by FOMO Boy
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous festival held before Lent every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets.  Rio Carnival is a must-do event on any travellers list.

Rio Carnival is all about parades, dancing, music and infamous street parties. The most famous dance of Rio Carnival is the samba, which is a Brazilian dance with African influences.  The samba remains a popular dance not only at Rio Carnival but also in the villages outside of the main cities throughout Brazil.

Numerous samba schools build floats, costumes and create songs and themes (in Carnival terminology called "enredo") for their entries.  They also include the best music they can from their drumming band, which is called the bateria.  There are many parts to each school's entry including up to eight floats and 4,000 party goers.  One of the main purposes of the Rio Carnival parade is for a samba school to compete with other rival samba schools.  This competition is the climax of the whole Rio Carnival festival.  

The music of Rio Carnival contains amazing beats and rhythms, which has the crowds dancing all over the streets of Rio.  The samba is the main dance of Rio Carnival, but music in general is another major aspect of all parts of Rio Carnival. Samba Carnival instruments are an important part of Brazil and the Rio Carnival.  The samba that is found in Rio is called batucada and the dance and music are based on percussion instruments.

Street parties take place throughout the city during Rio Carnival. There can be more than 300 street parties taking place at any given point in time. While the biggest street party takes place right outside the Sambadrome, the largest organized street dance is typically found on Cinelndia Square in Rio's Centro. In 2012, more than 2 million revellers took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro to participate in the Cordo do Bola Preta bloco. According to police estimates, more than 5 million people attend one of the street parties during Rio Carnival and there is very little reported incident of crime.

Today, some of the biggest events of Rio Carnival are ticketed events. There are different types of Sambadrome tickets that are available for purchase. Grandstand tickets are general admissions tickets that are available on a first come-first serve basis and are not allocated ahead of time. Frisas are open air box seats located along the samba runway. Camarotes are luxury boxes situated between the frisas and the grandstands. Sector 9 is the tourist sector, which are the same as grandstand tickets, with the difference being that they are allocated so people have assigned seats.

By FOMO Travel
Every year, on 25 April, Australia and New Zealand commemorate those lost during various wars involving both nations, with ceremonies held across both countries. The date 25 April is known as ANZAC Day and it is regarded as one of the most important occasions in Australia's and New Zealand's history, as it marks the anniversary of the first military action that was taken by Australia and New Zealand in the first World War.  ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and soldiers still fight and take pride in the tradition of ANZAC today. 

Australia had only just become a country itself 13 years before war broke out in what would become later, World War I, and with the government looking to establish its international reputation, the Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed an expedition to capture the Gallipoli peninsula.  The objective was to capture Constantinople, the city that is now referred to as Istanbul in Turkey. When the Australian and New Zealand forces arrived on the beaches of Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, they struck resistance from the Turkish army and the campaign continued for a period of 8 months with over 100,000 soldiers killed from both sides. 

The ANZAC legend was then created and formed a significant part of the identity of Australia and New Zealand. April 25 has now become a day representative of the sacrifice those soldiers made and this day for both ANZAC countries is celebrated more strongly than Rememberance Day on 11 November.  April 25 is officially called ANZAC Day and it is now commemorated by Australian's and New Zealanders across the globe in memory of those who sacrificed their lives and to uphold the legacy of the nations.  Included as part of these ceremonies, thousands of people travel to Gallipoli each year to commemorate the battles that commenced there on 25 April 1915.  2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and large contingents of Australian's and New Zealander's will make the pilgrimage to ANZAC Cove in Turkey to mark the celebrations 

All year round you can visit Gallipoli to explore the battlefields and to commemorate the lives that were lost, with tours commonly beginning and ending in Istanbul.  The trips that take place for the ANZAC Day commemorations are the most important, where a Dawn Service is held in Gallipoli.  This Dawn Service is followed by the Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine (10am) and the New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair (1130am).  For those interested in tours to commemorate ANZAC Day, there are many established companies offering affordable travel packages for those who wish to experience a rich part of history.  

