominous name and the air of mystery surrounding it, Burning Man is one of the most popular festivals in the US. 1 January Festivals & Cultural Events 1.1 Wakakusa Yamayaki (Japan) 1.2 Sundance Film Festival (USA) 2 February Festivals & Cultural Events 2.1 Carnivale Di Venezia (Italy) 2.2 Sky Lantern Festival (Taiwan) 2.3 Rio Carnival (Brazil) 2.4 Mardi Gras (USA) 3 March Festivals & Cultural Events 3.1 Holi (India) 3.2 St Patrick's Day (Ireland & USA) In some cities, children will dress up in costume and go door-to-door asking calaveritas, much like trick-or-treating in the US. A large Spanish galleon arrives in Tampa Bay to kick off the event, which is escorted by hundreds of small ships. Held annually in the late summer, festival goers soak in the last of Summer sunshine while enjoying art and community while focusing on values like community cooperation, participation, self-expression and de-commodification. 100,000kg of tomatoes are hurled, squished and splattered, 10 Brazilian food winners at Rio Olympics, 67. Viktorija Gabulait. Oktoberfest brings together aspects of a rich local culture, history, fun and games, good food and great beer to make for a few weeks of awesome celebration. World Bodypainting Festival, Austria. Saint Patrick was born to a religious family in Roman Britain sometime around 385 AD. The six-day event is set . 0. . Though not nearly as large as soon of the other festivals on this list (averaging around 30,000 visitors), the eclectic festival celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2022. Explore > All Festivals; US Festivals; Europe Festivals; UK Festivals; Beer Festivals; Conferences; Artists on Tour; Magazine > Best Festivals . Its also the second largest jazz festival, after the Montreal International Jazz Festival. World's largest independently owned Ecotourism / Green Travel / Sustainable Travel / Animal & Wildlife Conservation site. You better watch out, you better not pout, Krampus is coming to town! READ MORE:10 Eco Lessons in Quotes from the Lorax (Dr Seuss Conservation Classic). Located in Northeast China, Harbin receives some seriously cold winter winds blowing over from Siberia. Theres also marching bands, dancing, food and drinks, and lots of laughter. Historically, Carnival is a religious celebration. . Yi Peng is celebrated all over Thailand but Chiang Mai hosts the largest Yi Peng Festival and tops off their enviable displays with cultural shows and fireworks you wont want to miss. Thousands of happy campers. So what if her Royal Highness was actually born in late January?! Come winter, the beautiful Japanese town of Nozawa lies half-submerged in powder, making it not only excellent for skiing, but the ideal place to watch the lighting of a towering pyre and fire-fuelled battle between villagers. Every year, over 9,000 men participate in this festival. iHeartCountry Festival 2023. The Clearwater Jazz Holiday has also been held since 1979 in Clearwater, Florida. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 01 of 08 Holi Ferrantraite/Getty Images It is now officially celebrated on April 27 (the Kings birthday) and includes an official government ceremony followed by sporting competitions and fun, family-friendly celebrations. And now when most people think of the month of October they think of chilly weather, pumpkins and of course, Oktoberfest. Montreux Jazz Festival. There are two main exhibition areas: Sun Island is a recreation area along the Songua River, where youll find most of the giant sculptures. We dont envy whoever has to clean up that mess! Widely considered to be the summer festival in Japan, Gion Matsuri is more than 1000 years old. In the past the famed La Tomatina has had as many as 50,000 attendees but in more recent years a ticket system has been introduced to keep the number of participants at or below 20,000. Looking for a hotel to celebrate St. Patricks Day in Dublin? Queens Day was a national holiday (celebrated on April 30 until 2013) commemorating Queen Beatrixs birth. Christmas meets a nightmarish take on Halloween when it comes to the Krampus Parade or Festival. Its influence dates back to Medieval times, when Popes and philosophers went there to study and teach. The Baby Jumping Festival is a baptismal ceremony wherein babies who were born over the last year are absolved of sin. One suggests it pays tribute to the Hindu god Vishnu and his follower, Prahlada, and their defeat of Prahladas power-hungry father, the demon King Hiranyakashipu. . Harbin Ice and Snow Festival provides the visitors each year a whole new wintry world of ice and snow. People clean their houses in preparation, and everyone dresses up in their best clothes. Once ashore, a five-mile parade route featuring floats and marching bands. Music City Wine + Food Festival (Nashville, Tennessee) Photo courtesy of @musiccityfw on Instagram. Dates: 11 Nov 2023 - 12 Nov 2023. These are elaborately decorated with artful sculptures depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ or the Sorrows of Virgin Mary. Las Bolas de Fuego, El Salvador. They give us a distraction from our day to day . Whether its the arts and culture, food and wine, holidays, or religion youre into, theres a gathering somewhere with your name on it. READ MORE:The Best Food Gifts from Around the World. The Best Travel Shoes Picture an insane devil in chains, with matted fur, stag horns, and flaming coals for eyes, known for kidnapping children in a big sack so he can eat them later. Getty. The shrine is dedicated to birth, growth, health, happiness, thriving