1. Menton Lemon Festival (Fete du Citron), Menton, France

In 1929, Menton was deemed the continent’s largest producer of lemons. Since then, Menton has been celebrating the citrus fruit every February with its Lemon Festival. The festival takes on a different theme each year. Some of the past themes included Disney, Neverland, and India. The colourful and lively festival includes parades, fireworks and music, and the Casino Gardens in the centre of town are decorated with sculptures and exhibitions built from lemons (and oranges).

Held every year in July, the Running of the Bulls is the top profile event during the San Fermin festival. Runners don traditional white shirts and red neckerchiefs and run a distance of about 826 metres while bulls charge behind them. The event originated from having to transport the bulls from the corral to the bullring.

People from all over the world partake in the tomato-throwing food fight held in August. An estimated 40 metric tons of tomatoes are used, and the tomatoes must be squished before being thrown as a precaution. At around 10 am, festivities begin with the first event of the Tomatina, where one person climbs a greased pole to reach a ham placed at the top, while the crowd is showered by water cannons

In commemoration of Saint Joseph, Las Fallas is a celebration that includes 5 days and nights of historical, religious and comedic processions. Each neighbourhood displays a firecracker-filled cardboard and papier-mâché artistic monument to be burnt in bonfires on the final night. Many participants dress in medieval clothing, and, more recently, dress as modern characters including Shrek and Lady Gaga.

Known as the world’s largest fair, this famous beer festival began when the citizens of Munich attended the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese in 1810. Currently about 6 million visitors from around the world head to Oktoberfest to enjoy the festival’s beer, brewed within Munich. In 2005, “quiet Oktoberfest” was developed to keep the celebration traditional and family friendly. The tents, therefore, play music limited to 85 decibels until 6 pm.

A tradition dating back to the 15th century, Calcio Storico has been described as a sport resembling both football and rugby. The famous and most important match was played between the Bianchi and the Verdi in 1530, during the siege of Florence. Today, played in a temporary arena, players dress in authentic period costume, and run while the opposing team tries to stop them. Head butting, punching, elbowing, and choking are allowed and customary.

It is said that the first mention of the Carnival of Venice was around the city’s victory against the Patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrico in the year 1162. The Carnival, which runs until Mardi Gras, is a festival celebrated with parades, masquerade balls, entertainment, music, and parties. During the Carnival, the streets of Venice are filled with people wearing elaborately designed masks. On the last weekend, there is a contest for the best mask, chosen by a jury of costume and fashion designers.