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.

By FOMO Girl
Late April is a great time to visit Amsterdam, the Netherlands' capital, since this is when their annual King's Day celebration takes place. Originally known as Queen's Day, when the reigning monarch was female, this exciting holiday is normally held between April 25-27th and is celebrated with a citywide street party. Visitors will find several tour companies offering festivals travel tours that will provide them with a memorable experience of this dutch holiday.

This local tradition began in August 1885 to honor the birth of Queen Wilhelmina, and continued as an annual event after her daughter, Juliana, and grand-daughter, Beatrix succeeded her, only the date was changed to April. In 2014, the name of this holiday was officially changed to King's Day, as a male monarch, King Willem-Alexander took over the throne.

Even though the name of this holiday has changed, it still maintains the same festive spirit, with both locals and visitors to the city dressed fully in orange, the color that symbolizes the royal family of the Netherlands, the House of Orange-Nassau. The royals themselves take part in the celebration by visiting a different town or city each year.

The entire city of Amsterdam becomes a giant flea market at this time, with people setting up tables throughout the streets and parks where they can sell pretty much anything new or used. There are also tons of food stalls offering a wide selection of tasty things to eat, with pubs packed with lively folks, and music fills the air from bands and DJs playing their tunes. Families with kids can enjoy sporting events, face-painting, street buskers, and much more.

Although it is considered a public holiday, King's Day is by no means a day of rest. The festivities kick off the night before the big day, and continue through until the next day. The party isn't limited to the streets and parks alone, but it also takes place on the water, as colorfully, decorated boats line the waterways of the Amsterdam canal system. Spectators, who aren't on the boats, typically line up along the bridges just to watch.

Those who prefer to arrange their own transportation to Amsterdam may want to check out the offerings of party tour operator Stoke Travel. Guests meet up in the Dutch capital, where for King's Day Stoke Travel provides floating accommodation aboard its two fully equipped, comfortable houseboats. Besides partaking in the revelry of the street party, travelers can enjoy guided walking tours of local places of interest. An optional four-hour boat cruise, with beer included, is available for an extra fee on King's Day.

Busabout offers travelers fun excursions to Amsterdam to celebrate King's Day. The Busabout King's Day tour packages provide bus and ferry transportation from London, England, a fun and knowledgeable guide, three nights accommodations, breakfast each, one dinner, and orange regalia for each guest, including a t-shirt, face paint and such. Travelers can enjoy a bike tour, checking out Amsterdam's hot spots, beer sampling, and a tour of the dam and the infamous "Red Light District".

Still not convinced how much fun King's Day can be in Amsterdam?  Well check out this video below.

By FOMO Girl
Thousands of people travel to Croatia and other parts of the world every year. There are many different things that attract people to certain regions. Festivals travel is a common reason people venture to Croatia and their capital city Zagreb. A main attraction, especially toward the fall and winter seasons, is the Truffles Festival.

Truffle is the name used to describe a fruiting body. It is a type of subterranean Ascomycete fungus from the genus Tuber species. These are often celebrated as ingredients in many types of cuisine. Some of the most famous truffles have been found in regions of Croatia, which is one reason why this is home to numerous truffle festivals and events.

Black truffles are harvested in this area throughout the year, but the special white truffle does not appear until September and lasts until around January. This is a time when people are out hunting for truffles. Thousands of Croatians, tourists and even dogs will wander through the forests for hours looking for these truffles.

The Festival of Subotica is an annual event that signifies the start of white truffle season. It is held on the second Saturday of September. At the festival, a large truffle omelet is made in a big pan. The dish requires more than 20 pounds of truffles to be made. In the early half of November, Buzet plays hosts to Truffles Weekend. This features a fair in which homemade and local truffle-based products are available. There are numerous festivals and similar events held to honor this time of year and the flavorful delicacy that it brings.

There are several restaurants around the area that serve dishes with this fungus. In fact, visitors may have the opportunity to book a foraging trip in Zigante, spending time out in the wilderness with a hunter and dogs to find and dig out truffles. Once enough has been collected, they can return to a restaurant and enjoy the delicious truffles they just handpicked. It's a forest-to-table experience that many choose not to miss out on. Other opportunities, including truffle tasting, are available through numerous restaurants and businesses.

One of the largest truffles ever discovered in the world was found in Croatia. These are not native to the area but where many travel in search of the best. While black truffles are loved, they are more readily available and not as big of a deal to the locals or most travelers.

However, the season for white truffles is an exciting time for Croatians and visitors alike. These are highly prized, especially among foodies, restaurateurs and of course truffle hunters. They are known for having a distinct, rich and earthy taste, and are often used to make aromatic oils, condiments and pasta-based dishes.

The events held around this special truffle season are accessible through many tour-operating companies. This makes it easier for visitors to navigate the area and have a chance to see some of the Croatian culture. People can learn more about the history of truffle hunting, the ways these can be incorporated into dishes and other interesting information.

G Adventures have a fantastic 5 day Croatia Truffle Festival tour, which includes all your transportation, 3 nights accommodation in hotels and 1 night in a multi-share homestay set up, with breakfast included each day.  You will also have orientation walks with olive oil tasting and a truffle hunt during the Truffle festival.