- Chinese communities will celebrate the Year of the Dragon; around the world festivals celebrate everything from whales to camels, and balloons to cherry blossom
If there’s one thing that unites the world, it’s the love of a good festival, as will become apparent on February 10 as Chinese people at home and around the world usher in the Year of the Dragon.
Vibrant or solemn, mesmerising or mournful, festivals bring people together to commemorate and celebrate. They honour traditions and rituals with performance and costume, song and dance. Some bring communities closer; others attract tourists by the planeload. A few involve a lot of mud.
Here’s an A to Z of festivals beyond the Lunar New Year. Book your hotel as early as possible.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, US
What began as a low-key gathering of 13 enthusiasts at a New Mexico, United States, car park in 1972 has grown into the world’s largest hot-air balloon festival.
In October, the nine-day (October 5 to 13) Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will attract more than 550 balloonists.
Be sure to bring a camera to capture the Dawn Patrol launch.
Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea
Devised as a way of promoting cosmetics made from a mineral-rich local product, the annual Boryeong Mud Festival takes place on Daecheon Beach, on the west coast of South Korea, every July and August.
The largest event of its kind, participants wrestle in pools of the medicinal grey stuff; slip and slither down mudslides and negotiate obstacle courses, all to a K-pop soundtrack.
Cherry Blossom Day, Japan
March 27 every year is Sakura No Hi, or Cherry Blossom Day, although the centuries-old Japanese tradition typically extends from late March to the start of May, and as early as January on the southern island of Okinawa.
Smartphone apps provide updates for when the candyfloss-coloured blossom is predicted to bloom – a cue for families and friends to gather in parks and gardens for petal-themed parties.
Dark Mofo, Australia
In Tasmania, Australia’s Dark Mofo festival is a late-night winter celebration with a Gothic twist. The eerie event, which takes place in the Hobart half-light, explores themes of darkness through giant art installations and ancient rituals illuminated by blazing bonfires.
The two-week nocturnal gathering (June 13 to 23 this year) culminates in a nude solstice swim in the River Derwent that attracts 2,000 shivering participants.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, UK
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, usually referred to simply as the Fringe, is the world’s largest performance arts festival.
Taking place in Scotland’s capital city each August, the gathering features an eclectic array of comedy acts and cabaret artists, musicians and magicians.
Last year, tens of thousands of artists and audience members from nearly 170 countries attended thousands of shows in hundreds of venues, with precisely 2,445,609 tickets having been issued across the festival.
Fuji Rock Festival, Japan
First held at the foot of Japan’s most iconic mountain in 1997, the Fuji Rock Festival has since found a permanent home in the scenic surroundings of Naeba ski resort, Niigata prefecture.
The East Asian nation’s largest outdoor music event draws crowds of up to 150,000 – many of whom camp on the snow-free slopes – and artists at the top of their game, from Coldplay and the Foo Fighters to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and Lizzo.
This year’s smorgasbord of rock takes place between July 26 and 28.
Glastonbury Festival, UK
In 1970, 1,500 hippies each paid £1 to attend the first Glastonbury Festival, in Somerset, England, a fee that included camping and milk. T-Rex performed that year; David Bowie appeared 12 months later and Genesis played in 1972.
Last year, tickets costing £335 (HK$3,340) were snapped up by 210,000 lucky applicants and Sir Elton John became the most-watched Glastonbury headliner in history as 7.6 million people tuned in to the BBC broadcast.
Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, China
The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival draws spellbound sightseers who roll up in their millions to gaze in awe at the glistening palaces and pagodas, glassy castles and cartoon characters, all carved from giant ice blocks cut from the Songhua River.
The festival, in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province, is taking place currently and will continue until the end of February.
Inti Raymi, Peru
The Inti Raymi ceremony is held in honour of the most venerated deity in the Inca religion, Inti.
Although it is now celebrated in Peru on June 24 instead of June 21, it was an observation of the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year in terms of the time between sunrise and sunset – and the Inca New Year, when the hours of light would begin to lengthen again.
Considered the most important of all Incan festivities, it has been celebrated in all its colour and pomp in the main square of the city of Cusco since 1412.
Jaipur Literature Festival, India
Dubbed the greatest literary show on Earth, the Jaipur Literature Festival is held in the lush gardens, elegant halls and charming courtyards of Diggi Palace, a 19th century gem in the capital of Rajasthan, India.
Founded in 2006, the world’s largest free event of its kind brings together authors, book lovers and thinkers from around the world, who engage in discussions, readings and performances.
Unfortunately, you have just missed this year’s event, which finished on February 5.
Kumbh Mela, India
Also in India, the 2,000-year-old Kumbh Mela is a Hindu pilgrimage that rotates among four cities every three years, making a 12-year cycle.
The scale of the spectacle is mind-boggling – 120 million visitors descended on Allahabad (also known as Prayagraj), in Uttar Pradesh, in 2013 – the largest gathering of people anywhere, ever.
Millions of devotees immerse themselves in sacred rivers to wash away sins and seek spiritual purification for eternity. The next Kumbh Mela is scheduled for 2025, also in Allahabad.
Loy Krathong, Thailand
Every November, Thais come together to celebrate the festival of Loy Krathong. They gather at rivers, lakes and beaches to float intricately crafted vessels known as krathong, which are adorned with flowers, candles, incense and wishes for good fortune, happiness and love.
The ancient tradition is designed to appease water spirits and symbolises letting go of negativity.
