May
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.
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Bay to Breakers Race (USA)
A San Francisco Costumed Tradition
This year, San Francisco celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Bay to Breakers foot race combining sport and spectacle unlike anything else!
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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.
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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.►
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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.
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Cheese Rolling Festival, UK
The Cheesiest Festival in the World
The premise is quite simple: climb Cooper’s Hill, the steepest in town. Take a delicious local “Double Gloucestershire” giant cheese wheel and roll it down the hill. Add drunken participants and roll them down the hill after the cheese►. The person to catch the cheese wins (the cheese) and hilarity ensues. The cheese is fast, weighs about 8 pounds and has been known to roll at speeds of over 70 mph!
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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.
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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.
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Joshua Tree Music Fest (USA)
Desert Rock
Joshua Tree is a national park not far outside of Los Angeles off the desert route near Palm Springs. It is a magical place worthy of a visit where for the ninth year in a row, the Joshua Tree Music Festival will be providing an intimate desert festival experience where you can dance under the sun and the stars.
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Kentucky Derby (USA)
“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”
On the first Saturday in May, the Kentucky Derby Festival culminates in a spectacular display of fashion and sport at Churchill Downs for a horse race that has been called “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”► This first leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing takes place the first Saturday in May and is watched by millions worldwide.
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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.
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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.
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Midi Modern Festival, China
Rock out in China
Each year in May, Beijing holds the biggest rock festival of the year in China featuring international talent and a variety of musical genres. The 4-day Midi Modern Festival is one of the most affordable festivals around (4-day passes start at about $36) and a great addition to a China trip for any festival enthusiast.
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Monaco Grand Prix, Europe
The Greatest Road Race on Earth
Once a year, the best in Formula One race through the streets of the Monaco at this prestigious auto race.
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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.
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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.
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Redneck Games (USA)
Olympic Hick
The Summer Redneck Games of East Dublin, Georgia may have began as a joke, but they have grown into one of the most fun and silliest festivals taking place this year.
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Sasquatch Music Festival (USA)
The Legend of Bigfoot
The Sasquatch Music Festival brings the hottest names in music and newest up-and-coming rockers to one of the most beautiful venues on earth over Memorial Day Weekend.
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Victory Day, Russia
Celebrate the End of WWII with Russian Might
Every year in May, all of Europe celebrates Victory Day (or V-Day), the day in 1945 that World War II ended in Europe. Russia has made the day of remembrance a national holiday, and holds nothing back to remind the world the major role it played in the victory.
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