From the people who've been delivering trustworthy guidebooks to every destination in the world for 40 years,Lonely Planet's50 Festivals To Blow Your Mindwill make your next trip an unforgettable one.There's something about festivals. Whether it's a giant, joyous party or a respectful honouring of tradition, a seemingly bizarre adherence to ritual or a celebration of a quirky obsession - a festival is a uniquely human thing to be involved in. We get together to dance, sing, eat, laugh, drink, dress up, light fires, take our clothes off, throw tomatoes at each other, roll around in mud - just about anything really, but we seem to like doing it in really large groups with bags and bags of enthusiasm.Festivals are life-affirming and take our desire to have a good time with friends and family to a global level. They continue to thrive because they ignite curiosity and help to promote understanding, compassion and a greater acceptance of other races, cultures and traditions.Contents:All actionAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta // USAArgungu Fishing Festival // NigeriaHoli // India and NepalLas Bolas de Fuego // El SalvadorRouketopolemos (Rocket War) // GreeceSaidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri // JapanSongkran Water Festival // ThailandArt and cultureAgitAgueda Art Festival // PortugalEdinburgh Fringe Festival // UKIce and Snow Sculpture Festival // ChinaSouth by Southwest // USASundance Film Festival // USAWhite Nights Festival // RussiaWorld Body Painting Festival // AustriaCalm and tranquilFloating Lantern Festival // HawaiiThe International Highline Meeting Festival // ItalyPingxi Lantern Festival // TaiwanFoodieBordeaux Fe?te le Vin // FranceMAD Symposium // DenmarkMaine Lobster Festival // USAOktoberfest // GermanySouth Beach Food and Wine Festival // USASpirit of Speyside Whisky Festival // UKJust one big partyAmsterdam Gay Pride/Europride // The NetherlandsBurning Man // USACarnevale // ItalyCarnival // BrazilChinese New Year // SingaporeFeast of San Jeronimo // NicaraguaMardi Gras // USASt Patrick's Day // IrelandUp Helly Aa Fire Festival // ScotlandMusicCoachella // USAGlastonbury Festival // UKMontreal International Jazz Festival // CanadaRhythm and Vines // New ZealandRoskilde Music Festival // DenmarkSonar // SpainSplendour in the Grass // AustraliaWOMADelaide // AustraliaOff the wallAir Guitar World Championships // FinlandBoryeong Mud Festival // South KoreaBuso Festival // HungaryDia de los Muertos // MexicoIvrea Orange Festival // ItalyKanamara Matsuri Festival // JapanLa Tomatina // SpainThaipusam Festival // MalaysiaUFO Festival // USAWife Carrying Festival // FinlandAbout Lonely Planet:Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. The world awaits!