August
Ganesh Chaturthi
Do not look at the moon! The moon laughed at Ganesh when his stomach burst open and the sweets fell out! When: August / September. 19th September 2012, 9th September 2013. Where: India. Ganesha Chaturthi, the great Ganesha festival, is … Continue reading
Hartalika Teej
A celebration of marriage and family When: Varying dates in August / September. 18th September 2012. Where: North Indian states, especially Jaipur city, Rajasthan. Women all over India celebrate Teej with great enthusiasm, dressing in their best saris and honouring … Continue reading
Highland Games
Ever wondered what’s under a Scotsman’s kilt? When: May to September. Where: Scotland. feats of strength such as throwing the hammer, tossing the cabre and tug-o-war to the more gentile events such as bagpipe playing and highland fling dancing, its … Continue reading
La Raima
Tomatoes not your thing? Then crush a grape or two instead! When: Weekend of the last Friday in August. 31st Aug – 2nd Sept 2012. Where: La Pobla del Duc, Valencia, Spain. Usually (but not always) two days after the … Continue reading
La Tomatina
Get tomatoed at the World’s most infamous food fight! When: The last Wednesday of August. 29th August 2012. 28th August 2013. Where: Buñol, Valencia, Spain. La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each … Continue reading
Posted in August
Tagged European festivals, Spanish fiesta, Strange Festivals, Traveller's choice
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Buyogan festival
Get bugged by the bees at the Buyogan Festival of Abuyog… When: Around August 29th every year. Where: Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines. The Phillipines celebrates its Buyogan festival in the coastal town of Abuyog on the island of Leyte every year. … Continue reading
Onam festival
Cover the floor with flower carpets and dance with the decorated elephants until you are blue in the face… When: Varying dates in August / September, 29th August 2012, 16th September 2013. Where: Kerala, India. Elaborate feasts, elegant dances, ornately … Continue reading
The Notting Hill Carnival
Shake your booty at Europe’s biggest carnival… When: Last weekend in August including August Bank Holiday Monday. Where: Notting Hill , London, England. The air is filled with the vibrant sounds of the carnival sound system and the luscious smells … Continue reading
Burning Man
Build, create, express yourself, nobody is a spectator at Burning Man… When: End of August / Beginning of September every year. Aug 27th – Sept 3rd, 2012. Where: Black Rock Dessert, Nevada, USA. They say to truly understand this event, … Continue reading
Imilchil Marriage Festival
Among the remote villages in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco lies an isolated village by the name of Imilchil. Life is hard for the Berber tribes that live there and not many outsiders come to the area, as the road … Continue reading
Posted in August, September
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Asakusa Samba Carnival
When South American Samba meets the East… When: Last Saturday in August. 25th August 2012, 31st August 2013. Where: Asakusa district, Tokyo, Japan. The streets of Tokyo’s Asakusa district come alive with fabulous floats and vibrant dancers, shimmying their way … Continue reading
Saddleworth Longwood Thump Rushcart Festival
There’s nothing rushed or hurried about this quirrkily English festival! When: Second weekend following August 12th. 25th & 26th August 2012, 24th & 25th August 2013. Where: Uppermill, near Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England. The origins of the Rushcart are not entirely … Continue reading
Fiesta de San Bartolomé
An occasion for dressing up, street parades, music and fireworks… When: August 24th every year. Where: Mexico, Bolivia, Canary Isles. San Bartolo Coyotepec, south of Oaxaca City in Mexico is famous for its fiesta in aid of the Saint, where … Continue reading
Qi Qiao Jie, Chinese Valentine’s day
Cultivate the domestic goddess in you with some melon carving. When: Varying dates in August. 23rd August 2012, 13th August 2013. Where: China. Qi Qiao Jie (or the seventh eve) is often called Chinese Valentine’s Day and is a day … Continue reading
Palio delle Contrade, Allumiere
Time to place your bets for the donkey race… When: First weekend after 15th August. Where: Allumiere near Rome in Italy. The small town of Allumiere near Rome in Italy is divided into the contrade of Burò, Ghetto, La Bianca, … Continue reading
St Stephen’s day
Hungary for bread… When: Budapest, Hungary. Where: August 20th every year. August 20th, St Stephen’s day is the biggest national holiday and celebration for Hungarians, with day-long festivities followed by spectacular fireworks throughout the country, the biggest and best being … Continue reading
Vinalia Roman Wine festival