and peace. Holy Week the week between Palm Sunday and Easter is celebrated throughout much of the Christian world. Founded in 2007, the event was formerly known as the World Sufi Festival. Brazilian expat Ana Lucia Ferreira gives us 10 dishes that you simply must savour if you wa Craig Tansley returns to Rio after a traumatic first visit over a decade ago to see if the city has really changed its ways. Montreux, Switzerland. Filed Under: Ecotourism & Green Living Blog, World Travel Bucket List, Were Bret Love & Mary Gabbett, partners in life, love, business, and adventure. Burning Man takes place in Black Rock City, Black Rock Desert, Nevada in a full-fledged, thriving temporary metropolis established just for the festival. JOIN . READ MORE:10 Latin America Ecotourism Adventures (for Your World Travel Bucket List). Festivities include bubbles, performances from professional dancers, religious processions and other fun ways to keep cool. Known to the Spanish locals as El Colacho, this festival happens 60 days after Easter during the feast of Corpus Christi. But were not sure any of them can adequately explain the inspired madness that goes down in the northwestern Nevada desert every summer. The Fringe is run by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Society, a registered charity devoted to supporting and encouraging the Scottish arts, which, if you ask anyone at the festival, is an entirely worthy cause. Each year festival goers head to Daecheon Beach for rocking live music, a wade in the nutrient-rich mud and for a chance to try out various mud-related health and beauty products and services. Stagecoach Country Music Festival 2023. Please contact us at info@GreenTravelMedia.com for more info. Longtime locals love the Krewe of Muses Parade, the Rex & Zulu Parade, and the Krewe of St. Anne and Krewe of Julu Parades. Theres no Carnival like Rios Carnival. Nonetheless, in terms of overall progress, India has come a long way from 63.75 index . One of my favorite music festivals Ive attended, WOMAD (World Of Music, Arts & Dance) was founded in 1980 by Peter Gabriel and a team that included Artistic Director Thomas Brooman and influential concert promoter Martin Elbourne (who also books the Glastonbury Festival). 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. The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, 1 Day in Nuremberg: The Perfect Nuremberg Itinerary. Dont let the name fool you: Though the festival was jazz-only in its early years, by the 1970s legendary rock artists such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Van Morrison were topping the bill. If youre looking for a hotel inMontreux, Switzerland for the Montreal International Jazz Festival, check out Htel de Chailly, Le Coucou Hotel & Restaurant-Bar or Swiss Historic Hotel Masson. Watercress Festival (Hampshire, England) The only place in England where this kind of thing is considered good manners. Take part in the fun and learn about the legends that have shaped Vietnam by joining one of these celebrations during your trip. About the Writer. Nevertheless, the Ice and Snow Festival remains the highlight and most beloved ice event in the country as well as one of the best winter festivals in the world, Location: Ireland (and many other places in the world). Check out Crowne Plaza Amsterdam South, Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam Rembrandtpark, or XO Hotels Couture. But, for our money, it doesnt get any better than watching the Mardi Gras Indians Parade in Treme. The festival has won the International Dance Music Award for "Best Electronic Music Event" every year since 2012. Learn how your comment data is processed. Its part Mad Max, part Survivor, and part Comic-Con (see: CRAZY costumes & festival clothing), with an emphasis on experimental creativity, cooperation, and civic responsibility. But it has since expanded its horizons to include a broad variety of sacred, spiritual music from different parts of the world. FEATURES. But some historians suggest he may be a holdover from the regions pagan past, demonized by the Catholic Church. The festival reaches its climactic crescendo on December 17, the day when Rumi was united with Allah. There are holidays for Hindus, Moslems, Sikhs, C. READ MORE:40 Ways to Celebrate New Year Traditions Around the World. Required fields are marked *. 1. If youre looking for a hotel for the MevlnaFestival, check out Bera Konya Hotel, Paapark Seluklu Hotel or Bayr Diamond Hotel & Convention Center. Twice a year the Tuscan town of Siena harks back to its medieval past with a bareback horse race in the local ancient square. And of course, the local sounds of Rajasthan, India will be given their due time in the spotlight, from Qawwali devotional music to the droning double flute known as the Satara. It seems every country has one major event on the annual calendar that claims to trump all others. We present you some top ten festivals in the world. The festival is a wholly uplifting experience, no matter your religion. Check out Hotel Muralleta, Casa Robion, or Torrijos. Mathura. Diwali is one of the most famous and renowned religious and cultural festivals around the world in Hindus. Mexicans bring bright colors, jovial attitudes and rich traditions to celebrate their dearly departed by creating beautiful altars, baking and decorating special bread called pan de muerto, hosting and attending costume parties, visiting friends and leaving gifts at altars, making colorful sand tapestries and lighting candles to pay homage to the dead.