With 50 different states and a bundle of different races, cultures and nations, the United States of America has a large cultural and historical heritage, and these cultures are all celebrated through various festivals and events. While many tourists visit the United States of America to admire the big cities or the beautiful parks, the festivals in America are a big part of what makes the country so great and are definitely worth attending. So, if you are thinking of visiting US and want to see the cultural side of the country, but, not sure how to do that, don’t worry as we are here to help! These festivals are going to give you memories of a lifetime and more as they reflect the art, culture, heritage and the music of the country in the most exciting way. Show up and have fun with your friends, make memories and celebrate the love of music and art at these festivals.
15 Vibrant Festivals In America One Must Attend
While you are in the states, from cultural festivals, music festivals, folk festivals and art festivals, we’ve rounded up the top ten American festivals and holidays that deserve a place on your itinerary during your visit to the United States of America.
- Kutztown Folk Festival
- New Orleans Mardi Gras
- Jazz And Heritage Festival
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
- Burning Man Festival
- Aloha Festival
- Fantasy Fest
- Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival
- Groundhog Day
- Boston Seafood Festival
- Electric Zoo Festival
- Lollapalooza
- South By SouthWest (SXSW)
- Austin City Limits Music Festival
- Afropunk Fest Brooklyn
1. Kutztown Folk Festival
Among the most visit-worthy festivals in the United States is the Kutztown festival that had originated in the 1950’s when three local professors decided to celebrate the Pennsylvanian German population in the country. It is the biggest festival in America! Today, it has surpassed it’s 60th-year mark and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The cultural atmosphere absorbs you as you enter the festival grounds and are surrounded by the local people with their traditional costumes, and traditional music playing in the background. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Pennsylvanian German culture and take part in the workshops of one of the top folk festivals in American culture.
Additional Info: Their fresh bread and pastries are a must try
Location: Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Festival Dates 2024: 2nd July – 10th July, 2024
Famous For: Artists and craftsmen
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2. New Orleans Mardi Gras
Of all the festivals celebrated in America, there’s nothing more colourful and thrilling than a Mardi Gras festival, which is marked by a lot of parades and events, all over the city. The New Orleans Mardi Gras is an event that is organised by the social clubs in the city, and people dress up in colourful costumes and parade around the city, and giant floats are driven all over the city as well. Festival-goers throw colourful party cups and other light objects in the air to celebrate the festival, and the dress code for this festival consists of the colours gold, purple and green which signify power, justice and faith. This is considered to be one of the best festivals in the US.
Additional Info: The festival is celebrated till Ash Wednesday
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Festival Dates 2024: 6th Jan – 1st Mar 2024
Famous For: Variety of parades and festivities
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3. Jazz And Heritage Festival
New Orleans is known for being the party town of the United States of America, so it’s no wonder that many of the festivals in America are hosted here. Though there are a lot of parties and clubbing scenes held in the city all year round, rarely do you get to see the local talent and the heritage side of the people come out and perform their art. From music pieces, to art showcases and much more, you get to see a side of New Orleans that’s not commercial and much more rooted to the culture of the local people. Also, this is one of the best places to visit with your family in America.
Additional Info : The festival is mostly music oriented
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Festival Dates 2024: 29th April – 8th May, 2024
Famous For: Music Festival
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4. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
This event, we guarantee, is like nothing you’ve ever seen before in your entire life! Imagine a sky filled with hundreds of different coloured hot air balloons floating in the air. You can turn this imagination into a reality when you visit the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, held every year in Ne Mexico, and witness over 500 air balloons fly over your head, creating an almost magical kind of atmosphere for the visitors. Not only watching, but you will also have an opportunity to fly up on a hot air balloon as well here, making it one of the best festivals in the US.
Additional Info: The hot air balloon rides are charged, and you can inquire about the prices at the venue.
