Art & Performance
Afrikaburn, South Africa
Burn baby burn
Afrikaburn is Africa's "region burn" or mini Burning Man offshoot and has grown into something of its own. AfrikaBurn is a community of participants who come together to create art, burning structures, costume, performance, theme camps, music, mutant vehicles and much, much more. All of this is created through the volunteer culture of the citizens of Tankwa Town in the Karoo once a year.
(see more)
Air Guitar Worlds, Finland
Rock and Roll Fantasy
The Annual Air Guitar World Championship Contest, held at the Oulu Music Video Festival in Finland, invites the most animated and talented air strumming, finger tapping, pelvis thrusting air guitarists from around the world to show off their skills.
(see more)
Airwaves, Iceland
Northern Nightlife
It's 4 a.m. You've been to five cool clubs, seen ten great bands, made fifteen new friends and fallen in love twenty times. You're tired. You're wired. You're ready to find a bed. You're ready to find the after-party. This is Airwaves.
(see more)
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (USA)
A Floating Festival
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is literally a floating festival celebrating balloon flight! It's hard to imagine a more colorful spectacle with 700 rainbow balloons taking flight over the southwest deserts of New Mexico.
(see more)
Aloha Festival, Hawaii (USA)
Island Styling
Each year, Hawai’i celebrates the Aloha Festival with a colorful and lively display of the islands rich cultural history. The festival spans six weeks on all six islands, but the premier event is Aloha Week in Honolulu.
(see more)
Art and Cultural Festivals
Save Art
Festivals are living and breathing museums of art and culture. By honoring and preserving centuries of tradition though festivals we are preserving the old ways for future generations.
(see more)
Ati-Atihan, Philippines
Island Traditions
Ati-Atihan takes place the third Sunday of January in the small town of Kalibo in Akalan, Philippines. The three-day festival features traditional songs, dance, and colorful dress► of the native people as part of this energetic festival dating back to the 13th century.
(see more)
Austin City Limits, TX (USA)
3 Days of Music to the Limit
Over a hundred bands gather in Austin’s Ziker Park each year to rock out in the Texas heat and be part of Austin City Limits (ACL) music festival. ACL attracts over 70,000 music lovers each day catching as much rock, indie, pop, dance, folk, and country music as possible spread over the 8+ concert stages. 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of this much loved music festival in one of the most vibrant and upcoming cities in the U.S.
(see more)
Bali Spirit Festival, Indonesia
Yoga, Dance, Music, Bliss
Annually since 2008, the idyllic Indonesian island of Bali has played host to the Bali Spirit Festival combining dance, yoga, and music►. Ubud is a quiet, artsy town set back from the beach among picturesque rice paddies and ancient monkey forests.
(see more)
Banff Film Festival, Canada
Celebration of Mountain Culture
The annual Banff Film and Book Festival takes place in Banff, Canada late fall every year. It's a celebration of mountain culture and has a film, photography and book competition.
(see more)
Beer Can Regatta, Australia
Beer Recycling Pirates on the High Seas
Every year in winter (depending on the tide), the people of Darwin, Australia build boats and other nautical vessels made completely out of empty beer cans and take to the sea. The event brings thousands to the shores of Midil Beach in this Northern Territory city, considered one of the most isolated spots in the world, eager to watch these fun races.
(see more)
Beltane Fire Festival, Scotland
Ritual Fire
The May Queen, Green Man, Red Chaos and White Order welcome spring in this pagan ritual held in Edinburgh's Calton Hill. It's a modern reincarnation of the ancient Gaelic celebration of Beltane. "Beltane" means bright sacred fire in the ancient language.
(see more)
Bestival, UK
Fancy Dress Fest
This boutique festival is bit more trendy and indie than the Isle of Wright festival. The Bestival won the UK festival awards for “best major festival” of 2010, so they must be on to something.
(see more)
Bonnaroo, Tennessee (USA)
Make Rock and Roll History
For four days in early June, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival brings together the best musical performers from a multitude of genres to a picturesque Manchester, Tennessee farm. Rolling Stone magazine named the festival one of the “50 Moments That Changed The History Of Rock ‘N’ Roll” and the best U.S. festival overall. To see why, make the journey to what may be the best popular music festival America has to offer.
