Epic Celebrations Around the World: Festivals & Events You Need to Experience

TopTravelIndex
Mar 12
4 min read

Some celebrations are so spectacular, immersive, and culturally rich that they should be on every traveler's bucket list. From centuries-old traditions to electrifying modern events, these festivals bring people together in ways that make for unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. If you’re looking to plan a trip around a world-famous festival, here are some of the most incredible celebrations you’ll want to be a part of.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The World’s Biggest Party

If you love extravagant costumes, pulsating samba music, and all-night dancing, Rio’s Carnival is the ultimate celebration. This vibrant festival, held just before Lent, transforms the city into a massive party with parades featuring world-class samba dancers, lavish floats, and infectious energy. The main event is at the Sambadrome, where samba schools compete for the grand prize, but the entire city is alive with street parties known as blocos, ensuring that every visitor gets to experience the magic.

📅 When to Go: February or March (varies each year)

📍 Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts – A Spooky October Spectacle

For the ultimate Halloween experience, Salem, Massachusetts, famous for its 1692 witch trials, hosts a month-long Halloween festival filled with haunted happenings. Visitors can tour historic cemeteries, join ghost walks, visit the Witch House, and even see psychic readings. The highlight is Salem’s Halloween Night Festival, featuring costumed revelers, street performances, and eerie attractions. The town’s rich history and haunted reputation make it the ultimate Halloween destination for thrill-seekers.

📅 When to Go: October (especially the 31st for the main event)

📍 Where: Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Día de los Muertos in Mexico – A Beautiful Celebration of Life

Unlike Halloween, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a heartfelt, spiritual celebration honoring deceased loved ones. Families build colorful altars (ofrendas) adorned with marigolds, candles, and the favorite foods of those they’re remembering. The most famous celebrations are in Mexico City and Oaxaca, where vibrant parades, traditional skull face painting, and candlelit cemeteries bring the traditions to life. If you want to witness a festival that’s both deeply meaningful and visually spectacular, this is it.

📅 When to Go: November 1st-2nd

📍 Where: Mexico City, Oaxaca, and Michoacán, Mexico

Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain – A Heart-Pounding Tradition

For adrenaline junkies, San Fermín’s Running of the Bulls in Pamplona is one of the most daring and exhilarating festivals in the world. Every morning during the week-long event, brave (or reckless) participants race through the city’s cobbled streets alongside powerful bulls, leading to the grand bullfights in the evening. If you’re not up for running, watching from a balcony with a glass of Spanish wine is just as thrilling.

📅 When to Go: July 6th-14th

📍 Where: Pamplona, Spain

La Tomatina in Buñol, Spain – The Ultimate Food Fight

Have you ever wanted to be part of the world’s largest food fight? At La Tomatina, thousands of people gather in the small town of Buñol, Spain, to hurl tons of overripe tomatoes at each other in a chaotic, messy, and wildly fun event. While the origins are unclear, this festival has become one of the most famous in the world, drawing visitors from across the globe for a day of pure, tomato-splattered joy.

📅 When to Go: Last Wednesday of August

📍 Where: Buñol, Spain

New Year’s Eve in Sydney, Australia – The First & Biggest Fireworks Show

Ring in the new year in one of the first major cities to celebrate it! Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are world-famous and attract millions of spectators. Whether you’re watching from a luxury cruise, a waterfront bar, or the bustling streets, this is one of the most visually stunning and exhilarating ways to welcome the new year.

📅 When to Go: December 31st

📍 Where: Sydney, Australia

The Lantern Festival in Taiwan – A Sky Full of Wishes

The Taiwan Lantern Festival is a mesmerizing display of thousands of glowing lanterns released into the night sky, creating a magical, dreamlike atmosphere. The most famous event is in Pingxi, where visitors can write their wishes on lanterns and send them floating upwards. This centuries-old tradition symbolizes letting go of past troubles and embracing new hopes, making it one of the most beautiful and peaceful celebrations in the world.

📅 When to Go: February (around the Chinese New Year)

📍 Where: Pingxi, Taiwan

Dragon Boat Festival in China – High-Speed Racing & Ancient Traditions

This high-energy festival, celebrated for over 2,000 years, features intense dragon boat races where teams paddle in unison to the beat of drums, racing along rivers across China. The festival honors the poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in protest against corruption. Locals celebrate by eating sticky rice dumplings (zongzi) and watching the thrilling races. If you love sports, history, and cultural traditions, this is a festival you won’t want to miss.

📅 When to Go: June (5th day of the 5th lunar month)

📍 Where: Hong Kong, Hangzhou, and other cities across China

The Venice Carnival – A Masquerade of Mystery & Elegance

For a festival that oozes luxury, elegance, and mystery, Carnival in Venice is unlike anything else. Attendees don elaborate, handcrafted masks and period costumes, wandering the romantic streets and canals of Venice while attending opulent masquerade balls and performances. Dating back to the 13th century, this festival is a true blend of history, art, and indulgence—an experience fit for royalty.

📅 When to Go: February or March (before Lent)

📍 Where: Venice, Italy

Experience the World’s Greatest Festivals!

Whether you want to dance all night in Rio’s Carnival, experience the thrill of Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls, or take part in the magical Lantern Festival in Taiwan, the world is full of celebrations that make for truly unforgettable travel experiences.

Which of these festivals is on your bucket list? Have you attended any of them?