Festivals worth seeing or national holidays??

Hi,

I am embarking on travelling next year in May and wanted to know if there are some crazy festivals around the world worth scheduling in. Since I havent got a clue where to start planning I thought if I could figure out a route where I can hit a lot of the major festivals around then that might be a good place to start. I thought of the Tomato Festival in Spain, Carnevale, Octoberfest, chinese new year, cherry blossums in Japan but I dont know of any others really in South America, Asia, Canada, Eastern Europe.

Anyone had some awesome experiences at festivals that are a bit more left of centre?

Thanks peeps

This will help:
.
.

http://thecheaproute.com/events-around-the-world.html
.
.

You can always pop into a local tourist office when abroad and ask them if there are any festivals in the area in the next few days.

this might help... whatsonwhen.com

You might also want to get your hands on a book called The Naked Man Festival by Brian Thacker. Essentially he spends a year travelling to the most interesting and sometimes lesser-known festivals around the world.

Hi,

You might be interested in taking a look at this site from Thailand:

http://www.phuketvegetarian.com/

This Vegetarian Festival, as it is named, is also celebrated in Malaysia. The participants will pierce themselves with quite big objects without bleeding to dead.

[ Edit: Edited on 17-Apr-2012, at 16:48 by Pipin ]

Mardi Gras and Octoberfest are my most anticipated events in the world every year.

Ask me in July and I'll be able to report on Barcelona's Festival Sant Joan (Festival of St. John). It's always on June 23rd, the longest day of the year and the start of summer. Tons of fireworks and parties all along the beaches. Lasts all night long and the next day is a bank holiday to be in a coma

Quoting laurim

Ask me in July and I'll be able to report on Barcelona's Festival Sant Joan (Festival of St. John). It's always on June 23rd, the longest day of the year and the start of summer. Tons of fireworks and parties all along the beaches. Lasts all night long and the next day is a bank holiday to be in a coma

Id love to hear about your trip when you get back, Spain is definitely on my list. Are you travelling alone or with friends? Casey

Sinulog would be great but it falls on January..
But if you want to come here on Cebu during that month, I think youll be able to make it..
It is usually celebrated every third Sunday of January..

Thanks everyone...keep the info coming...all good stuff! who knows I might be able to do them all one day!!

Casey