Why Festivals Matter
Festivals are more than just dates on a calendar. They’re shorthand for a culture’s values, stories, and spirit. Show up to one, and it’s like opening a door into the collective memory of a place. You see how people celebrate, mourn, give thanks, or mark time—not through textbooks, but through food, music, costumes, and rituals. That context adds gravity to a trip. Suddenly, it’s not just sightseeing—it’s insight.
Timing a trip around a local festival gives your travel a pulse. It puts you in sync with communities at their most expressive and open. You’re not drifting through a destination. You’re in it. Whether it’s watching a thousand dancers fill a Peruvian plaza or joining lantern-lit processions in Thailand, you’re part of a story that’s been unfolding for generations.
Then there are the brass tacks. Festivals offer rare photo and video moments you simply won’t get any other time. Locals are more willing to connect. The energy’s high. The textures are richer. You come home with more than shots of architecture—you capture culture in motion. No filter can fake that.
Holi (India)
A Festival of Color and Joy
Holi, often dubbed the “festival of colors,” is one of India’s most vibrant and beloved celebrations. Held in March each year, Holi marks the arrival of spring and reflects deep cultural themes: good triumphing over evil, the joy of renewal, and the value of community.
- What it Celebrates:
- The victory of the god Vishnu over the demon Holika
- The arrival of spring and the end of winter’s gloom
- A festive embrace of unity, where social divisions temporarily dissolve
- What to Expect:
- Colored powders (gulal) thrown with joy in streets and public squares
- Music, dancing, and traditional sweets like gujiya shared between friends and strangers
- Bonfires on the eve of Holi symbolizing purification and rebirth
Safety and Etiquette Tips for First-Timers
Holi is joyful but can be chaotic if you’re unprepared. To blend in and stay safe:
- Wear clothes you’re willing to ruin – synthetic fabrics are easier to clean than cotton
- Protect your eyes and skin – sunglasses and oiling your skin/hair can help ward off staining
- Be mindful of boundaries – while play is encouraged, always respect a person’s wish not to participate
- Attend organized Holi events – especially in large cities, opt for events with crowd control, music, and shade
Gion Matsuri (Japan)
Ancient Majesty in Modern Kyoto
Taking place throughout July in Kyoto, Gion Matsuri is one of Japan’s most famous and longest-running festivals—celebrated for over 1,100 years. Originally a religious event to ward off plagues, it has grown into a citywide celebration of tradition, artistry, and local pride.
- Core Highlights:
- The majestic Yamaboko Junko parade on July 17 and 24, featuring 30+ floats, some towering over 25 feet
- Evening festivities known as yoiyama, when streets are closed to traffic, lantern-lit and filled with food stalls
- Traditional dress, music, and rituals carried out by local families with centuries of connection to the event
Best Times and Spots to Experience It
- Mid-July is when the grand parades occur—plan to be there between July 14–24 for peak experiences
- Shijo Street and Karasuma Street offer prime views of the floats and festivities
- Book accommodations months in advance; Kyoto gets packed during this season
- For a quieter but deeply meaningful experience, attend the purification rituals and smaller community events earlier in the month
Whether you go for the colors of Holi or the heritage of Gion Matsuri, both festivals offer unforgettable windows into the spirit of their cultures.
La Tomatina (Spain)
It looks like pure chaos—thousands of people throwing overripe tomatoes at each other in the streets of Buñol—but La Tomatina runs on rules. No hard objects. No glass. No tearing shirts. Flatten tomatoes before hurling. And once the trucks stop dumping their red cargo, the fight lasts exactly one hour. The reason it works? The structure behind the madness. Everyone comes to play, not hurt.
Held on the last Wednesday of August, La Tomatina is part of a week-long festival honoring Buñol’s patron saints. The lead-up includes fireworks, parades, and the peculiar palo jabón—a greased pole climb where people try to reach a ham tied to the top. After the tomato chaos, fire trucks hose down the streets…and participants hose down themselves in nearby rivers or public showers.
Buñol is a small town, which means accommodations fill fast. Many stay in Valencia, just 40 minutes away by train. Pack a change of clothes, book early, and forget white shirts—you won’t see them again.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Scotland)
What started as a side act in 1947 is now the largest arts festival in the world. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe takes over the Scottish capital every August with thousands of performances in comedy, theater, dance, spoken word, and unclassifiable weirdness. No big gatekeepers here—anyone can perform, if they register and find a venue. That openness creates a wild range of quality, but it’s part of the charm.
Fringe is a playground for discovery. You might catch a future Oscar-winner in a pub basement or a comedian bombing with style in an attic. The key is to stay curious, flexible, and generous with your attention.
Book key shows early—they sell out fast. But leave space for spontaneity. For accommodations, central Edinburgh gets pricey, so look at Leith or other neighborhoods along tram lines. And wear good shoes. You’ll do a lot of walking, and yes, the cobblestones are very real.
Carnaval (Brazil)
Nothing about Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval is subtle. The streets vibrate with energy. Blocos—those roaming party bands—take over entire neighborhoods. And above all, there’s the spectacle of the samba parades, where samba schools spend all year crafting performances that last minutes but leave lasting impressions.
