The World’s Biggest Parties

Published April 27, 2012
Updated August 16, 2025

The world's got a lot to offer, especially when it comes to parties -- an awesome look at the world's most incredible and biggest parties!

The World’s Biggest Parties: Holi, India

The World's Biggest Parties Holi

The Hindu Festival of Colors, Holi, is one of the biggest parties in the world. The festival takes place in honor of a young boy who escaped, without injury, from the clutches of a demoness named Holika after she lit him on fire. The festival also marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated with bonfires, throwing colored powder and water on everyone and often involves marijuana-laced beverages.

Holi India

Holi Party

Holi

The Full Moon Party, Thailand

Full Moon

The Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party that occurs in Haad Rin on the island of Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand. It takes place on the night before or after every full moon. The first of its kind took place in 1985, and was an improvised wooden disco that comprised approximately 30 people. Nowadays it attracts about 30,000 revelers with beachside bars open all night for the festivities.

Full Moon Party

Biggest Parties Full Moon

Carnivale

Carnivale

Arguably the largest party in the world, there ain’t no party like a carnivale party. From its humble beginnings during Lent in 1723, the party is now a household name, complete with costumes, parades and scantily clad girls and boys. And, naturally, quite a bit of booze. The most spectacular display occurs in Rio de Janeiro.

Carnivale Parties

Carnivale Photograph

The World's Biggest Parties Carnivale

St. Patrick’s Day

St Patricks

Originating in Ireland and celebrated the world-over, St Patty’s day is one of the biggest drinking parties in the world. The holiday originated in Ireland in celebration of Saint Patrick, one of the most commonly recognized patron saints of Ireland. The day consists of church services, parades, processions and green attire, but the religious sentiments are often eclipsed by the copious consumption of alcohol and food.

St Patricks Day

World's Biggest Parties

Worldwide Pillow Fight Day

Biggest Parties Pillow Fight

The biggest pillow fight party occurred on March 22nd, 2008, in 25 cities across the world including Boston, Copenhagen, Dubai, London, Shanghai and Sydney. Organized via social media, email, texting and word of mouth, the international flash mob proved to be quite a success. But as expected, the mess created didn’t go down too well with officials.

Pillow Fight

Worldwide Pillow Fight Day

The Love Parade

Biggest Parties Love Parade

The Love Parade began as a political demonstration in 1989, promoting peace through music, and evolved into one of the biggest dance parties in the world. Millions of people are drawn to the huge outdoor party, jiving to trance, house and electronica music.

Biggest Parties Love Parade 2

Biggest Parties Love Parade 3


And be sure to check out our other posts on the history of masquerade parties and the top documentaries on Netflix!

author
Mamta Bhatt
author
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
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Bhatt, Mamta. "The World’s Biggest Parties." AllThatsInteresting.com, April 27, 2012, https://allthatsinteresting.com/worlds-biggest-parties. Accessed September 3, 2025.