Happy Thursday!

I just wrapped up an amazing trip to Munich for Oktoberfest, and it was such an incredible experience.

From the traditional music to the food, and of course the beer tents, it was such a dream and I'm so glad I got to experience this part of Germany's culture.

It made me think about how festivals are one of the best ways to experience a destination—you get to see traditions, food, music, and community all come together.

Here are some of the biggest festivals around the world that are worth planning a trip around:

• Holi (India, March) – The festival of colors marks the arrival of spring. You’ll experience huge celebrations where people gather to throw colored powders, dance, and enjoy sweets.
• Día de los Muertos (Mexico, Nov 1–2) – Families honor loved ones who have passed with vibrant altars, parades, and gatherings. Cities like Oaxaca and Mexico City are some of the best places to experience it.
• Christmas Markets (Europe, late Nov–Dec) – Town squares transform into festive markets with lights, local crafts, mulled wine, and food. Germany, Austria, and France have some of the most famous ones.
• Carnival (Brazil, February) – Rio de Janeiro is home to one of the world’s biggest parties, with parades, costumes, and samba music.
• Songkran (Thailand, April) – The Thai New Year festival is celebrated with massive water fights in the streets, especially in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
• Oktoberfest (Germany, late Sept–early Oct) – The world’s largest beer festival in Munich, with traditional music, food, and plenty of beer tents.
• La Tomatina (Spain, August) – A massive tomato fight in Buñol, Spain, where locals and travelers throw overripe tomatoes in the streets.
• Cherry Blossom Festivals (Japan, March–April) – Celebrate the arrival of spring while enjoying hanami (flower-viewing) picnics under blooming sakura trees. (There's also a great festival in Washington DC!)
• Mardi Gras (USA, New Orleans, Feb–March) – Parades, costumes, beads, and jazz fill the streets for this iconic celebration in New Orleans.
• Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Scotland, August) – The world’s largest arts festival, with performances in comedy, theater, music, and more throughout the city.
• Diwali (India, Oct–Nov) – The festival of lights, celebrated with fireworks, lamps, sweets, and family gatherings.
• Running of the Bulls (Spain, July) – Held in Pamplona, this festival features traditional bull runs and lively local celebrations.

Festivals like these give you a deeper look at local traditions and are a great reason to plan your travels around certain dates.

Would you plan a trip around a festival? Let me know!

As always, you can follow along with my current travels on Instagram and Facebook, or reply to this email if you want to chat!

Have a great weekend :)

Sarah

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Travel Giveaways

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Social Media Sneak Peek

I'm wrapping up my Iceland and Oktoberfest stories on Instagram!

Travel News

Ever been left behind by a cruise ship? Yes, that can actually happen - read more from Travel + Leisure.

Travel Resources

Travel Insurance: SafetyWing is my go-to for travel insurance because it covers so much, is easy to purchase for days or months, and is affordable. Many credit cards also include travel insurance. Personally, I get SafetyWing on top of my credit card insurance. Learn more about SafetyWing and the benefits of using them in my blog post about travel insurance.

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