World Festivals
2009 Calendar

Other Festivals: English Speaking

European Festivals | Arts Festivals

CHINA Harbin Ice and Snow Festival - includes illuminated ice sculptures and sports. Beware extreme cold! China Guide | China Pictures | China Map

JAPAN Wakakusa Yamayaki, Nara.The traditional and spectacular burning of an entire hill, with attendant fireworks. Japan Guide | Japan Pictures | Japan Map

JAPAN Toka Ebisu nationwide, but especially Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka - a shrine oriented event with parades and lots of peculiar rituals. Japan Photos

MALI Festival in the Desert, Essakane, in the dunes 40 miles outside Timbuktu [Tombouctou]. A fantasy mix of traditional north African desert music, international players, camels, dance and sword play in stunning surroundings and with a mostly local audience. Mali Travel Guide | Mali Pictures

INDIA Madurai Float Festival. Incredible temples and spectacular floats on the night of the full moon.

INDIA Bikaner Camel Festival at Bikaner, Rajasthan - much less touristy than February's Desert Festival, but in an equally gorgeous fortified desert town location. Endless colourful camel activities, including a beauty competition, but human fun stuff too - dancing, fireworks, music etc. India Travel | Rajasthan Pictures

INDIA International Kite Festival. A zillion kites and fights in the lovely but busy city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, or Ahmedabad.

INDIA Pongal [Harvest] Festival, Tamil Nadu state.

3rd weekend of January 2009

TURKEY Camel Wrestling at Selcuk near Ephesus - the camels wrestle, not humans vs. camels! Turkey Travel | Selcuk & Ephesus Pictures

MALAYSIA Thaipusam at Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur - a huge, Hindu procession into the caves, with many penitents pierced by hooks, skewers through various body parts. Similarly in Singapore, same day. Malaysia Guide | Malaysia Pictures

VIETNAM Tet [New Year] Festival nationwide - for one week, the most important annual event of the country and a wild and noisy time is had by all. Vietnam Travel Guide | Vietnam Pictures

CHINA New Year Parade, Hong Kong - nationwide but especially potent in Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui East, as psychedelia hits the 'scrapers and parades hit the streets...this is the best Chinese celebration, with floats, musicians, dancers, explosions and dragons galore. Hong Kong Guide

INDIA Republic Day in Delhi - pompous but splendid parade and festival.

30 Jan - 15 February 2009

CANADA Carnaval de Québec in Quebec City - a vigorous winter celebration with parades, themed parties, ice sculptures and, bien sûr, winter sports of every description in a pretty Francophile city. Canada Travel | Canada Pictures

PERU Virgen de la Candelaria in Puno, not a pretty city but with amazing surroundings such as Lake Titicaca and the Altiplano. This colourful, local event offers vigorous dancing, music, masks and insane fireworks. And Cuzco's not far by splendid train ride...Puno Pictures

JAPAN Sapporo Snow Festival - a mass of superb, huge, imaginative ice sculptures in this pleasant Hokkaido town. Hot springs and hot saké take the edge off the cold! Japan Guide | Sapporo Festival Pictures

6 - 22 February 2009
weekends only

CANADA Winterlude Festival in Ottawa [Ontario], weekends only - features parades, dances, snow races, ice sculptures, sleigh rides and more, but especially skating on the 7km Rideau Canal. If skating is your thing, then this is your festival.

THAILAND Flower Festival, Chiang Mai. A must for floraphiles, this interesting city is bedecked by thousands of flowers, including 1,000 species of orchid. Parades and sculptures too. Thailand Travel | Thailand Photos | Thailand Map

INDIA Desert Festival, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan - touristy but terrific location near the Disneyesque town of Jaisalmer, under a full moon. Dance, music, local contests and camels. Nearest airport is Jodhpur, 280kms away. Jaisalmer Photos

CHINA Spring Lantern Festival, nationwide. Lanterns - many of strange design - are lit and carried all over China.

MEXICO Carnival, nationwide but especially Veracruz, Cozumel, Mazatlan and two towns near Mexico City - Huejotzingo and Tepoztlan - huge, wild party time with dance, music, masks, mock battles and parades. Mexico Guide | Mexico Photos

20 - 24 Feb. in Rio

21 - 24 Feb. in Salvador

Brazil Carnivals 2009

BRAZIL Rio de Janeiro Carnival - it's wild spectacle for sure, but not in the street - it's in a huge stadium and thus not so involving; it's also expensive and caution is needed outside. So perhaps try carnivals in other cities which will be almost as wild but a lot more user friendly, touchy/feely - such as Salvador and Olinda in the north-east, both beautiful, lively and with good beaches nearby or even try Trinidad [island] see above [19-20th]. Brazil Travel | Rio de Janeiro Pictures

JAPAN Naked Festival [Hadaka Matsuri] in Inazawa, Aichi - a Shinto man strips off, is shaved completely then runs through the town while thousands of semi-naked men in loin cloths try to touch him. Butt, butt...

