Festivals are a great way to experience a new culture and an opportunity to share in the celebrations. They give you insight into the pride locals feel about their heritage, local customs and beliefs, music, and regional food and drink.
Learn all about the most popular festivals around the world and how to make them part of your upcoming vacation. From olive oil and beer to rock music and art, these carnivals, fairs, and parades are too much fun to miss.
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Festivals in Spain
Spanish festivals (or fiestas) are often city-wide celebrations of cultural traditions or religious observances (or both).
Many festivals in Spain are set against backdrops of Spanish guitar music, particular flamenco music, vibrant colors and decorations, and huge pans of paella and tortilla Española to serve to festival goers.
Candelaria
On February 2nd, Spain (and many other Hispanic countries) celebrate Candelaria, a Catholic commemoration of the day that Jesus was brought to the temple for the first time, which is 40 days after Christmas Day (December 25th). Candelaria celebrations include folkloric dance contests, elaborate Spanish feasts, and parades with marching bands and large floats.
Las Fallas
Known as Valencia’s Festival of Fire, Las Fallas takes place in Spain from March 15-19. It combines Spanish folklore and artistry in a four-day fireworks festival, and features huge papier-mâché sculptures installed all around the city of Valencia.
Expect to hear loud explosions and cheers every night, leading up to a noise comparable to a rumbling terremoto (earthquake)!
Feria de Abril
Also called the Feria de Sevilla (Seville Fair), the Feria de Abril takes place in April and celebrates the Andalusian culture of the city of Seville after Semana Santa (Easter Holy Week).
It begins on the Sunday after Easter with Alumbrado (The Lighting), which inaugurates the event with hundreds of thousands of lights on the city fairgrounds. Festivities continue all week long, and include El Paseo de Caballos (The Parade of Horses), thousands of rentable casetas (tents), and flowing drinks like manzanilla (sherry) and endless tapas (appetizers)
San Fermín
You may know Fiesta de San Fermin (San Fermin Festival) as The Running of the Bulls or Encierro, an iconic celebration in Pamplona.
It takes place every year from July 6th to July 14th and honors Saint Fermin with both religious observances, rocket launches, and enormous puppet parades (Gigantes y Cabezudos). At midnight on July 14th, participants sing “Pobre de Mí” while waving red scarves to end the festival.
French festivals
When you plan a trip around annual French festivals, you’ll immerse yourself in local history, music, art, and an embracing community that makes you feel like a local.
Music and art festivals feature world-class French singers and artists, while food festivals introduce visitors to the finest dining and wine they may ever experience, known as la gastronomie (and grand vin).
La Candeleur
France is famous for its crêpes every day of the year, but on February 2nd, its crêpes (thin, filled pancakes) take on a whole new meaning. Like Candelaria in Spain, La Chandeleur marks the 40th day after Easter Sunday and has roots in Catholic traditions.
Paris is the main destination for those seeking sweet and savory crêpes at a city festival, while Brittany, the birthplace of the crêpe itself, offers visitors an authentic culinary experience.
Menton Lemon Festival
The Fête du Citron, also known as the Menton Lemon Festival, takes place during the last two weeks of February in the small town of Menton. It’s known for towering parade floats, delicious desserts, and artistic displays—all made with lemons!
Stop by the festival to sample France’s small-town beauty and can’t-miss lemon treats, including limoncello and tarte au citron.
Nuit Blanche
Nuit Blanche means “White Night” (or “Sleepless Night”) in English, and it refers to an all-night arts festival that takes place in Paris on the first Saturday in June.
Nuit Blanche features local art exhibits, musical performances, dance and theater, and other creative forays—all in the middle of the night!
Fête de la Musique
One of the most popular festivals around the world is Fête de la Musique (World Music Day), which takes place worldwide on the summer solstice (June 21st). It began in Paris and continues every year, bringing locals and visitors to the epicenter of western music and culture.
Listen to iconic musical acts as you lounge on the banks of the Seine, enjoying French bistro bites like baguette sandwiches or sweet macrons.
Festivals in Germany
If you hear a brass band playing oompah music, smell savory roasting Bratwurst and soft Brezeln (pretzels), and see tables serving world-class beer from local breweries, you’re at a Volksfeste (German festival)!
These community events are great ways for visitors to learn more about regional German culture and experience Gemütlichkeit—warm German hospitality.
Wurstmarkt
Germany’s largest wine festival, Wurstmarkt (Sausage Market) takes place in Bad Dürkheim across two weeks in September.
Visitors and locals alike peruse the Weindorf (wine village) and Schubkarchstände (wooden stalls) to sample regional wine in the Pfalz wine region, and enjoy carnival rides. As the festival is named after a sausage market, you can also expect some samples of German sausage and local foods.
Oktoberfest
For over two weeks spanning September and October every year, Oktoberfest in Germany celebrates Bavarian culture with classic foods like Hendl (roast chicken soup) or Leberkäse (German meatloaf), and of course, Festbier (Oktoberfest beer).
