The Valletta waterfront is a magnificent setting to enjoy such beautiful music; gaze out to sea as trumpets and piano keys provide the ideal soundtrack. The festival reaches its climactic crescendo on December 17, the day when Rumi was united with Allah. Without doubt one for your 2020 festival bucket list. Pleasant, but don’t forget to pack a jumper for the evening gigs. That Canadian concert may attract more visitors– around 2 million annually. In 2004 it was named the biggest jazz festival in the world, with 700 concerts performed by 3,000 musicians over a 10-day period. The event was immortalized in “Smoke On The Water,” the Deep Purple classic: “We all came out to Montreux, on the Lake Geneva shoreline. US. The Spanish festival was banned for much of the 1950s, but in 1957 locals protested with a mock funeral, carrying a coffin with a giant tomato inside as bands played a funeral march. Their unique “Campground Plazas” also offer karaoke, late night parties, celebrity appearances, and more. Check out Candlewood Suites Winnemucca, Best Western Plus Gold Country Inn, or Winnemucca Holiday Motel. It begins with social events in November, private balls held on Thanksgiving Day and New Year’s Eve, with parades and more private balls throughout January and early February. On top of them they’ll put photos of the dead, calaveras (a.k.a. Music buffs never had this luxury before as there are so many cool festivals out there. If you go, please follow some simple rules: Don’t throw hard objects, squash the tomato before throwing it, stay a safe distance away from tomato trucks, and stop when the starter pistol indicates that the hour of mayhem has ended. The best part of the festival is that the majority of the celebrations are free – so it’s no wonder that it attracts around two million jazz enthusiasts each year. 1956-61. If you’re looking for a hotel for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, check out the Days Inn by Wyndham Manchester TN, Sassy Springs Retreat, and Courtyard by Marriott Nashville SE/Murfreesboro. The great climate also makes for ideal conditions for a massive, country-wide flea market you have to see to believe. The first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, also known as Jazz Fest, was held in 1970 when Mahalia Jackson, arguably the greatest gospel singer of all time, performed. Looking for a hotel to celebrate Krampusnacht? Check out Pousada Irmãos Freyhardt Galeão,  Hotel Atlântico Business Centro or Casa Nova Hotel. The first major festival was The Monterey Pop Festival, a three-day major rock festival that took place in 1967 and served as a template for many festivals that came after it, including Woodstock. More than any other music festival, WOMAD has always been a celebration of global culture first and foremost. READ MORE: The Best Travel Clothing for 7 Travel Styles (An Epic Guide). Check out H21 Hotel Boutique, Fiesta Inn Aeropuerto CD Mexico or City Express Ciudad de Mexico Aeropuerto. Nobody seems to know where Krampus came from. It has been an ongoing jazz festival since the early 1980s and has broken the world record, holding the 2004 Guinness World Record for the most attended jazz festival by entertaining over two million people. One of my favorite music festivals I’ve attended, WOMAD (World Of Music, Arts & Dance) was founded in 1980 by Peter Gabriel and a team that included Artistic Director Thomas Brooman and influential concert promoter Martin Elbourne (who also books the Glastonbury Festival). If you’re looking for a hotel for the Mevlâna Festival, check out Bera Konya Hotel, Paşapark Selçuklu Hotel or Bayır Diamond Hotel & Convention Center. Top Tip: To escape the city for the day, take a trip from Valletta to Malta’s sister island, Gozo, to relax and unwind on its gorgeous beaches. Check out BoHo Prague Hotel (Czech Republic), 25hours Hotel The Circle (Germany) and Villa Adria Apartments (Croatia), READ MORE: 75 Christmas Traditions Around the World. The 10-day event completely overtakes the capital. –Bret Love; lead photo By Gianluca Ramalho Misiti (Flickr: sem título-25) CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Coachella is owned by a climate change-denying billionaire, Philip Anschutz, who donates his riches to pro-gun, anti-LGBTQ Republican politicians and Super PACs. Chances are you’ve been to a festival this summer. Where Carnival celebrates the end of Brazil’s oppressive heat, the International Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival makes the most of the bitter winter weather you’ll find in Harbin, China. It takes place in early March and makes for a great stop on your Asian tour. Launched in 2002, the music festival is held every June on a 700-acre farm just south of Nashville. As well as a fantastic collection of jazz, blues and folk music, the three-day event (September 20th-22nd) also hosts workshops, exhibitions and talks for non-stop entertainment. And after the man is burned in the climactic culmination, the entire “city in the desert” disappears without a trace. In fact, it’s only in recent years that the Irish have stepped up their St. Patrick’s Festival to rival the celebrations in US cities such as New York and Savannah. Green Global Travel is the world's #1 independently owned ecotourism website encouraging others to embrace sustainable