(see more)
Boom Festival, Portugal
Things That Go Boom in the Night
The Boom Festival in Portugal blends music and other arts into one great festival. The Boom Festival only takes place every two years; so keep checking the website for details on the 2012 festival.
(see more)
Brighton Festival, UK
Bright days
The Brighton Festival is an annual arts festival which takes place in the city of Brighton and Hove in England each May. It was founded in 1966, and was, until its demerger with Brighton Festival Fringe in 2006, the largest multi-art form festival in England. The 2006 festival organised over 200 events during 23 days which were attended by over 500,000 people.
(see more)
Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival, Laos
Rockets and Fertility
The Bun Bang Fai festival is a wild fertility celebration occurring every May in Laos and Thailand. You can expect drinking, dancing, cross dressing and phallus shaped rocket launching of epic proportions.►
(see more)
Burning the Clocks, UK
Burn back the clock!
Some people turn back their clocks for winter, in the town of Brighton they burn them! Burning the Clocks has been a Brighton tradition for almost two decades. The free celebration sees local residents parading the paper and willow lanterns they've made through the city, before passing them into a huge bonfire on the beach. The coming year is then ushered in with a dazzling fire show during which a massive fire sculpture is ignited, live music plays, and fireworks light up the sky.
(see more)
BYOBW Big Wheels Race (USA)
One Weird Race on the World’s Crookedest Street
Easter Sunday might convey images of hot cross buns, Easter egg hunting and church. But not in San Francisco as every Easter Sunday, there is a race of epic proportions down the steepest and crookedest street in the city.
(see more)
Calgary Stampede, Canada
Cowboy Up
The city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada hosts the annual Calgary Stampede. This 10-day event features the world’s largest rodeo, concerts, and more.
(see more)
Cannes Film Festival, France
The World's Most Prestigious Film Festival
For nearly two weeks every Summer, the town of Cannes on the French Riviera invites film professionals from around the world to take part in the Cannes Film Festival. Cannes has a tradition dating back to the 1930’s and prides itself on valuing the artistic quality of films vying for the Palme d’Or, or Golden Palm, which is awarded to the best film at the festival. Short and feature length films compete in official festival competitions and for industry exposure.
(see more)
Carnival, Brazil
Samba into one of the World’s Greatest Parties
Colorful costumes, beautiful dancing, parades, and wild partying fill the streets of Brazil during the month of Carnival. Though Carnival is celebrated throughout the world, the party in Brazil has grown to epic proportions.
(see more)
Castells de Tarragona, Spain
Human Towers
Each September, men and women climb on top of each other’s shoulders and reach for the sky as part of the “Concurs de Castells,” human towers competition, in Tarragona, Spain during the Santa Tecla Festival.
(see more)
Cheung Chau Bun Festival, China
Bun Snatching!
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival in Hong Kong celebrates traditional Chinese culture. This Taoist ceremony draws tens of thousands of attendees from far and wide, filling the streets with tantalizing sights, sounds, smells, and flavors.
(see more)
Chinese New Year, Hong Kong
Kung Hei Fat Choy
“Congratulations and be prosperous” is the translation of the traditional new year’s greeting of “Kung Hei Fat Choy”. The Chinese new year is based upon ancient calculations that predict the end of the winter season and the start of spring, which is the first day of the first month. This is the biggest and most celebrated Chinese Holiday at home and abroad. The celebration ends with the Lantern Festival 15 days later.
(see more)
Cinco De Mayo, Mexico City
¡Fiesta!
Cinco De Mayo (Fifth of May) commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely triumph over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. This important victory held political significance to the U.S. and Mexico, but it is not Mexico’s Independence Day as it is often mistakenly regarded.
(see more)
Cinetrip Sparty, Budapest
Rock the Sparty
Budapest is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and lies on the banks of the great Danube River. It is blessed with abundant geothermic activity and mineral rich waters. Some the resulting hot springs have existed since the fall of the Roman Empire and have a rich history and important role in this medieval city.
