Festivals are a great introduction to culture anywhere you travel – here are great ones you missed this summer. No worries, you can always catch these in the already anticipated, summer 2014.

1. Wanderlust – Find your true North: North America

Thirsty travellers and yoga enthusiasts join in a peaceful celebration of opportunity to explore and transform each year across North America.

Thousands of people join the 4 day jubilee of music, yoga and nature.

Locations like, Whistler, B.C, Canada (pictured above) bring your yoga experience to new heights, while music fills nature’s sweet air.

Visit the festival’s website for more information.

2. Caribana: Toronto, On, Canada

The carnival parade turns younge street into one big party, celebrating Caribbean culture.

Heavily influenced by steel pan music, calypsos, and costumes from Trinidad and Tobago, the festival doesn’t end with the parade but continues to be celebrated throughout the city.

Read more on Caribana here.

3. La Tomantina – The coveted ham: Buñol, Spain

Every last Wednesday of August, Buñol multiplies in size as their streets fill with world wide travellers.

The week long festivities offer music, dancing, divine foods, and most of all, the world’s biggest food fight.

Trucks line up filled with ripe tomatoes, which quickly empty as they are grabbed and thrown.

Everything the streets holds, including the people are painted red with tomatoes in a roar of laughter and fun.

Not only do you have the chance to do what your mother would never allow at your own dinner table, but there is also a “coveted ham” that is placed at the top of a two story, greased pole. Winner is the king of Tomantina.

Read more on the event’s website.

4. Celebration of Light: Vancouver, B.C, Canada

Our world’s largest, offshore fireworks competition is a blast.

The event lasts three nights, each dedicated to a single competitor who must leave the crowd filled shoreline in awe.

The United Kingdom, Thailand and Canada, partook in the event this year, all of whom illuminated the night sky with a masterful show.

To read about the 2014 event, please visit the event’s website.

5. Pedestrian Sundays: Kensington Market, Toronto, ON, Canada

Artists, buskers, bakers, and unique shops join on the streets making Kensington Market a car free zone.

Shop hand make goods, one-of-a-kind clothing items and join One Fire Movement’s jammin’ for equality.

The movement is an artist collective, using their creative bursts to promote equality.

Known for donating their proceeds to Nellie’s Women’s Shelter, and Amnesty International, One Fire Movement fills the streets with Toronto’s backyard sound.

The event is completely free and is on the last sunday of every summer month.
Read about One Fire Movement here.

6. Shambhala: Salmo River Ranch, Southern B.C, Canada

This 500 acre farmland turns into a thriving, thrilling festival once a year when the Salmon farm opens its door to ten thousand party people.

With three separate stages, all with their own line up, this family business combines music and nature on electrifying level.

To read more, click here.

Here is what you didn’t miss this summer: Rainbow festival: Raft Cove, B.C, Canada

Taken from the website, “The gatherings are called rainbow because they are for all the peoples of the earth, from many families, tribes, and nations.”

This is a chance for people to come together, ones who share the same ideals of community and lifestyle.

But there was no chance of that happening this year, as the government shut down the festival due to protests from locals.

Let’s hope this awesome festival makes it way back to the island !

Didn’t miss out on these festivals?

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