Favorite Festivals Around The World

[shygirl724]

BALLOON FESTIVALS

ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA, NM USA - Held in October each year, this is the world’s largest Balloon Festival. It grew to 1,019 balloons in 2000, before being pared back to the current maximum of 600 balloons, due to space and crowd considerations - emphasizing quality over quantity. It is an amazing event to see, with activities over 9 days. http://www.balloonfiesta.com 2011 dates are Oct. 1st through the 9th.

While looking for information on the Albuquerque balloon festival, I came across the following link:
http://www.hotairballoon.com It is a very large database of balloon festivals around the world. Who knew there were so many? When accessing an area’s list, I discovered that if you click on one of the columns to sort the list, the window will fully open up to show the complete list for the area – not just the 3 to 4 that are initially showing.

Shy ~

[shygirl724]

I've often thought the Tomatina Festival in Bunol, Spain would be a crazy & fun festival to attend (and participate in).

Shy ~

BUNOL, Spain (AP) - Tens of thousands of people pelted each other with 120 tons of ripe tomatoes Wednesday in an annual battle that left the eastern Spanish town of Bunol awash in red pulp.

Bunol's town hall estimated that around 40,000 people, including many tourists, took part in the hour-long street fight known as the "Tomatina," an event that has its roots in a food fight between childhood friends back in 1945.

Participants jumped and flopped in the sea of red mush as the they pelted each other with tomatoes, which are hurled at the crowds from five loaded trucks.

Those that participate are advised to wear goggles and old clothes for the fight. The town sets up portable showers and opens fire hydrants so that the revellers can shower themselves down once finished.

The town's streets and walls are hosed down shortly after the battle ends.

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I like any Semana Santa time in Latin American countries - especially Guatemala, although Cuzco was pretty nice over Easter. Also the Day of the Dead in Latin America - was in Mexico and Belize for this

[thepiranha]

I definitely agree with Shygirl's suggestion. I'd love to go to la Tomatina, which was just a couple of weeks ago. Also, the Songkran Festival, which is the traditional Thai New Year's Day in mid-April. People are out in the streets drenching each other with buckets of water and water guns. The world's biggest wet T-shirt contest.

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I just saw the Tomatina festival on the news - looks like fun - would need lots of stain remover for your clothes!

[sidd12690]

i like to go blue lotus festival of india. this is one of my favourite festival.Amidst the plethora of music festivals being organized across India ,blue Lotus Festival brings to you the unique sounds of India that you have never heard before in a city replete with all the culture that our vast country has to offer . We would love for all of you to be a part of this grand and unique celebration of Indian music and culture !

[omegaet]

This is a 'must do' annual event on our schedule:

2013 SOBEWFF | FEB 21-24, 2013

No a bad location nor way to spend a long weekend in February each year.

[jsattapr2]

Yes, I agree, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival has become an annual event in my life as well. I already have my tickets for later this month and look forward to spending two days [that's all I can afford] there will a friend.

[thepiranha]

The only huge international festival I've been to was the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. I was only seventeen and my buddy and I were stuck on the French/Spanish border, waiting for a train. Some Canadian backpackers suggested that we go to Pamplona since it was supposed to get to our station before the train to Madrid (our original destination), so we did. Although I was plastered (it didn't take much to get me drunk at that age), I still remember a lot of details very vividly.

If I had a choice of any festival in the world that I could attend, it would be Holi in India. Check it out:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVdyp6iyMr...ia33545451.png

[jmbklj]

The only huge international festival I've been to was the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. I was only seventeen and my buddy and I were stuck on the French/Spanish border, waiting for a train. Some Canadian backpackers suggested that we go to Pamplona since it was supposed to get to our station before the train to Madrid (our original destination), so we did. Although I was plastered (it didn't take much to get me drunk at that age), I still remember a lot of details very vividly.

If I had a choice of any festival in the world that I could attend, it would be Holi in India. Check it out:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVdyp6iyMr...ia33545451.png

I agree with you - I think Holi would be lots of fun!

And just think of the colorful photo ops.....