15 Festivals to Attend Before You Die

Every year, visitors gather in different locations around the world to participate in festivals ranging from spiritual to lighthearted. From bathing in a sacred river to samba dancing, festivals offer a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here are our picks for 14 festivals to attend before you die.—Emily Wasserman

Carnival in Rio

Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

More than 2 million people flood the streets of Rio for Carnival. The 4-day celebration is traditionally held before Lent and includes street parties, masquerades, and samba parades. Follow Carnival bands across the beaches and streets, grab a drink at one of the city’s lively bars, and watch as samba schools compete for the best float.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Rio de Janeiro Guide

Oktoberfest in Germany

Where: Munich, Germany

Grab a beer and pull up a seat at Oktoberfest, one of the world’s most spirited parties. A keg tap marks the beginning of this boozy weeklong festival, where millions of visitors flock to one of the city’s themed tents to enjoy a stein. In addition to beer, guests can sample traditional food like sausages, pretzels, and potato dumplings.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Munich Guide

Dia de los Muertos in Mexico

Where: Oaxaca, Mexico

In early November, friends and family in Mexico gather to pay their respects to the dead. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, commemorates lost loved ones with ancient traditions. Families of the deceased build private altars using sugar skulls, leave flowers and food on graves, and put out offerings to welcome spirits. Celebrants eat foods shaped like bones, including chocolate skulls and pan de muerto, or bread of the dead.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Oaxaca Guide

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Where: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Over 600 colorful balloons fill the southwest sky at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Spectators gather at sunrise to watch the balloons take off and visit landing sites to track incoming balloons. The fiesta is also a competition, as balloonists drop markers on targets and participate in speed and distance races.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Albuquerque Guide

Kumbh Mela, India

Where: Nashik, India

Every three years, millions of visitors gather to bathe in one of India’s sacred rivers for Kumbh Mela. The pilgrimage is considered to be the largest peaceful gathering in the world, and is held in different locations around India according to Hindu tradition. Visitors can participate in religious discussions, singing, and assemblies, or complete altruistic acts alongside holy men and women.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s India Guide

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Where: New Orleans, United States

Every year before Lent, visitors flock to New Orleans’s French quarter to celebrate Mardi Gras, the final day of Carnival. Locals step out in full holiday attire—costumes, masks, and face paint—and parade float riders throw strings of plastic beads to the crowds. Drinking starts early with breakfast Bloody Marys and continues into the wee hours of the night.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s New Orleans Guide

Il Palio in Siena, Italy

Where: Siena, Italy

Historic Siena is home to Il Palio, one of the world’s most renowned horse races. Every July and August, 10 jockeys and their horses gather in the town’s Piazza del Campo to compete in a race and pageant. Horse and rider teams each dress in appropriate colors to represent a contrade (city ward) of Siena. Crowds watch as the horses and jockeys rapidly circle the square. While turning the treacherously tight corners it’s not uncommon for riders to be thrown from their mounts and horses often finish the race riderless. The whole exhilarating spectacle usually lasts only 90 seconds.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Siena Guide

La Tomatina in Spain

Where: Bunol, Spain

Goggles are recommended at La Tomatina, one of the world’s biggest food fights. A firing of water cannons signals the beginning of the fight, as thousands throw squashed tomatoes at one another. Due to the immense popularity of this event, the town began selling tickets—but the experience is well worth the 10 euro fee.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Spain Guide

Diwali in India

Where: India

Also known as the “Festival of Lights,” Diwali celebrates the end of harvest season. Over the course of five days, celebrants string colorful lanterns, explode firecrackers, share sweets and snacks, and participate in traditional ceremonies. Festival-goers also light small clay lamps filled with oil to honor the Hindu goddess Lakshmi and invoke her blessings for the year ahead.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s India Guide

San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain

Where: Pamplona, Spain

The running of the bulls has gained worldwide recognition and visitors can witness the spectacle for themselves at the San Fermin Festival. Before the event the town erects a set of barricades to direct the bulls along the route and protect onlookers. A rocket signals the beginning of the run, and herds are set loose on the streets. Anxious crowds await the end of the race in a bullring.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Pamplona Guide