travel, wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, and going green tips for more sustainable living. All hosted affiliate links follow our editorial policies. Penitents, known as nazarenos, march in colorful robes that hide their faces. It features over 3,000 performers from over 30 countries who perform in over 650 concerts. They also feature an array of international cuisines, including traditional dishes cooked by the musicians themselves. Live Preview: Nathan Dawe 2021 'Way Too Long' Tour Dates Announced, Live Preview: Madison Beer 'Life Support In Concert' Livestream Announced, Kali Uchis Is The Fourth Face Of Clash 116, Riz Ahmed Is The Fourth Face Of Clash 117, Arlo Parks Is The First Face Of Clash 117, Rex Orange County Is The Second Face Of Issue 113, Earl Sweatshirt Is The First Face Of Clash 116, Stay Home And Watch Empire Records On #RexManningDay April 8th, Five Key Organisations Fighting For Women In UK Music, Norf Face: Jme, Frisco, Shorty, And Capo Lee In Conversation, Seek The Truth And Stop Guessing: Ty Dolla $ign Interviewed, Miley Cyrus, Metallica And Why You Can't Truly Love Music If You're A Gatekeeper, Searching For Peace: Hope Tala Interviewed, HAIM Announce Massive Arena Shows For 2021. If you’re looking for a hotel for the Semana Santa Festival, check out Gran Hotel Miramar (Málaga), Hotel Palacete de Alamos (Málaga), Monte Carmelo (Sevilla) or Petit Palace Puerta de Triana (Sevilla). The festival doesn’t offer re-admission so be sure to remember everything you need. Once the festival is over, make time to explore the historically rich city of Valletta, a World Heritage UNESCO site, built by the Knights of St John in the 16th and 17th centuries. This music festival has been rewarded as one of the biggest jazz music festivals in the world and that too for all the right reasons. The concerts take place in venues of ancient cultural heritage, from local riads to the grand courtyard of Bab al Makina, where the official ceremonies of the royal palace were once held. Music, mayhem, mirth... and mud, if you were unlucky (and if you like sloshing around in the slop, please, don’t come around ours for tea and biscuits). And chances are that it was one featuring Popular Rock Bands, and other such attractions: the sort of acts that make up much of Clash’s content, if we’re honest. I lost a lot of fucking people this year...”. It’s also the second largest jazz festival, after the Montreal International Jazz Festival. If you’re looking for a hotel in Fes for the World Music Festival, check out Palais Faraj Suites & Spa, Riad Naila or Dar Mfaddel. As depicted in the 2017 Pixar film Coco, the holiday is all about getting together with friends and family to remember and celebrate ancestors who have died in order to help them on their spiritual journey. The Summerfest music festival is the largest music festival in the United States. There, most of the major streets are closed off to traffic and packed with young people for what is likely the world’s biggest water fight. Please contact us at info@GreenTravelMedia.com for more info. How cold, you may ask? Legend has it that the whole thing started when some local boys joined a parade alongside musicians, “Giants” on stilts, and “Big Head” figures. The Biggest Jazz Festival in the World As an event manager, I play an important role when it comes to considering the social impacts of a project. The religious holiday is observed by Buddhists in countries all around the world, but it is more common in Asia. Over a million people attend each year, so if you want to visit the town of Konya you’ll need to book hotels and tickets well in advance. The picture-perfect city is inundated with beautiful architecture, quirky cafes and bistro bars: a perfect spot to try Maltese cuisine. And colorful, thanks to creative costumes worn by the 70+ samba schools (each representing a different neighborhood) who compete for cash and national fame. READ MORE: The 13 Most Beautiful Thailand National Parks. Going strong since 1980, this festival offers yet another reason to visit the dynamic island-city of Montréal. Longtime locals love the Krewe of Muses Parade, the Rex & Zulu Parade, and the Krewe of St. Anne and Krewe of Julu Parades. Perhaps order the Cajun jambalaya or gumbo – a traditional New Orleans stew and rice dish. In other words, have fun, but don’t hurt anybody and don’t be a jerk. And when it comes to celebration, festivals offer something for everyone. Holy Week– the week between Palm Sunday and Easter– is celebrated throughout much of the Christian world. 