But underneath the glitter, Carnaval is a serious operation. Samba schools aren’t just dance crews—they’re community anchors. Locals invest time, money, and heart into every stitch of costume and beat of the drum. Behind the scenes, entire neighborhoods turn into creative workshops months in advance, welding floats, sewing sequins, practicing drumming and choreography late into the night.
If you’re going, plan early. Tickets to the Sambadrome—the main venue for the parades—sell fast and vary in price depending on your view and comfort level. Blocos are free, but parades like Banda de Ipanema or Carmelitas get crowded, so know your exits and stay alert. Book accommodations months out, and don’t forget essentials: water, sunblock, and a secure way to carry money.
Carnaval can be overwhelming, but lean into it. Don’t expect to see everything—pick your poison: parades at night or blocos by day. Either way, Carnaval delivers a sensory overload that reminds you Brazil writes its own rules for celebration.
(More South America travel insights: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling in South America)
Timkat (Ethiopia)
Timkat is Ethiopia’s vivid, immersive celebration of Epiphany, held every January. It goes far beyond a church service. Picture thousands of people dressed in white, chanting and singing, following priests in colorful robes who carry replicas of the Ark of the Covenant through the streets. The heart of the celebration is the ritual reenactment of Jesus’s baptism, culminating in a full-body, riverside water blessing. It’s not a staged tourist moment—it’s active, sacred, and communal.
If you’re choosing where to experience it, Gondar and Lalibela are the go-to picks. Gondar is known for its royal compound and larger crowds, giving a wider spectacle. In contrast, Lalibela offers a more intimate, spiritual vibe with its iconic rock-hewn churches as the backdrop. Both are unforgettable, but the choice depends on whether you want ceremony at scale or a setting steeped in medieval mystery.
Lake of Stars Festival (Malawi)
Set right on the shores of Lake Malawi, Lake of Stars blends laid-back vibes with high-energy beats. It’s one of Africa’s most unique festivals, pulling in musicians, poets, and artists from across the continent. You’ll watch live sets under the stars with your toes in the sand—and during the day, panel discussions and art installations line the palm-studded festival grounds. It’s less about big names, more about connection and creativity.
To get there, most travelers fly into Lilongwe or Blantyre, then take a road trip toward the lake—around 3–5 hours, depending on where the festival is hosted that year (check closer to the event for final locations). Local lodges and beach resorts book out early, so plan in advance. Some visitors camp right at the festival grounds for the full experience. Rustic? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Dia de los Muertos (Mexico)
At first glance, it might look like Halloween’s cousin—painted faces, skeleton costumes, candlelit displays. But Dia de los Muertos isn’t about fear or fright. It’s about remembrance. Held from October 31 to November 2, this Mexican tradition honors loved ones who’ve passed with marigolds, food, music, and memories. Families build altars (ofrendas) filled with photos, favorite dishes, and personal mementos to welcome the spirits back for a short but meaningful stay.
For travelers, it’s a visual feast and an emotional education. Oaxaca delivers one of the most authentic and colorful experiences, with candlelit cemeteries and parades that thread through cobblestone streets. Mexico City blends centuries-old heritage with sprawling public celebrations—especially around the Zócalo. Morelia offers a slightly quieter, more intimate take, with poetic rituals rooted in Purepecha Indigenous culture.
Calgary Stampede (Canada)
Dubbed “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” Calgary Stampede is a head-on collision of cowboy grit and high-adrenaline entertainment. Held every July, it’s part rodeo, part cultural festival, part stadium-sized party. Bull riding, barrel racing, and chuckwagon races take center stage, sure—but there’s plenty for families, too: pancake breakfasts, Indigenous exhibitions, farm experiences, and live music for all tastes.
It’s not just about nostalgia for the Old West. The event has grown into a showcase of Alberta’s multifaceted identity, from ranch roots to modern Western fusion. For vloggers, the Stampede offers high-impact visuals, cross-cultural storytelling chances, and a crash course in how Canadians do tradition—with a twist.
Planning for a Festival Trip
Timing matters. For major festivals—think Rio’s Carnaval or Japan’s Gion Matsuri—you’ll want to book flights and accommodations at least 4–6 months ahead. Prices spike fast, and good spots disappear even faster. Flexibility helps, but be strategic: flying mid-week or staying slightly outside the main zone can cut costs without sacrificing access.
What travelers often miss? The red tape. Some festivals require permits, whether for attending, filming, or using drones. Local customs can surprise you too. Is it okay to wear costumes? Should you bring offerings? Festival fatigue is real—schedule downtime if the event spans multiple days. Not every moment needs to be documented.
And speaking of documentation: Respect goes further than a perfect shot. Ask before photographing people, especially at culturally or spiritually significant events. Avoid blocking pathways or climbing structures to get your angle. The best camera is the one people don’t notice—blend in, be present, and capture moments without taking them over.
Final Take
Festivals aren’t just big music stages or wild parades. They’re windows into something deeper—shared memory, belief, identity. Every drumbeat or dish passed down at a street stall says something about the place you’re standing in. When you show up, it counts how you show up.
Too many travelers blow through festivals looking for a backdrop, not a story. But when you approach with curiosity—not cameras first—you get more than content. You get connection. You understand a little more about the rhythm of a city, the weight of its rituals, and the people keeping them alive.
So travel with patience. Listen before you report. Respect the moods, the moments, the silences. Let the culture move first—and follow. The experience will be richer. And your stories will be better for it.