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Festival Dates 2024: 1st October – 9th October , 2024
Famous For: Hot air balloon festival
5. Burning Man Festival
This is one festival that you should definitely set aside a date on your calendar for. Although often considered to be a hippie festival, the true essence of the festival lies in the community of the people, and their bond, who creates everything in the festival together from scratch. Join in on the American celebrations, which consists of crazy art installations, beautiful musical performances, and just the great energy of the people who attend this annual event. If you are someone who is looking to experience something raw and real and not the typical touristy things in America, this is one of the best American festivals to visit.
Location: Black Rock Desert, Nevada
Festival Dates 2024: 29th August – 5th September, 2024
Famous For: Burning of a wooden effigy
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6. Aloha Festival
If you are looking for some good festival celebrations in the American culture ideal for all types of travelers like families with kids, the Aloha festival which celebrates Hawaiian culture, is the right festival for you! This festival, which takes place on one island to preserve the Hawaiian heritage and culture, consists of street performances and music shows as well, including some food tasting and workshops to learn about the Hawaiian culture. This festival guarantees a fun-filled adventure for you and your family!
Additional Info: The festival is free
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Festival Dates 2024: Yet to be announced
Famous For: Music Festival
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7. Fantasy Fest
This is for all those of you who missed out on the Halloween celebrations and love dressing up in costumes! An annual event, this festival attracts a large number of visitors, both tourists and local people as well, who dress up as famous characters, or cover themselves in body paint, which is a famous activity here, and walk around the streets, making regular pit stops at the many bars and clubs in the city. Much like the Mardi Gras festival, this is a huge gathering of people who have come together with a common interest – to have fun!
Additional Info: There are a lot of beautiful beaches to visit nearby
Location: Key West, Florida
Festival Dates 2024: 21st October – 30th October 2024
Famous For: Key West festival
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8. Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival
One could not make a list of the most famous festivals in the country and not mention the Coachella festival, which is a huge annual music festival, which brings in people from all over the world, and large number of the world’s top artists, across different genres come together for a week long celebration of music. It is not unusual to find Hollywood celebrities walking around the festival, just like regular people, as they, just like normal people, come here to enjoy the great music and the delicious food stalls! So put on your best beach clothes and get ready for an insane amount of fun at this music festival in America.
Additional Info: Make sure to purchase your tickets way in advance online, as they run out quick
Location: Indio, California
Festival Dates 2024: 15th April – 24th April, 2024
Famous For: Music Festival
9. Groundhog Day
If you have watched the movie starring Bill Murray, you might have an idea of what this festival is all about. For those of you who haven’t seen the film, this is a family-friendly event, in which the weather predictions are made by a Groundhog. This is a tradition that dates back centuries and people from near and far come to watch this exciting event. There are several other attractions around the festival like the GHC Headquarters, Phil’s Burrow and the gobbler’s Knob Tail. This is one of the famous places in America to visit in September! If you want to be a part of some of the unique festivals in the US, then this one’s for you.
Location: Pennsylvania
Festival Dates 2024: 2nd February, 2024
Famous For: Pennsylvania’s Mardi Gras
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10. Boston Seafood Festival
Last but not least on our list of the top festivals in America is one of the top cultural festivals in the USA to celebrate Boston’s long relationship with seafood, and what it means to the people, in terms of income and their diet as well. Enjoy appetising seafood dishes, while also learning it’s made in traditional Boston style at these workshops. The best part is – the food is diet-friendly, so if you’re weight-conscious, you don’t have to worry anymore! It would definitely be one of the festivals in America in 2024.
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Famous For: Seaport Party
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11. Electric Zoo Festival
One of the biggest music festivals in the USA you’ll ever witness, this event takes place at Randall’s island park, bringing to the Ne York city, the electronic theme of music! You’ll jump in excitement to attend this after knowing that it is created by organizers behind big events like Tomorrow land and more! So, don’t forget to add this in your bucket list. If you are planning to attend festivals in USA, there’s no time better than now to get your rock on!
