From radish-carving competitions in Mexico to phallus parades in Japan, weird festivals around the world prove that human creativity knows no bounds. These eccentric celebrations may look bizarre to outsiders, but they carry deep cultural meaning, blending history, humor, and tradition in ways that make travel unforgettable.
Table of Contents
- Up Helly Aa: A Viking Fire Festival (Scotland)
- The Battle of the Oranges (Ivrea, Italy)
- Holi: A Festival of Colors (Nepal)
- Kanamara Matsuri: The Festival of the Steel Phallus (Japan)
- Songkran: The Thai Water Festival (Thailand)
- Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling (England)
- Kattenstoet: The Festival of Cats (Belgium)
- Wife Carrying World Championship (Finland)
- Boryeong Mud Festival (South Korea)
- La Tomatina: The Tomato Battle (Spain)
- Mombasa Carnival: A Celebration of Culture and Heritage (Kenya)
- Night of the Radishes (Oaxaca, Mexico)
- Why These Weird Festivals Around the World Should Be on Your Bucket List
- FAQs: Weird Festivals Around the World
Up Helly Aa: A Viking Fire Festival (Scotland)
Up Helly Aa, held on the last Tuesday of January in Lerwick, Shetland, transforms the town into a fiery Viking spectacle. It is Europe’s biggest fire festival and a dramatic tribute to the islands’ Viking past. Dozens of squads and hundreds of costumed participants, led by the Guizer Jarl (chief Viking leader, chosen each year), march through the streets at night carrying flaming torches.
The highlight is the burning of a hand-built Viking longship, a ritual rooted in the community’s Norse identity (Viking heritage). The fiery spectacle concludes with all-night celebrations in local halls, filled with music, dancing, and social festivities, continuing until early the next morning.
The festival began in the 19th century, when organizers replaced chaotic tar-barrel fire runs with torchlit processions. By the late 1800s, they added Viking themes, the ceremonial longship, and the role of the Guizer Jarl. These elements helped shape the modern version celebrated today.
The Battle of the Oranges (Ivrea, Italy)
The Battle of the Oranges takes place each year in Ivrea, Italy. During Carnival season from Sunday through Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday), usually in February. For three days, nine teams on foot pelt oranges at opponents riding horse-drawn carts, turning the town into a massive food-fight reenactment. Spectators who don’t take part wear red Phrygian caps, symbols of freedom that mark them as off-limits.
The tradition recalls a 12th-century revolt against a local tyrant (cruel feudal lord), led by the miller’s daughter Violetta, whose defiance became legend. What started with beans and apples later shifted to oranges in the 19th century, imported from Sicily to symbolize stones hurled at the castle. The festival throws over 4 million oranges.
But organizers carefully manage the event: they clean the streets daily, recycle the fruit into compost or energy, and ensure the horses are well cared for. Today, it stands as Italy’s most eccentric Carnival ritual, an explosive mix of history, rebellion, and spectacle.
Holi: A Festival of Colors (Nepal)
Holi, known locally as Fagu Purnima, is celebrated each March on the full moon of the Nepali month Phalgun. The festival begins with the raising of a chir (decorated bamboo pole) at Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu. This event marks the start of a week of celebrations. On the full moon day, crowds fill the streets to throw colored powders, splash water balloons, and dance to music in a burst of color and energy.
Rooted in Hindu mythology, Holi symbolizes the victory of good over evil through the story of Prahlad and Holika. It is also about community families and friends gathering, sharing food, and enjoying the festive chaos together.
The celebrations end with the burning of the chir, representing purification and the arrival of spring. In recent years, eco-friendly powders have become important to ensure the tradition remains safe and sustainable.
Kanamara Matsuri: The Festival of the Steel Phallus (Japan)
Kanamara Matsuri, or the “Festival of the Steel Phallus,” is held every year on the first Sunday of April in Kawasaki, Japan. It features a colorful parade of three phallus-shaped mikoshi (portable shrines).
The Kanamara Omikoshi, made of wood, the Kanamara Boat Mikoshi, crafted from black iron, and “Elizabeth,” a pink phallus donated by a drag club in Asakusabashi. Crowds follow the procession through Kawasaki, celebrating with cheers, music, and lively energy.
The festival dates back to the Edo period (1603–1868, Tokugawa era), when sex workers prayed at the shrine for protection from disease. Over time, it became a broader celebration of fertility, safe childbirth, and marital harmony. Today, it also supports HIV awareness and research, blending lighthearted fun with deeper cultural and social meaning.
