Beginner's Guide to Festival Going
The BasicsFestivals celebrate the weird, the wonderful and everything in between, from thousand year old cultural or religious traditions like India’s Ganesh Chaturthi, to the cultural mash up and binge that is Burning Man. While attending a festival may seem like a great opportunity to get down and party with the locals not all is as it may seem on the festival circuit; some events have been hijacked by tourism (the Bull run at Pamplona, and La Tomatina, for example) and bulge out of shape with people not down with the spirit of the thing, so look further than the hype if you’re after an authentic experience. The best advice for all prospective festival goers is BE PREPARED: *Buy your tickets in advance and have accommodation (or a tent if it’s that kind of festival) pre-arranged. *Know what you’re allowed to bring. Some places don’t allow liquids, some don’t allow cameras, some don’t allow alcohol, some don’t allow dogs, some don’t allow nudity, some don’t allow women… *Know what you’re getting yourself into. If you’re a festival virgin you may be in for a surprise, so ask around and know what to expect so you don’t offend anyone by forgetting to cover your shoulders or impaling someone’s foot with your high heels in the mosh pit. *Bring water and a spare pair of underwear and wear sunscreen and stretchy pants. This is good general advice for all situations, even when attending the opera when a niggle in the back of your throat may leave you paranoid for an entire evenings performance. |
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Rio CarnivalFestivals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Carnival is a celebration of fun, music and frivolity held worldwide, but Rio Carnival is the biggest and the best known. More than 500,000 visitors flock to Rio for the Carnival every year adding to around a million local revellers. Carnival takes place over four days, culminating in the Samba Parade where three to five thousand people from samba schools all over Rio perform with floats, music themes and costumes and onlookers party in the streets. Samba schools spend all year preparing for Carnival and complete over the four days for the right to feature in the Samba Parade where the final winner is announced. The hedonistic attitude of Carnival comes from its history as a final fling in the lead up to Lent, while the drum music played on may of the floats comes from African influences. Carnival goers can also attend Carnival Balls, street parties and samba school nights. Learn to samba, douse your costume in sequins and feathers and get ready to dance all night, just make sure you book your flights and accommodation early.
Review by Photo by flickr user ☆Andagi☆ |
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Chinese New Year in Hong KongFestivals in Hong Kong, China Marked in many countries with fireworks, parades and family gatherings, the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations happen in Hong Kong. The festivities include a huge night parade with traditional floats and lion dances set to loud, excited percussion music and an enormous fireworks display held in Victoria Harbour on the second day of the three day New Year holiday (the festival lasts for 15 days.). The sound of fireworks exploding is thought to scare away bad spirits and promote luck. People visit temples and tend to wear new clothes and favour the colour red during the Chinese New Year festivities so there is frenzied shopping and a lot of bustling around town. Hong Kong holds a vast flower market (to celebrate spring). Families share feasts of chicken and fish for good luck and prosperity and there are a range of round sweet traditional treats exchanged. Already a vibrant city, Hong Kong explodes with red decorations, lights and activity during Chinese New Year.
Review by Photo by flickr user soham_pablo |
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The Burning Man FestivalFestivals in Black Rock Desert, United States The burning of a 40 foot wooden man in the middle of the Black Rock Desert is only a small part of the eight day Burning Man Festival. The most important part of the festival, say organisers is being part of the event, which involves living in a temporary purpose built city community and testing your self expression and self reliance. This can be in the form of participating in art projects and community life or just letting yourself go a bit crazy to the beat of your own drum. More than 39,000 people now attend the event which has grown from being a beach party celebrating the summer solstice to the incarnation of personal freedom, radical self expression and de-commodification. If you’re looking for a totally unique experience, The Burning Man Festival will provide you with one, but only if you participate. Festival goers be aware that currency is discouraged at the event (and can only buy you coffee and ice), normal vehicles are not permitted (though mutant or purpose built and ’art’ cars are welcome) so bring a bicycle and be aware that the event is clothing optional. But entertainment is at a premium and all kinds of musical, theatrical and visual arts performances happen spontaneously in addition to less orthodox events like raves and mud wrestling parties.
Review by Photo by flickr user knaakle |
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Surin Elephant Round UpFestivals in North East, Thailand Not a round up in the usual sense, the Surin Elephant Round Up is a show of elephant training, skills and prowess. Elephants and riders perform shows, demonstrate traditional elephant hunts, play football games and compete in tug of war competitions. The day starts with an elephant procession of around 300 carrying local dignitaries and people in traditional dress. The parade ends with an ‘Elephant Breakfast’, a vast layout of fruit for the parading elephants to share. Local schools and performing arts troupes entertain the crowds of around 40,000 with music and dancing between elephant events. As well as being an unusual cultural event this is an amazing opportunity to appreciate the intelligence and agility of one of the world’s most impressive creatures. In recent years the event has become more popular and tour companies have improved access to Surin.
Review by Photo by flickr user Nagyman |