Location: Randall’s island, New York
Festival Dates 2024: 2nd September – 4th September, 2024
Famous For: International DJs and live acts
12. Lollapalooza
Gear up for an extra dose of music, dance, comedy and lots of fun with your friends as this festival gives you an opportunity to enjoy a diverse music genre which also provides a platform for non-profit artists to perform. In the global hall of fame for festivals, this music festival is certainly one of the best festivals in America. Held in the heart of Chicago, it is one of the best festivals in Chicago that hosts big celebrity names like Childish Gambino and Ariana Grande with wild energy.
Location: Grant Park, Chicago
Festival dates 2024: 28th July – 31th July , 2024
Famous For: Music Festival
13. South By SouthWest (SXSW)
An amalgamation of music, film screenings and electrifying performances, this festival is the next big thing for music and media enthusiasts. Held in Austin, Texas, it attracts a large crowd who gather around for the love of music and films and to witness their favourite celebrities come alive in front of their eyes. This one’s a trendsetter for music fans that might just boost your career as well. This is also of the best American festivals that you must-attend.
Location: Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas
Festival Dates 2024: 11th March – 20th March, 2024
Famous For: Conference and festival
14. Austin City Limits Music Festival
Calling all music enthusiasts to attend this two-weekend long festival that speaks volumes about music, art, food and drinks. The festival features an eight-stage set up to celebrate the love for music. Inspired by a concert series of the same name, the festival is a great haint for food and music lovers with chill vibes and an Indie music lineup.
Location: Zilker Metropolitan Park, Austin, Texas
Festival Dates 2024: 7th -9th October and 14th -16th October, 2024
Famous For: Annual music festival
15. Afropunk Fest Brooklyn
Since its debut in 2005 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the festival has gained the likes of many music enthusiasts and artists across the globe. The festival is a combination of film, fashion, music and art produced by black artists. Afropunk festival sheds some light on the black community as it was started by black punks as a response to feeling like an outsider, hence, coming together and creating one of the world’s most famous art festivals. With its roots based in Brooklyn, it is now a worldwide event that happens in cities across the globe. Join the wave of creative radical energy and celebrate the black culture at one of the best festivals in America.
Location: Commodore Barry Park, Brooklyn, New York
Festival Dates 2024: Yet to be announced
Famous For: Music Festival
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Frequently Asked Questions About Festivals In America
Is it safe to visit the US amidst the ongoing pandemic?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to visit these places as the place has a relatively low number of cases. But don’t take our word for it: check up on the latest travel advisory, Covid-19 measures, and the number of cases before your departure. It is safer to undertake solo travel or with a small group of people to somewhere that is not overly crowded at the moment.
What are the biggest festivals in the US?
Some of the biggest festivals in the US are Summerfest, New Orleans Jazz and heritage festival and many more.
What holidays are only celebrated in America?
5 holidays are celebrated in America - Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Independence Day, snd Veterans Day.
What is the best music festival in America?
There are a number of music festivals in America that are considered the best. 5 of them are listed below: 1. Coachella Valley Music Festival 2. Essence Festival 3. Hangout Music Festival 4. Underwater Musical Festival 5. Lollapalooza
How many music festivals are there in the US?
Currently, there are over 800 music festivals in the United States.
How much does it cost to get into the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta?
Advanced general admission tickets are only around Rs. 700 per person. General parking is around Rs.1000 per vehicle.
When was the first Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque?
The first Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque was held on 8 April 1972.
How does Groundhog Day work?
According to the tradition, if the groundhog sees its shadow on February 2, it will be frightened by it and will then return to its burrow, indicating that there will be 6 more weeks of winter. If it does not see its shadow, then spring is on the way.
How much are Coachella Valley Music Festival tickets?
Coachella Valley Music Festival for Weekend 2: GA Pass is ₹29825.77.
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A mass-media graduate, Priyanka is a passionate writer and an avid traveler. Whether it’s about capturing the sunsets or hogging up some delicious food from different places, she never leaves a second to decide. Her mantra of keep going is “work, save, travel, repeat” which she lives by heart.
