7 of the world's quirkiest coastal celebrations
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
There's no better way to tap into the soul of a destination than by diving headfirst into a local festival, when communities come alive in the most joyous ways — be it dancing, feasting or honouring a time-old tradition. Throw in a coastline, and the magic multiplies: the tang of salt in the air, the lure of the day's catch and a backdrop of shifting seascapes all heighten the atmosphere. 1. Fête du Citron, Menton, France
When: February
Locals in the French Riviera town of Menton have been cultivating citrus trees since the 16th century and, each February, they honour their beloved fruit with a two-week carnival. The entire town transforms into a surreal citrus wonderland, as giant sculptures fashioned from 150 tonnes of lemons and oranges are erected in the streets, depicting everything from sea creatures to historic monuments. As well as parades, there are visits to local producers and a host of citrus-centric dishes to try in Menton's restaurants. At the festival's end, any leftover lemons are turned into jam. 2. Fiesta de la Candelaria, Puno, Peru
When: February
Set on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Peru's Fiesta de la Candelaria is a blend of Indigenous rituals and traditions. During this two-week celebration, the town of Puno echoes with the competing sounds of folkloric bands who drum, dance, drink, sing and celebrate from morning until nightfall, when fireworks illuminate the skies. This is also a time of reverence, with homage paid to the Virgin of the Candelaria and Pachamama (Mother Earth). Festivities culminate with la diablada, the devil dance, performed by panpipe-playing dancers in Andean costumes and masks. Locals in the French Riviera town of Menton have been cultivating citrus trees since the 16th century. Photograph by Alamy; Hemis 3. Tremor, The Azores
When: April
Crank up the sound system — there are few neighbours to disturb at this music festival on the island of São Miguel, far out in the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Azores archipelago, the volcanic island's untouched beauty feels in keeping with the festival's underground, artsy vibe. The line-up includes both homegrown talent and experimental artists from abroad playing an eclectic medley of genres, from folk and jazz to psychedelic and rock. Performances and installations take place in unusual spots around the island, like churches and abandoned quarries, as well as beside thermal springs and volcanic lakes. 4. Songkran Festival, Thailand
When: April
Thailand's festival marking Buddhist New Year is a moment to cleanse and rejuvenate for the year ahead — locals clean their houses, offer scented waters to religious shrines and children wash the hands of their elders. On the streets, Songkran's traditions take on a more playful tone, in the form of an almighty water fight. Coastal areas like Phuket and Krabi turn into epic battlegrounds as locals use high-powered super soakers and water bombs to target passersby, including tourists. Aside from the waterworks, there's also music, traditional parades and temple ceremonies. 5. Trænafestivalen, Norway
When: July
Get ready for around-the-clock revelry at Trænafestivalen, a boundary-pushing music festival that makes the most of the 23 hours of daylight of Norway's summertime. Set on the isolated Træna islands, accessible only by ferry from mainland Norway, this festival promises a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to party in the Arctic Circle. A cutting-edge roster of world-class DJs and musicians perform in unforgettable locations, from dense forests to the cathedral-like cave of Kirkehelleren. While this year's line-up is still under wraps, past acts have included Charli xcx, Manu Chao and Damien Rice. Expect rock pool safaris, gig (rowing boats) racing, shipwreck tours, sunset swims, seal-spotting and kayaking at Cornwall's Ocean Scilly Festival within the Isles of Scilly. Photograph by Gareth Tibbs 6. Ocean Scilly Festival, Isles of Scilly, UK
When: August
The crystal-clear waters and white-washed beaches of Cornwall's Scilly Isles are the closest thing to paradise in the British Isles — no wonder its Ocean Festival, now in its third year, is already making waves. With events held across all five islands of the archipelago, some 30 miles off the Cornish coast, the festival celebrates the islands' rich maritime heritage. Expect rock pool safaris, gig (rowing boats) racing, shipwreck tours, sunset swims, seal-spotting and kayaking. Above water, the islands offer beautiful coastal walks and a bounty of wildflowers. 7. Hermanus Whale Festival, South Africa
When: September
After months in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean, hundreds of majestic southern right whales make their way to the warmer shores around Hermanus, a coastal spot 75 miles west of Cape Town, renowned as one of South Africa's best whale-watching locations. Its three-day, late September festival combines opportunities for whale sightings with an eco-minded programme of talks and exhibits that tell the story of local marine life and conservation efforts. Live music, seafood trucks and local arts and crafts fairs add to the festival's credentials. Published in the Coastal Collection 2025 by National Geographic Traveller (UK)
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All of which makes it somewhat surprising to turn up in the Noto Peninsula town of Ushitsu each July and find it consumed by the chaos and fury of the Abare Festival, a.k.a the 'Fire & Violence Festival'. Huge, beautiful lanterns, painted with mythological scenes and folktales, are painstakingly created throughout the year, only to be ritualistically destroyed by a band of drunk, loincloth-clad men, who smash the decorations against lampposts and pavements before burning them at the town's main shrine. This symbolic riot of rage has its origins in the 17th century, as a way to ward off disease. Before, during and after the main procession, much sake is consumed by participants and spectators alike. During Phuket's Vegetarian Festival, spirit mediums process through the streets of Phuket Old Town by the thousand with swords, skewers and other sharp objects stuck through their faces at all angles. Photograph by the Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand 6. Phuket Vegetarian Festival, Phuket Old Town, Thailand Ninth lunar month (September or October; dates vary) A vegetarian festival, you might think, sounds pretty wholesome; a celebration of the tasty, health-bestowing properties of a meat-free diet. The island of Phuket, however, clearly didn't get the memo. While this celebration does incorporate much delicious plant-based food, the nine-day Phuket Vegetarian Festival is more explicitly characterised by deafening noise and mind-boggling ritual mutilation, with spirit mediums processing through the streets of Phuket Old Town by the thousand with swords, skewers and other sharp objects stuck through their faces at all angles. Firewalking and climbing ladders of knives are among the other trials which the spirit mediums undertake, all while in a deep trance, to the sound of a chorus of firecrackers. Not an event for the faint of heart. (Pearls, Peranakan culture and rare rituals: this is Phuket — but not as you know it.) Daniel Stables is the author of Fiesta: A Journey Through Festivity published by Icon Books (14 August 2025), RRP £20 National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click To subscribe to(UK) magazine click here .(Available in select countries only).
