USA TODAY 10Best
A melting pot of celebrations: 10 best cultural festivals in the US
Best Cultural Festival (2024)
Cultural festivals celebrate the rich heritages that have shaped the United States, whether through music, visual art, dance, competitions, or sumptuous culinary delights. These vibrant events bridge generations and broaden horizons, and every one of them delivers something special.
To honor the country's most remarkable cultural festivals, USA TODAY 10Best teamed up with a panel of experts to create a list of exceptional nominees. Then, readers voted for their top picks to crown the winners. Here are the 10 best cultural festivals across the United States.
- Bavarian Blast - New Ulm, Minnesota
- Aloha Festivals - Hawaii
- Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Greek Agora Festival - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
- San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade - San Francisco, California
- YéShì Chinatown Night Market - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Dublin Irish Festival - Dublin, Ohio
- Kutztown Folk Festival - Kutztown, Pennsylvania
- Rougarou Fest - Houma, Louisiana
- Merrie Monarch Festival - Hilo, Hawaii
Photo courtesy of Fuzullhanum / iStock / Getty Images Plus
No. 10:
Small town New Ulm in Minnesota was named after a city of the same name in Bavaria, and every summer, it hosts Bavarian Blast, which features horse wagons, polka dancing, tubas, German bands, authentic German food, beer, and more. Put your lederhosen on for this great family festival, which rivals Oktoberfest as New Ulm's biggest event of the year.
Photo courtesy of Aloha Festivals
No. 9:
The Aloha Festivals bill themselves as a "cultural celebration of Hawaii" — a celebration of the music, dance, food, and cultural traditions of the Hawaiian archipelago. The festivities started out as Aloha Week in Honolulu and have since expanded to include hundreds of events on six different islands. Event highlights include a parade, coronation of a royal court, hula performances, block parties, food, and plenty of live, local music.
Photo courtesy of Don Henderson
No. 8:
For nine days each October, colorful "upside-down ornaments" dot the big, blue Albuquerque skies during the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The world's largest balloon event welcomes some 500 balloon teams from two dozen countries to the Southwest city, with the headlining event being the weekend Mass Ascension, when hundreds of balloons take to the sky together. Popular events like the Special Shape Rodeo and Balloon Glows are complemented by a juried art show, local food trucks, and live music.
Photo courtesy of Greek Agora Festival
No. 7:
The Greek Agora Festival celebrates Greek American heritage in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church, the host of the event, promises the "best food this side of the Acropolis," and each October, you'll find vendors serving up baklava, moussaka, spanakopita, and shots of ouzo to go with traditional bouzouki music and Greek dances. It's also the largest wine and food festival in the Delaware Valley and is an excellent family event.
Photo courtesy of Knight Lights Photography
No. 6:
San Francisco has celebrated its Chinese heritage during its annual Chinese New Year Festival & Parade since just after the gold rush. The parade ranks among the best in the world, with over 100 units, elaborate costumes, fireworks, and the perennial crowd favorite 268-foot-long Golden Dragon, which takes a team of 100 men and women to navigate through the streets.
Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
No. 5:
Philadelphia's Chinatown Development Corporation puts on the YèShì Chinatown Night Market, an annual fall event highlighting Philly's Chinatown. There are over 30 food and arts and crafts vendors, live performances, and even interactive games like mahjong and pingpong. The festival is only one night and is a good opportunity to visit this vibrant Chinatown community.
Photo courtesy of Robb McCormick Photography
No. 4:
Dublin, Ohio, hosts the popular Dublin Irish Festival each summer. This love letter to all things Irish includes Irish dance performances, Celtic music, a Wee Folk play area for children, and traditional Irish food and drinks. Visitors can delve into the richness of Gaelic culture with literary presentations, hands-on workshops, and athletic demonstrations.
Photo courtesy of Jon Rhodes-Country Rhodes Photography
No. 3:
The nine-day Kutztown Folk Festival is the nation’s oldest continuously operated folklife festival, drawing visitors from around the globe. A celebration of Pennsylvania Dutch culture and heritage, the event includes the largest quilt sale in the United States, over 200 craftsmen and folk artists, local food, and family-friendly entertainment.
Photo courtesy of Dimensions / E+ Getty Images
No. 2:
This free family-friendly festival celebrates the culture and rich folklore of Southeast Louisiana. "Rougarou" comes from the French "loup-garou," meaning werewolf, a creature in Cajun legends said to prowl the swamps of the southern bayous. And Rougarou Fest is a giant costume party that has tones of Halloween and is super fun. Attendees can enjoy carnival and hot air balloon rides, trick or treating, and even a "howl-off," as well as live entertainment. The biggest event of the festival is the Krewe Ga Rou parade, where creepy floats, dancing zombies, classic cars, and costumed characters make their way through town.
