Getting Started
First thing I did was pick five parades happening in different time zones. Googled “upcoming cultural parades near me” but swapped locations manually. Found Rio Carnival, New Orleans Mardi Gras, India’s Holi festival, Japan’s Gion Matsuri, and Spain’s La Tomatina. Wrote them down on a sticky note stuck to my laptop.
The Money Stuff
Searched flight prices on Tuesday afternoons – heard that’s cheapest. Booked economy tickets three months early for Rio and Osaka. For local parades like Mardi Gras, just drove my old pickup truck and slept in it behind a gas station to save hotel costs.
Packing Nightmares
- Bought disposable white clothes for India’s Holi – knew they’d get ruined
- Packed knee pads for La Tomatina tomato fight after reading injury reports
- Forgot rain poncho for Gion Matsuri and got soaked watching floats
Messing Up at First Parade
Showed up to Rio Carnival thinking I could join any group. Got pushed away three times before understanding you need fantasia costumes from specific shops. Bought last-minute glitter pants two sizes too small – couldn’t sit down during breaks.
Figuring Out Local Rules
Learned fast that some parades need permissions. For Japan’s Gion Matsuri:
- Registered online two months before just to watch from paid seating
- Missed deadline to carry mikoshi shrines – locals looked annoyed when I asked
Biggest Win
At La Tomatina in Spain, made friends with tomato truck drivers by helping unload crates early morning. They let me ride on the truck during throw time – got covered in tomato guts but avoided crowd crush. Best free shower afterward at a volunteer fire hose station.
What Actually Works
Stopped acting like tourist after three parades. Carried local snacks to share, learned ten basic phrases per country, wore whatever dumb costume locals suggested without arguing. For Holi, let kids smear colors on my face even when it stung my eyes.
Final Takeaway
Parades are chaotic anywhere – floats break down, weather ruins plans, costumes rip. Key is just showing up early, following what locals do, and not caring about smelling like rotten tomatoes for three days. Would totally sleep in truck again.