EGYPT Abu Simbel - 2 days a year [also 22 October] when the light is just right in this incredible temple complex. Just you and 1,000 other tourists! Abu Simbel Photos

TRINIDAD Carnival, [an island in the Caribbean] where the carnival is on the street and mad in the nicest possible way, though if you want a nice beach too you'll have to nip over to neighbouring Tobago. Caribbean Map

INDIA Goa Carnival. An Indo-Latin fusion of music, dance and wild revelry.

TIBET Losar [Tibetan New Year] nationwide. An extremely colourful occasion with stunning traditional costumes worn by monks and many fascinating rituals, though beware the altitude and cold. Tibet Pictures

INDIA Khajuraho Dance Festival, fine and fluid art among the staggeringly high porn temples. India Travel Guide | India Pictures | India Map

1 - 14 March 2009
[Same dates every year]

JAPAN Omizutori Festival - at the Todaiji temple in Nara - 1,200 year old ceremonies, especially spectacular on the last night, full of huge, blazing torches and noise-making monks. Nara Pictures

JAPAN Lantern and Flower Festival in Kyoto - A perfect arrangement of flowers and massed lanterns, including a 4.6 km path between shrines and temples. Lit lanterns from 6pm - 9.30pm. Dance and other arts too.Kyoto Pictures

7-12 April 2009

MEXICO Semana Santa [Easter Week] nationwide but esp. Chiapas - state processions, costumes, fireworks, music, dance and some weird rituals. Mexico Travel Guide

PHILIPPINES Crucifixion in San Fernando on Good Friday. Locals play out Christ's agony, all dressed up, beaten by whips and some finally nailed - for real - to crosses. Asia Map

NEPAL & INDIA Holi [Festival of Colour]. The ultimate in colourful festivals, everyone throwing coloured water or paint over everyone else, including you. It's a kaleidoscopic madhouse. Nepal Travel | Khatmandu Pictures | India Travel

SPAIN Las Fallas in Valencia - a wild and explosive [literally] carnival/fiesta combination that will blow your socks off, locals spend 5 days partying with parades, pageants and moderate fireworks then, on the last night, they turn off all the city lights and set fire to hundreds of massive statues stuffed with fireworks around the city. Kaboom. Spain Guide

MEXICO Cumbre Tajin in Veracruz. A unique mind, body and soul celebration in the spiritually correct Tajin park. A mass of alternative therapies as well as art, music, dance and adventure sports [eh?]. Mexico Guide | Tajin website

MEXICO Kukulcan Snake God in Chichen Itza [Yucatan] - see the snake appear in this spectacular pyramid complex, plus varied entertainments. Couple of days before and after too. Chichen Itza Photos

25 - 31 March
[Same dates every year]

JAPAN Cherry Blossom Time especially in Tokyo's Ueno park or Aoyama cemetery - all over Japan pink and white cherry trees herald springtime and just about every Japanese person, including - or especially - office workers, gets totally blotto on beer and saké under the trees.

5 April 2009
1st Sunday in April

JAPAN Kanamara Penis Festival in Kawasaki, near Tokyo. An hilarious, good-feeling event loaded with music, double-entendres, huge portable dongs and little willy lollies. Kanamara Festival Pictures

MALI Mask Festival in Dogon Country. Spooky and crude animist event in spectacular, surreal surroundings.Mali Pictures

THAILAND Songkran [New Year Water Festival] nationwide - especially lively in Chiang Mai. Four days of parades, fancy dress and water being thrown everywhere, including over tourists. Thailand Guide

CHINA Water Splashing Festival in Jinghong, beautiful Yunnan province. Much dragon boat racing, fireworks, dancing and throwing water over everyone, but everyone.

