The World’s Dirtiest Festivals

For some travelers festivals provide a rare opportunity to learn more about a particular culture by partaking in one of their traditions. For others they’re a great excuse to get down and dirty. If that sounds like you, then you’ll want to check out the world’s dirtiest festivals which revolve around food, wine and mud wrestling in your bathing suit.

Boryeong Mud Festival – South Korea

Nothing says dirty fun quite like rolling around half naked in the mud. More than 2 million people from all over the world come out every year to attend the Boryeong Mud Festival to get get dirty. Boryeong, South Korea has built a reputation not only for its mineral rich mud used to make cosmetics, but for their ability to throw a wet and wild party. Source [Photo]

La Tomatina – Buñol in Valencia, Spain

Usually tomato throwing is reserved for bad actors and practical jokes, but the tomatoes fly freely during La Tomatina. Held annually in the Valencian town of Buñol, Spain, La Tomatina draws thousands of people who want to fight dirty… with tomatoes. The exact origin of La Tomatina is unclear, but some theories blame the first impromptu Tomatina on a parade gone sour. Despite how messy tomato throwing gets, La Tomatina has rules to ensure good clean fun. Source [Photo]

Cheese Rolling – Coopers Hill, Gloucestershire, England

Dating back hundreds of years, the Cheese Rolling Race at Coopers Hill began as sacred festival meant to bless the land for a successful harvest. Today it’s known more as a day when drunks roll down a hill to chase cheese. Even so, it’s good to see young people getting covered in mud and grass stains to honor tradition. Source [Photo]

Songkran Festival – Thailand

The Songkran Festival in Thailand takes the cake as cleanest festival of the bunch, but anyone who’s spent the day at a water park knows that walking around drenched all day does not leave you feeling clean. The festival begins in April, the hottest month of the year for Thailand and lasts for several soaking wet days. Source[Photo]

Batalla del Vino – La Rioja, Spain

If you thought those tomato stains were never coming out, wait until you’ve been to the Batalla del Vino. Instead of hurling fruit at each other, the people of La Rioja, Spain celebrate with a battle of wine. La Rioja is known for producing wine and apparently they have plenty to spare. During the festival people splash each other until the entire crowd turns into a sticky, purple, presumably very drunk, mess. Source [Photo]

Lathmar Holi Festival – India

If getting covered head to toe in gray mud sounds too drab, then perhaps you’ll prefer the colorful way that people in India celebrate. During the Lathmar Holi Festival people all over India cover each other with brightly colored powders and paint. Source [Photo]

Battle of the Oranges – Ivrea, Italy

Yet another giant food fight festival, Carnevale d’Ivrea or “Battle of the Oranges” takes place in the Northern Italian city of Ivrea. Much like La Tomatina, this festival seems to have stemmed from public revolt, although the Battle of the Oranges involves more role-play and costumes. Source [Photo]

Monkey Buffet Festival – Lopburi Province, Thailand

It’s probably safe to guess that food isn’t the only thing that gets hurled at the Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand. Nevertheless tourists from all over come to watch the macaque monkeys of the region eat and drink at the Pra Prange Sam Yot Temple in Loburi Province, Thailand. Thousands of pounds of fruit, and a few soft drinks are laid out just for the monkeys to enjoy, despite their apparent lack of table manners. Source [Photo]

Chinchilla Melon Festival – Chinchilla, Queensland, Australia

Of all of the food festivals the world has to offer, the Chinchilla Melon Festival seems most creative. Rather than just throwing watermelons at each other (for obvious reasons) people find tons of other things to do with melons at this messy event, like Melon Skiing. Source

Clean Monday Flour War – Galaxidi, Greece

Don’t let the name fool you. There’s nothing clean about Clean Monday in Galaxidi, Greece. Clean Monday aka Pure Monday preceeds Greek Orthodox Lent with a huge flour war during which participants fling 3,000 pounds of starch at each other. Locals get ready for the day-long flour fight by dying bags of flour, covering buildings with tarps, and of course buying goggles and face masks. Source