1. Boryeong Mud Festival (South Korea)
Held in the coastal town of Boryeong, this festival involves mud wrestling, mudslides, and a giant mud bath. It’s a celebration of fun and health, thanks to the mud’s mineral-rich properties.
2. El Colacho (Spain)
Also known as the Baby Jumping Festival, this unique event in Castrillo de Murcia involves men dressed as devils leaping over rows of babies to cleanse them of original sin and protect them from evil spirits.
3. Night of the Radishes (Mexico)
Every December 23rd in Oaxaca, locals carve intricate figures and scenes out of radishes. This festival combines art, agriculture, and Christmas traditions in a colorful display.
4. Goose Pulling (Germany)
In the village of Grevenbicht, participants on horseback attempt to decapitate a goose hanging from a wire. While once using live geese, today, the event uses a dead goose to maintain tradition while addressing animal welfare concerns.
5. La Tomatina (Spain)
In Buñol, this festival involves thousands of participants throwing overripe tomatoes at each other in a massive food fight. It’s a messy, fun-filled event attracting visitors worldwide.
6. Cheese Rolling (England)
Held in Gloucestershire, the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake involves participants chasing a wheel of cheese down a steep hill. The first to cross the finish line wins the cheese.
7. Kanamara Matsuri (Japan)
Also known as the “Festival of the Steel Phallus,” this Shinto festival in Kawasaki celebrates fertility, childbirth, and protection from sexually transmitted infections with parades and phallus-shaped decorations.
8. Monkey Buffet Festival (Thailand)
In Lopburi, locals lay out a grand feast for the resident monkey population as a thank-you for attracting tourists. The monkeys feast on fruits, vegetables, and sweets during this annual event.
9. Busójárás (Hungary)
This end-of-winter festival in Mohács involves men dressing in scary masks and traditional costumes to chase away winter and welcome spring. The event includes parades, dancing, and lots of noise.
10. Tunarama Festival (Australia)
Held in Port Lincoln, South Australia, this festival celebrates the local tuna-fishing industry. The highlight is the Tuna Toss, where participants compete to throw a tuna fish the farthest.
