Top U.S. Festivals: If you want to get the most out of your vacation and are looking for a way to experience local culture and make unforgettable memories, you might also consider attending one of the many fantastic festivals the U.S. has to offer.
From food and music to art and history, festivals around the country provide a way to experience different regions while celebrating all that makes them special.
Whether you’re a foodie, music enthusiast, or adventurer, there’s a festival for you. Here’s a roundup of some of the best festivals in the U.S. to build your next vacation around.
Arguably the single most famous festival in the United States, Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a unique celebration.
Held every year just before Lent begins (typically February or March), Mardi Gras features colorful parades, intricate costumes, street parties and the iconic beads launched from floats.
Every local bar, restaurant and shop offers special deals, Mardi Gras-themed drinks and festive food, and the whole city gets into the spirit.
Immersion in the city’s rich history and culture is just as important as witnessing the parades’ grandeur when attending New Orleans’ Mardi Gras.
New Orleans is filled with tradition, jazz and great food from the French Quarter to the Garden District.
Also be sure to enjoy some King Cake, a ceremonial food for Mardi Gras, and don’t forget to check out the local music scene after the parades.
Top U.S. Festivals: You have to love music to get into Coachella; it’s a bucket-list festival. Over the course of two weekends, the festival attracts music lovers from around the globe for high-quality live performances ranging from pop, rock, hip-hop and electronic dance music.
The festival typically occurs over two weekends in April, and it’s as much about the fashion and vibe as it is about the music.
The Coachella effect– it’s grown into a cultural phenomenon itself, with celebrities, influencers and music lovers flocking to the desert.
As well as the music, there are art installations, food trucks and ample festival goers to chat with.
While you’re in the area, you can head over to the nearby Palm Springs region, which is known for its hot springs, hiking trails and desert beauty.
The Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaTake a picture of one, and you will know what it’s like to be alive October.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta It is the world’s largest hot air balloon festival, and hundreds of balloons ascend across the sky over Albuquerque.
There’s nothing quite like watching the colorful balloons take to the sky during sunrise, and seeing all the bright colors pop against the desert landscape of New Mexico is magical.
To go along with the balloon launches, the event will also have balloon races, evening “balloon glows,” and lots of family-friendly activities.
Albuquerque, close by, welcomes guests with its rich Native American heritage and delicious Southwestern cuisine, and unique shops and galleries.
Top U.S. Festivals: If you want the epitome of Southern tradition, head to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. Now known as “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports,” the Kentucky Derby occurs on the first Saturday in May each year.
The race takes place at Churchill Downs, but the festivities leading up to it extend for days. The Derby Festival features parades, parties and live music, not to mention endless mint juleps.
Going to the Kentucky Derby means you’ll witness the grandeur that is horse racing while also soaking in a bona fide Kentucky experience — bourbon tastings, Southern hospitality and an opportunity to don fancy hats and suits.
If you are a fan of racing or just someone looking for a uniquely American experience, the Kentucky Derby is one festival you won’t want to miss.
An annual event in northern Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, Burning Man is more than just a festival; it’s a makeshift city focused on self-expression, creativity, and community.
Condensing that into a two-week festival at the end of August/early September, teaches people from around the world to build art, feast together and enter another realm where the only rules are radical self-reliance and radical inclusion.
Burning Man is widely associated with a carnival of quirky art installations, costumes and performances, but it’s also about the human spirit and the philosophy of not leaving a trace.
It’s not for everyone, but if you’re up for something totally one-of-a-kind, transformative and boundary-pushing, Burning Man remains the ultimate festival for free spirits and adventurous souls.
Top U.S. Festivals: Good news, craft beer fansThe Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver, Colorado, is the defining occasion to taste beer from hundreds of breweries around the country.
The festival is held every fall, giving attendees the opportunity to sample the best in American craft beer, participate in beer tastings and education from industry experts.
Denver alone is a craft beer mecca, and the festival leaves plenty to do in the city itself; there are more than 150 local breweries when it’s over.
You can also admire the gorgeous Rocky Mountains, go hiking or take a scenic drive in the adjacent Boulder.
Sundance is an annual, January event in Park City, Utah, and a destination for film lovers. Sundance, the largest independent film festival in the United States, features hundreds of new films from up-and-coming filmmakers.
Whether you’re a film buff, aspiring director, or just someone who appreciates a good movie, Sundance is an incredible event to visit.
The picture-perfect town of Park City, with its ski runs and scruffy downtown, is also worth visiting. There are lots of outdoor activities, good restaurants and cute shops to visit while you’re there.
For praise-singing the beauty of nature, Washington D.C.’s National Cherry Blossom Festival is tough to top.
The festival, which is held every spring (typically in March or April), commemorates the blooming of the city’s iconic cherry trees, a gift from Japan in 1912.
Parades, cultural performances and culminating in the chance to walk among the beauty of the blooms at its peak.
Take the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian museums, the Lincoln Memorial, and other monuments while you are in Washington D.C.
The city offers rich history, culture and free sites, making it an ideal destination for festival-goers and history buffs.
Top U.S. Festivals: Whatever type of getaway you’re seeking, the U.S. is home to some of the planet’s most distinctive, exuberant festivals.
There are countless festivals around the world, from local food and drink celebrations to smaller-scale music, art, and history events.
So plan your next trip to coincide with one of these awesome events and get ready for the experience of a lifetime.
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