The ANZAC Day ceremonies include prayers, laying of wreaths, the Last Post, and a moment of silence that is followed by the national anthems.  The trenches and battlefields can be explored with the option to pay your respects at the memorial. The tours that extend over a period of a few days enjoy an array of Turkish adventures and there are many companies offering packages that range between 2 to 14 days to suit the budget and lifestyle interests of travelers.  Deals can be combined with an exploration of Egypt involving a boat cruise and memorial service. Tour companies offer trips that are filled with excitement and cultural history suited to your travel interests.  Some of the biggest companies specialising in ANZAC Day Tours catering for more of a youth audience include Topdeck Travel, G Adventures, Intrepid Travel, Contiki and PP Travel.  Viator also has a great 6 Day ANZAC Day Tour for people looking for a more higher levels of accommodation.

FOMO Travel are your festival and events travel experts.  Check out our website for great deals and options.

By FOMO Girl
Anyone who loves a masquerade will have a blast at Italy's annual Carnival festival, held in the beautiful city of Venice every February. The largest of its kind in Italy, every year people come from around the globe to partake in the merriment of this celebration in which colorfully clad masked partygoers roam the streets. Several companies whom specialise in festivals travel provide exciting tours to this amazing event.

Known locally as "Carnevale", this festive holiday is observed just before Lent, in February, but the exact date varies from one year to the next. The tradition started during the twelfth century following a local victory, its lavish and indulgent nature is also believed to stem from the fact that all excessive drinking, eating, and partying is strictly off limits during Lent.

The tradition perpetuated and by the Renaissance it was being celebrated in grand style. Locals would take to the streets of Venice adorned in fancy costumes and wearing exquisitely crafted masks, and various performances would be put on in the city's public squares. These festivities started to lose popularity over the years, first declining in the 18th century, and finally being banned altogether by Mussolini in the 1930's.

Fortunately, by the late 1970's, a group of local artisans successfully managed to get its observance reinstated. The reborn Carnival resulted in a huge boost for Venetian tourism, with about three million people from around the world visiting the city every year for this outstanding two-week event.

Masked balls, both private and public, represent the height of the festivities, but there are also lots of other fun events that take place, most of them being free of charge, such as concerts, candle-lit boat processions, and street entertainment by clowns, buskers and such. One can take in a play, participate in some traditional sporting events, or simply enjoy the abundance of delicious food and drink.

G Adventures provides customers with fun nine-day Venice Carnival tours From Rome to Venice during this special time of the year. This tour also includes 3 nights in Tuscany on the way to the Venice for Carnival, where you will stay for 3 nights. The tour groups are no larger than 16 people in size and includes breakfasts each morning and a traditional local dinner in Rome, an orientation walk in Florence, day trip to Pisa and all transport between destinations and to/from included activities..  You will also have a walking tour of Venice, water taxi transportation, and excursions to such interesting places as quaint fishing villages, St. Mark\s Basilica, a glass-blowing studio and of course the masked partying.

by FOMO Girl
The residents of Shetland in Scotland have their own unique way of marking the midpoint of winter and the official closing of the Yule season. Thousands of people in Lerwick participate in the annual Up Helly Aa Festival on the final Tuesday every January, with smaller celebrations taking placing in neighboring villages. The annual fire procession features a Viking theme but it has only been a tradition in this region since the late 1800s.

Leading the parade is a person known as the Jarl. This is a coveted position that requires a minimum of 15 years of serving on a special committee for consideration. A single person is elected to join the committee every year.  The remainder of the procession consists of local men dressed in costumes and marching through the streets holding lit torches aloft. They are called guizers, in reference to their disguises.  Procession participants are divided up into squads and each picks its own theme for the festivities. Their preparation begins in September when they choose their characters and begin making their costumes.

The procession culminates in the burning of a Viking galley constructed especially for this occasion. After the procession, the participants visit various sports facilities, hotels and schools to perform comedic sketches for the crowd's amusement. The celebration lasts throughout the night and lucky for people who indulge, the next day is a public holiday to allow for recovery time.

The most extravagant fire festival on the continent may be a local custom made by and for the people living in Lerwick, but that has not stopped it from evolving into the largest celebration of its kind on the continent. Visitors from around the world gather in this small village to view the spectacle each year. They go not to escape the harsh winter weather but to embrace it and bid farewell to the Yule season as they look forward to springtime.

Travelers can choose from a variety of tour packages offering them the chance to experience this annual celebration firsthand. Multiple day tours provide plenty of time to explore the surrounding area and soak up the local culture. Most tours include all transportation, lodging, and tickets to some of the various hosting post procession performances.

HAGGiS Adventures offers a five-day Up Helly Aa Tour of the Shetland Islands that includes Lerwick during the Helly Aa Festival. Included in the package are traditional music performances and a journey to St Andrews, a dream destination for golfers worldwide. After viewing the parade and longboat burning, guests can mingle and party with the locals all night long.

