8 Festivals That Are Full of Color and Life (2 of 5)

7. Up Helly Aa | Scotland

This fire festival, which literally translates to “Up Holy Day All” is celebrated on the Scottish Shetland Islands from January through March to mark the end of Christmas-inspired Yule season. The largest such festival, celebrated on the island’s capital of Lerwick, involves up to a thousand Christmas mummers (men dressed up in period-themed clothing) leading a procession through the streets while carrying torches. The dazzle of the fire is quite a spectacle, but also a bit haunting. 

6. International Sand Sculpture Festival | Portugal

Held annually in Pêra, Algarve, Portugal since 2003, the International Sand Sculpture Festival is the largest event of its kind in the world. It features around 60 sand artists who create works of art using 35,000 tons of sand. It is especially a sight to behold at night when ambient lights create a breathtaking glow around the sculptures.