Driving across the country is quite a treat. FCC drivers get to experience the culture and distinct flavors of nearly every state. From the Deep South to the Pacific Northwest and everything in between, there is always something to see. A fantastic way to experience the unique culture of a state is to take in one of its annual festivals. Here are five festivals from across the U.S. that you should visit at least once.
Throw Beads at Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras definitely deserves a spot at the top of our list. Perhaps the most colorful of all festivals, Mardi Gras transforms the streets of New Orleans into a sea of green, gold, and purple. It happens every year right before Ash Wednesday for several weeks, highlighting the region’s culture, music, food, and everything Cajun and Creole. So, if you want to do something nontraditional, Mardi Gras is worth a try. The street parades and parties are free, but if you love jazz concerts and special events, ticket prices may vary. New Orleans is a little over an hour’s drive from Baton Rouge and close to the Mississippi State border.
Be Enlightened at Burning Man
Burning Man used to be an annual event for hippies. Today, it has evolved into an annual gathering of artists, the free-spirited, and anyone who seeks enlightenment and positive spiritual changes. They say Burning Man is not an event but a community — a temporary city — of people who aim to improve their overall spiritual being. The nine-day event usually happens around the end of August until early September. It is quite the long drive going to Black Rock City, where it is held every year. It is about two to three hours north of Reno and about nine hours from Las Vegas. You need to plan ahead because there are no sponsors and no food or water for sale. Tickets cost between $450 and $1,400.
Dance Away at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Coachella is the biggest arts and music festival in the country today. It features a wide range of artists, from indie bands to mainstream recording superstars, like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Coldplay, and many others. It is held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, for two consecutive weekends in April every year. Coachella tickets cost around $400 to $500 each. The festival has an estimated 100,000 attendees daily. It is a two-hour drive from Los Angeles and only a 30-minute drive from Palm Springs.
Float to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Albuquerque skies get very colorful every year. For nine days, its International Balloon Fiesta hosts more than 550 hot air balloons in all shapes and colors. Tickets to the event only cost around $8 to $10. It is less than an hour’s drive from Santa Fe and about 15 minutes from the heart of Albuquerque. Imagine the sky overpopulated with oversized, unique, and colorful hot air balloons. What a sight! This is one event you won’t want to miss.
Watch the Rodeo During Cheyenne Frontier Days
Nothing says Western more than an old frontier town in Cheyenne, Wyoming. If you’re able to bring the whole family, the little ones are sure to have fun at the carnival and the pony races. Cheyenne Frontier Days is a pure celebration of Western culture. It is held annually for 10 days in July and features other cowboy fun activities, like bronco busting contests, rodeos, air shows, and country music. The event itself is free, but specific attractions, like the rodeo, bull-riding, concerts, etc., may cost a few dollars to get in.
We only covered festivals from five different states. We’ll leave it up to you to explore and find the best festivals in the states we didn’t cover. So, fill up your gas tank and rack up your miles and let FCC know what other festivals are worth checking out.