There’s something enchanting about bringing people together through parties and events that captivates us on a global scale. We invite you to embark on a journey to witness some of the world’s grandest gatherings. While not every festivity can rival a Beychella performance, there’s a plethora of art festivals, moon celebrations, New Year’s parties, and more that serve as reasons to gather friends and family to uplift one another and preserve age-old traditions.
Picture this: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico, a breathtaking sight of hundreds of colourful balloons soaring across the desert sky during its lively 9-day October celebration. It’s a festival that appeals to both young and old, enveloping everyone in a festival atmosphere like no other.
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Albuquerque balloon festival, night glow.
Travel to Águeda, Portugal, in July, and you’ll be met with a mesmerizing sight as streets are adorned with vibrant umbrella canopies for the AgitÁgueda festival. Art installations, street performances, and an explosion of street art create an unforgettable experience for both locals and visitors.
The Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Thailand is a spectacle of celestial beauty. Witness the night sky over Chiang Mai illuminated by thousands of lanterns released during the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar (usually November). Accompanied by Loy Krathong, the festival includes parades, markets, and candlelight ceremonies.
Heading to Japan during springtime for the Fuji Shibazakura Festival is a floral paradise. Immerse yourself in the blooming of hundreds of thousands of Shibazakura flowers at the foot of Mount Fuji, an ideal setting for a captivating flower adventure.
India’s Holi Festival of Color is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring. This vibrant event, marked by the throwing of coloured powder, has transcended cultural borders, with Holi Fests springing up in major cities worldwide.
In Mexico, Dia De Los Muertos, held on November 2, honours the departed loved ones with colourful altars, graveside flower installations, and lively parades. The festive atmosphere, replete with traditional skeleton makeup and costumes, honours the departed in a joyous manner.
Venture to Spain’s Buñol for La Tomatina, an amusing tomato-throwing spectacle dating back to 1945. This quirky festival offers a fun opportunity to toss smashed tomatoes at your travel buddies without any reservations.
In San Francisco, California, SF Pride is a joyous and exuberant celebration of LGBTQIA pride, boasting one of the world’s oldest and largest parades of its kind. It’s a weekend-long affair filled with infectious energy and an abundance of character.
The Jaisalmer Desert Festival in India brings the Thar Desert to life with three days of mesmerizing performances, folk music, and cultural heritage shared from generation to generation. This festival takes place three days before the full moon of February.
Water festival. Asia woman wearing Thai tradional costume play water in Songkran day water festival at Thailand.
Thailand’s Songkran Water Festival in mid-April marks the Thai New Year with epic water fights. The streets become a playground for joyous water battles, where buckets of water are gleefully exchanged among friends and strangers alike.
Pictures: Getty Images
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