Songkran: The Thai Water Festival (Thailand)
Songkran, Thailand’s traditional New Year, is celebrated from April 13–16, with Bangkok often extending the festivities as the streets turn into massive water-fight zones. Rooted in the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti, meaning “to step into,” the festival marks renewal and the start of a new cycle.
The celebration begins with traditional rituals: pouring scented water over Buddha statues (Song Nam Phra), washing elders’ hands (Rod Nam Dam Hua) for blessings, and visiting major temples such as Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and Wat Benchamabophit. These acts honor spiritual cleansing, respect for elders, and family unity before the playful chaos of the streets begins.
As the festival shifts into full swing, locals and tourists drench each other with buckets, hoses, water guns, and white paste in a joyous, city-wide celebration of renewal and camaraderie. Songkran also features parades, cultural performances, and lively street hotspots like Silom Road, Khao San Road, and Siam Square.
Recognized by UNESCO in 2023 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Songkran blends sacred tradition with exuberant street festivities, uniting family, community, and national identity in one of the world’s most spirited New Year celebrations.
Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling (England)
Every year on the Spring Bank Holiday in late May, the quiet village of Brockworth in Gloucestershire becomes the stage for the world-famous Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling.
Competitors fling themselves down Coopers Hill, which stands at 180 m (590 ft), in pursuit of a 7-lb wheel of Double Gloucester cheese that can reach speeds of 70 mph. The first to reach the bottom wins the cheese, though most end up in a bruised heap by the finish line.
The tradition has unknown origins but may date back over 600 years, possibly beginning as a pagan festival to mark the start of summer. Despite frequent injuries, it continues to lure daredevils and curious onlookers from across the globe, transforming a quirky local custom into one of England’s most chaotic and eccentric celebrations.
Kattenstoet: The Festival of Cats (Belgium)
The Kattenstoet, or “Festival of the Cats,” takes place every three years on the second Sunday of May in Ypres, Belgium. The parade features floats, brass bands, and performers dressed as cats, mice, witches, and medieval townsfolk.
The highlight comes when a jester (historical entertainer) throws plush toy cats from the Belfry of the Cloth Hall into the cheering crowd, followed by a playful mock witch burning to close the day.
In medieval times, people threw live cats associated with witchcraft from the tower to drive away evil or control their numbers. Since 1937, festival organizers have used only stuffed cats, and in 1946, the parade was formally added, transforming the dark tradition into a playful, family-friendly celebration that continues to unite the city.
Wife Carrying World Championship (Finland)
The Wife-Carrying World Championship takes place annually in Sonkajärvi, Finland, on the first weekend of July. Teams race through a 253.5-meter obstacle course featuring sand, hurdles, and a water pit. The male competitor carries his female partner throughout the course.
Several carrying styles are allowed, including the “Estonian carry” (upside-down on his back), piggyback, and fireman’s lift. Female participants must be at least 17 years old and legally married to their partner. Those weighing less than 49 kg must carry additional weight. The winning team receives the wife’s weight in beer.
The event traces its roots to a 19th-century legend of Herkko “Ronkainen the Robber,” who tested his gang by having them carry heavy loads or abduct women through forests. Revived in the 1990s, the championship now attracts hundreds of participants from around the world.
For the first time since the sport’s inception in 1992, a non-European couple, Caleb and Justine Roesler from Wisconsin, claimed the crown by completing the course in record-breaking time.
Boryeong Mud Festival (South Korea)
The Boryeong Mud Festival takes place every summer on Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, South Korea, usually in late July. Originally launched in 1998 to promote cosmetics made with the region’s mineral-rich mud, it has grown into one of Asia’s biggest summer events.
Visitors dive into mud pools, race down slippery slides, wrestle in mud pits, and play games that leave them coated from head to toe. In recent years, themed colored mud has added an extra layer of fun and photo-worthy chaos.
Beyond the messy antics, the festival features K-pop concerts, Electronic Dance Music (EDM) shows, fireworks, laser displays, and lively beach parties that often run late into the night. The mineral-rich mud is also said to benefit the skin, maintaining a link to the festival’s wellness origins.
Today, Boryeong Mud Festival blends entertainment, culture, and adventure, transforming the beach into a unique, mud-soaked playground for all ages.
