12 Legendary USA Festivals You Must Experience at Least Once

The best festivals in the US are full-scale days (and nights) of debauchery, sore legs, inventive costumes, and big laughs. More than just the music or art on display, they bring together a diverse crowd of good vibes, sharing an electric atmosphere that can’t be replicated anywhere.

From Coachella to Burning Man, from Mardi Gras to SXSW, the breadth and diversity of festivals in this country are staggering. They range anywhere from local grassroots get-togethers to attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees every year.

With things happening seemingly every weekend, how do you decide which ones are worth attending?

This list of legendary USA festivals draws from my personal experience or the ones that are still on my bucket list. Each selection was based on the scale and reputation but also on the uniqueness. So, YOLO and get some tix to the hottest festivals across the country that you should go to at least once!

1. Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Latest attendee numbers: Estimates at 1.5 million revelers annually

When it comes to partying, New Orleans doesn’t mess around. Mardi Gras is the granddaddy of all festivals, with elaborate floats that seem to stretch for miles and costumes so embellished they could make a peacock jealous.

Millions flock to the Big Easy every year to trade beads, gobble King Cake, and twerk freely in the streets. The sheer scale of this event will blow your mind, with over 70 parades rolling through the city.

While Mardi Gras is the highlight, pre-festivities begin a month before. I stayed nearly a week, and there were nonstop drag shows, parades, and costume balls leading up to the main day.

If you haven’t experienced Mardi Gras at least once, add it to your bucket list. You’re missing out on one of America’s wildest traditions.

2. Burning Man, Black Rock City, Nevada

• Latest attendee numbers: Around 75,000 Burners

Burning Man is a way of life. This week-long extravaganza is all about radical self-expression and community.

Held in the middle of Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, a temporary city springs up where everything from art installations to mutant vehicles create the utopian “Playa.” Unlike the rest of our capitalistic world, money is not permitted here, harkening back to the days when the barter system was king. However, you will have to bring everything you need.

As amazing as this all sounds, the desert is not your friend. Frequent dust storms and intense heat will test your stamina, but the Burning Man community is always there to lend a helping hand.

The week culminates with a cathartic watching of monumental sculptures like “The Man” and “The Temple” set ablaze in ritualistic ceremonies.

3. Coachella, Indio, California

• Latest attendee numbers: Around 500,000 across both weekends

With big-name headliners and famous celebrities sighting in with the crowd, Coachella has become synonymous with the ultimate daytime music festival experience.

Held over two weekends, it features headliners from various genres, from rock and pop to hip-hop and electronic dance music, and there are many stages across a vast polo field.

But it’s not just about the music here. It’s also about fashion and art, with Insta-worthy installations scattered throughout the festival grounds. Come in your best festival fashion; you know everyone else will be there with their glow-up fairy wings and bohemian sarongs.

4. South by Southwest (SXSW), Austin, Texas

• Latest attendee numbers: Over 350,000 combined across events

SXSW is where tech, film, and music collide in a week-long frenzy. Austin transforms into a playground for innovators, artists, and fans.

The music division alone features over 2,000 acts from around the globe. Then there’s the film festival, premiering everything from indie gems to blockbuster hits. The interactive conference brings together the brightest minds in tech. I remember trying a VR eating experience and seeing a prototype of hologram ad technology.

Even if you skip the main show, there are tons of free parties and events around the city to keep you fed all week long!

5. Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), Las Vegas

• Latest attendee numbers: Over 500,000 over the weekend

EDC is like stepping into the void (referencing the Gaspar Noe movie). It’s another dimension filled with neon lights, massive stages, and non-stop electronic dance music all night long, pounding from 6pm to 6am.

Held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, this three-night festival is a sensory overload. The vibes are electric, with pyrotechnics, light shows, carnival rides, and art cars cruising around. You’ll dance next to costumed partygoers and rave to the beats of world-renowned DJs.

The energy here is unmatched, and it’s a haven for those who live and breathe EDM. Make sure to take PTO the day after; I promise your body will not be ready to bounce back to work on Monday.

6. Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah

• Latest attendee numbers: Around 125,000 attendees in person, 285,000 online viewers

Sundance is the Mecca for indie film lovers. Held every January, this festival attracts filmmakers, actors, and cinephiles from around the world to Park City’s snowy mountainsides.

Check the schedule for a full lineup of screenings, panels, and after-parties galore. The casual and glam atmosphere mixes Utah’s outdoor vibe with Hollywood flair.

Afterwards, you can even tack on a trip to ski at the world-class Park City Mountain Resort.

7. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, New Mexico

• Latest attendee numbers: Approximately 1 million visitors across nine days

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the world’s largest hot-air balloon festival and is a New Mexico must-see. Held annually in October, this nine-day event draws over 500 colorful balloons and their pilots from around the globe to participate in competitions and demonstrations.

Wake up early to see the “Mass Ascension,” where more than 500 balloons launch simultaneously, taking off in coordinated choreography. The evening “Glow” events are even better as the balloons glow in unison to music.

Throughout the Fiesta, live music performances and activities on the ground entertain, and food vendors tempt with local Southwestern cuisine.

8. San Francisco Pride, California

• Latest attendee numbers: More than 1 million attendees

San Francisco Pride is one of the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the world. This event is held every June as a spirited explosion of love, acceptance, and unity. The city itself becomes one big party, with events happening all over town.

The Pride Parade struts down Market Street dancing in their elaborate floats, with attendees participating from around the globe. The main stage performances at Civic Center Plaza puts on top-tier acts to electrify the crowd. The atmosphere is a rainbow of joy, with everyone celebrating their true selves.

9. The Great American Beer Festival, Denver

• Latest attendee numbers: Approximately 40,000 beer enthusiasts

Beer lovers in Denver, this one’s for you. The Great American Beer Festival is the largest ticketed beer festival in the US, showcasing thousands of brews from hundreds of breweries. Held every fall, you’ll find everything from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts, all available for tasting.

The festival also hosts a competition where brewers vie for coveted medals. It’s like the Oscars of the beer world. Expect sprawling halls filled with buzzed beer aficionados chowing down special food pairings and educational sessions to improve their brew.

10. Aloha Festivals, Hawaii (Various Islands)

• Latest attendee numbers: 100,000+ across multiple islands

Aloha Festivals are the largest statewide cultural celebration in the US. So, you can dance and eat through Hawaiian heritage after a trip to relaxing beaches and refreshing waterfalls.

Spanning six islands, watch traditional hula performances or join a lei-making workshop. The Floral Parade in Honolulu is a must-see, with sweet-smelling floats covered in tropical flowers. You’ll feel the spirit and beauty of aloha everywhere, from the opening ceremonies to the grand finale.

11. Lollapalooza, Chicago

• Latest attendee numbers: Around 400,000 attendees

Every year, in Chicago’s Grant Park, Lollapalooza invades the city with an eclectic lineup of alternative, rock, electronic, and hip-hop acts. Over 170 bands perform on multiple stages over four days, and you’ll catch legendary acts and emerging artists all in one place.

The festival is known for its incredible food vendors, but be prepared for long lines to get to them.

12. Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin, Texas

• Latest attendee numbers: Around 450,000 attendees across two weekends

Austin City Limits Music Festival is a two-weekend event that takes over Zilker Park every October.

Austin is often dubbed “the live music capital of the world,” and this festival showcases local musicians alongside well-recognized headlining acts. It is set in a beautiful park and boasts eight stages and over 100 performances.

The art market and local food stalls are just as much part of the music experience. Finally, the laid-back, welcoming Austin vibe promises encounters with festival friends you’ll remember for years to come.

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