7 unusual festivals around the world

From Mexico’s iconic Day of the Dead to Nicaragua’s little-known Aguizotes, our Travel Specialists have rounded up a compelling list… Curious? Do get in touch if you fancy including a festival in your next adventure – it’s a fabulous way to dive into local traditions and celebrations!

The Day of the Dead festival may be thought of as Mexico’s equivalent to our own Halloween, but it couldn’t be more different. Close on the calendar, also involving costumes and sweets, Dia de los Muertos actively celebrates the dead instead of fearing them. It’s a wonderfully colourful and joyful tradition, honouring loved ones and inviting them back home to share in the celebrations for a night, no nasty surprises! Our Travel Specialists can advise on the best places to take it all in.

Much like Mexico’s DotD, Japan’s biggest festival, Obon, is all about celebrating and honouring the spirits of loved ones. For three days in August across the country, you’ll find vibrant street food stalls, fireworks, processions and taiko drumming with lanterns to guide the ancestors home. Locals in traditional yukata (cotton kimonos) and geta (wooden flip flops) dance in parks and temples, often reflecting their heritage, like mimicking farmers throwing bales of rice. It’s a lively, heartfelt festivity.

We love Nicaragua’s gala, which uses fire, brimstone and the frightening figures of local folklore to keep future generations on the straight and narrow! Aguizotes, celebrated by indigenous communities, is held on the last Friday in October when thousands take to the streets behind masks of devils, witches and terrifying ghouls. Set to the soundtrack of drums, cymbols, trumpets and tubas, this haunting event carries deep cultural meaning and is sure to live long in the memory.

 

Don’t worry –  it’s the monkeys being treated to the buffet, not making the menu! This quirky event made our list because it witnesses Thailand‘s town of Lopburi, northeast of Bangkok, being overrun by hordes of macaques, creating chaos and an unforgettable spectacle as they tuck into their lavish spread. Honouring the legend of monkey king Hanuman, it’s thought to bring good luck and prosperity. But don’t expect them to share…

 

Each February in Italy, the town of Ivrea hosts a one-of-a-kind carnival, the Battle of the Oranges! Locals re-enact a medieval uprising, pelting oranges at a cart symbolising the tyrant’s henchmen. Chaotic, fun and a bit bruising. (The horses are absolutely not targets).

In an ancient nod to Halloween, Morocco celebrates in June with Carnival Boujloud. With its origins in the cycle of death and resurrection, locals dress in sheepskins and spooky masks with dancing, singing and a large helping of community spirit.

Every December in Peru’s Chumbivilcas province, high up in the Andes, the mountains come alive with the vibrant Takanakuy festival. Communities gather for music, dancing, feasting, and brightly coloured costumes. But unlike other Latin American festivals, Takanakuy includes a unique twist—public fist fights. It’s long been a way for locals to settle disputes, strengthen bonds and foster peace within the community. All in the name of entertainment, of course!