(see more)
Comic-Con (USA)
Where Superheros go to party
For 4 days in July, the San Diego Convention Center overflows with more than 100,000 comic and pop-culture enthusiasts for the largest comic book convention in North America: The San Diego Comic-Con.
(see more)
Creators Project, Worldwide
Art and Technology Unite
The organizers of "The Creators Project" which include an unlikely union of VICE magazine and computer giants INTEL value both art and technology. It's a touring festival that brings technological art pieces and cutting edge music to the masses.
(see more)
Diwali Festival of Lights, India
Days and Nights of Light
Beautiful festival in India during late fall usually called the "Festival of Lights". Diwali is the most important holiday of the year for Hindus and for Jains it is a celebration of the attainment of nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.
(see more)
Edinburgh Fringe, Scotland
The Fringe Festival Goes Mainstream
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe provides the opportunity to pick between thousands of fantastic arts performances spread out over three weeks in Edinburgh, Scotland. The festival prides itself on being the largest arts festival in the world and features an endless supply of theater, comedy, performance art, dance, music, painting, exhibitions, and more to enjoy.►
(see more)
El Colacho - Baby Jumping Festival
Leaping Lucifers the Spanish Baby Jumping Festival
One of the weirdest festivals in the world dates back to 1620 in Castrolillo de Murica, Spain. In this traditional celebration costumed devils jump over infant babies who are lined up on mattresses in the middle of the street. Patrons gather round to cheer, cringe and breathe collective sighs of relief as the babies are cleared from harm’s way. This bizarre event is the culmination of the annual El Colacho festival, which takes place over several days in late May/ early June and is thought to be a mixture of Spanish folklore and religion, though its exact origin is unknown.
(see more)
Fallas de Valencia, Spain
Fire in the Streets
Every March 15th-19th, the streets of Valencia, Spain erupt with fire as part of the Fallas celebration. The festival dates back to the Middle Ages when excess goods were burned in the equivalent to a Spring cleaning. Today’s rendition takes a more grandiose approach paying homage to Spain’s history and culture with spectacular displays of pyrotechnics.
(see more)
Fantasy Fest, Key West (USA)
10 Days of Halloween: Trick or Treat
For the week building up to Halloween, Key West hosts the raucous Fantasy Fest► when the streets overflow with costumes and fun. Enjoy outrageous parades, masquerade balls, costume contests, drag queen pageants, live music, and even pirate-themed parties around every corner!
(see more)
Festival Filmmaking, Budapest
Make a movie at Sziget
Sziget, considered Europe's best festival is celebrating it's 20th anniversary and has teamed up with the Budapest Film Academy.
(see more)
Festival in the Desert, Mali
African Dunes, Traditional Tunes
* Due to political conflict the festival can not be held in the normal location and will function as a caravan of peace. Check the website for details.
(see more)
Frozen Dead Guy Days (USA)
Fun From Beyond – I’m Dead Serious
Each March, the town of Nederland, Colorado plays host to one of the most bizarre cultural festivals around- the Frozen Dead Guy Days!
(see more)
Fusion Festival, Germany
An Abandoned Airfield Comes to Life with Art for All
In the northeast of Germany, the Fusion Festival brings the former Russian military airfield of Rechlin-Lärz back to life with a celebration of art and music.
(see more)
Gion Matsuri, Japan
Kyoto’s Biggest Party
For the entire month of July, Kyoto’s Gion district erupts in culture as the most lively festival of the year takes place. The Gion district is famously known as the most exclusive of the Geisha districts in Kyoto. The festival is locally known as Gion-san, is not to miss and perhaps your best shot of getting a pic of the elusive Geisha.
(see more)
Glastonbury Festival, England
Rich in Music, Art, and History
The 4-day Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts is one of the largest music and art festivals in the world drawing tens of thousands of festival-goers to the Vale of Avalon outside of Glastonbury, England. The sleepy area is rich in English history and mythology. The town transforms into a vibrant community filled with friendly individuals, music, and mind-blowing art.