14 - 15 April 2009
Also 9 -10 October
[Same dates every year]

JAPAN Takayama Spring Festival in pleasant Takayama, near Nagoya - A dozen ancient, elaborate floats get dragged around the old town; with traditional music and costumes. Takayama Festival Pictures

MEXICO Feria de San Marcos in Aguascalientes [the North] - large and long established celebration of Mexican music and machismo, with rodeos, bull fights, folk dancing, parades, mariachi and mucho more. Mexico Photos

28 April - 3 May 2009

SPAIN La Feria de Abril [April Fair] in Seville - Seville's best party with traditional dress, parades, dancing and boisterous parties in a spectacular environment. Seville Travel Guide | Seville Pictures

CHINA Bun Festival on Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong. Yes, real, edible buns treated with enormous pomp in this fishing island, huge bun towers, bun parades and something to eat too. Hong Kong Guide

4 May 2009
24 April 2010

INDIA Thrissur Pooram in Thrissur, Kerala. A day of fireworks, raucous music and fantastically decorated elephants continues way into the night during this, the biggest festival in Kerala.

MEXICO Cinco de Mayo in Puebla, just north of Mexico City - the glorious battle of Puelbla [1862] is celebrated with mock military dress, parades and mock battles in the main square of lovely Puebla. Mexico Guide

INDONESIA Waisak Festival at Borobudur temple, the world's largest Buddhist structure. A quiet but stunningly spiritual event with acres of saffron-robed monks praying under the full moon at the incredible Borobudur. Borobudur Pictures

THAILAND Rocket Festival [Bung Fai] in Yasothon [NE Thai]. Crazed rocket builders compete - with total disregard for safety - for the highest flier. Thailand Guide

JAPAN Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo - crowded processions of elaborate mini-shrines are vigorously carried around the streets near Tokyo's venerable Asakusa shrine, well fuelled by saké and beer. Tokyo Pictures

JAPAN Sennin Gyoretsu in Nikko - a massive parade of samurai-dressed folk and dancers around a supremely beautiful shrine in a gorgeous country town of hot springs and waterfalls. Japan Photos | Japan Map

MADAGASCAR Famadihana 'turning the bones' - reburying the dead ceremonies, interesting but independent travel required. Madagascar Travel Guide | Madagascar Pictures

6 - 14 June 2009 TBC

MOROCCO Festival of Sacred Music in Fez [Fes] - a huge variety of weird sounds from around the world, Sufi chants though Egyptian odes to whirling dervishes, but not excluding musicians from developed countries. Morocco Travel Guide | Morocco Pictures
Explore Fes Sacred Music Festival Tour

CHINA Dragon Boat Festival [Tuen Ng] around Hong Kong's islands and rivers, but also some other Chinese towns/cities. Spectacularly decorated boats loaded with rowers and drums race. More info: Dragon Boat Assoc. | Hong Kong Guide

INDONESIA Bali Arts Festival, a celebration of Balinese traditional arts, particularly dance, music and wood carving, on a fascinating island... Indonesia Travel | Bali Photos

PERU Inti Raymi in Cusco. A traditional Inca sun worship occasion colourfully performed in front of the wonderful Sacsuhuayman fort, above the lovely town of Cuzco. Peru Travel | Peru Photos

30 June - 7 July
2009 TBC

TURKEY Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival in Edirne - 1,000 oily fat boys get a good slapping. More info: Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Turkey Guide | Turkey Photos

CUBA Fiesta del Fuego [Carnival]. Santiago - a gorgeous town with ever lively people goes bananas for a week. Havana - tatty and fascinating does the same for longer but only at weekends. Cubans are noted for their natural music and dance ability, not to mention rum- though HOT! Cuba Guide | Cuba Photos

6 - 14 July 2009
[same date every year]

SPAIN Los Sanfermines [Bull Running] in Pamplona - don't be bored, be gored! Six bulls are released into the streets every morning of this 7 day Basque rite-of-manhood party. You too can battle the big horns. Sanfermin.

US Redneck Games in East Dublin, Georgia. Tongue-in-cheek competitions such as the Mud Pit Belly-Flop, Hubcap Hurl, Dumpster Dive. It will be hot and dirty! USA Travel Guide

3 - 12 July 2009

CANADA Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta - a 10 day world-class rodeo riot, a wild yet comradely festival enjoyed by the whole of 'Cowtown'. Events include Chuck Wagon racing, rodeos, a spectacular parade, country music performances and free pancake breakfasts!
More info: Stampede Home | Stampede vs Italy's Il Palio!

