Top Five Carnivals to Put on Your Bucket List

Carnival is originally a Western Christian holiday, but its celebrations, parades, and other festivities have spread across the globe. We can’t deny that we have always wanted to experience a big carnival — especially the one in Rio de Janeiro — but what exactly makes them all so special? Maybe it is because organizers work all year ‘round to deliver the best party ever or it has to do with the fact that it has been a tradition for hundreds of years. Millions of people travel around the world to experience this phenomenon every year. We have put together a list of Carnivals that are definitely worth checking out.

1. Rio de Janeiro

The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is the biggest and most visited Carnival in the world. Every neighborhood in the city has its own street festival — there are about 300 of them and the number increases every year. The Carnival festivals generally take place around mid-February and last until Ash Wednesday. During that time, it’s hard to miss all the excitement and the buzz around this event. Numerous samba schools participate in the samba parade and their costumes are one of the key elements. Each school presents a theme and plenty of planning and design goes into both the costumes and the floats.

But whether you're joining the parade as a spectator or simply soaking up the atmosphere in the city — Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is an experience to remember!

2. Mardi Gras, New Orleans

This holiday is celebrated in the South of Louisiana and always takes place the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. However, the celebrations start weeks before that. Many tourists will find themselves among the activities on Bourbon Street but there are so many other places in New Orleans to enjoy the festivities. The parades are organized by krewes — social clubs — that have been a tradition since 1856. Float riders toss colorful plastic beads, cookies, and small, inexpensive toys into the crowd.

Another tradition that you shouldn’t miss is eating king cake, a cinnamon-laced and sugar-topped cake in the colors green, gold, and purple. If you find a tiny plastic baby in your slice you are named “king” for a day and you will have to host the next party.

3. Carnevale di Venezia

This twelve-day Carnival is held in the city of Venice and is famous for its fancy masks. It was first celebrated to honor the victory of Serenissima Repubblica over the Patriarch of Aquileia when people started to dance and gather in San Marco Square. Now, the Carnival centers around the history and culture of Venice. Each year there is la maschera piu bella — the most beautiful mask competition. The original masks were rather simple but nowadays, the hand-painted masks are made with gesso and gold leaf.

There are plenty of masquerade balls organized each year but tickets can sell out quickly. So, if you act fast, you can be one of the lucky attendees.

4. Karneval in Köln

Carnival in Cologne has been celebrated annually for over 200 years. The Germanic tribes already celebrated winter solstice to pay their respects to the gods and drive out the demons of winter. But it wasn't until 1823 that the city held its first Rosenmontagszug (Shrove Monday Procession). Besides this event, a lot of traditions are still visible in today’s celebrations.

If you happen to visit Cologne during the Carnival season, you will undoubtedly come across the shows, balls, and parades that are organized by the many Carnival societies. Another highlight is the Rosenmontag (Shrove Monday), when three participants are paraded around as Dreigestirn (triumvirate), a symbolic representation of Carnival. They each represent a virgin, prince, and farmer, and have often paid a lot of money to participate in the event.

Don’t be afraid that there won't be enough time to celebrate! Bars and pubs know no closing time during the week-long celebration.

5. Carnaval de Nice

The Nice Carnival attracts more than a million visitors every year and just like the other Carnivals, it’s a two week celebration where giant parades take place day and night. The “flower battles” are a part of the event that you shouldn’t miss if you plan to travel to Nice. Carnival floats are decorated with the most astonishing flowers and people participating in the parade throw little flowers into the crowd.

During this main event on the French Riviera, the gigantic floats will make their way to the Place Masséna. You can book your tickets online and, unlike for some festivals, the tickets are available for every budget. If you’re visiting Carnaval de Nice, you’re in for an unforgettable time!