(see more)
Halloween, Worldwide
Trick or Treat
Halloween is a world-famous holiday celebrating the macabre and the supernatural, most vigorously observed in the United States. It happens every year on October 31st. The are many customs and traditions associated with this old holiday including carving pumpkins, trick or treating and costume parties. Halloween’s roots have been traced to an old Irish Celtic holiday and to the Roman Empire.
(see more)
Harbin Ice Festival, China
Ice, Ice Baby
During January of every year the city of Harbin transforms into a winter wonderland► filled with castles, towers, and sculptures crafted from ice and snow. The festival was started in 1985 and lasts for around a month in the dead of winter. This festival along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival make up the largest such events in the world.
(see more)
Highlands Sing-sing, PNG
Go Tribal and Sing-sing
Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s last wild frontiers. Impressive natural geography and isolation has resulted in a modern primitive culture with over 700 individual tribes and the largest number of distinct languages in the world. Many tribes from around the country gather in August to put on an impressive display of tradition in PNG’s third largest city, Mount Hagen located in the Western Highlands.
(see more)
Hogmanay, Scotland
Scotland’s Party of the Year
After Christmas was banned in 16th century Scotland during the Protestant Reformation (a ban not lifted until the 1950s), Hogmanay became its most celebrated holiday. If you find yourself in Scotland for the four days around New Year’s, you are in for a very good time. Anywhere from 80,000 to 200,000 people make it out to Princes Street on New Year’s Eve for an epic party that culminates at midnight with a dramatic fireworks show above the picturesque Edinburgh Castle.
(see more)
Icarus Cup Free-Flying Festival
The Sky is Falling!
Travel to Saint-Hilaire du Touvet in the southeast of France to witness an eclectic assortment of flying and falling at the Icarus Cup Free-Flying Festival►. The festival borrows its name from the Greek myth of Icarus, who burned his wings whilst flying too close to the sun, attracting some 8000 human aviators every Fall.
(see more)
Isle of Wight Festival, England
The English Channel Classic
The Isle of Wight Festival, named for the southern England island it takes place on, is a legendary international music festival. This year, it will take place from June 10th-12th and features headliners, Kings of Leon.
(see more)
kaZantip, Ukraine
Welcome to the Party Republic
This is the biggest electronic music festival in Eastern Europe. This festival started as a big air competition and party for kitesurfers who enjoy the good wind and long, sandy beaches of the Black Sea.
(see more)
Kiruna Snow Fest, Sweden
Ice and Night
Underneath the glow of the northern lights and over 100 miles north of the Arctic circle lies the town of Kiruna, Sweden which hosts Europe's largest snow festival. These are training grounds for space and home to one of the premier "Ice Hotels". Landing here feels more like arriving on "Planet Hoth" than Earth.
(see more)
Kumbh Mela, India
The World’s Largest Gathering
This is the largest single gathering of humanity in the world. Every 3 years, Hindus gather in the tens of millions on the banks of the Ganges,► the river that according to legend, collected the drops of immortality that fell from the kumbh (pitcher of life) in ancient times. The gathering is centered in Allahbad, Hardiwar. Take a crowded bus or train from New Delhi (DEL).
(see more)
Lantern Festival, Thailand
Light up the Night!
Locals believe that lanterns evoke the spirit world and there is no better place to witness this tradition than in Hat Yai, Thailand.
(see more)
Lightning in a Bottle (USA)
Southern California Lightning Storm
Lightning in a Bottle Arts and Music Festival is a 4-day electronic dance party set in beautiful Southern California over Memorial Day weekend in May.
(see more)
Lollapalooza, (USA)
The Godfather of American Festivals
Perry Farrell founded the first Lollapalooza in 1991 as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction. It was also envisioned as a traveling roadshow featuring big names, while showcasing the up and coming. It even featured Shaolin monks and a freakshow.
(see more)
Los Diablos Danzantes, Venezuela
The Dancing Devils of Yare
The Dancing Devils of Yare (Diablos Danzantes del Yare) is the name of a religious festivity celebrated in San Francisco de Yare, Venezuela, every year on Corpus Christi day. The Sociedades del Santísimo (Societies of the Holiest) are the instigators of this devilish celebration. Its origins are traced back to the 18th century, and it’s noted as being the oldest brotherhood of the American continent.
