festivals

Thailand kicks off its most popular festival over the weekend; death toll alarmingly high due to drunk driving accidents

Gallery: Spain's bizarre annual fire festival

The citizens of Valencia painstakingly create sculptures year round, then burn them all up in a blaze of city fires

The Up Helly Aa celebration proves that where's there's smoke, there could be a horde of dressed up, torch-carrying Scots close behind

Companies give away millions in gold, cash and cars to promote month-long sale

Al Dhafra heritage festival draws record turnout, awards millions of dollars worth of prizes

30,000 visitors watch artists from 44 countries compete at Annual World Bodypainting Festival

Korea's "Jewel Temple" throws a 45-day birthday bash for the world's oldest intact Buddhist canon

As the days darken, the magic gets whiter: cosmic clowns, acrobats, psychedelic musicians, fairies and snake handlers are part of the aura