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Mornings often start with visiting local Buddhist temples to offer food to the monks. Now in its 62nd year, it was founded by jazz radio broadcaster Jimmy Lyons. Rumi believed that it was possible to communicate with God through music and dance. is the largest jazz trade fair in the world. So grab your shades and try out some of these cool venues. During your visit to New Orleans, be sure to explore the French Quarter and get your picture taken in front of the famous Mississippi. Held in June, the event has grown considerably over the last 24 years, annually attracting some 100,000+ attendees. Best of all, more than half the concerts are free! And if you love music, check out the annual Galactic concert at the world-famous Tipitina’s on Lundi Gras (the day before Mardi Gras). Heading into its 15th year, PDX Jazz Festival takes over downtown Portland for eleven days ever year... Jazz In The Gardens Music Festival. Named the largest jazz festival in the world by the 2004 Guinness Book of World Records, the Montreal Jazz Festival attracts about 2.5 million visitors every year, according to festival organizers, and offers hundreds of concerts over 11 days. This music festival is a true powerhouse in all its aspects. It attracts thousands from all around the world each year. It also coincides with the end of the long, brutally hot Brazilian summer. There are also markets filled with fetishes, wood carvings, and masks, and women dressed in all the vivid colors of the rainbow. From free and intimate street performances to cafes and large concert halls, the soulful sound of deep bass notes and gibberish signing can be heard around the whole city, creating a great atmosphere. With a solid mixture of free and paid performances spread over 10 days, and 150 indoor performances, this is considered the world’s largest jazz festival by Guinness World Records. The area is particularly beautiful in late June/early July, when the festival is held. It largely centers on the parade-like processions of Catholic brotherhoods (or fraternities), many of which date back to the Middle Ages or Baroque period. Owned by Bret Love (a veteran journalist/photographer) and Mary Gabbett (business manager/videographer), USA Today named us one of the world's Top 5 Travel Blogging Couples. Family members who have moved away will often return home for the holiday to pay tribute to their ancestors. North Sea Jazz Festival is firmly in the latter category. Since its inception, big names from the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Billie Holiday, to Louis Armstrong and Ernestine Anderson, have played at this Californian festival. The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal holds the Guinness World Record as the largest jazz festival in the world and hosts around 3,000 musicians playing in 650 concerts (450 free concerts). It takes place in Vienna, Austria and its name translates to the “Danube River Festival”. Fes is the perfect setting for a festival rich with such diverse cultural traditions. Because nobody really wants to watch Primal Scream play eight consecutive festivals, do they? This event takes place every March and it is considered the biggest jazz festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Check out Harbin Joy Boutique Hotel, Harbin Airport Daily Inn or Qihang Hotel Harbin Taiping Airport. These are elaborately decorated with artful sculptures depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ or the Sorrows of Virgin Mary. You don’t need a huge love of jazz to enjoy this incredible gathering of people in a stunning setting. Check out these great options! 1. 150 epic performances. We share transformative Responsible Travel, Sustainable Living & Going Green Tips that make a positive impact. The Taste Tent sells locally brewed beer and wine, as well as food served by Monterey restaurants – ideal for those needing to refuel between sets. So why in god’s green earth would any sane person want to visit for this month-long chinese festival (which officially starts on January 5)? Sri Lanka’s celebration also includes color lanterns (Vesak kuudu) hung in front of people’s home and along city streets to symbolize the light of the Buddha. Putting together a lineup of jazz, r&b, soul and world beat, Jazz In The Gardens... Reno Jazz Festival. Located in Northeast China, Harbin receives some seriously cold winter winds blowing over from Siberia. There are various legends associated with the Indian Festival. A large part of downtown Montreal shuts down to traffic while the attendees party and enjoy the entertainment. You’re unlikely to find a more stunning setting for a music festival than the ancient Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. sugar skulls), Aztec Marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of their ancestors. Some regions host traditional parades and beauty contests, while others believe in setting off firecrackers on April 13 to ward off bad luck in the New Year. Don’t let the name fool you: Though the festival was jazz-only in its early years, by the 1970s legendary rock artists such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Van Morrison were topping the bill. Discover all the latest world festival information and our favourites. It’s held across 20 acres of fields in the county fairgrounds, where there are over 500 artists performing on eight stages. But if you know someone (or have the money to grease palms), MOM’s Ball and  Orpheuscapade Ball are frequently ranked among the best. But we’re not sure any of them can adequately explain the inspired madness that goes down in the northwestern Nevada desert every summer. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu holds an annual trad and modern jazz festival in the ground of Beaulieu estate, in the New Forest. In 'The Adults Are Talking', Win: Bottle Of 24 Carat Gold Gin To Ease Your Self-Isolation, How She's Feeling: Charli XCX And The Live Stream Experience. Looking for a hotel to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin? Festival are also aimed at the general public. Whether the event is related to art, sports or… All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. Word to the wise: Not many white people attend the festival, and some people will take advantage of naive tourists! There are two main exhibition areas: Sun Island is a recreation area along the Songua River, where you’ll find most of the giant sculptures. But it also hosts iconic artists offering an array of other styles, such as Usher & The Roots, Fleet Foxes, Erykah Badu, Youssou N’Dour, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and Brian Wilson. READ MORE: The Mardi Gras Balls, Parades, & Parties (An Insiders Guide). Eventually the powers-that-be relented, and La Tomatina has grown into a huge tourism draw in the decades since. Best for Watching The Greats…Montreal Jazz Festival June 28 to July 7, 2018. AutoEurope – for European Car Rentals or Rental Cars.com. They carry processional candles or crosses, and many walk barefoot, bound by chuckles and chains. Festival goers can listen to top jazz names at the spectacular Royal Theatre and Copenhagen’s Opera House, as well as along the harbour front while swimming in the Danish sea. Some are created by famous Spanish artists, and have been used by brotherhoods for centuries. It’s also easily the messiest, coming off like the world’s biggest food fight. In some cities, children will dress up in costume and go door-to-door asking calaveritas, much like trick-or-treating in the US. So efforts to eradicate it have been largely unsuccessful. Others link it to Shiva, who is often associated with yoga and meditation. If you’re looking for a hotel for the WOMAD Festival, check out the Village Hotel Swindon, Cricklade House Hotel, or The Foxham Inn. READ MORE: The Shark Infested Beaches of Recife, Brazil. 38. What's Going On With Afro Nation Portugal Refunds? If you’re looking for a hotel for the Ouidah International Voodoo Festival, check out Laguna Lodge, Résidence MGA or Nature Luxury Lodge. Check out The Hendrick Smithfield, Clayton Hotel Burlington Road or The Gibson Hotel. Now, music festivals around the world host millions of visitors each year, and people come from all over the world to see some of the biggest names in the music industry. Montréal International Jazz Festival, Quebec, CanadaJune – July. Check out Crowne Plaza Amsterdam – South, Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam Rembrandtpark, or XO Hotels Couture. If you’re looking for a hotel to celebrate Holi Festival, check out Hotel SR Plaza (India), Taleju Boutique Hotel (Nepal) and Royal Villa F-10/2 (Pakistan). Saint Patrick was born to a religious family in Roman Britain sometime around 385 AD. They offer workshops for both children (including circus skills, painting, and storytelling) and adults (such as dance, exotic musical instruments, and discussions of global concerns). There are food stalls set up to provide free food and drinks, groups singing devotional songs, and thousands of people from all around the world joining in the jubilant communal atmosphere that the best festivals create. Carnival is celebrated in many Latin American nations, but nobody does it like Rio. The unruly boys knocked one of the performers off his stilts, he became enraged and started lashing out, and a vendor’s vegetable stand fell victim to the mayhem until the police arrived to break it up. It might not make him leave you alone, but hopefully it’ll keep him out of your dreams. 10+ Stages of music. READ MORE: Top 7 Things to Do in China for Nature Lovers. Read more of her articles on the lowcostholidays blog. Though the celebration is held every year on the day before Ash Wednesday, the festivities last for months. It was even recognized by the UN as one of the world’s most significant events in terms of contributing to the dialogue between disparate cultures around the world. Other awards we've won include Best Feature from both the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Magazine Association of the Southeast. But the central features are generally similar. From the beginning, the festival focused on the enthusiastic embracing of the world’s disparate cultures, encouraging the breaking down of boundaries through art, music, and movement. Looking for hotels in Rio de Janeiro for Carnival? It is now officially celebrated on April 27 (the King’s birthday), and includes an official government ceremony followed by sporting competitions and fun, family-friendly celebrations. Looking for a hotel to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico? Krampusnacht (Krampus Night) occurs on December 5, the night before the Feast of St. Nicholas. READ MORE: Ben Jaffe on Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The island really has so much to offer holidaymakers. But Semana Santa, as the holiday is known in Spain and much of Latin America, offers a much more elaborate approach to the celebration. Though not nearly as large as soon of the other festivals on this list (averaging around 30,000 visitors), the eclectic festival celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2017. The Best Backpacks for Travelers. With marching bands providing musical accompaniment, it’s quite the spectacle. Well, kids have a lot more to fear from Krampus, a hellish demon who haunts Central Europe around