| April Songkran, Thailand
The name means “change place” and, although this refers to the passage of the zodiac (it’s Thai new year), you should stay on the move to avoid a heavy soaking. Supersized water fight — sorry, festival — begins on April 13, takes in the whole country and lasts for three days. This also offers religious ceremonies and beauty contests, possibly with wet T-shirts.
If that sounds a little tame compared with, say, running with Pamplona’s bulls, about 300 people died in one recent Songkran, mainly from driving accidents.
Magic of the Orient has five nights at the Bel-Aire Princess, Bangkok, from £699pp, including flights.
Also consider: Snowbombing, Mayrhofen, Austria.
A snowbound rave, with excellent parties, it runs from April 9 to 15.
May Rocket Festival, Andalusia
Imagine Glastonbury without mud, but with high-wire acts, acrobats and Cirque du Soleil-like spectaculars, as well as bands and DJs. And, the whole enterprise aims to be an antidote to overcorporate sponsorship of festivals: you’re unlikely to see a Carling or Virgin logo.
Also consider: Shetland Folk Festival, Lerwick, May 4-6.
Stop sniggering — folk is fashionable again. Shetland’s USP is its last night, with acts shuttled between venues for short, punchy sets.
June
Brazil has no shortage of great parties, but this one is a little special — it’s held in the jungle, in Parintins, 230 miles east of Manaus. (If you don’t fly in, it’s a 30-hour boat ride.) So, in the midst of Amazon rainforest, 70,000 people let rip, with drums, whistles, drink, dancers, fireworks, the lot.
Much of the drama takes place in the Bumbodromo, where teams aim to outdo each other in flamboyance and scale. Temporary dates are June 28-30.
Also consider: Gnawa Music Festival, Essaouira, Morocco. Mesmerizing devotional music, it is heavy on drumming and wailing pipes, in a great seaside setting. June 25 - provisional date.
July Calgary Stampede, Canada
You need cowboy boots and cowboy hats, and you better know how to dance the two-step, for the whole town goes western-crazy — even the banks and offices sprout steer horns. This rodeo at the heart of the Stampede is taken very seriously indeed, with bronco- and bull-riding events drawing the cream of riders from across America. At night, there are dances, cookouts and C&W shows. It runs from July 6 to 15.
Also consider: Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
There are relaxed vibe, with busking, free concerts and world-class performers. It starts on July 6 and runs for 10 days.
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