Every year, there are hundreds of festivals and carnivals happening around the world. Eager travel enthusiasts often time their travel plans with festival dates, or check for festivals that may overlap their travel dates. Superior Cruise & Travel has assembled a list of some of our favorite festivals from around the world. Each offer their own sense of community, uniqueness, culture, and adventure.
Holi, India
Many people already know about Holi in India — and if they don’t know the details, they’ve probably seen the color-splashed photos of it before. This rainbow-streaked battle is a testament to the Hindu god Krishna, who had an affinity for playing pranks. How it works is simple: purchase your colorful dye at one of the countless vendors on the city streets, and douse your happy victims (the color is meant to pay homage the prosper of good over evil). When it comes to Holi, no one is safe from the color bomb, whether or not you choose to participate. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty in, and join the fun in the name of Krishna.
Songkran, Bangkok
Prepare to be soaked! Visitors and locals alike come together for a reprise from the scorching Bangkok heat during Songkran, a three-day water festival during the hottest month of the year. The festival coincides with Thai New Year, and the water is representative of “cleansing” your spirit. Get ready to get wet by any means, from water guns to balloons to buckers and water hoses.
Anyone walking the streets during Songkran is bound to get wet — whether you’re getting into a cab or walking into your hotel. Office buildings and businesses shut down, while major malls stay open. It’s safe to say that this is the biggest water fight in the world.
Harbin Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival, China
Your eyes are in for a feast at the Harbin Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival in Harbin. This is the largest ice sculpture festival in the world. The event is separated into several themes, and sculptors come from around the world to compete. More than 50 employees work for three weeks straight to source the ice from a local river.
At night, many of the sculptures are illuminated with LED lights. And if you can’t make it during the festival, there’s a chance you may still be able to see all the beautiful work. Because of the cold weather, the sculptures usually stick around for another three to four weeks.
Each year, there’s a different theme to gape at. And if you’re trying to conjure a mental image: imagine an entire city made of ice. You’ll see ice castles, walk about ice stairs, and walk through ice gardens. There’s no ice block unturned at this festival.
Brazil Carnival
When you think of Brazil, Carnival is one of the first things that comes to mind. This Brazil festival takes place annually, forty days before Easter and is officially the biggest carnival in the world. And there are so many amazing aspects of Carnival — particularly the Samba parade, where local neighborhoods adorn extravagant costumes and ride in intricate floats (the culmination of a year’s worth of design and practice) to compete against one another for a cash prize.
On any given day during Carnival, there are at least two million people celebrating on the streets. In fact, from mid-january to mid-February, there are at least 587 outdoor parties, according to Time magazine. This is when the entire country comes together to celebrate, dance, and show off what Brazil has to offer. This is perfect place to indulge in theatrics and choreography, and, above all, have fun.