Pingxi Lantern Festival in Taiwan

Where: Pingxi, Taiwan

Every year during the Chinese New Year visitors gather in the small town of Pingxi to watch the Pingxi Lantern Festival. More than 100,000 lanterns are launched into the night sky during the 3-day celebration. Visitors can buy their own lanterns from street stalls. Festival activities also include food, colorful fireworks, and sparklers.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Taiwan Guide

Carnival of Venice

Where: Venice, Italy

Masks and costumes are standard attire at Italy’s Carnival of Venice. Every mask has its own story and symbolizes a different Italian theater character. Visitors parade their finery at parties and masquerade dinners, or end the night at one of the city’s lavish costume balls.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Venice Guide

Saint Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin

Where: Dublin, Ireland

You might not find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow at Dublin’s Saint Patrick’s Day Festival, but you will find plenty of festivities. For three days in March the city turns entirely green as revelers enjoy street performances and music. Take a walking tour of the city or visit the Irish Craft Beer Village for a taste of local brews.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Dublin Guide

White Nights and Scarlet Sails Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia

Where: St. Petersburg, Russia

During the summer months the sun never sets in St. Petersburg and the city’s White Nights and Scarlet Sails Festival celebrates this stunning phenomenon. The festival features performances by Russian musicians, singers, and dancers and culminates with the Scarlet Sails celebration. Rose-hued skies are the backdrop for tall ships with scarlet sails, and crowds enjoy spectacular fireworks and a water show.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s St. Petersburg Guide

Some celebrations are so spectacular that they’ve grown from hometown events to festivals that draw visitors from all over the world. A few have even spread to other cities around the globe — though they’re still best experienced where they began. As you’re planning next year’s itinerary, check out our picks of festivals that offer a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience ranging from spiritual to lighthearted.—Emily Wasserman

Carnival

More than two million people flood the streets ofRio de JaneiroforCarnival. The four-day celebration is traditionally held before Lent and includes street parties, masquerades, and samba parades. Follow Carnival bands across the beaches and streets, grab a drink at one of the city’s lively bars, and watch as samba schools compete for the best float.

Oktoberfest

Get to a beer tent and grab a liter stein forOktoberfest, one of the world’s most spirited parties. A keg tap marks the beginning of this boozy weeklong festival born in Munich, Germany, where millions of visitors flock to one of the city’s themed tents to enjoy a stein. In addition to beer, guests can sample traditional food like sausages, pretzels, and potato dumplings.

Dia de los Muertos

In early November, friends and family in Mexico gather to pay their respects to the dead on Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, to commemorate lost loved ones with ancient traditions. The festivities are particularly spectacular in Oaxacam where families of the deceased build private altars using sugar skulls, leave flowers and food on graves, and put out offerings to welcome spirits. Celebrants eat foods shaped like bones, including chocolate skulls and pan de muerto, or bread of the dead.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Over 600 colorful balloons fill the southwest sky at theAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiestain New Mexico. Spectators gather at sunrise to watch the balloons take off and visit landing sites to track incoming balloons. The fiesta is also a competition, as balloonists drop markers on targets and participate in speed and distance races.

Kumbh Mela, India

Every three years, millions of visitors gather in Nashik to bathe in one of India’s sacred rivers for Kumbh Mela. The pilgrimage is considered to be the largest peaceful gathering in the world, and is held in different locations around India according to Hindu tradition. Visitors can participate in religious discussions, singing and assemblies, or complete altruistic acts alongside holy men and women.

Mardi Gras

Every year before Lent, visitors flock to New Orleans’ French quarter to celebrateMardi Gras, the final day of Carnival. Locals step out in full holiday attire—costumes, masks, and face paint—and parade float riders throw strings of plastic beads to the crowds. Drinking starts early with breakfast Bloody Marys and continues into the wee hours of the night.

Il Palio

Historic Siena, Italy, is home toIl Palio, one of the world’s most renowned horse races. Every July and August, 10 jockeys and their horses gather in the town’s Piazza del Campo to compete in a race and pageant. Horse and rider teams each dress in appropriate colors to represent acontrade(city ward) of Siena. Crowds watch as the horses and jockeys rapidly circle the square. While turning the treacherously tight corners it’s not uncommon for riders to be thrown from their mounts and horses often finish the race riderless. The whole exhilarating spectacle usually lasts only 90 seconds.

For the rest of the festivals to attend before you die, including the world’s biggest tomato fight in Spain, visit Fodor’s.