Every country has its heritage and traditions, which are best conveyed through their celebrations. Some of the best world festivals will undoubtedly encourage you to travel throughout the world to observe the rich cultural celebrations, religion, customs, and uniqueness of them. There is so much to see and enjoy all year, from rejoicing in renowned carnivals in Brazil to chugging beers with tens of thousands of people in Munich. In this blog, we have compiled a list of the top 10 festivals worldwide to experience in 2024:
- Rio De Janeiro Carnival
There are carnivals, and then there is the Rio De Janeiro Carnival. No city on the planet hosts a street festival quite like Brazil’s capital, where it’s 10 days of nonstop samba dancing, float-watching, street-revelling, and general madness. The Rio Carnival, which began in 1723, is one of the most important festivities of its kind. Over 70 samba schools send their best representatives to the streets to groove and amuse the spectators. This is one of the incredible displays that originated in ancient Greece and was later improved by the Romans. Their eye-catching costumes and feathery wings will draw your attention from afar.
Where: Brazil
When: Begins on the Friday preceding Lent and ends on Ash Wednesday (February)
- Holi
India has a plethora of beautiful festivals due to its rich heritage and mix of religious cultures. Holi is one of the most popular and beautiful festivals. One of the most important aspects of Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, is the tossing of coloured paint. It celebrates the coming of spring with a slew of coloured powders, water-filled balloons, and coloured water pistols. On this occasion, streets are splattered with brilliant colours. This event includes traditions such as the Holika bonfire and sweets and drinks such as Puran Poli and Thandai.
Where: India
When: March 25, 2024
- La Tomatina
La Tomatina is one of the many such unusual, fun food-fight festivals in Spain where the attendees get covered in the splash of the fruit. Thousands of people cram into the centre of Buñol (a town in Valencia, Spain), where trucks haul hundreds of tons of over-ripe tomatoes. Once the water cannon is firing, everyone gets into a friendly tussle, pelting each other with tomatoes. The fruit-chucking generally lasts about an hour and by the time it’s over, the whole town square is painted scarlet. Everyone heads off to get cleaned up and fire trucks move in to hose the place down, and by the end of the day, it’s (almost) as though nothing ever happened.
Where: Spain
When: The Last Wednesday of August
- Oktoberfest
What began as a grand marriage ceremony between Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese on October 12, 1810, became one of the largest beer festivals in the world. The wedding had grand royal festivities that ended with a horse race, and it became a hit. Under the name Oktoberfest, this Bavarian fair is organized annually in Munich for 16 to 18 days. Besides a gallon of beer being poured out, there is a bounty of foods like dumplings, roasted meats, noodles, sausages, and much more to fulfill your appetite. The public extravaganza includes amusement rides, costume processions, games, cultural displays, and historical shows. It throws happiness around like confetti.
Where: Germany
When: Mid-September to First Week of October (September 21 to October 6, 2024)
- Burning Man
This freakout in the middle of the Nevada desert is one of the world’s wildest, oddest happenings. Burning Man has been hosted in the Black Rock Desert in northeastern Nevada since 1991, around 100 miles northeast of Reno, since the mid-1980s. Every year, a makeshift city is built from the ground up in the desert, complete with music stages, mutant automobiles, and a slew of bizarre sculptures. One of them is the titular Burning Man, a 40-foot figure that goes up in flames on the penultimate night. Expect body painting, odd costumes, strange bicycles, and some seriously out-of-the-world personalities.
Where: USA
When: August 25 to September 2, 2024
- Yee Peng Lantern Festival
Remember the magical scene from the Disney fairy tale Tangled, where Rapunzel finally gets to see the lanterns soar in the dark sky? How we wish we could be there! Good news: it’s not exclusive to Disney World. Adapted from Brahmin origins and influenced by the ancient Lanna Kingdom, the Yee Peng Lantern Festival is celebrated in Northern Thailand on the 12th full moon. The beautiful paper lanterns, called khom loi, are strategically released at the same time and look breathtaking as they float at different speeds. It symbolizes an act of letting go of ills, bad luck, and mistakes. Chiang Mai is the best city to observe this festival of light with fireworks, great decorations, and delicious food.
Where: Thailand
When: The full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (November 15, 2024)
- Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
Taking the winter spirit up a notch, the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is one of the world’s biggest snow sculpture events. It is hosted in the ice capital of China, Harbin. From life-size ice structures and dazzling renditions to ice lanterns and expos, visitors witness excellent craftsmanship in this snow wonderland. Backed by extraordinary LED lighting and jaw-dropping fireworks, this two-month-long festival enjoys over 15 million footfalls.
Where: China
When: December 20, 2023 to January 4, 2024
- Songkran
Songkran is a water festival and marks the beginning of the New Year, a very important date on the Buddhist calendar. The word Songkran means ‘passing’ or ‘approaching’ and the festival marks the washing out of the old year and the welcoming of the new one. Locals and tourists join together with water guns, water buckets anything containing water to soak and “cleanse” each other.
Where: Thailand
When: 13 April 2024
- Carnival of Venice (Italy)
Nothing heralds the passing of winter like the Venetian Carnival, and for curious travellers, the spectacular annual celebration of the city’s special spirit is a must-see. Every Spring people from across the globe descend on the floating city to take part in this unique celebration, a joyous riot of colour, sound, and spectacle. Extraordinary costumes, elaborate masks and fascinating historical re-enactments all make Venice’s two-week-long party an unforgettable experience.
Where: Italy
When: 27 January 2024 to 13 February 2024
- Diwali
Diwali, fondly called the festival of lights, is among the most significant Indian festivals. This annual festival falls in October or November, is celebrated to honour the victory over evil, and is a time to bond with family and friends. You can watch the stunning fireworks displays, savour endless varieties of sweets, and see the houses, temples, and streets decorated with lit-up oil lamps (diyas) made from clay during Diwali.
Where: India
When: November 1, 2024
Not only are festivals fun, but they are also a great way to do something different from the normal sightseeing we do when we visit places. The next time you are looking for something fun, crazy, and festive, plan your travel around the time of festivities to experience the true essence of your place of visit.
