Greatest Festivals From Around the World

They also offer tons of music, lights, rides and entertainment, all while surrounded by people eating, drinking and showing off their crazy outfits, creates an atmosphere unlike any other. Still, each festival in itself is unique, and offers its own version of an opportunity for people to unwind and go a little wild. Let’s check out some of the greatest festivals in the world.

Ultra Music Festival (Miami, FL) – Ultra takes place in March of every year in Miami, Florida. Primarily consisting of Electronic Dance acts, this festival lasts three days long and often serves as a main event for the country’s (and world’s) biggest partiers. Be sure to wear the brightest, most psychedelic, and even skimpiest outfit you can think of.

Mardi Gras (New Orleans, LA) – Every late winter in New Orleans, this two week festival provides a final opportunity to purge all one’s excesses before swearing them off. People from all over come to let all inhibitions loose before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras means “fat Tuesday”), the last day to commit sins. The tradition, if you don’t know, is to begin Lent the following day, Ash Wednesday; if you’re unfamiliar with the practices, Lent signifies a time where people abstain from vices. This often makes Mardi Gras one of the craziest festivals you can experience.

Fantasy Fest (Key West, FL) – Every year down in Key West, Florida, people gather for an epic costumed street party. What started in 1979 as a party to boost local business has become a 10-day event where pretty much anything goes. The festival has parades, music, delicious food and even costume contests.

Many events occur during these 10 days, such as a mini 2-day street party called Goombay. There’s also a Royal Coronation Ball, in which a king and queen are crowned, so you might want to make sure you and your significant other have a great couples costume to ensure votes.

La Tomatina (Buñol, Spain) – On the last Wednesday of every August, residents of Buñol, Spain and thousands of people from surrounding areas come together for La Tomatina, the conclusion to a week of celebratory events for the city’s patron saint. This festival, which lasts merely an hour, consists of an estimated 275,625 pounds of tomatoes that turn into weapons for drunk participants.

During this intense (but undeniably fun) hour people throw and smash tomatoes on each other in a huge bombardment of fruit and pulp. When it’s all over, the entire area looks almost like a violent blood bath has occurred.

Diwali (India) – A little toned down from these other festivals, but still epic, Diwali occurs every October or November in India. Also called the Festival of Lights, this event unites all religions in the entire country. Each home in India (that chooses to participate) tries to repel evil by lighting many lamps and candles together.

Afterward, people thoroughly clean out their homes, throwing away anything they don’t need, then buy new clothes and items. Finally, they set of a plethora of firecrackers, making this festival one of the loudest celebrations world-wide. The festival also serves as a peace offering between different cultures.

Noche de los Rábanos (Mexico) – If you like radishes, you’ll love this Mexican festival. Like many festivals, the “Night of the Radishes” started off as a marketing ploy. When the Spanish first introduced the radish to Mexico, they’d carve the radishes into attractive shapes to entice buyers. This tradition has now become a competition, where artisans make whatever they can out of radishes to win cash prizes.