the holidays. Although Cinco de Mayo may be more well-known in the US, this is arguably Mexico’s most important and widely celebrated holiday. Water balloons are Super Soakers are a given, and getting drenched is guaranteed. Once an intimate gathering of friends and family, the festival is now an arty, apocalyptic paean to the wonder of self-expression, attracting a tight-knit community of bohemians and misfits from all around the world. This ancient Hindu festival, also known as “the festival of colours” or “the festival of love,” celebrates the end of winter and the victory of good over evil. Mobile, Alabama that had the first Mardi Gras, Top 7 Things to Do in China for Nature Lovers, The Mardi Gras Balls, Parades, & Parties (An Insiders Guide), Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. If you’re looking for a hotel for the World Sacred Spirit Festival, check out Fairfield by Marriott Jodhpur, The Ajit Bhawan Palace or RAAS Jodhpur. Bonnaroo’s sustainability initiatives include Planet Roo (a haven for environmental consciousness), Clean Vibes Trading Post, annual sustainability reports, and $1 from every ticket goes to eco-friendly efforts. It may not be the easiest festival for our western readers to get to. You know the line in “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” that warns, “You better watch out”? From melodious Lithuanian harp music and the traditional Italian folk songs of Sardinia to Andalusian Sufi songs of Morocco and Duduk (a type of clarinet) music from Armenia, music from North Africa, Europe, and Asia will be featured. This famous festival culminates with a rowdy, raucous 2-night extravaganza at Rio’s remarkable Sambadrome, where 90,000+ spectators pay top dollar to watch the top 12 samba schools compete for the grand prize. The Montréal International Jazz Festival has grown in size and popularity since its first incarnation in 1980. But in western Africa– including Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo– this ancient practice is integral to the morality, politics, and social order of many villages. This year's Montreal Jazz Festival, the world's largest, and other popular summer jamborees in Canada's francophone metropolis were cancelled Friday due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers announced. It still attracts top-notch jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, George Benson, and Fourplay. But, for our money, it doesn’t get any better than watching the Mardi Gras Indians Parade in Treme. Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (JJF) is huge and arguably the largest Jazz festival in the southern hemisphere. Top Tip: Although concerts are held all over the city, try to steer clear of public transport – most of the big venues are accessible on foot and that way you get to see more of the wonderful city in-between gigs, and save money at the same time. Top Tip: There are many food stalls catering to the thousands. But stray from the pop path, into jazz quarters, and the festival-attending punter is well served, too. So what if her Royal Highness was actually born in late January?! Here’s a look at our “bucket list” picks for the biggest and best festivals in the world: According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary there are nearly one million words in the English language. The celebrations vary by region: Those held in Málaga and Seville are among the most extravagant, while those in Valladolid and Zamora tend to be more somber. Grammy-winner Robert Glasper performed at 2013’s festival – an experimental musician famous for combining jazz with hip-hop, R&B and rock to create a unique sound. They also visit their loved ones’ graves, leaving these gifts and other beloved possessions as tribute to the deceased. Customary traditions include wearing green clothing and shamrocks (which the Saint used to explain the Holy Trinity), public parades, and lively music and dancing (known as a ceilidh). Blues festivals are music festivals which focus on blues music. We've been spotlighted in major media outlets such as the BBC, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Guardian, Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Washington Post and others. Looking for hotels near La Tomatina? People clean their houses in preparation, and everyone dresses up in their best clothes. There are also multimedia performances, and Sufi Nights featuring sacred music rich with mysticism. From those humble beginnings, the Man grew (hitting 105 feet in 2014), as did the number of attendees (nearly 70,000 in 2017). Music starts at noon and finishes at midnight, so be sure to cram in some sightseeing before the saxophones and skatting. The Montreal International Jazz Festival is held annually from June to July in the city of Montreal. Hundreds of acres of Tennessee nature. After a long day of jazz, head to Nyhavn, a vibrant, colourful port – the perfect place for dinner or beer on the quayside. Beaulieu Jazz Festival. Historically, Carnival is a religious celebration. But, in terms of the mesmerizing music and the surrounding scenery, we can guarantee it’ll be worth the trip. There are 12 stages for attendees to choose from, featuring up-and-coming jazz musicians to pop-world heavyweights – clearly, there’s something for everyone at the New Orleans Jazz Fest.