11 - 15 July 2009
[Same date every year]

MOROCCO Popular Arts [Folklore] Festival in Marrakech - a week of strange and exotic music mixing it with more contemporary sounds in a very strange and exotic location, Marrakesh's El Badi Palace. Hot to trot. Morocco Travel Guide | Marrakech Pictures

mid July - mid August
TBC

TUNISIA International Carthage Festival in Tunis, the country's biggest arts event, mixing local and international sounds in the old Roman amphitheatre. Tunisia Travel Guide | Tunisia Pictures

INDIA Rath Yatra [Chariot Festival], Puri, home of Krishna. A juggernaut [literally] of a festival in the ancient holy city of Puri in Orissa state. Pilgrims pull 15m high chariots across the city.

JAPAN Gion Matsuri in Kyoto - a citywide celebration with lots of street action, but the big day is July 17 with the Yamaboko Parade, a procession of monstrous but delicately decorated Hoko [two-story houses on wheels]. Kyoto Pictures

mid-late July TBC
Generally the last two Mondays in July

MEXICO La Guelaguetza in Oaxaca - a lively and traditional folk dance, music, and costume festival in a pretty town. Oaxaca Pictures

JAPAN Tenjin Matsuri [Boat Festival] in Osaka - no, not a boat show. This event involves processions, costumes and hundreds of decorated boats with lights, a million spectators with torches and fireworks. Woah! Nirvana for pyromaniacs. Japan Guide

25 July 2009
[Last Saturday in July]

JAPAN Sumida River Fireworks in Tokyo. Seriously big display, lasts for an hour. Get there early, you will not be alone [Then again, in Japan you never are...].

INDONESIA Funeral Ceremonies at Tanatoraja in south central Sulawesi, special invites needed [not hard to get by travel agents] but these massive, peculiar events are fascinating - new villages built, effigies carried, dancing and eating in very picturesque environments. Indonesia Travel | Toraja Pictures

TIBET Horse Racing Festival in Nakchu. A relaxed and kaleidoscopic Tibetan event with large numbers of Tibetans displaying extreme horsemanship, but also enjoying folk songs and dance. Based in a brilliant tent town next to Nakchu. Beware - few hotels, high altitude. Tibet Travel Guide | Tibet Pictures

JAPAN O-Bon Festival [Festival of the Dead] nationwide - precise date depends on local council. Festival of the Dead, paper lanterns on water, candle ceremonies, lots of kimonos in the streets, dancing etc.

INDIA Naag Panchami [Hindu Snake Festival] nationwide but best in Jodhpur.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA Mt Hagen Cultural Show - a gathering of PNG's clans, touristy but with sensational outfits [birds of paradise feathers, human hair, cat skins...], especially after a trip into the highlands to see the truly bizarre lifestyles. Hair schools for growing wigs, trench warfare, shell/pig/feather currency etc.. Hagen Pictures | 'Hair Today' [Article]

MOROCCO Imilchil Engagement Festival - 3 days of Berber instant marriages, a marital mind bender in the Atlas Mountains, with no shortage of exotic music and traditional costumes.

31 Aug - 7 Sept [Labor Day] 2009

USA Burning Man Black Rock Desert near Reno, Nevada - a week of unique, liberal and artistic madness, culminating in the torching of many structures. Expensive and organisation will be required, but this could be a life changing experience. Burning Man Pictures and Information | SW USA Photos | SW USA Map

26 August 2009
[last Wed. of every August]

SPAIN La Tomatina at Buñol town in Valencia - a huge and incredibly messy public fight with 25 tons of tomatoes, one day. You can participate, in fact you should if you take the trouble to go there. Spain Travel Guide | Spain Pictures

28 - 31 August TBC

ISRAEL Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat. Excellent open air music in a dramatic environment. Israel Travel Guide | Israel Pictures

31 Aug - 10 Sept 2009
31 Aug - 10 Sept 2010
TBA

MEXICO International Mariachi and Charreria Festival in Guadalajara [Jalisco state] - flashy trousers, fat guitars and gritos galore in this celebration of Mexican music. 'Ayyy!'

INDIA Onam Festival in Kerala, with boat racing, outrageous outfits, processions, dancing, music - the usual mad Indian jamboree..India Map More info: Onam Festival

INDONESIA Funeral Ceremonies at Tanatoraja in south central Sulawesi, special invites needed [not hard to get by travel agents] but these massive, peculiar events are fascinating - new villages built, effigies carried, dancing and eating in very picturesque environments. Toraja Pictures

PAPUA NEW GUINEA Goroka Show - a gathering of PNG's clans, touristy but with sensational outfits [birds of paradise feathers, human hair, cat skins...], especially after a trip into the highlands to see the truly bizarre lifestyles. Hair schools for growing wigs, trench warfare, shell/pig/feather currency etc.. Hagen Pictures | 'Hair Today' [Article]

NEPAL Dasain [or Dashain] Festival mainly Khatmandu, but also Bhaktapur, Patan for 10 days. The last few days will be the best. A very lively, blood-letting [mostly sheep], dancing, kite flying festival. Khatmandu Pictures

THAILAND Buffalo Races in Chonburi, near Pattaya. All sorts of different water buffalo contests, including fancy dress.