Wanting to see more festivals in Europe?  Check out the FOMO Travel Festival and Events Travel page.

On paper, camping at a festival always seems like a great idea: the wide open spaces, fresh air and feeling at one with nature. The reality is mud (lots of mud), endless queues for the loos and feeling like your neighbours are a little too close for comfort. Why camp when there are so many other options out there from glamping, to camper vans, apartments and even villas!

So, let your tent to gather dust, don’t worry about that sleeping bag you can’t find and leave the toilet roll and tinned food at home. Holiday Lettings are here to take you on a magical mystery tour of some of the best tent-less festivals.

Where: Primavera Sound, Barcelona, Spain

When: May

How: You don’t need to even consider the camping option at Primavera Sound – there isn’t one! We recommend staying in Barcelona itself to make the most of visiting this vibrant city as getting to and from the festival site from the city is easy: there are shuttle buses especially for the festival and the metro stop is a short stroll away.  There are plenty of self-catering options in Barcelona from budget apartments to villas with private pools; you’ll be spoilt for choice!

What’s on: Music, music and more music! You’ll find some big names on the alternative scene here with a sprinkle of some mainstream artists too. Previous line-ups have included The Pixies, Aphex Twin, Portishead, Public Enemy, The Cure, PJ Harvey and De La Soul.

Where: Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik, Iceland

When: November

How: Staying in an uber cool apartment is the city centre is the way to go here. In fact, there are plenty of self-catering accommodation options in Reykjavik. If you want to feel hip and trendy, then you’ve come to the right place! Take some time out from the festival and visit one of the many art galleries, laid-back wine bars hosting live music and stand up comedy until the early hours.

What’s on: The festival takes place in various venues around the city, from churches to theatres so there’s no mud to contend with! You’ll be treated to the likes of The Shins, The Rapture, TV On The Radio, Florence and the Machine, Klaxons, Hot Chip and Flaming Lips. Home grown talents such as Björk, Sigur Rós and múm have also made appearances in recent years.

Where: Glastonbury, Somerset, UK

When: June

How: Yes, believe it or not, Glastonbury is very much a contender for a tent-less festival. We’ve all seen those panoramic shots on TV of the tents packed in like Sardines (or maybe you’ve been a sardine yourself) but did you know that you can hire luxury tents and teepees? There are a few companies now offering luxury camping with all the mod cons you’d expect in a hotel, such as Wi-Fi, state of the art showers, beauty parlours and wardrobes.

What’s on: What isn’t on! You don’t get much more diverse and eclectic than Glastonbury. Huge names such as Jay Z, Shirley Bassey, Radiohead and Paul McCartney have all graced the Glastonbury stages. But it doesn’t stop at the music. There’s an abundance of theatre, art and comedy too so you’ll never have a dull moment, whatever the weather!

Where: Coachella, California, USA

When: April

How: You can walk or cycle (a popular choice) to the festival or take a shuttle bus. In fact, parking is pretty limited and if you don’t feel like camping, taking the shuttle each day from your accommodation is a wise. There are loads of places to stay from villas with pools to sleek apartments. If you’re travelling from further afield, we recommend taking a few weeks out either side of the festival to explore California while you’re there. 

What’s on: From its small beginnings as a festival for niche alternative acts, Coachella has ballooned and now hosts some of the biggest names in music to rival Glastonbury’s offering. Acts in previous years have included Price, Blur, Kanye West and Rage Against the Machine. Coachella also prides itself on its art installations and quirky activities such as pinball competitions, silent discos and three-legged races.

Where: Fuji Rock, Niigata, Japan

When: Late July

How: Once you’ve got a ticket, shuttle bus travel is included. They depart from Echigo-yuzawa Station in Niigata Prefecture every fifteen minutes. There are plenty of places to stay in Niigata and also plenty to do when you’re not at the festival. Highlights include the the atmospheric Shouun Sanso Garden, and taking a ride in a traditional ‘Tarai-bune’, tub-boat.

What’s on: The 3 day event hosts more than 200 Japanese and international musicians making it the biggest festival in the country. High up in the mountains, you’ll feel a sense of escapism while you enjoy acts such as Jack Johnson, Outkast and The Orb nestled amongst some of Japan’s finest cutting-edge musicians.