From the people who've been delivering trustworthy guidebooks to every destination in the world for 40 years, Lonely Planet's 50 Festivals To Blow Your Mind will make your next trip an unforgettable one.

There's something about festivals. Whether it's a giant, joyous party or a respectful honouring of tradition, a seemingly bizarre adherence to ritual or a celebration of a quirky obsession - a festival is a uniquely human thing to be involved in. We get together to dance, sing, eat, laugh, drink, dress up, light fires, take our clothes off, throw tomatoes at each other, roll around in mud - just about anything really, but we seem to like doing it in really large groups with bags and bags of enthusiasm.

Festivals are life-affirming and take our desire to have a good time with friends and family to a global level. They continue to thrive because they ignite curiosity and help to promote understanding, compassion and a greater acceptance of other races, cultures and traditions.

Contents:

All action
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta // USA
Argungu Fishing Festival // Nigeria
Holi // India and Nepal
Las Bolas de Fuego // El Salvador
Rouketopolemos (Rocket War) // Greece
Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri // Japan
Songkran Water Festival // Thailand

Art and culture
AgitAgueda Art Festival // Portugal
Edinburgh Fringe Festival // UK
Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival // China
South by Southwest // USA
Sundance Film Festival // USA
White Nights Festival // Russia
World Body Painting Festival // Austria

Calm and tranquil
Floating Lantern Festival // Hawaii
The International Highline Meeting Festival // Italy
Pingxi Lantern Festival // Taiwan

Foodie
Bordeaux Fe?te le Vin // France
MAD Symposium // Denmark
Maine Lobster Festival // USA
Oktoberfest // Germany
South Beach Food and Wine Festival // USA
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival // UK

Just one big party
Amsterdam Gay Pride/Europride // The Netherlands
Burning Man // USA
Carnevale // Italy
Carnival // Brazil
Chinese New Year // Singapore
Feast of San Jeronimo // Nicaragua
Mardi Gras // USA
St Patrick's Day // Ireland
Up Helly Aa Fire Festival // Scotland

Music
Coachella // USA
Glastonbury Festival // UK
Montreal International Jazz Festival // Canada
Rhythm and Vines // New Zealand
Roskilde Music Festival // Denmark
Sonar // Spain
Splendour in the Grass // Australia
WOMADelaide // Australia

Off the wall
Air Guitar World Championships // Finland
Boryeong Mud Festival // South Korea
Buso Festival // Hungary
Dia de los Muertos // Mexico
Ivrea Orange Festival // Italy
Kanamara Matsuri Festival // Japan
La Tomatina // Spain
Thaipusam Festival // Malaysia
UFO Festival // USA
Wife Carrying Festival // Finland

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