Feature shot by re-ality Photo above by grahammclellan
Mardi Gras? Carnival? Octoberfest? The Running of the Bulls? Been there. Done that. Everyone knows about these parties. They’re great. They’re famous. But most people go to them once and never come back. Let’s talk about parties where the same people return year after year.
In no particular order, here are our top 10 must see parties:
La Tomatina
What: Nobody is really sure how it began- practical joke? A harmless food fight between two merchants? A prank? No one knows but this messy fiesta has been a strong tradition since 1945. On the last Wednesday in August, about 30,000 people descend on this little town to participate in the world’s largest food fight. Never had that massive cafeteria food fight when you were younger? Well, here’s your chance.
When: The last Wednesday in August.
Where: The tiny town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain
Bring: Throw-away clothes and goggles! Tomato juice in the eye stings!
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Full Moon Party
What: Legend has it that the Full Moon Party started as a birthday party in the 80s. The backpackers decided to come back again and again. Soon word spread and every month, backpackers would head to KPG to party.
Over the years, the hippy party morphed into a 20,000 person festival. Even in the low season, the party still sees about 10,000 visitors. Many people will tell you that it’s lost its charm over the years but for a serious dose of all night (and all day) partying in Thailand, this is place to get it.
Photo by jeremydeades
When: During the full moon, every month
Where: Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand
Bring: Your drinking shoes, a red bull, facepaint, and clothes you don’t care about.
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Burning Man
What: Looking for the ultimate arts extravaganza? Burning Man is for you! An 8 day festival that culminates in the burning of a 72ft wooden man, this festival is where you can cut loose. Each year has a theme (this year, it’s “American Dream”) and last year 47,000 people decided to join the fun.
Photo by colvid daorado
When: Starts 8 days before the American Labor Day, September
Where: Blackrock Desert, Nevada USA
Bring: Everything BUT money! Burning Man runs on a full barter system and the only things you can buy are water and ice. Aside from the obvious supplies you’d take camping, other essentials include sunblock, a Camel Back and goggles. MOST importantly, bring something that allows you to participate–that’s what Burning Man is all about.
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Songkran
What: Songkran is the Thai New Year. It’s a spiritual festival designed to cool you down and wash away the sins of the previous year. What better way of doing that than by committing a few new ones, right away? Songkran takes place all over the country with everyone embarking on possibly the world’s largest water fight.
When: Mid-April
Where: Anywhere in the land of Smiles (Bangkok and Chang Mai have the biggest parties)
Bring: Anything you don’t mind wearing only once, a water gun, extra water, and a good attitude.
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Glastonbury Music Festival
What: A 3 day music festival designed to celebrate the earth, music, and the arts, this festival brings in people from all over the world. Last year’s event had over 177,000 people and 700 musical acts.
When: The last weekend in June
Where: Pilton, England
Bring: Tickets, a tent, sleeping bag, food, and whatever else you “need” to have fun.
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Holi
What: Similar to the Thai holiday of Songrkan, Holi is a two day Hindu spring festival that occurs in northern India. The first night is marked by bonfires, and the second day is spent pleasuring your inner 2nd grader by splashing colored flour and water over everybody. It’s a celebration about renewal.
Photo by faceme
When: The full moon in March.
Where: India
Bring: Red, orange, and green flour, lots of water, clothes you don’t need!
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Bay to Breakers
What: It’s supposed to be a 7 mile foot race but instead it’s a 7 mile costume party and keg race that goes through downtown San Francisco. It began in 1906 to keep people’s sprits up after the earthquake and locals are still keeping that alive, in force! Over 70,000 people, congregate downtown in costumes (or nothing at all) and shopping carts filled with kegs. A little Mardi Gras + a little Halloween college party = a lot of fun.
Photo by weylandphoto
When: The third Sunday in May.
Where: San Francisco, California
Bring: A crazy costume and lots of beer!
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Australia Day
What: Australians love two things: beer and bbqs. No day brings out the best in these two than Australia Day, when Aussies celebrate the first European settlement on the continent of Australia. Aussies, a normally festive bunch, kick it up a notch all over the country with bbqs, music, and beer. From the cities to the towns, Aussies are out in full force. If you don’t already have an Aussie friend to take you under his/her wing, head to a beach with beer and make some new friends! Most Australians would love nothing more to break in a newbie!