(see more)
Lowlands, Holland
A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise
How could we do it? Impossible to miss Lowlands some readers asked. Well here it is...
(see more)
Lucidity Festival, USA
You Must Be Dreaming
This April, the second incarnation of Lucidity will fill the mountains of Santa Barbara, California with art and music as part of an “open-source” festival calling on the participants to help shape the experience.
(see more)
Masquerade Carnival, Venice
Moonlight Masquerade
Venice, Italy celebrates the Carnival season leading up to Ash Wednesday with a historic and elegant masquerade for the ages. Expect to be entertained by music, theater, and a water parade among other cultural events. Traditional masks play a central role► in this ancient celebration. There are three types of masks typified in the Italian masquerade.
(see more)
Melbourne Cup, Australia
And They’re Off!
The Melbourne Cup thoroughbred race dates back to 1861 and is Australia’s premier horse race, rivaling the Triple Crown races in America.
(see more)
Miss Columbia Beauty Pageant
The Most Beautiful Competition on Earth
Each November, the most beautiful women in Colombia compete in the Miss Colombia Beauty Pageant, or Concurso Nacional de Belleza, in Cartagena de Indias and a chance to be Columbia’s official entrant in the Miss Universe competition.
(see more)
Molten Iron Throwing Festival, China
DaShuHua Tree Flower Festival
No money for fireworks, no problem for creative locals in Nuanquan, China who discovered a new way to make fire explode in celebration of the annual Lantern Festival.
(see more)
Montreal Jazz Festival
Jazz Record Breaker
The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (English: Montreal International Jazz Festival) is an annual jazz festival held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Jazz Fest holds the 2004 Guinness World Record as the world's largest jazz festival. Every year it features roughly 3,000 artists from 30-odd countries, more than 650 concerts (including 450 free outdoor performances), and welcomes close to 2.5 million visitors (34% of whom are tourists) as well as 400 accredited journalists. The festival takes place at 10 free outdoor stages and 10 indoor concert halls.
(see more)
Naadam Festival, Mongolia
The Great Mongolian Games
Each July 11th-13th, Mongolia celebrates the national holiday of Naadam with a countrywide sports festival.
(see more)
Nature One, Germany
Go Wild – Freak Out
Germany’s Nature One festival is an epic open-aired electronic music festival where you can dance from sundown to sunrise the first weekend of August. The festival grounds are located at a decommissioned US missile base and have party areas such as the Century Circus, Open Air Floor and the Groovalistic Garden. A secondary “festival” takes place at the campgrounds where everyone seems to be a DJ.
(see more)
Night of the Radishes, Mexico
A Radish-ing Food Festival
Oaxaca, Mexico has celebrated the Night of Radishes each December 23rd since 1897. This cultural food event puts elaborate radish sculptures on display for thousands of onlookers.
(see more)
Night of the Witches, Germany
Dance Until Dawn on Witch Mountain
Walpurgis Night or Walpurgisnacht is a festival to experience yourself and a springtime tradition in Northern and Central Europe. Finland, Estonia, Sweden and Germany all have their own variations of this mysterious holiday. Much folklore lies around the date of May 1st as a known time for witches and wizards to convene with the devil in dance around the fire know as the Hexentanzplatz or “witches’ dance”.
(see more)
Notting Hill Carnival, UK
London Gone Wild
The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event that since 1965 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, UK each August, over three days (the August bank holiday Monday and the two days beforehand). It is led by members of the West Indian community. The carnival has attracted around one million people in the past years, making it one of the largest street festivals in the world
(see more)
Nowhere, Spain
Find Yourself in the Middle of Nowhere
Each summer since 2004, the small Nowhere Festival has brought the principles of Burning Man to Northeastern Spain. The location is kept a secret until just before the event, so keep checking the website www.goingnowhere.org to see where in the Spanish desert it will be this year.
(see more)
Oxegen Festival, Ireland
An Emerald Green Festival
The Oxegen Festival boasts a lineup featuring the top names in rock, indie, and pop music at an incredible carbon-neutral festival held at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland each July. The festival has enjoyed much success since being formed in 2004, attracting big names to the stage.
