If you are looking for an amazing time, whether you are a globetrotter or a first-time traveler, the best time to travel is during the festivals. Celebrate anytime of the year at these upcoming festivals to have the time of your life.
Running of the Bulls, Pamplona, Spain (July 6-14, 2018)
No festival list would be complete without the Running of the Bulls. Even if you aren’t interested in actually risking your life to run in front of a dozen or so bulls as they run through the streets, you can enjoy the sights. At least a couple hundred people get hurt each year and deaths are not unheard of.
Burning Man, Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USA (August 26- September 3, 2018)
Nearly 50,000 people show up to this annual event every year. The festival is one that only attendees can truly understand and everyone comes home changed. An entire city springs up out of the desert for a few short days in the burning heat, with a giant effigy going up in flames at the end.
Chinese New Year, China (February 5, 2019)
You can’t miss this holiday while in China. From the clothing to the lanterns, everything is beautiful and picturesque. The holiday runs for over 15 days and is the longest festival in China.
Pingxi Lantern Festival, Pingxi District, Taiwan (February 19, 2019)
A calm and peaceful festival designed to ward off evil and disease, the Pingxi Lantern festival involves the release of thousands of sky lanterns. If you’ve ever seen Disney’s Tangled, you can imagine how incredible the sight is.
Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (March 1-9, 2019)
It’s rare to find someone who hasn’t heard of Carnival and while many Latin American countries celebrate, they don’t hold a candle to the Brazilians. Dance in the street and check out incredible floats created by local samba schools.
Holi, India (March 19-20, 2019)
India celebrates spring in a unique way, with a festival of colors called Holi. A giant bonfire the night before brings people together to dance and sing. In the morning, everyone runs wild with colorful powder and colored water, spraying or throwing it on each other. Everyone ends up well painted.
Semana Santa, Antigua, Guatemala (April 14-20, 2019)
Tourists flood the streets of Antigua, Guatemala for the Holy Week festival each year. The festival is a week-long, with multiple processions playing funeral marches and carrying elaborate floats every day.
To learn more about festival around the world, visit: www.applevacations.com
Nate Sterling hails from a colorful media background, working with the likes of lifestyle, travel and wellness platforms such as Toovia, Fitness Republic, and Cosmopolitan. He enjoys covering topics that are multicultural, diverse, and socially impactful.