Photo by Scootie
When: January 26
Where: Anywhere in Oz!
Bring: Your Australian pride, a case of Carlton draught or Coopers, and something for the grill.
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Queen’s Day
What: The normally reserved Dutch cut lose to celebrate the birth of their Queen. Originally to celebrate the birth of Juliana, the day now celebrates the birth of Beatrix, whose January birthday makes it cold to party. All over the country, the Dutch head outside with their beer and music, flood the streets in orange, and cruise up and down the canals in revelry.
When: April 30th
Where: The Netherlands (Amsterdam has the biggest party)
Bring: Anything orange!
Learn more
Calgary Stampede
What: A 10 day rodeo that attracts over a million visitors during its course. The festival features a parade and is the largest event in Canada. But don’t come to watch the rodeo, come for the party! The throngs of people who flock to Calgary are there for the revelry, the beer, and the girls (or boys).
When: Second week in July
Where: Calgary, Alberta
Bring: Your best cowboy outfit and a tolerance for country music.
Learn more
What’s your favorite party on the planet? What nationality of people do you think party the hardest? Let your voice be heard and leave something for all to see, in the comments!
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233 Comments... join the discussion!
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The World’s Largest Disco – Buffalo, New York, always the first Saturday after the US Thanksgiving. One of the best parties in the World!!!
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I played Mas for the first time at the Toronto Caribana Festival last year and had the time of my life.
http://www.caribanafever.com/Drinking and dancing to Soca music in one of the largest street festival, what more can you ask?
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The Fringe Festival, Edinburgh??? Surely!!
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Guys these may be the best outdoor festival type parties but youre forgetting about parties in certain clubs etc. That’s where the real fun happens! A good night in an awesome nightclub is always great! On the topic of big outdoorsy things there’s also the notting hill carnival. That’s fucking cool.
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WHAT about TRYVANN – ditt livs party in Norway? Sick party with only graduats from all over the country, they have busses and vans that are all decorated awesome. check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMuZ6ULMbL8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=120272DYukA
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS19Xnr9ClM – that’s the best and the biggest party in the world,,
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Greece Patras carnival one of best in Europe!!! 40000 people…. and you have all tha others….
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Salvador, Brazilians Carnival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cQC6t4OD6I
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What about the Brazilian Carnival???
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The person who wrote this list doesn’t know a thing about parties. Everyone knows that the biggest party in the world is the carnival in Brazil. I’ve been to some of the ones on this list and to the carnival twice. Absolutely no comparison!
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What about Oktoberfest?
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HUNGARY –> HYPERSPACE AND ISLAND FESTIVAL THE GREATEST
AND I LOVE TECHNO
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WHAT ABOUT THE BOOM FESTIVAL IN PORTUGAL !!! THAST A PARTY, and carnival in brasil (salvador) and party at the beach in Goa(thailand).
those are no parties!!↵ -
if you really wanna know what party is like u should come to ibiza (spain) between june-august! party every single day for 3 months, no kiddind! i live there and is the most amazing island in the world!
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The best and most awesome festivals are held in the small country named Serbia. Such a lovely people! Visit Guca (the biggest and greatest Trumpet festival in the world, most awesome!
) and Exit festival (the greatest music festival of the eastern Europe). While you’re there you must taste Pljeskavica and Leskovacki Cevapi. You won’t be mistaken for anything. Good life – Serbian life.
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i have attended 2 fullmoon parties in koh phangan thailand and i think its the best place to go creazy
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Sturgis motorcycle rally or Tabor Czech Days! both are huge events in South Dakota,
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There is a party in South Africa in a tiny town called Bathurst in the Eastern Cape (population 500 at the best of times) Ox Braai, where they bbq up to 30 Ox to feed the crowd is never enough as there are about 18 000 people who go. This part is held every year on the 28 or 29 of December! pls come you will enjoy it, im 16 and cant wait to go and im going to be adding your parties to my list of places to be
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