Festivals Around The World

The Underwater Music Festival is held every year in the Florida Keys. Music is broadcast by local radio stations and piped underwater. Musicians dressed as mermaids and mermen join in on the fun and put on a show for all onlookers. Many dive enthusiasts come out for the fun and food, but the festival also promotes the preservation of the Keys' coral reef ecosystem.

The Nalukataq festival in Barrow, Alaska , is held every June just after the spring whaling hunt is finished. The success of the whaling season determines the length of the festival, which can range anywhere from a day to longer than a week. The most prominent activity that takes place during this festival is the blanket toss, which is when locals use sealskin tarp to literally throw people into the air.

June 25–29 (for 2014) in Glastonbury, England Aside from the incredible music you'll find at Glastonbury, perhaps the funnest part of the festival is wading through the mud in your rain boots while camping with all of your friends. Glastonbury is dirty, loud, and wild, aka everything a music festival should be.

June 28–29 (for 2014) in San Francisco Though Gay Pride Rio is actually larger than San Francisco's Pride Parade, it is hard to argue with the years of history backing up San Fran's biggest celebration. Whether you're a part of the LGBTQ community or simply an ally, this is one festival you'll never forget.

On Feb. 27–March 2 (for 2014) in North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii Get a glimpse into the yogi lifestyle and center your soul while relaxing on the beaches of Hawaii. If you've ever had any interest in yoga, Wanderlust may just be your destination.

On June 29–July 5 (for 2014) in Erdine, Turkey Strong men wrestling while covered in oil. There is literally nothing else to say.

On Aug. 25–Sept. 1 (for 2014) in Black Rock City, Nev. Burning Man is where humans go to shed themselves of the conventions of society. If you want a break from the ordinary and can actually party 24/7, then head to the deserts of Nevada.

On April 13–15 (for 2014) in Chiang Mai, Thailand This is the water fight of your dreams, so back up your Super Soakers, water balloons, and water bottles and head to Thailand for a wet and wild adventure.

On  July 6–14 in   Pamplona, Spain Let's be real — who doesn't like watching people make fools of themselves? The Running of the Bulls is a time-honored Spanish tradition, which is such to raise your adrenaline levels, whether you're running or watching.

On Nov. 1st Celebrations are held by cultural Mexicans throughout the world, but a few of the bigger celebrations take place in Mexico City and Los Angeles. Dia de los Muertos, or "The Day of the Dead," celebrates All Saint's Day, which remembers all those who have passed before us. A colorful display of costume and culture, Dia de los Muertos is a day you don't want to miss.

May 26 (tentative for 2014) in Gloucester, England If you've ever wanted to watch hundreds of men run down a hill while chasing a wheel of cheese, then you're in luck — because the Cooper Hill Cheese Roll not only exists, it's quite the romp.

The last Wednesday in August in Buñol, Spain As crazy as it may seem, this festival is held every year purely for fun, meaning it isn't tied to any ancient traditions. In 1945 a few locals began throwing fruits and vegetables during a parade — and ever since then the tomato-throwing festival has continued on.

From June 27–29 (for 2014) in Boom, Belgium Tomorrowland has quickly grown to become one of the world's largest electronic dance music (EDM) festivals. Each year over 100,000 visitors flock to Belgium to dance the day and night away.

Last Tuesday in January  in  Lerwick, Scotland, this is Europe's largest fire festival, complete with the burning of a full-scale Viking ship. Need we say more?

Feb. 14–March 4 (for 2014) Venice, Italy Carnevale, or "Carnival," has been a Venice tradition since the 13th century. People flock from all over the world to participate in the masked celebrations, arguably making it one of the best parties on Earth.

Sept. 6  Baza, Spain, in the province of Granada Every year hundreds of Spaniards cover themselves in grease to reenact the stealing of a famous statue of the "Virgen de la Piedad," which took place over 500 years ago. Best of all, after the greasing, a great big party ensues.

Last weeks of September to the first weekend in October - Munich, Germany What was once the celebration of the Bavarian King Ludwig’s wedding, has now become the world’s biggest beer festival. People from all around the world gather every year, around the end of September, to celebrate Germanic traditions. The beer festival is held in Munich, Bavaria and it offers huge entertainment to millions of visitors every year. Not only can people drink a ton of Oktoberfest beer but they can also enjoy amusement rides, side stalls, and games as well as traditional food. The Bavarian Festival has become so popular that more than 6 million people from different parts of the world attend Oktoberfest every year.  The beer fest  has become so popular that many cities across the world have also started holding annual Oktoberfest celebrations. If you love traveling the world and you would enjoy exploring different cultures, you can definitely add these ten festivals to your buck...

April 11–20 (for 2014) - Indio, Calif. This music festival has gathered so much popularity in the recent years that tickets are being sold months before the event is held. Numerous famous music artists entertain a huge crowd of people every year in the Inland Empire’s Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. This annual celebration of music has become something more than a simple festival. People gather with their friends, enjoy good music and even express their fashion taste during the week of Coachella Festival. The popularity of the annual gathering has various celebrities flock at the events held at Coachella. If you are a fan of rock, indie, hip-hop or electronic dance music, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is perfect for you. Who knows, you may even spot a few celebrities in the crowd.

July 18–27 (for 2014) - Boryeong, South Korea This Festival is being held annually in the city of Boryeong in South Korea during the summer. This fantastic fest has gathered so much attention in the last few years that now hundreds of people gather every summer in Boryeong to participate in the Mud Festival. Mud pools, mudslides, mud prison and mud skiing competition are among the attractions which are held every year at the seafront area of Daecheon. The yearly celebration began as a way to promote the incredible mud of Boryeong which is used in many cosmetic products. Nowadays, people gather around and enjoy the fun atmosphere of this messy festival. You can also join the celebratory events and maybe even enjoy the benefits of the Boryeong Mud.

Feb. 23 (for 2014) - Pingxi, Taiwan The beauty of this Taiwanese festival is impossible to be put into simple words. You have to be there to feel the magic of thousand lanterns ascending to the night sky. The celebration is held in the Pingxi District in Taiwan, and it is the biggest lantern festival in the world. During the last few years, the traditional festival has become more popular, and nowadays both locals and tourists participate in the launching of thousand lanterns which are astonishing with their innovative and intricate shapes and sizes. LED lights, laser shows, and colorful lightbulbs have also become a part of this beautiful celebration.