Mardi Gras, US
French for Fat Tuesday, the New Orleans Mardi Gras is a celebration characterised by exuberant street parades and wild parties. A general letting down of hair is the order of the day – or days; the festivities build up over two weeks.
Residents and out-of-towners celebrate like there’s no tomorrow, which is half true – the following day is Ash Wednesday (which falls on February 14 this year), beginning of the Christian period of Lent, traditionally a time of reflection, penance and fasting.
Notting Hill Carnival, UK
With its roots in London’s West Indian community, the Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest street festival.
Held in August, the frenetic event celebrates Caribbean heritage, music and dance, and is characterised by pulsating parades, dazzling costumes and enough Jamaican jerk chicken, salt fish fritters and curried goat to feed several armies.
Oktoberfest, Germany
The 189th Oktoberfest will take place from September 21 to October 6, 2024.
The booze-up begins with a parade through the streets of Munich, Germany. Horse-drawn carriages haul giant beer barrels to the festival site cheered on by huge crowds.
In 2022, 5.7 million visitors guzzled 5.6 million litres (1.2 millon) of the amber stuff – enough to fill more than two Olympic-size swimming pools – and security personnel prevented 112,551 beer mugs from being stolen from the tents and festival grounds.
Pushkar Camel Fair, India
You’ll encounter more ships of the desert at India’s annual Pushkar Camel Fair than anywhere else on Earth. The event, which usually takes place in late October and early November, combines a livestock market, a Hindu pilgrimage site and a showcase of regional culture.
Besides camel races and camel beauty contests, entertainment includes tightrope acts, traditional Rajasthani folk music performances and dancing (humans, not camels).
Qingming Festival (Ching Ming), China
Qingming Festival – Ching Ming in Cantonese – is a Chinese festival featuring rituals dedicated to honouring and paying respect to the deceased.
Observed in early April, families visit the gravesites of ancestors to sweep tombs, burn incense and leave mock money, flowers and food.
Rio Carnival, Brazil
Millions of residents and tourists dress up, dance and drink until they drop at the Rio Carnival, the largest of its kind in the world. Hundreds of street parties take place across the Brazilian city; some at fixed locations, others following parade routes.
The free gatherings are usually organised by samba schools; the musical genre and dance style evolved in Rio at the start of the 20th century. This year’s carnival begins on February 9 and runs until February 17.
Sardine Festival, Portugal
The Sardine Festival in Portimão is a nod to Portugal’s rich marine and culinary heritage. In the Algarve city, the August air is filled with throbbing live music and the aroma of charcoal-grilled fish.
Three tons (2,700kg) of sardines were consumed during last year’s five-day gathering, along with an unspecified but no doubt substantial amount of regional wine. Saúde!
Tomato Fight, Spain
La Tomatina, aka the Tomato Fight, takes place in Buñol, near Valencia, Spain (on August 28, this year). It is a one-hour free-for-all that sees the streets and participants dyed the colour of ketchup.
More than 20,000 revellers hurl 150,000kg (330,690lbs) of overripe tomatoes at each other until firecrackers in the town square mark the end of the battle.
Then it’s time for food and drink (definitely not tomato juice), music and dancing – followed by a visit to the laundry.
Ulsan Whale Festival, South Korea
Combining entertainment, education and culinary fun while showcasing its maritime connections, the Ulsan Whale Festival takes place in South Korea’s seventh-largest city.
Celebrated annually (although this year’s date is difficult to ascertain), the event raises awareness about the region’s whaling history and marine conservation with workshops and whale-watching cruises.
Venice Carnival, Italy
The Venice Carnival usually takes place over two weeks in February (this year’s event ends on the 13th). This tradition, rooted in the Middle Ages, originally gave mask-wearing Venetians an opportunity to conceal their identity so they could mingle with residents of different social classes.
The event begins with a grand water (canal) parade and includes costume contests, street shows and the stylish anonymity of masquerade balls.
Whangamata Beach Hop, New Zealand
A celebration of all things 1950s and 60s, New Zealand’s three-day Whangamata Beach Hop draws upwards of 100,000 nostalgia lovers to the North Island beach town each March.
The rock ’n’ roll festival is as much about the gleaming classic cars on display as the quiffs and polka dot skirts. Locals are joined by jitterbugging petrol heads from around the world who share a hunch that life 70 years ago was better than it is today.
Xishuangbanna Water Splashing Festival, China
Taking place in China’s Yunnan province, the Xishuangbanna Water Splashing Festival resembles the water fights that take place during Songkran, or Thai New Year.
That’s because the Dai ethnic group who live in Xishuangbanna share cultural, historical and linguistic similarities with the Thais. Both events are celebrated in April and involve soaking as many people as possible, partly for fun, but also as a symbol of cleansing and renewal.
Yi Peng, Thailand
Celebrated most enthusiastically in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a few days after Loy Krathong, Yi Peng sees the release of hundreds of decorated lanterns into the night sky, symbolising the letting go of worries.
Watch the event in the city centre and the process is a little uncoordinated. To get that perfect photo as the illuminated khom loy soar skywards, you’ll need to head to an out-of-town launch site on an organised tour.
Zermatt Unplugged, Switzerland
The Zermatt Unplugged music festival places a strong emphasis on acoustic performances. Since it began, in 2007, notable artists such as Lionel Richie, Alanis Morissette, Nelly Furtado and Simple Minds have graced the event.
The atmosphere in the village is intimate and the backdrop of Swiss Alpine peaks including the Matterhorn is breathtaking. This year’s edition takes place from April 9 to 13.