With over six million locals and visitors attending Oktoberfest in Munich, it’s easy to see why this festival is one of the most popular festivals around the world.
Erntedankfest
The German festival of Erntedankfest is a harvest celebration similar to American Thanksgiving. It occurs on the first Sunday of October each year, after the autumn equinox, and takes place in both individual family homes and German town squares with special harvest food and Volkstümliche Musik (German folk music).
Fasching
A pre-Lenten German festival season, known as Fasching, begins on November 11th and ends on Ash Wednesday in the following February. It marks a period of celebration with individual festival days like Weiberfastnacht (Women’s Carnival) and Tulpensonntag (Tulip Sunday), along with parades, colorful costumes, and outdoor food carts and booths.
Italian festivals
Step into a modern Renaissance when you plan your trip to Italy around vibrant Italian festivals throughout the year. Known as some of the most enthralling and enriching festivals around the world, these events are must-see stops for those seeking Italian cuisine, art, music, and culture. Even the word festival is an Italian word!
Carnevale di Venezia
A pre-Lenten festival in Venice brings Italian theater and festivity to those seeking an authentic Italian experience. This celebration takes place over the two weeks before Ash Wednesday in January and February, and ends on Martedi Grasso (Fat Tuesday).
It’s marked by its 18th-century costumes at masquerade parties, lavish feasts featuring cicchetti (appetizers) and frittelle (fried dough balls), and a water parade down the Grand Canal.
Infiorata
Celebrate springtime in Italy at Infiorata (Flower Decoration), a street festival featuring floral art that occurs between May and June. Local artists transform town streets into floral masterpieces, decorating the pavement with fresh flower petals, seeds, and other elements of floral design.
You can find Infiorata festivals in locations throughout Italy, including Rome, Sicily, Spello, and Tuscany.
Festival of San Gennaro
Known as “The Feast of all Feasts” in Italy, this celebration occurs every year on September 19th in Naples and pays tribute to the town’s patron saint, Saint Gennaro.
The festival combines religious experiences, including the Blood Miracle (the liquefaction of Saint Januarius’s blood at the Naples Cathedral) and street events like food stalls and concerts featuring local Italian artists.
Olivagando
No trip to Italy is complete without a bottle of Italian olive oil, and you can take your pick at Olivagando, the famous olive oil festival in Magione.
It takes place after the harvest season in Italy, typically mid-November, and offers visitors the chance to sample olive oil with bruschetta or even gelato all’olio d’oliva (olive oil ice cream). Don’t miss La dolce goccia, the olive oil competition between oil producers in the region!
Festivals in Japan
If you’re planning a trip to Japan in the coming year, chances are you’ll find spectacular Japanese festivals (matsuri) during any given month.
Whether you’re interested in traditional Japanese dance, music, art, or celebrations of nature, these festivals give visitors the chance to appreciate both Japanese hospitality and civic pride.
Sakura Matsuri
The cherry blossom season in Japan (Sakura Matsuri) gives locals and visitors the chance to experience hanami, the indescribable feeling of peace and beauty associated with viewing flowers.
Ueno Sakura Matsuri in Tokyo brings celebrants to a grove of 1,200 cherry blossom trees in late March and early April, where they can try local Japanese fare like cherry-flavored Chandon and yakitori (skewered grilled chicken).
Obon Festival
Japanese culture is known for its reverence and respect for elders, and at the Japanese Obon festival in July or August (depending on the region), visitors can see this cultural value in local celebrations.
Its Buddhist roots are infused in local observances, which include traditional dances (bon odori), dressing in kimonos, and lighting paper lanterns on the final day of the four-day festival.
Kochi Yosakoi Festival
A free four-day festival in Kochi City takes the talents of thousands of dancers to over a dozen venues, infusing Japan with an energetic and expressive energy from August 9th to 12th.
Dancers hold naruko (traditional wooden clappers) and dance in a variety of genres and styles to traditional Japanese folk songs.
Tenjin Matsuri
The Tenjin Matsuri (Festival of the Gods), an annual event held in Osaka on July 24th and 25th, invites locals and visitors to honor Tenjin, the sky god.
A rikutogyo (land procession) features participants dressed in traditional Japanese costumes, while the funatogyo (river procession) brings the celebration to a parade of illuminated boats and a fireworks show.
Shizu Onsen Snow Festival
Experience the magic of winter in the snowiest country in the world when you attend Japan’s Shizu Onsen Snow Festival.
Held every year in Gassan Shizu Onsen during late February, this special event features life-sized snow ledges, snow lantern lighting, and an illuminated ice bar serving hot wine.
Latin American Festivals
From Indigenous Mexican celebrations to lavish festivals in Colombia, Latin America offers an abundance of fiestas and festas for visitors to enjoy.
