Top-10 List: Our Favourite Festivals from Around the World

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This list is our own personal top-ten based on what we have seen and experienced in our travels. Visiting a festival when traveling is a great way to experience a place.

1. Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany

Having a beer at Oktoberfest in Germany

2. The Palio, Siena, Italy

Having a beer in Italy

This is an annual horse race around the main square of Siena, Italy, which has been going on for hundreds of years. It was just amazing celebrating among the locals in the centre of the main town square as the horses raced around the edges.

3. Nyepi, Bali, Indonesia

An Ogoh Ogoh from the Nyepi Festival

4. Festival of the Birth of Rome, Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy

Roman Festival

We found ourselves in Rome in April, where at the Circus Maximus the locals celebrate the festivities of the Founding of Rome. According to legend, Ancient Rome was founded by the two brothers Romulus and Remus, on 21 April 753 BCE. Every year the city celebrates the Birth of Rome with parades and fighting in costume, re-enacting the deeds of the great ancient Roman Empire.

5. Perth Fringe Festival, Western Australia

Perth Fringe Festival

We never miss the opportunity to visit the Perth Fringe Festival.

6. Floriade Festival, Canberra ACT

Floriade Fields of Flowers

Colourful fields of lowers at the Floriade Festival. Photo from our trip to Canberra, ACT, Australia, in 2018.

7. Diwali, India

Hindu Festival Varanasi India

A Hindu Festival on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi India, from our trip to India in 2005.

8. Pushkar Camel Festival

Pushkar Camel Race

A camel race is the feature event at the Pushkar Camel Fair, India

9. Easter Parade, Antigua, Guatemala

Easter Celebration in Antigua Guatemala
So much colour!

We were fortunate to visit Antigua, the old capital of Guatemala, in time for a Lent Easter parade through the streets, including this group all dressed in purple and red. 

10. Alicante, Spain

colourful ladies of alicante spain

We have great memories of the festival in the streets of Alicante, Spain. We arrived in the town not expecting this, and had trouble finding a place to stay. There was so much action happening in the streets. This image of the ladies sitting waiting is one of our favourite travel photos.


Other festivals? Goth Week Whitby, Reggae Festival in Pai Thailand. What are your favourites?

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