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.

By FOMO Girl
In 1923, the merging of an annual rodeo created by Guy Weadick, a promoter from the United States, and an annual fair hosted by the Calgary and District Agricultural Society merged to form the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. Nearly a century later, this event is still as popular as ever and people around the world are seeking out tours for Calgary Stampede so they can witness the spectacle firsthand. It is among the city's most popular tourist attractions and is one of the largest festivals in Canada.

The entire city participates in the Stampede, which takes place over 10 days in July. Local business owners decorate their storefronts in cowboy themes and host related events, including barbecues and pancake breakfasts. Residents mark the occasion by dressing in their finest cowboy garb.

The rodeo is the centerpiece of the Stampede festival and has grown to be one of the largest in the world. The payouts are also the richest with the winner of each major discipline receiving a $100,000 prize. The CBC, or Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, broadcasts all events across the country.

The Rangeland Derby is a chuckwagon race and is among the most popular events. The Derby features 36 teams racing in wagons pulled by teams of horses across a one-half mile distance. Teams compete for their portion of $1.15 million in purse money.

The agricultural exhibition highlights 50 different programs with well over 1,000 exhibitors. Their goal is to educate visitors about the history of the agriculture and ranching industries in Alberta. Competitions play a major role in the exhibition. Two of the biggest competitions are the World Championship Blacksmith Competition and the World Series of Cutting contest presented by the National Cutting Horse Association. Guests can enjoy a wide range of demonstrations with teams competing for honors in penning competitions and stock dog trials. The Ag-tivity in the City tent features interactive displays, animals, and the Heritage Cabin where guests can witness what life was like for the pioneers when they settled the west with quilting, wool spinning, and toy making demonstrations.

Contiki is tour company offering travel packages for the Calgary Stampede. Contiki offers two different multiple day tours that include a stop in Calgary allowing guests to spend a day at Stampede Park. Participants can spend time on the midway enjoying rides, carnival games, and live music performances. The Market provides a place for nearly 200 vendors to offer crafts, food, wine, and other goods. 

This annual event is a must see for anyone who embraces the cowboy lifestyle. Whether spending a day or a week, visitors will find plenty to see and do at the Calgary Stampede. Activities and performances appeal to travelers of all ages.

If you’re looking for more information on the Calgary Stampede, you should head over to FOMO Travel for all the travel and tour information.

By FOMO GIrl
Ibiza is a Mediterranean island located off the eastern coast of Spain. The island is known worldwide for its rambunctious summer nightclub scene and its contributions to the electronic dance music industry. This makes it a popular vacation destination with young adults who seek party tours to Ibiza.

During the summer, Ibiza Town and San Antonio attract thousands of tourists who want to be part of the biggest and most raucous party scene on the planet. Privilege, Space, Amnesia, Pacha, and other well-known clubs attract throngs of visitors with performances by the world's most popular producers and DJs. Many electronic dance masters choose this atmosphere to launch their newest creations in the techno, trance, and house music genres.

Opening parties for the season typically take place at the end of May, while closing parties are held during the first weekend in October. The island is known for its tolerance of provocative behavior by its tourists, which makes it a popular place for young singles and couples who have a desire to take a walk on the wild side. In addition to hitting up the many nightclubs, tourists can enjoy underground music parties featuring international artists.

All inclusive weekend excursions to Ibiza by Stoke Travel include optional ferry trips throughout the summer season. Guests enjoy rooms in a seaside resort, three buffet meals per day, and an open snack bar. The poolside bar serves up open drinks from 11 am until 11 pm and guests receive discounted club entry tickets as well. Stoke Travel also offers special packages for closing weekend as the summer comes to an end with the final parties of the season.

Busabout's four-day Ibiza Blast tour includes ferry trips between the island and Valencia, guided orientation, hotel room, and three buffet breakfasts. Also included are a DJ sunset cruise, discounted tickets to nightclubs, and a day trip to the nearby island of Formentera. The Busabout Ibiza Island Hopper package is eight days with stops in Mallorca and Menorca.

2wentys Ibiza packages include accommodations in hotels catering to the party crowds. Guests enjoy pool parties with live music by top DJs, a complimentary party pack upon arrival, free Wi-Fi, an exclusive bar crawl, and more. Holiday reps offer insider information about the best places to eat, drink, and party.

Club 18-30 operates affordable youth tours to the island that include airfare and hotel accommodations. Packages to San Antonio offer 4 to 14 night stays at Apolo Studies. This hotel is approximately 750 m from the beach and within a half hour walking distance to exciting nightlife venues at the West End. Similar packages offer rooms at Hotel Brisa, also at San Antonio Bay and even closer to the beach.

While Ibiza is known best for its party atmosphere, there are plenty of other things to do for those who do venture out while the sun is still up. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy cycling, golf, horseback riding, diving, and hiking. Shoppers will find a wide range of shopping centers and street markets selling the latest fashions and other products.

If you’re keen to know more about Party Trips to Ibiza, then head on over to FOMO Travel who have all your Ibiza Party Trip Tours Information.

by FOMO Girl
If anyone is looking for a nice place to vacation offering original and quirky excitement, you will not want to miss booking with a La Tomatina Tours company for the Festival in Bunol, Spain. First of all, Spain has a lot to offer. It has a nice climate and is located near the Mediterranean Sea.