La Tomatina: The Tomato Battle (Spain)
La Tomatina is Buñol’s world-famous tomato-throwing festival, held every year on the last Wednesday of August. What began in 1940s–1950s as a spontaneous food fight during a local festival has grown into an organized citywide event attracting thousands of participants from around the globe.
Trucks unload overripe tomatoes, and for about an hour, the streets become a river of red pulp in a chaotic, yet exhilarating spectacle.
The festivities start with the “palo jabón,” a challenge to climb a greased pole and retrieve a ham. Once completed, the tomato fight officially begins. Streets are filled with cheering participants throwing tomatoes at each other, followed by cleanup efforts where fire trucks hose down the town.
Recognized internationally, La Tomatina is both a thrilling experience and a unique cultural celebration that transforms Buñol into the scene of the world’s biggest food fight.
Mombasa Carnival: A Celebration of Culture and Heritage (Kenya)
The Mombasa Carnival is held every November in Mombasa, Kenya, with the main festivities along Moi Avenue. The celebration features a vibrant parade with elaborate floats, traditional dancers, and musicians, showcasing Kenya’s cultural diversity through colorful costumes and a mix of African, Swahili, Arab, and Asian-influenced performances.
The parade culminates in a convergence of two major processions (representing different ethnic groups and cultural traditions), while the streets also host art exhibitions, craft markets, and food stalls serving Swahili specialties like biryani, pilau, grilled seafood, bajias, and mahamri.
Started with support from the Ministry of Tourism, the carnival promotes cultural unity, tourism, and community pride. It also provides economic benefits to local vendors and hotels, and emphasizes environmental awareness with initiatives like beach clean-ups.
Visitors can complement the festival experience by exploring Mombasa’s historic sites, beaches, and nature reserves, making the carnival a lively showcase of Kenya’s heritage and a highlight of the city’s annual calendar.
Night of the Radishes (Oaxaca, Mexico)
Every year on December 23, Oaxaca City’s central plaza bursts to life with the Noche de Rábanos, or Night of the Radishes. Local artisans carve giant radishes some weighing up to seven pounds into elaborate scenes of Oaxacan traditions, mythical figures, and Christmas stories.
The radishes are specially grown by the city government for the competition, and the displays are judged in a lively contest that feels more like open-air theater than a simple fair.
The festival officially began in 1897, when Oaxaca’s mayor launched the carving competition, though its roots trace back to farmers who once decorated Christmas markets with oddly shaped radishes.
Today, thousands gather to admire not only the radish sculptures but also creative displays made with corn husks (totomoxtle) and dried flowers (flor inmortal). Though it lasts just one night, the Night of the Radishes remains one of Mexico’s most unique and festive holiday traditions.
Why These Weird Festivals Around the World Should Be on Your Bucket List
From torchlit Viking processions in Scotland to tomato fights in Spain and water-soaked New Year celebrations in Thailand, these weird festivals around the world show just how inventive, playful, and meaningful human celebrations can be. Each event offers more than spectacle; it’s a glimpse into local history, identity, and community spirit.
For travelers seeking unusual travel experiences, these festivals are the perfect mix of fun, culture, and adventure, proving that the quirkiest traditions often leave the most unforgettable memories.
Whether it’s dodging flying oranges, rolling down steep hills for cheese, or joining a massive tomato fight, attending one of these festivals guarantees a story worth telling and an experience you’ll always remember.
FAQs: Weird Festivals Around the World
Are these festivals safe to attend?
Most festivals take safety seriously with local regulations, volunteers, and cleanup efforts. However, some like Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling or La Tomatina can be physically challenging. So, participants should take precautions and follow instructions.
Do I need to participate to enjoy these festivals?
Not at all. Many festivals offer viewing areas, performances, and cultural exhibitions for spectators. Joining the action is optional, depending on the event and your comfort level.
Are these festivals family-friendly?
Many are, especially those with cultural shows, parades, and performances. Some, like the Kattenstoet or Islamic Arts Festival, are designed with children in mind. However, events with physical activity or chaotic food fights may be better suited for older children or adults.
Can tourists join in traditional rituals?
Many festivals welcome visitors to participate respectfully. Tourists can safely join Songkran, Holi, and the Boryeong Mud Festival, but should know local customs first.
How can I prepare for messy festivals like Holi or La Tomatina?
Wear old clothes, bring waterproof bags for valuables, and use eco-friendly or festival-approved powders or items. Some festivals provide protective gear, but it’s always wise to plan ahead.
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