(see more)
Paleo Festival Nyon, Switzerland
Swiss Miss
Since 1976 – and the "First Folk Festival" that drew an audience of some 1,800 people in the town assembly rooms in Nyon –, Paléo Festival is today one of Europe’s most important musical events. Since its creation, the Festival has been growing in a regular and managed way, gaining steadily in professionalism during this period of development.
(see more)
Pingxi Lantern Festival, Taiwan
This beautiful festival is one built upon ancient traditions. Pingxi is a remote mountain town and before modern communication and in times of war, villagers would send communication by sky lantern to let their families know they were safe after making the perilous trek through the surrounding mountains.
(see more)
Pirate Festival, Cayman Islands
Shiver Me Timbers
Yarrrrr, the land and sea be taken over by pirates for Pirate Week in the Cayman Islands. This fun-filled November festival has grown in popularity, so get on the boat early or you’ll be stuck walking the plank.
(see more)
Pitchfork Music Festival, (USA)
Hipsters Unite
Why are Hipsters like Farmers?
(see more)
Prague Spring Music Festival
Springtime in Prague
Every May 12th, the Prague Spring International Music Festival kicks off a music festival featuring up-and-coming and established classical musicians ►in this beautiful Czech town. Concerts take place in spectacular venues including the Rudolfinum Concert Hall, Municipal House, and the Church of St. Lawrence.
(see more)
Primavera Sound, Spain
An Indy Spring
This spring music festival draws an eclectic mix of tunes in an absolutely stunning setting directly on the warm Mediterranean coast. It’s grown in popularity, now attracting in excess of 100,000 attendees over the 3 day festival.
(see more)
Pushkar Camel Fair, India
Two Humps Up!
Each year at the time of the Kartik Prunima full moon (usually in October or November) 50,000 camels migrate to Pushkar to be traded, along with thousands more horses, cows, goats, and sheep. For centuries, pilgrims and farmers have come from around India to this ancient holy city for the world’s largest camel fair.
(see more)
Rainbow Gatherings, Worldwide
Hippies Worldwide Rejoice
This year “someplace in the state of Washington” a Rainbow Gathering will form a temporary open and free community built on consensus in the early part of July. Upwards of 30,000 “non-members” are expected to participate in this year’s gathering. Though no official rules, structure, or leaders exist, participants arrive as early as a month beforehand to set up “Seed Camp” and prepare for the Forest Service permitted gathering.
(see more)
Rainbow Serpent, Australia
Shake, Rattle, and Slither
Rainbow Serpent Festival is a famous electronic music festival held in Beaufort, Victoria over the long Australia Day Weekend. The music is primarily psych-trance and minimalist techno, though dub, trance, and house music sneak into the lineup. There are over 100 acts to choose from to keep you dancing late into the night.
(see more)
Running of the Bulls, Spain
San Fermin, Run for your LIfe
Early in the morning every July 6th, crowds dressed in all white with red sashes and bandannas await the sound of rockets in the narrow streets of Pamplona, Spain. When the rockets fire, chaos ensues as one of the maddest foot races in the world begins.►
(see more)
Santa Fe Folk Market, (USA)
Support Local Craft and Worldwide Culture
Since 2004, Santa Fe, New Mexico annually hosts the largest multi-cultural artisan fair in the world. The festive market lasts 2 days, and features over 120 select artists from over 45 countries. Artists produce beautiful crafts from their native villages in Peru, India and Africa, and get to keep 90% of the profit.
(see more)
Santacon - Santanarchy
Ho Ho Hos
The legend of Santa Claus comes from the mythology of the nordic Northern Europe. Today cultures all over the world celebrate the legend of a jolly old fat man with a flying sleigh and reigndeer who travels the world on Christmas Eve to bring presents to all good boys and girls.
(see more)
Sapporo Snow Festival, Japan
Let it Snow!
Sapporo, Japan has hosted a great winter Olympics and is the capital of Hokkaido the northern most island. Every winter, about two million people come to Sapporo to see the hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures. They line Odori Park,the grounds at Community Dome Tsudome, and the main street in Susukino .