Early laddette culture leads to the watering down of wine for the ladies! The Vinalia were Roman wine festivals held twice a year to give thanks to the gods (mostly Venus and Jupiter as deities of gardens and therefore vineyards), … Continue reading
Pirate Battle of Omis
You ho ho and a bottle of rum! When: August 18th every year. Where: Omis, Croatia. The pirates of Omis were once a significant force and wreaked havoc and terror around the Adriatic sea during the 13th and 14th century. … Continue reading
San Sebastiano, Mistretta
A lively Sicilian street procession for the patron Saint of Mistretta… When: January 20th & August 18th every year. Where: Mistretta, Scicily. San Sebastiano is celebrated in Mistretta, Sicily with a hectic procession through the picturesque old town, carrying the … Continue reading
Portunalia
Throw your keys in the fire for good luck and grab an opportunity to visit Rome with both hands… When: August 17th. Where: Ancient Rome. In Roman mythology, Portunes was the god of keys, doors and livestock and he protected … Continue reading
Daimonji Gozan Okurib
Fiery Chinese symbols appear to float above the night sky around Kyoto When: August 16th every year. Where: Kyoto, Japan. This iconic fire festival, marks the end of Obon, the Japanese festival of the dead. Five fiery torches, each in … Continue reading
Palio di Siena
May the best horse win! When: July 2nd & August 16th every year. Where: Siena, Italy The Palio di Siena (locally known as Il Palio) is a horse race held in Siena in Italy where ten horses carrying ten bareback … Continue reading
Festival de la Virgen de Urcupina
A Bolivian festival full of superstition and unusual customs… When: 14th to 18th August every year. Where: Quillacollo, near Cochabamba, Bolivia. The Bolivian festival in honor of the Urcupiña Virgin in the village of Quillacollo in Bolivia is marked by … Continue reading
Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri
A good excuse for a water fight it seems! When: Third weekend in August, 15th August 2011. Where: Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Koto Ward,Tokyo. The Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri is a very wet parade of 54 portable Shinto shrines (mikoshi), music and … Continue reading
Kefalonia Mid August Snake Festival
Thousands of snakes (who were aparently nuns!) descend on a church in Kefalonia each year… When: 14th & 15th August every year. Where: Markopoulo, Kefalonia. The Church of the Virgin Mary Lagouvarda in Markopoulo is famous for its annual Snake … Continue reading
Obon Matsuri
A beautiful send off for visiting ancestral spirits… When: August 13th to 16th but dates can vary regionally. Where: All over Japan. Obon Matsuri is a Japanese Buddhist festival that is a time for honouring the souls of dead ancestors … Continue reading
Yamaga Toro Matsuri
Light the way home with a lantern on your head… When: August 15th & 16th every year. Where: Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The old legend goes that the Emperor and his entourage, struggling to try and find their way through … Continue reading
Ferragosto
The Italians still celebrate Roman Emporer Augustus’ harvest festival with fireworks and street parties. Buon Ferragosto a tutti! When: August 15th every year (Assumption day). Where: Italy. Ferragosto is an Italian holiday dating back to Roman times when it was held … Continue reading
Festa dei Candelieri
Sassari’s parade of huge candlesticks sets this Sardinian city on fire… When: August 14th & 15th every year. Where: Sassari, Sardinia. Every year Sardinia’s second largest city, Sassari is overrun with chanting spectators as 3m high wooden candlesticks colourfully decorated … Continue reading
Awa Odori Dance Festival
Dance the Bon Odori, you’re a fool if you do, and a fool if you don’t! When: 12th to 15th August every year. Where: Tokushima, Japan. Is this the largest street party on earth? The huge city-wide dance party, Awa … Continue reading
Jersey’s Battle of Flowers Parade
When: Second Thursday & Friday of August every year. 9th & 10th August 2012. Where: Jersey This spectacular floral parade of flower festooned floats, dancers, street entertainers and musicians is one of Jersey’s summer highlights. The Battle began in 1902, … Continue reading
Janamashtami festival
The birthday of Lord Krishna, the original superhero, born one dark stormy night When: Varying dates in August / September, August 9th/10th 2012, August, 28th August 2013. Where: India. The Janamashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, one of the … Continue reading
Yosakoi Matsuri
Come over tonight and shake your clackers for the Yosakoi Matsuri. When: August 9th to 12th every year. Where: Kōchi, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. Yosakoi is a unique and highly energetic style of dance originating from the city of Kōchi in … Continue reading
Tanabata
