So, I’ve always been a sucker for a good party, you know? And what’s a better party than a whole festival? This summer, I got it into my head to check out some of the most talked-about festivals around the world. It wasn’t just about the music or the food, but the whole vibe, the people, the culture – the works.
First off, I started digging around online. I mean, where else do you start these days? I typed in something like “coolest summer festivals” and boom, tons of stuff popped up. There was this one article, I think it was written by someone named Bret L… or something, back in 2018, that listed a bunch of them. Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert caught my eye. It sounded wild – a whole city built in the desert, and then poof, it’s gone.
Then, I stumbled upon mentions of festivals where people are just hurling tomatoes at each other in Spain. I thought, “That’s insane, I gotta see this.” And there were these vibrant street dances in Rio. The energy seemed off the charts. I was getting more and more pumped just reading about these.
Making a List, Checking It Twice
After a few days of going down this rabbit hole, I made a list. A proper, old-school, pen-and-paper list. I jotted down the Dragon Boat Festival in China, which I read was a big deal on the Chinese calendar. Sounded pretty cool with all the history and tradition.
- Dragon Boat Festival, China: Boats, races, something about a calendar.
- Tomato Throwing Thing, Spain: Must wear goggles.
- Rio Street Dancing: Learn some moves before going.
- Burning Man, USA: Desert, art, no trace left behind.
- Japanese Summer Festivals: They have tons of these. Find out more.
I also found this guide about Japanese summer festivals. It was super helpful, but I needed to do more research to figure out which one I wanted to hit up.
Hitting the Road (or the Sky)
Okay, so planning this out was kind of a big deal. Flights, places to stay, making sure I wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb – it was a lot. But hey, it’s all part of the adventure, right?
I started with the Dragon Boat Festival in China. I figured it would be cool to see these massive boats with dragon heads racing on the water. I looked up what was happening and read that this festival has been happening for a long time and that it’s one of the most exciting in the whole year.
Then, I booked a flight to Spain for the tomato festival. I even bought a cheap pair of goggles online. Gotta protect the eyes, you know? For Rio, I tried to learn a few dance moves from some videos online. Spoiler: I’m no dancer, but it was fun trying.
Burning Man was a whole different beast. Getting tickets was like winning the lottery. And the packing list! It was insane. Water, food, shelter – you bring everything. It’s like prepping for the apocalypse, but a fun, artsy one.
The Actual Festivals – Whoa
Each festival was a sensory overload. In China, the Dragon Boat Festival was loud and colorful, with drums and people cheering. The energy was contagious. I even got to try some of those sticky rice dumplings they eat there.
Spain was just chaos – in the best way. Imagine a whole town painted red with tomato guts. I was covered head to toe, but it was a blast. And the street parties afterward? Let’s just say the Spanish know how to have a good time.
Rio was a blur of music and dancing. I tried to keep up with the locals, but man, they’ve got moves I didn’t even know were possible. It felt like the whole city was alive and pulsing with energy.
Burning Man… what can I say? It was like being on another planet. The art, the people, the dust – it’s something you have to experience to understand. And the best part? You leave no trace behind. It’s like it was all a dream.
The Afterglow
Coming back from all this was a bit of a downer, to be honest. Real life just seemed so… normal. But I’ve got memories (and tons of photos) that’ll last a lifetime. And I’m already thinking about where to go next year. Maybe those Japanese summer festivals…
So, yeah, that was my summer. A bit crazy, a bit messy, but totally worth it. If you ever get the chance to hit up any of these festivals, do it. You won’t regret it.
