From Rio de Janeiro's Carnival to the Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert, there are some truly remarkable festivals around the world that draw millions of people each year. Whether you're looking for a wild party, a cultural celebration, or a religious gathering, there's something for everyone. Here we have listed the 10 most spectacular celebrations around the world, so you can get the most out of them and enjoy. CARNAVAL (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is arguably the biggest festival in the world and widely considered to be “the best show on Earth”. The event attracts nearly 5 million people each year, and approximately half a million visitors travel to see the show.
The Polish Woodstock, named after the famous 1969 festival in New York, is a worthy homage to rock, pop, metal and folk. With artists like The Prodigy playing to more than 1 million people, the festival has a history of big crowds and a special atmosphere. Admission is free and the festival's motto is “Love, Friendship and Music” in honor of the original festival that changed consciousness. Morocco's Mawazine Festival is a celebration of Moroccan culture and arts, founded by King Mohammad IV's personal secretary and remains an incredible tribute to African music. With an annual attendance of around 2.65 million spectators, they bring together great artists such as Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Rod Stewart, as well as a large number of African luminaries such as Amadou, Mariam and Tinariwen. St.
Patrick's Day is celebrated in Dublin or New York on March 17th with an amazing time. It's a bit of a crazy party considering that the holiday is in honor of Ireland's patron saint and if you think you've seen an elf at the parade, well, you're probably not hallucinating. You'll have to dress from head to toe in green and also paint your face, otherwise you'll stand out like a sore thumb. Don't forget to learn the Irish word for applause, sláinte. The Oktoberfest in Munich attracts 6 million visitors each year and enjoys immense popularity around the world.
So much so that all over the United States, Oktoberfest celebrations have been repeated in several major cities. Oktoberfest brings together aspects of rich local culture, history, fun and games, great food and great beer to create weeks of incredible celebration. La Tomatina is the gastronomic festival par excellence held every August in the city of Buñol. There are many variations of the origin story of La Tomatina, ranging from harmless jokes between children to attacks on a terrible musician and townspeople who express their anger and disappointment with the city councilors. The Loy Krathong and Yee Peng lantern festivals in Chiang Mai (Thailand) are celebrated with a style that really sets the night ablaze. The Harbin Ice Festival is officially called the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival and is held annually in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. The Essence Music Festival is the largest music festival in African-American culture in the United States.
The festivities vary from place to place in the Shetlands but each Up Helly Aa is celebrated with a torchlight procession through the streets, the symbolic burning of a galley (Viking ship), and then a night of banquets, dancing and fun. The Kumbh Mela is the largest religious gathering in the world and therefore one of the biggest festivals on Earth. The running of the bulls are part of San Fermin Festival which takes place every year from July 6 to 14 in Pamplona, Spain. The Burning Man Festival is held in a specially built temporary city (yes, you read that right) in the heart of Black Rock Desert. It is one of the most popular festivals around with more than 350 concerts taking place in its city center every year. Finally, Day of Dead celebrations take place across Mexico with some places looking more like full-fledged cultural festivals compared to other places. During these weeks dedicated to Carnival each year thousands of tourists and locals take to streets in beautiful costumes and masks to enjoy music, dancing parties and festive atmosphere.