Make your wish and hang it on a bamboo tree. When: July 7th / August 7th every year. Where: Japan The goddess Tanabata and the farmer Mikeran fell in love. It is said that Tanabata asked Mikeran to weave one … Continue reading
Bolivian Independence day
Celebrate freedom in Bolivia When: August 6th every year. Where: Bolivia especially La Paz. Bolivian Independence Day is celebrated every year throughout Bolivia with great pomp and show but nowhere as enthusiastically as the capital city ‘La Paz.’ The events … Continue reading
Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri
10,000 dancers with hats adorned with safflowers. When: August 5th to 7th every year. Where: Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. A hanagasa is a bamboo hat decorated with pretty safflowers unique to the region. The Hanagasa Odori dancers parade through … Continue reading
Festa della Madonna della Neve
The miracle of the summer snowfall. When: 5th August every year. Where: Rome, Italy. The Festa della Madonna della Neve (Feast of the “Madonna of the Snow”) celebrates the miraculous summer snowfall in the 4th century Legend has it that … Continue reading
Fiesta of the Virgin of la Candalaria, Copacabana
Christen the car with Bolivian beer When: August 5th every year. Where: Copacabana, Bolivia. A normally quiet place, Copacabana transforms every August, into a riot of colour and noise with parades, music, drinking and general merrymaking. New vehicles are brought … Continue reading
Kajari Teej
When: Varying dates in August / September. 4th August 2012. Where: All over India, especially Bundi, Rajasthan. Women all over India celebrate Teej with great enthusiasm, dressing in their best saris and honouring the other women of the family and … Continue reading
Gai Jatra
A noisy parade of decorated cows (and small boys) in honour of loved ones passed… When: Varying dates in August / September. 3rd August 2012. Where: Nepal (especially Kathmandu). Gai Jatra (or Gaijatr) is the the festival of cows (gai … Continue reading
Feria de las Flores
Don’t expect the sobriety of England’s Chelsea Flower show at this Colombian flower party! When: First 2 weeks of August for 10 days. 2nd to 12th August 2012. Where: Medellín, Columbia. Colombia is one of the biggest providers of flowers … Continue reading
Akita Kanto Matsuri
That’s really some balancng act! When: August 3rd to 6th every year. Where: Akita City, Tokahu region, Japan. The Kanto Matsuri (pole lantern festival) is a highly impressive display where skilled performers balance kanto (bamboo poles hung with paper lanterns) … Continue reading
Aomori Nebuta festival
Floating through the Aomori region in Japan.
Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi festival
A day for some brotherly and sisterly love… When: Varying dates in August. 2nd August 2012. Where: Raksha Bandhan (meaning bond of protection in many Indian languages) is a Hindu festival, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters … Continue reading
Kadayawan Festival
When: Whole of August. Where: Davao, Philippines. The Kadayawan Festival is an annual festivity in the city of Davao in the Philippines. Its name comes from the greeting “Madayaw” (from the Dabawenyo word “dayaw”, meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful). … Continue reading
Morioka Sansa Odori
Dance to the drums to banish the demon When: 1st to 4th August every year. Where: Morioka city, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. August is filled with grand festivals in the Tohoku region, in the Northern part of mainland Japan. Sansa Odori … Continue reading
Pasaka festival
Pasaka means hope for progress, health, and luck for the coming year. When: August 15th every year. Where: Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines. The Pasaka Festival, which actually starts on August 1st and culminates on August 15th (Assumption day, the day the … Continue reading
The Hungry Ghost Festival / Ullambana
Don’t forget to set a place for the hungry ghost… When: Varying dates in July & August. 31st August 2012, 21st August 2013. Where: China. This Chinese festival is full of superstition. It is believed that throughout the whole month … Continue reading
Amsterdam Gay Pride
A fabulously floaty affair in Amsterdam. When: First week in August every year. Where: Amsterdam, Holland. Every year at the beginning of August Amsterdam’s annual gay festival transforms the city into a riot of vibrant revelers, banging music and kinky … Continue reading
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Wasserschlacht festival
A good day to stay inside if you live in Berlin! When: Varying Sundays in Summer. 27th July 2012. Where: Berlin. At the Wasserschlacht in Berlin, Germany, two battling districts (Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg) meet on the Oberbaumbrucke Bridge and what … Continue reading