(see more)
Secret Garden Party, UK
Find Some Magic in a Secret Garden Party
The Secret Garden Party outside of Huntingdon, England brings an intimate arts festival to life in the East Anglia countryside. The festival experience builds on a combination of themed camps promising you’ll be “edified, enlightened, and enthralled” by camps including Flirt Factory, Dance Off, and Kissing Den.
(see more)
Sonar Electronic Festival, Spain
Cutting Edge Music By Day and Night
Barcelona, Spain will host the Sonar International Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art featuring cutting edge music and a conference showcasing the newest breakthroughs in the industry. You may need a siesta to keep up with Barcelona’s party pace. Whether you are a party thrower or a party goer you will find some ear candy and inspiration.
(see more)
St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland
The Luck of the Irish
Visit Dublin, Ireland for the 4 days of its St. Patrick’s Day celebration and enjoy a lively display of Irish culture, tradition and partying. This national holiday recognizes the life of Saint Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, and has celebrated national pride for over 1000 years.
(see more)
Star Trek Convention (USA)
Live Long and Prosper
Beam yourself up to the Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas this August. Creation Entertainment produces the four-day convention as a chance for the biggest fans to celebrate their love for Star Trek and meet their favorite actors, writers, and directors.
(see more)
Summer in Ibiza
Party Island
Looking for a good time? Well hop on a flight to the Mediterranean Spanish Island of Ibiza.
(see more)
Sundance Film Festival (USA)
Snow, Film, Fashion and Fun
Every January since 1981, independent filmmakers from across the U.S. converge on the small town of Park City, Utah to exhibit films made outside of the traditional Hollywood system. The primarily independent films compete for exposure and a chance to be touted as the next big thing.
(see more)
Surfest, Australia
Surf’s Up Down Under
Grab your stubbies, sunnies, board and some wax and paddle out to the hip Australian town of Newcastle. Whether you surf or not there are good times to be had at the annual Surfest where champion surfers battle it out in top-notch waves.
(see more)
SXSW, Austin, Texas (USA)
Yeeha! South by South West
South By Southwest Music and Film Interactive (SXSW) brings countless musical performers, tons of films, compelling presentations, and networking opportunities to Austin, Texas for a music industry extravaganza.
(see more)
Sziget, Hungary
Get Sziggy with it
The Sziget Music Festival has become one of the premiere summer music festivals in Europe. Sziget means “island” in Hungarian and over 100,000 eager festival-goers travel to Óbudai-sziget in the Danube to rock out and dance to some great music. Sziget has been described as "an electronically amplified, warped amusement park that has nothing to do with reality" or Europe’s answer to Burning Man.
(see more)
Taormina Film Festival
Mediterranean Film Festival
This Italian film festival held in Taormina, Sicily is consider to be Italy's premiere film event of the summer. It was first established in 1955 as the "Rassegna Cinematografica Internazionale di Messina e Taormina".
(see more)
Thaipusam, India
Offerings on the Edge
Each year, on the full moon of the 10th month of the Hindu calendar, thousands make the journey to the southern Indian city of Palani for Thaipusam for the chance to have a wish granted by Lord Subramanya. Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries with Tamil Hindi populations celebrate this bizarre holiday.
(see more)
Tomorrowland, Belgium
Dance Party of Tomorrow
"Yesterday is History, Today is a Gift, Tomorrow is a Mystery"
(see more)
Treasure Island Festival (USA)
Arrrrrrr Youuuu Scurvy Dog
This alternative rock, indy and electronic music festival features hip, upcoming artists on an island framed by the stunning San Francisco Bay.The gorgeous views towards the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Skyline are best enjoyed from the ferris wheel.
(see more)
Trinidad Carnival
The Greatest Show on Earth
Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is the most significant event on the islands. It is said that if the islanders are not celebrating it, then they are preparing for it, while reminiscing about the past year's festival. The heart of the musical celebration has been calypso; recently soca has replaced calypso as the most celebrated type of music. Costumes, stickfighting and limbo competitions are also important components of the festival.
