People can have the most random fields of interest. Hobbies so obscure it’s hard to imagine there are others who share the same interest. But thanks to the internet, it’s easier than ever to find full communities of people who enjoy activities like ice sculpting, extreme ironing, or button collecting. To each their own, and to each their own festival! Here are some of the most noteworthy festivals from around the world.

Golden Retriever Festival

Unlike other festivals, which can be crowded with people, this one is crowded with even better creatures. Since the summer of 2006, Scotland has been upholding the greatest tradition of gathering as many golden retrievers as possible in one place. In 2018, the festival broke the record of dogs’ attendance and reach a staggering 361 pups!

International Balloon Fiesta

Albuquerque, New Mexico is not famous for a lot of things. But for a little more than a week each September, it looks like the most famous city in the world. This is when the city holds its annual hot air balloon festival, turning the sky into a blue canvas full of colorful spots. What turns Albuquerque into the perfect spot for such a festival is the “Albuquerque Box” which is a wind pattern that is favorable for hot air balloon navigation. (Yes, it really is a thing.)

Carnival of Venice

This one’s pretty obvious but we had to include it. Every February, Venice holds a two-week-long festival featuring masquerades, parades, balls, and more. Visitors of the festival, especially those who walk around the San Marco square will feel like they’ve been transported through a time travel portal and landed in the middle ages.