Yahoo
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This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Pagoda chimneys rising above pine-forested glens, the babble of a highland spring, the distinctive aroma of toasted malt — distilleries are far more than functional factories. Often set in spectacular settings, they're crucibles of living, breathing Scottish heritage. And many invite visitors inside to view bubbling mash tuns, gleaming copper stills and warehouses filled with oak barrels, revealing the almost alchemical process that turns a few simple, local ingredients — barley, yeast, spring water — into fiery, golden spirits. Monasteries were Scotland's first de facto distilleries, putting rain-soaked grain to good use, with the earliest recorded mention of this 'water of life' (uisge beatha in Gaelic) dating from 1494. Today, there are over 150 active distilleries nationwide, falling into five officially recognised regions. Covering much of the mainland and islands, Highland is the largest and most diverse, while Speyside carves out a slice of the north east, and Lowlands lies just north of the English border. The peat-heavy Hebridean island of Islay gets its own designation, as does Campbeltown, a wee, southwesterly peninsula. Visitor experiences run the gamut from rustic, hard-hat tours to bespoke 'bottle your own single-malt cask' offerings — and some of these are seriously high-end. The Glenrothes private estate's multi-day experience, for example, costs a whopping £250,000. Most tastings will offer 'drivers' drams' — miniature pours to take home — meaning whoever's behind the wheel doesn't miss out. And with more distilleries adding restaurants, bars or overnight stays, even Scotch sceptics can find something to savour. Small in size, but big on character, Deanston's unpretentious, experimental attitude has resulted in waxy, honeyed, full-bodied drams with a cult following — including a 15-year-old single malt finished in tequila casks. Deanston even looks different to most distilleries — the red-brick, riverside buildings were in fact an 18th-century cotton mill, before they were converted to whisky-making in 1966. The place still hums with hydropower: one of the greenest scotch brands around, the whisky here is made from organic grain sourced from local farmers. Book the Warehouse No 4 experience, in Deanston's former cooperage, for direct-from-cask tastings and an atmospheric whisky-ageing education. Or compare some of its Master Blender's favourite, hard-to-find past releases on the Old & Rare Tasting. How to do it: £25 per person (Distillery Tour); £40 per person (Warehouse No 4 Experience); £130 per person (Old & Rare Tasting). There's a hint of Bond villain's lair about this Speyside distillery's sleek, subterranean architecture, which has been the brand's home since 2018, rippling beneath a wildflower-covered roof (fittingly, the 007 movies feature a few Macallan cameos). Within cathedral-height interiors, an interactive archive showcases 200 years of whisky-making heritage and limited-edition bottles, which resemble artworks. The central bar serves drams dating back 80 years, classic cocktails and tutored tastings — The Story of Oak, for instance, compares how sherry-seasoned casks impart Macallan's signature notes of dried fruits, ginger and cinnamon. Its culinary credentials are also next level: the team have collaborated with Spain's three-Michelin-starred El Celler de Can Roca at its fine-dining restaurant TimeSpirit, and The Macallan Mastery Experience tour concludes with a six-course tasting menu here. All this makes The Macallan the cream of Speyside visitor experiences — no mean feat given this region has the highest concentration of distilleries. How to do it: £50 per person (The Story of Oak); £250 per person (The Macallan Mastery Experience). Islay punches above its weight with powerful, peat-rich styles and nine active distilleries. Alongside established names like Lagavulin and Laphroaig, the buzz is all about Port Ellen: this Kilnaughton Bay landmark reopened in 2024 after a 40-year closure and £185m makeover. It's a dazzling, steel-and-glass temple to carbon-neutral whisky innovation, where handbuilt replicas of original copper stills stand beside the world's first 10-part spirit safe and a Scandi-chic, ocean-view tasting lounge. While new expressions are maturing, aficionados can nose the distilleries new-make spirit and draw from a 1979 vintage cask on the Port Ellen Reborn tour, uncovering the mineral, smoky soul of this phoenix-like brand. 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