Schedule your next trip to a Latin American country during one of these special times of the year to hear vibrant mariachi or merengue music while you sample delicious tamales, pupusas, or empanadas.
Rio Carnival (Brazil)
A list of popular festivals around the world must include the Rio Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This epitome of festivity is held in February, typically beginning the Friday before Ash Wednesday and ending five days later on Fat Tuesday.
Millions of participants come from around the world to dance the samba, view incredible floats in the Sambadrome Parade, and stop by hundreds of street parties offering local food and drink to visitors.
Carnaval de Barranquilla (Colombia)
Another Fat Tuesday celebration, Carnaval de Barranquilla, takes place in Barranquilla, Colombia, the day before Ash Wednesday. It blends Colombia’s Catholic influences with its Indigenous roots, leading to an integration of African traditions and Spanish culture with native Colombian artistry.
Popular exhibitions at this festival include the Exposición Río de Tradiciones, an art exhibition showcasing local talent, and Fiesta de Danzas y Cumbias, a musical festival featuring skilled dancers in traditional costumes.
Feria de las Flores (Colombia)
Springtime brings brilliant blossoms to Latin America, and Colombia’s Feria de las Flores celebrates them in all their glory.
This growing event takes place in mid-July in Medellín, Colombia, and blends the natural beauty of native fauna with the region’s rich history, including a parade of flower-adorned silletas (wooden structures) from Santa Elena to Medellín.
Inti Raymi (Peru)
Those traveling to Peru in the near future should make a point to be in Cusco on June 24th, where the festival of Inti Raymi takes place. One of the most prominent festivals in Peru, Inti Raymi is a colorful, festive event that pays homage to Peru’s Incan roots and the Sun God.
Gather at the Qorikancha temple to see traditional performers act out the saludo al Sol (sun greeting) before watching the dances of the Tahuantinsuyo (Inca Empire) and traditional ceremony at the ancient Sacsayhuamán citadel.
Guelaguetza (Mexico)
View generations of dance and music blended into one experience when you attend the two-week Guelaguetza (from the Zapotec word for “offering”), also known as Los Lunes del Cerro (Mondays on the Hill).
This festival takes place in Oaxaca City in the latter weeks of July, and features street parades, traditional dancing, and a Festival de los Moles where participants can bring their mole recipes to compete with others.
American festivals
Festivals in the United States celebrate the country’s past and present, bringing regional details to events that commemorate important dates on the US calendar. Plan your next trip around these American festivals that offer a true glimpse of what each state has to offer.
New Orleans Mardi Gras
France may be the birthplace of the Mardi Gras festival, but New Orleans is the premier place to be on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
It originated in original French territories of North America, and those French influences continue today with masked parades, extravagant purple, gold, and green decorations, and foods like beignets and crêpes, all set against the backdrop of the quintessential American music: Jazz.
Coachella Music Festival
Music fans in the US flock to Indio, California every April to see popular and up-and-coming music acts on the big stage. Artists bring their wares and set up large installations alongside the stages of Coachella, while participants set up tents to attend each unmissable musical performance during the three-day concert.
Juneteenth Celebrations
Before it became a national holiday, Juneteenth was known as Jubilee in Black communities throughout the United States. It commemorates the last day of American slavery and the first day of true American emancipation on June 19th, 1865.
Today, Juneteenth celebrations still take place on June 19th and include drum circles, street fairs, and exhibitions by Black-owned businesses and restaurants.
Fourth of July Parades
No matter where you are on July 4th, you’re bound to find an Independence Day parade, festival, or celebration. Featuring traditional American foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, and barbecue, the Fourth of July begins with festive parades down the street and ends with a triumphant firework show set to patriotic music.
Festivals in the UK
Celebrate British music, cuisine, and distinctive regional traditions the next time you attend a festival on the British Isles. These events bring tourists and locals together to experience artistic performances and street fairs together, all with the possibility of wet British weather making a possible attendance.
Glastonbury Festival
Taking place at Worthy Farm in Somerset, England, the Glastonbury Festival is the largest greenfield performing arts festival in the world.
It spans five days in late June and brings performers of all music and theater genres together for a series of unforgettable performances. Double check that you’re not traveling during a fallow year (an off year for the festival to allow the ground to regrow) and enjoy the hippie vibes of Glastonbury.
Great British Food Festival
If you love British food and drink, find a destination during your summer travels to experience the Great British Food Festival.
This celebration of British cuisine takes place over several summer weekends in a variety of locations in the UK, including Northampton, Warwick, and Port Talbot. Enjoy traditional British pub grub, international street stalls, and artisan desserts crafted by local bakers.
Edinburgh International Festival
Celebrate Scotland’s opera, theatre, and music scene at the Edinburgh International Festival, which takes place over three weeks in August.
A multicultural festival invites performers from all over the world and within Scotland itself, alongside workshops and Scottish cuisine and street food offerings from the neighboring Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
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