I LOVE going to festivals around the world and I keep an ever increasing list of festivals that I want to attend. Incase you need some inspiration for your next trip here are 5 lesser known festivals you should add to your bucket list…

São João, Porto Portugal

This is one of my favourite festivals that I’ve been to recently and I had no idea what it was until a few days before arriving in Porto. The origins of this festival are a little shaky. Some people say it has its roots in a pagan mating ritual, but its also to pay tribute to Saint John the Baptist. Theres also a rumour that the night time antics have nothing to do with either and more to do with an old rubber factory that had extra material one year. I don’t really know, but either way it’s Portos biggest festival and is a lot of fun!

The celebrations start in the late afternoon / early evening when people start sending of lanterns. The night continues as all of Porto takes to the streets with rubber hammers or garlic flowers in hand (make sure you buy one early in the day). Everyone walks around armed with their hammers and hits anyone they fancy on the head with them. The streets are also lined with grilled sardines, bars and live music. Eventually everyone ends up at the river to walk one of the most impressive displayed of fireworks I have every seen. They street party carries on until the early hours of the morning with some people even walking down to the sea to walk the sunrise. This festival is almost unknown outside of Portugal, but is the perfect combination of great music, food and partying with just a little of strang added in for fun.

Adding it to your bucket list: This festival happens every year on June 23rd. You should likely book your accommodation before hand and most hostel will require you to stay for a minimum number of nights (normally 2). We stayed at CATS Hostel and loved it!

Holi, Kathmandu Nepal

Ok so this festival is not exactly lesser known, its actually extremely popular, but most people associate the Holi festival with India. Celebrating in Nepal will mean a lot less tourist and a more authentic experience. One of my favourite aspects of Holi is that it actually has very little to do with religion. Although it is a Hindu festival it is really just a festival of life, fun and colour. Ask anyone on the street and they will say they are just celebrating because they are happy and it is so beautiful to witness!

Holi in Nepal is not just about colour, its also about water and many people are armed with water guns. Watch out for apartment building, some people will drop water on you from above and it hurts when it is dropped from that high! The action is everywhere in Kathmandu and everyone on the street is considered a target, but most people will end up making their way to Darbar Square.

Adding it to your bucket list: Make sure you check the dates, Holi in Nepal is one day before India and changes depending on the full moon, but is normally early March. Make sure you wear old clothes all day, tourist are defiantly targeted all day!

New Years Eve, Ecuador

New Years Eve is a party almost everywhere you go (except Argentina where it’s exclusively a family event), but it is especially fun in Ecuador. New Years Eve is one of the biggest festivals of the year in Ecuador and is celebrated by a almost constant stream of fireworks and bonfires where effigies or dummies are burned. These dummies are made or purchased in the days leading up and are usually stuffed or dressed in items or messages representing the wrongs of the current year. Also in the days leading up there are many men dressed in drag walking around (often drunk) asking for donations and in general having a good time. On New Year’s Eve these dummies are burned in the street and people will jump over them symbolizing leaving the troubles of the previous year behind.

Adding it to your bucket list: You can celebrate New Years Eve pretty much everywhere in Ecuador, we celebrated in the Amazon. Make sure you arrive a few days before so you can experience the lead up to New Years as well!

Krampus Parade, Austria

I’ve never actually been to this one, but its defiantly on my list! It’s essentially a festival of ‘bad Santa’ or St. Nick’s sidekick. Essentially all over the Austrian country side people dress up in scary costumes with horns and masks and run around the street. I’ve often heard it compared to the running of the bulls festivals in Pamplona and I’ve also been warned that this festival can get a little rough.

Adding it to your bucket list: The parade normally happens December 5th or 6th depending where you are. Check the local tourism website for more details.

Nyepi “Day of Silence”, Bali Indonesia

Of all of the festivals on this list, this is likely the strangest one! This is a festival that most tourist actively avoid because of the island shut down, but there are plenty of reasons to stick around Bali to participate in this strange Hindu festival. Nyepi will vary depending were you are in Bali. Generally it consist of anywhere from 1 day to 1 week of celebrations and ceremonies and then 1 day of complete silence. This day of complete silence is why a lot of tourist avoid it. It means that you cannot travel to other parts of Bali on that day, you cannot leave your accommodation and all shops and business will be closed. However the days preceding the day of silence make this festival more then worth it, plus what is really so bad about spending a day pool side in Bali anyways?

If you choose to celebrate Nyepi on the coast you will see Melasti processions which are parades of people walking from their homes to the beach, often burning large paper statues called ogoh-ogoh. I celebrated in Ubud and the ogoh-ogoh took centre stage there. ogoh-ogohs are giant statues representing demons that are often made by community groups like schools or sports teams. They are intended to scare bad spirits which then pass over the island as everyone is hiding on the day of silence.

Be aware the festival and parade on the eve of Nyepi can get pretty rowdy and a little violent as the night goes on. The ogoh-ogoh are huge and supported but dozens of people on a bamboo grid. Late at night they will start to spin and dance around with these, occasionally bringing them and the momentum created can push people over. I personally found it exciting, but if it’s not your thing find a place a little farther away to watch from.

Adding it to your bucket list: The dates changes slightly each year according to the Balinese calendar, check here for this years dates. Be aware that you do have to prepare for Nyepi Day. Arrive a few days before, plan your accommodation, get all you food ready and be prepared for a day in.