Eight festivals you must attend in your lifetime

This week's winning letter

Appetite for New Zealand

“Well, good luck with that – I couldn’t eat half that stuff,” she shuddered, turning to serve the next customer.

We’d only learnt about the Hokitika Wild Food Festival while trekking across the Franz Josef Glacier on New Zealand’s South Island. Everyone, it seemed, was heading for this annual jamboree. Worm sushi, worm tikka, fried huhu grubs, and grasshoppers on satay sticks were among the delicacies. It was hardly Nigella, although there were chocolate worm truffles on offer.

Fun hung like a veil across the town, from the glorious clock tower built in 1902 to the wild beach alight with barbecues. Everywhere, bands were playing. A competition between Australian and Kiwi lumberjacks was intense and vigorous. An eating contest that included tripe and mountain oysters (sheep’s testicles) put me off food for a few days.

Our abiding memory was of good-natured enjoyment and drinking from plastic glasses.

Marion Burke, from Cheshire, wins a £500 travel voucher and a guidebook from Expert Africa

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Wrestling and horse racing in Mongolia? No sweat

We spent the morning visiting a Mongolian family in their ger, sharing fermented mare’s milk or airag and dried curds after presenting them with small gifts. As the oldest in the group, I was invited to take a puff of Grandpa’s pipe. We trekked back to our ger camp across the steppe through sheep, goats and yaks, horses and a few camels.

The next day was Naadam, the festival where the three manly sports of wrestling, horse racing and archery take place. A large crowd, all dressed in their best deel and decorated boots, cheered on the young wrestlers who each had a bearer for their traditional cone-shaped hat. We then climbed a hill to watch the approaching dust-cloud which hid the horses with their child riders racing in from nine miles away. The sweat of the winning horse is believed to be lucky and after the race everyone rushed down with their sweat-scrapers.

Caroline Unwin, Hampshire

Getting into the carnival spirit in Venice

February is not the best time for weather in Venice, but it was the Carnival we wanted to experience – and that’s just what we did. The city, lagoon and islands were blanketed in fog, so views didn’t come into it. We had only ever seen Venice in the summer, but the atmosphere was wonderful. At every corner, someone loomed out of the mist, in full costume complete with beautiful mask. The outfits were amazing and everyone was so welcoming.

We joined in the parades with our masks and hats, a very meagre attempt at Carnival costume compared to everyone else we saw. Nevertheless, it was great fun.

Babs Philpott, Hertfordshire

Energy, chaos and a soaking at Thailand’s water festival

I jump out of the tuk tuk and am immediately drenched by a large bucket of water thrown by a skinny little boy. It is day one of Thailand’s Songkran water festival, and I have just arrived in Bangkok.

This is the first time I have travelled on my own for a while, but the solitude doesn’t last long. A tall guy covered in tattoos arms me with a super soaker. I later find out that his name is Mathieu; he is French Canadian and infectiously crazy. Within seconds we are entrenched in the energy and chaos of the festivities and spend the day running in and out of bars, drinking Chang beers and soaking passers-by.

The Khao San Road is alive with live music and thousands of revellers. Some Thai girls rub white paste on my face, extending their blessings for the year ahead. I feel alive and in love with the experiences that travelling brings. 

Sam Phillips, London

Celebration of life on the Day of the Dead in Mexico City

Think James Bond. Think Spectre. Think Day of the Dead in Mexico City. However, did you know that the 2016 procession was the first to have been staged there, inspired by the opening scenes of the film?

This is the most colourful, wacky celebration festival anywhere. It expresses a really positive view of the dead: trails of orange carnation petals leading to doorways, guiding the spirits home; flamboyant “altars” set up in every spare corner, celebrating the lives of relatives and decorated with photographs and the favourite possessions and food of departed loved ones.

People wander the city in exquisite, creative fancy dress for the full three days of the festival. Each evening, the cathedral square comes alive with music, colour and dancing skeletons.

Mexico City has a reputation for roughness and crime, but I can only say the Mexicans themselves were delightful and friendly.

Fiona Haward, Devon

A thrilling first-night at the opera in Verona

I love the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and I also like history and ruins – especially Roman ruins. So the combination of both for a holiday could only be a winner. Our choice was the Arena Opera Festival at the Roman amphitheatre in Verona, Italy, to watch a performance of Aida – which never disappoints.

Like a praying mantis I waited for the online booking to open and secured front-row seats on the opening night. It turned out to be a gala evening attended by the Italian president and the glitterati of the arts scene of Italy. One of the highlights was a prize-giving ceremony attended by several famous opera singers.

We ordered champagne for the interval, drinking from souvenir champagne flutes to take home, and sat back and let the music, atmosphere and warm evening air waft over us.

It was a memorable experience which I have often repeated since, but no performance has ever matched the magic of that first night on that first visit.

Petula Le Bozec, London

A procession fit for a king at an Inca celebration in Peru

Thousands of locals, as well as tourists, were waiting. There was a tremendous sense of anticipation. Suddenly, men appeared on the hillside – more and more of them, waving flags in rainbow colours. It was the start of Inti Raymi, the Inca celebration of the winter solstice which takes place every June.

We had come to Peru to see this traditional festival in Cusco. On the day, we watched the morning procession weave through the town, with hundreds of participants, all dressed in brilliant colours, and the Inca King carried aloft on his great golden throne. 

The ceremony was at the Sacsayhuaman citadel on the northern outskirts of the city. After the flag bearers, the arena filled with performers representing the four regions of the Inca empire, with different costumes and dances. There was so much to take in. One girl had a large snake wrapped around her, and the climax was the Inca King’s procession. Historically, the event included a sacrifice – but these days, I’m pleased to say, it is just a pretence. The whole day was a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Anne Mathews, Surrey

Wrap up warm for the snow sculptures in Japan 

My advice would be to travel to Sapporo, on the northern island of Hokkaido in Japan, to experience the world-famous Sapporo Snow Festival. This annual event is held in early February, and can make a great add-on to a ski holiday in the area. 

The streets of Sapporo are lined with incredible sculptures made of snow, ranging from life-size replicas of building to cute statues of anime characters. There is something to please everyone – but just make sure you wrap up warmly.

Rebecca Clube, London