Engulf yourself in this wildly crazy and thrilling event that the La Tomatina Festival offers. If you are familiar with the language, it is the biggest tomato-throwing event of the year. It's messy yes, but is lots of fun. Crowds increase with whopping numbers year after year. People from all over the world make a journey to Bunol to join in for the thrill of a lifetime and the excitement.

It is still hard to believe this is a recognized event that thousands of visitors and locals flock to. It all began with a small group of kids who were in the town square watching a parade. Being a little mischievous, the spontaneous kids tried to join the parade of puppets and musicians to become a part of the exhibits as if they were participants. This caused a reaction for the actual parade participants who started throwing things. Eventually, this ruckus caused such a commotion the crowd got involved and grabbed vegetables from a vendor stand nearby hurling the tomatoes at everyone.

This has turned into a nationwide event where many flock to experience getting all juiced up and to join in on the roars of laughter. There is no mercy and no way to duck the vegetable being hurled. Think about jumping in a pool of salsa. There is no way to stay clean in these parts but the crowds find it most enjoyable and relaxing.

There are plenty of activities during the week that lead up to the main throwing event. There are extravagant fiestas. Firework displays can be viewed and is entertaining. There are a variety of parties and tables offering exquisite food from area establishments.

Bunol is easily accessible using public transportation. To get the most out of this great trip using a tour company gives you the ultimate in enjoyment before and after the festival. Busabout offers a La Tomatina tour that includes an entry ticket, round trip bus travel, a headband, a ticket to an exclusive party, and a t-shirt.

Stoke Travel also offer affordable La Tomatina trips. Inclusions in their trip include a hot daily breakfast, camping accommodations, games on the beach, and cocktail on the morning of the festivities.  Day trips are also offered and the transportation runs through the wee hours of the night.

It is definitely not too late to book a trip for this amazing adventure if you start travel plans now. The celebration will start the last week of August with the throwing frenzy being held on Wednesday. Have fun and take extra wipes and changing clothes because getting juicy can be expected.

If you're looking for more information on some other great European summer festivals, then get yourself over to the Festival and Events Travel specialists, FOMO Travel, to find heaps of cool information on plenty of must-do experiences.

By FOMO Girl
Those who are fascinated by traditions, love wine, and don't mind getting a little, or rather a lot, messy, may want to visit the town of Haro, Spain in late June for La Batalla del Vino.  Also known as the "wine battle", the La Batalla del Vino offers a truly one-of-a-kind experience, which both locals and visitors on exciting La Batalla del Vino tours partake in the rowdy merriment of dousing each other in wine at the top of a mountain, which was once the home of St. Peter, the 6th century patron saint of Haro.

The events of this lively festival start on 28 June each year, and then later that evening the preparations for the big battle, which is the high point of the entire celebration, begin. A huge party lights up the streets, town square and bars of Haro, with all townspeople, from the youngest to the oldest, out to enjoy the festivities.

Party-goers can partake in the dancing, singing and celebrating until dawn and then begin the journey to the mountain, located approximately 5 kilometers away from the town. It's usually necessary to reach the mountain on foot, as police may very well close the road off to cars, making it accessible to pedestrians alone.  

Firstly, a traditional mass is held in honor of St Peter, and then it's time for the real action to take place. Participants customarily dress entirely in white and tie red handkerchiefs around their necks, and bring a wide assortment of objects containing red wine, such as water guns, buckets, bottles and wine skins.  Literally everyone there becomes drenched in wine from head to toe, nobody is merely a bystander. Bands play music and the wine-soaked revelers dance along.

The fun is not over at this point however, the wine battle may have finished for another year, but a feast will be held later in the day.  As the purple-colored folks make their way back to Haro, the battle continues for several hours.  Others who prefer less messy activities may rather sit at tables in local cafes enjoying a drink or two.

The Europe freestyle tour group, Busabout, offers travelers who wish to partake in this unique event a package that provides transportation from San Sebastian or Pamplona on 28 June and return on 30 June. Travelers are given tent accommodation, two breakfast meal and a t-shirt for this amazing La Batallas Del Vino trip.  There will also take you to see the fireworks display and give you a bar crawl tour of the town.

Another travel company that is proud to offer its customers the ability to attend the La Batalla Del Vino Festival is Stoke Travel. Their buses leave San Sebastian and Barcelona for Haro on 28 June and return on 30 June also.  The Stoke Travel La Batalla Del Vino Tour covers twin share tent accommodations, including mattresses, delicious hot breakfasts, a BBQ dinner, campsite party, and the usual Stoke Travel Fun Guides.

Anyone who plans to attend this messy but exciting celebration should wear white, as this is the tradition, but nothing that is valuable or irreplaceable since it will end up stained dreadfully. Taking a change of clothes and an old towel for after the battle is also a good idea as it can be rather uncomfortable in the cool morning air if you’re saturated with wine. Something to squirt or pour wine from and some plastic garbage bags for wet clothing or to protect vehicle seats if driving are also recommended.

FOMO Travel have plenty of information on heaps of other festivals in Spain, including this fabulous wine fight known as La Batalla Del Vino.