INDIA Dussehra, nationwide but Mumbai probably best. An important Hindu festival notable mainly for public battles between giant paper monsters filled with fireworks. Not for those of a nervous disposition...

9 -10 October
Also 14 - 15 April
[Same days every year]

JAPAN Takayama Autumn Festival in pleasant Takayama, near Nagoya - A dozen ancient, elaborate floats get dragged around the old town; with traditional music and costumes. Takayama Festival Pictures

PERU Procession of the Lord of Miracles in Lima. Celebrating Jesus Christ, aka Señor de los Milagros, the whole of Lima turns out to sing, dance, pray, wear purple clothes and watch parades.  Peru Pictures

THAILAND Vegetarian [!] Festival in Phuket and Trang. Innocuous name... actually most of the event involves men piercing themselves with metal rods, strolling over red-hot coals and other multinational activities. Phuket Photos | Thailand Beaches Map

EGYPT Abu Simbel - 2 days a year when the light is just right in this incredible temple complex. Just you and 1,000 other tourists! 22 February also. Egypt Guide | Abu Simbel Photos

30 October - 2 November 2009

18 - 21 November 2010

INDIA Pushkar Camel Fair in Pushkar, Rajasthan - a zillion camels gather to race, put on fancy kit, change owners, and take tourists for rides and generally liven up this quiet little lakeside town beside the Thar desert. Singing, dancing and exotic foodstuffs for two-legged animals. Rajasthan Pictures

31 October - 2 Nov
[Same dates every
year]

MEXICO Dias de los Muertos [Days of the Dead] mainly in the states of Michoacan [esp. Patzcuaro] and Oaxaca [Oaxaca town is a great base] - lots of different ceremonies to link the dead with the living, plus sand sculptures, fancy dress, decorated altars, sugar skulls etc. Visit cemeteries late night Nov 1-2 to see the candles, flowers, music, family parties. In Oaxaca the more spacious new cemetery is livelier than the old one. Oh how we laughed. Days of the Dead Photos

MEXICO Dias de los Muertos [Days of the Dead] see above.

ECUADOR All Soul's Day - one of the country's most colourful religious festivals, with flowers and offerings to ancestors. Everything closes! Ecuador Travel Guide

CAMBODIA Bonn Om Touk [Water Festival] - the country's biggest festival. Locals go bananas celebrating a natural phenomenon - the reversing of the current of Tonle Sap River - with wild, decorated boat races and fireworks. Nationwide but Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are best. Cambodia Travel | Cambodia Photos

THAILAND Surin Elephant Roundup in Surin, including elephant football, tug-of-war, and psychedelic parades.

THAILAND Banquet for Monkeys in Khmer ruins near Lop Buri [central Thailand] - one day with 600 monkeys sitting down to lunch.

MALI Crossing of the Cattle at Diafarabé - an ancient tradition celebrating, you've guessed it, desert herds crossing the river. Lively and fascinating. Mali Travel Guide | Mali Pictures

JAPAN Chichibu Night Festival [Yomatsuri] in Chichibu, a small town not far from Tokyo. In one of Japan's most impressive night parties teams of costumed men drag six massive, illuminated floats around the town's narrow streets while kids perform dances and dramas on board, all backed by drums, flutes, fireworks and fuelled by barrels of saké. Crowded of course, but the crowds are fun and friendly.

TURKEY Whirling Dervishes Festival, Konya - awesome spinning dance to trance in honour a Sufi saint, Mevlana. Attended by up to a million people. Turkey Travel Guide | Turkey Pictures

BRAZIL Christmas Festival in Salvador - a pretty, warm city loaded with decorations, music, parades, shows and kid's stuff. Brazil Travel

TUNISIA Sahara Festival in Douz - camel racing and other colourful desert events, as well as varied music and merrymaking. Warm? Not at night! Tunisia Travel Guide | Tunisia Pictures

BRAZIL New Year in Rio de Janeiro - Like Edinburgh, this is one of THE places to be at this time. Various curious seaside rituals dedicated to Iemanja - Goddess of the Sea and Carnal Pleasure - during the day, then wild parties on the beaches accompanied by samba bands at night...Brazil Photos