Festivals have taken place since the beginning of human civilization. In many cases, they were done to please the gods and ensure such things as fertility and a bountiful harvest. Some involved sacrificing virgins and such, but fortunately we’ve gotten over those kinds of things and now the focus is more about having fun and enjoying the company of friends. With that in mind, here are 8 colorful festivals you need to visit!
8. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta | USA
What started as a humble celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of a local radio station back in 1972 has blown up to become the largest hot air balloon festival in the world. The event features more than 500 hot air balloons (compared to 13 that first year) that take to the sky over a period of nine days. On any given day, more than 100,000 spectators enjoy the sights of the colorful, uniquely designed balloons from the launch field.