Photo courtesy of Merrie Monarch Festival
No. 1:
The Merrie Monarch Festival, held in Hilo on the Big Island, is dedicated to the memory of King David Kalakaua, who was known as the Merrie Monarch, thanks to his fun-loving ways and personal panache. King David was a dedicated patron of the arts, and this festival applauds the arts of Hawaii, particularly hula, with a hula competition and hula shows taking center stage.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Anna Keizer
Anna Keizer originally hails from the Chicagoland... Read More
Anna Keizer originally hails from the Chicagoland area but now calls LA home. After receiving her B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago, she moved to California and finished her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. She has also graduated from UCLA’s Writing for Television Professional Program and just finished the festival circuit on her dark comedy short She Had It Coming, which she wrote and executive produced. The film was an Official Selection of 25 film festivals with several awards won for it among them. In her spare time, Anna cohosts the podcast ‘80s Movie Montage with her husband, Derek Dehanke.
Anna Keizer
Anna Keizer originally hails from the Chicagoland area but now calls LA home. After receiving her B.A. in Film/Video from Columbia College Chicago, she moved to California and finished her M.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University. She has also graduated from UCLA’s Writing for Television Professional Program and just finished the festival circuit on her dark comedy short She Had It Coming, which she wrote and executive produced. The film was an Official Selection of 25 film festivals with several awards won for it among them. In her spare time, Anna cohosts the podcast ‘80s Movie Montage with her husband, Derek Dehanke.
Carly Caramanna
Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the... Read More
Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the latest in unique food, travel, and theme park trends. Growing up in the carb-filled land of bagels and pizza by the slice (aka New Jersey), her parents instilled a love of all things adventure and food. Featured on CNN Business, BBC, NPR, MSN, Huffington Post, and host of the Attractions Magazine podcast, she uses her expertise as a contributor to Travel + Leisure, Business Insider, Delish, and many more. www.adventuresbycarly.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresbycarly/ X: https://twitter.com/CarlyCaramanna
Carly Caramanna
Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the latest in unique food, travel, and theme park trends. Growing up in the carb-filled land of bagels and pizza by the slice (aka New Jersey), her parents instilled a love of all things adventure and food. Featured on CNN Business, BBC, NPR, MSN, Huffington Post, and host of the Attractions Magazine podcast, she uses her expertise as a contributor to Travel + Leisure, Business Insider, Delish, and many more. www.adventuresbycarly.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresbycarly/ X: https://twitter.com/CarlyCaramanna
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a... Read More
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Jacky Runice
Born in Bucktown (Chicago) when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and relies on her vast experience and gray matter to produce informative, entertaining content.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Travel memories may fade over time, but... Read More
Travel memories may fade over time, but photographs recall those magical moments.
Joanne and Tony DiBona
Travel memories may fade over time, but photographs recall those magical moments.
Kimmie Conner
Kimmie is a natural-born content creator who has... Read More
Kimmie is a natural-born content creator who has been living, working, traveling, blogging, photographing, and attending festivals around the world for over 8.5 years. She is a full-time blogger at Adventures & Sunsets blog and lives a digital nomad lifestyle. Her platforms help others travel in the most value-packed way and recommend adventurous, unique & boutique travel experiences and stays, products, and comprehensive guides. Her festival 'review-guides' are the most comprehensive on the internet and have helped thousands of festival-goers plan their trips to festivals on 6 continents. She loves to inspire people to plan their dream trips and to think up new ideas for brands, festivals, and destinations. She shares all of her adventures on her Instagram and Tiktok pages.
Kimmie Conner
Kimmie is a natural-born content creator who has been living, working, traveling, blogging, photographing, and attending festivals around the world for over 8.5 years. She is a full-time blogger at Adventures & Sunsets blog and lives a digital nomad lifestyle. Her platforms help others travel in the most value-packed way and recommend adventurous, unique & boutique travel experiences and stays, products, and comprehensive guides. Her festival 'review-guides' are the most comprehensive on the internet and have helped thousands of festival-goers plan their trips to festivals on 6 continents. She loves to inspire people to plan their dream trips and to think up new ideas for brands, festivals, and destinations. She shares all of her adventures on her Instagram and Tiktok pages.
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion... Read More
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Sky Ariella
Sky Ariella is a professional writer and full-time... Read More
Sky Ariella is a professional writer and full-time traveler originally from New York. After graduating from Hunter College in 2018, she took a solo trip around six Southeast Asian countries. Since then, Sky has traveled to 13+ countries from South America to Europe and she’s written for major travel publications like Travel Lemming, Explore, Booking, and In The Know Traveler, along with publishing on her own blog. She’s written for other types of publications like Zippia, FashionCast, and Inspired Momentum Magazine, and currently writes documentary scripts for a major YouTube channel. Follow Sky on Instagram @skyariella, check out her blog on Medium, and learn more about her work on skyariella.com.
Sky Ariella
Sky Ariella is a professional writer and full-time traveler originally from New York. After graduating from Hunter College in 2018, she took a solo trip around six Southeast Asian countries. Since then, Sky has traveled to 13+ countries from South America to Europe and she’s written for major travel publications like Travel Lemming, Explore, Booking, and In The Know Traveler, along with publishing on her own blog. She’s written for other types of publications like Zippia, FashionCast, and Inspired Momentum Magazine, and currently writes documentary scripts for a major YouTube channel. Follow Sky on Instagram @skyariella, check out her blog on Medium, and learn more about her work on skyariella.com.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
