Introduction
Festivals are a great way to travel on a budget. They’re also an exciting way to explore new cultures, eat good food, and make new friends. The best part is that there are thousands of festivals around the world that celebrate all sorts of things—from food to music, religion and everything in between. You can find something for just about every month or season (and even some year-round!).
Oktoberfest, Munich
Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival and one of the most famous events in the world, is held annually in Munich, Bavaria. The 16-day festival begins on the third Saturday in September and ends on the first Sunday of October with a parade that attracts more than six million visitors per year.
Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture and has its roots in German history: In 1810 to celebrate King Ludwig I’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen (Teyss), Munich celebrated with a horse race called Oktoberfeste which means “October Festival”. Over time this celebration evolved into what we know today as Oktoberfest!
Notting Hill Carnival, London
- Dates: August bank holiday weekend (the last Monday in August)
- What it is: A huge street festival celebrating the British Caribbean community, with music, food and dancing.
- Why you should go: You’ll get to experience one of Europe’s largest carnivals–and sample some authentic Caribbean food while you’re at it!
- What to expect: You’ll see lots of brightly colored costumes, hear plenty of soca music playing in the background and smell jerk chicken cooking on grills as soon as you enter Notting Hill Gate tube station. There are also many stalls selling goods such as jewelry or artwork made by local artists. Plus there are numerous stages where all kinds of performers will be playing throughout the day–from reggae bands to calypso singers–so there’s something for everyone! Just make sure not too get lost in all those crowds…or else how will we find each other again?! 🙂
Carnaval de Cusco (Peru)
Carnaval de Cusco (Peru)
The Carnaval de Cusco is a festival celebrated on the last three days before Ash Wednesday. This festival is also known as the “Feast of the Drunkenness” or “Fiesta de la Quema del Diablo”, which translates to “Festival of Burning Devil”. It was first celebrated in 1680 and has been held annually ever since.
Carnaval de Cusco is one of the biggest celebrations in Peru, attracting thousands of tourists each year who come to experience this unique celebration that combines indigenous traditions with Spanish influence.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the biggest arts festival in the world. It’s a celebration of theater, comedy and music, taking place every August for three weeks. The festival includes over 3,000 shows from over 50 countries at 300 venues around Scotland’s capital city.
In addition to its vast number of shows and performers, Edinburgh Fringe also hosts a variety of other events throughout its duration. These include fringe club nights (where you can dance all night), fringe markets (where you can buy things) and fringe walks (where you can enjoy some nice weather).
Spanish Running of the Bulls Festival (Pamplona)
The Spanish Running of the Bulls Festival (Pamplona) is a weeklong event that takes place in July. It’s an annual festival, and it’s held in Pamplona, Spain. The event is called the San Fermin Festival.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade, New York City
On March 17, a day of celebration for the Irish, New York City becomes a sea of green. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held on this day every year and it’s one of the biggest celebrations in all of NYC. It begins at 11am on Fifth Avenue and goes down to 47th Street, where there are parades, parties and concerts throughout the day. You can find Irish food (corned beef sandwiches!) and drink at these events–and don’t forget your shamrock pin!
La Tomatina Tomato Fight, Spain
La Tomatina Tomato Fight, Spain
When: August (variable)
How It Started: In 1945, some kids from the town of Buñol decided to have a water fight with tomatoes instead of water because they were running low on the latter. They got so into it that they decided to repeat the event every year and soon enough it became an international festival!
What You Can Expect: In case you don’t know what a massive tomato fight looks like, imagine throwing yourself into a giant pool of red ketchup with thousands of other people–it’s basically like being at Chuck E Cheese’s but without all those pesky rules about not getting messy or stealing other people’s tokens. You can participate or just watch from afar as everyone gets covered in delicious juice splatters. It sounds strange but trust me when I say these things are amazing! Plus there’s music, dancing and loads more fun stuff going on throughout La Tomatina too so make sure you check out their website before planning your trip 🙂
Marrakesh’s Jemaa el Fnaa Square Market and Nightlife, Morocco
The Jemaa el Fnaa Square Market and Nightlife, Morocco
This massive market is the biggest in Morocco and a great place to buy souvenirs. You can also eat there–there are lots of vendors selling food from all over the world! While you’re exploring the market, be sure to check out some of the street performers as well as other things going on around you; it’s a very lively area! There are plenty of places to sit down and relax while you take in your surroundings or people watch if that’s more your style.
Festivals are a great way to travel on a budget
Festivals are a great way to travel on a budget. They’re fun, exciting and full of new experiences. Festivals give you the chance to meet people from all over the world, try new food and get involved in activities that you wouldn’t normally do when you’re at home.
Festivals are held all over the world so there’s always one near where you live!
Conclusion
While it’s true that festivals can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to save money and still have an amazing time. If you’re planning a trip abroad, consider attending one of these festivals as part of your itinerary! They’re a great way to get acquainted with local culture while also enjoying some fun activities like dancing or drinking beer at nightfall under the stars (or whatever else goes on at each festival).