(see more)
UFO Festival (USA)
An Out of this World Festival
The Roswell UFO Incident of 1947 remains a huge mystery for devotees of UFO lore. Allegedly a UFO crashed near the town, leading to an elaborate government cover-up. The town of Roswell is world-renowned for its otherworldly vibe and has a 3-day festival each summer to celebrate the anniversary of the crash.
(see more)
Up Hella Aa, Scotland
Fire them Up
Up Helly Aa refers to any of a variety of fire festivals held in Shetland, in Scotland, annually in the middle of winter to mark the end of the yule season. The festival involves a procession of up to a thousand guizers in Lerwick and considerably lower numbers in the more rural festivals, formed into squads who march through the town or village in a variety of themed costumes.
(see more)
Valentines Pillow Fight (USA)
World’s Largest Pillow Fight
Saint Valentine’s Day was established in AD 496, named after a Christian martyr. The myth has flourished over time and interpretations of love, hearts and arrow-slinging winged babies called Cupid are the most well-known modern day myths. Religious controversy around the world has come with this holiday and the Catholic church banned it in 1960. Learn more about the history of Valentine's Day here (Youtube)►
(see more)
Venice Film Festival, Italy
The Golden Lion
The Venice International Film Festival (Italian Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia) is the oldest international film festival in the world and considered one of the most prestigious. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the Lido, Venice, Italy.
(see more)
Viareggio Carnival, Italy
The Best Carnival in Europe
The Viareggio Carnival attracts international attention to the small Italian city for the largest Carnival celebration in Europe!
(see more)
Vienna Recordia, Austria
A World Record Festival
The annual Guinness Book of World Records competition takes places in Vienna, Austria each Fall inside the oldest amusement park in the world. Prater Park has hosted the event since 2004. The organizers welcome all as either a witness or participant. You must register in advance if you wish to make or break a world record of your own.
(see more)
Voodoo, New Orleans (USA)
Vood-you Like to Go to Voodoo?
Voodoo Experience, or simply Voodoo, is a 3-day music extravaganza held on the weekend nearest Halloween (October 31st) in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(see more)
Wakarusa, (USA)
Mulberry Mountain Hop
Eclectic music mix in this down home rock out near Ozark, Arkansas. It's been growing every year now with sell-out crowds exceeding 60,000.
(see more)
Water Festival, Thailand
Thai Water Fight!
The Songkran Water Festival in Thailand is a nation-wide water fight held in the name of spiritual cleansing and prosperity. The festival’s date formerly corresponded with the New Year of many Southeast Asian nations’ calendars. Now it’s set as a national holiday for April 13th-15th each year.
(see more)
White Nights, Russia
Three Months of Sunlight and Fine Arts
Visit beautiful St. Petersburg, Russia between May and July and you can witness some of the finest classical art performances the world has to offer as part of the White Nights Festival. Russian and international stars perform great works of opera, ballet, and music in this cultural event.
(see more)
Wickerman Festival, UK
It's better than it needs to be!
The Wickerman Festival is an annual music festival held near to Dundrennan in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Dubbed 'Scotland's Alternative Music festival', the festival celebrated its 10th Birthday in 2011.
(see more)
Winter Festival, New Zealand
Quirky Fun in the Snow
Winter sports enthusiasts and party lovers should not miss the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival in New Zealand. This June festival is the perfect way to kick off a snowy season in the Southern Hemisphere, perfectly combining sports and fun-filled activities.
(see more)
World Bodypainting Festival, Austria
Body of Art
Since 1998, the world’s most colourful event has taken place every year in Austria. The “World Bodypainting Festival” is the biggest art event in the bodypainting theme and tens of thousands of visitors admire the wonderful work of the participants.
(see more)
Yamayaki Grass Burning, Japan
Fire on the Mountain
This event commemorates an ancient battle between feuding monks that resulted in an entire mountain being burned. This is a sacred event and beautiful to watch. The grass hills of Mt. Wakakusa-yama in Nara are set on fire ►with a sacred flame from the Kasuga Taisha shrine, which burns for about 30 minutes and is followed by fireworks.
(see more)