The 10 Best Festivals Across the US You Should Attend in 2025

The United States is a melting point for races, backgrounds, and cultures, bringing together different heritages that best manifest through festivals. Although many tourists see the bright city lights and explore the beautiful national parks, festivals are an excellent way of connecting with the people and learning about their heritage first-hand. These exciting gatherings celebrate everything from the arts and music to food and community, presenting an upbeat atmosphere while promising lifetime memories. 

From musical extravaganzas to culinary adventures and cultural immersions, these festivals run throughout the years, allowing newcomers to attend at least one whenever they visit. Whether a foodie, culture vulture, or music fan, the following are top festivals across the US to attend.

Boston Seafood Festival

The Boston Seafood Festival is just over a decade old but has become a highlight on the city's calendar of events. Held in the vibrant Seaport District at the Boston Fish Pier, this annual gathering celebrates the region's maritime heritage and New England's best seafood treasures. Its first iteration was held in 2012 to honor one of the country's oldest industries while preserving its heritage in New England. 

Besides indulging in fresh seafood delicacies, attendees enjoy an array of fun activities. From chef demonstrations and beer gardens to live bands and an oyster shucking competition, it provides an exhilarating opportunity to join at least 7,000 other festivalgoers in savoring an array of seafood cuisine and learning about the importance of conserving maritime ecosystems in a socially charged atmosphere. 

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the world's largest hot-air balloon festival. Since 1972, the carnival has occurred at Balloon Fiesta Park, where the city's sky is painted with colorful displays of floating balloons. Although it only featured 13 balloons in its first iteration, over 500 are released today, drawing thousands of admirers and balloonists. Apart from witnessing the balloons as they gradually ascend into the atmosphere, guests can hitch a ride for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a birds-eye perspective of Albuquerque. 

The nine-day fiesta is scheduled for October 2025 and incorporates a host of other entertaining activities tourists can partake in. These include music concerts, shows, buffet meals, competitions, and more, ensuring the fun continues through the festival period. 

Mardi Gras New Orleans

Numerous cities in the United States celebrate Mardi Gras, but New Orleans has become the poster child for the historic jamboree, which traces its beginning to the 1700s in Mobile, Alabama. With its pomp, color, energy, and polarizing atmosphere, Mardi Gras New Orleans is easily one of the best festivals across the US you can attend. The streets come alive with parades, costumed performers, giant floats, and trumpets as locals dress up in colorful regalia to mark this longstanding tradition. 

First-timers are welcome to join the party by throwing beads, watching walking krewes, and sampling slices of king cake while making new friends. The carnival marks the start of the Easter fast and will begin on March 4th, 2025. It lasts at least a month and gives you something new to try every week. 

Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival

Popularly known as "Coachella," the Coachella Vally Music and Arts Festival is held annually at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. It is a music celebration that has taken place each year since 1999. Top musical acts from around the world headline the fiesta, which features performances on different stages and multiple genres represented, including pop, hip-hop, electronic dance, and rock. The week-long event attracts high-profile individuals, and running into famous Hollywood celebrities is not uncommon. 

The most interesting thing about Coachella is that average Joe and trendsetters casually interact, brought together by a love for music. Beyond the stage performances, fashion is often on display as attendees come clad in daring outfits, and assorted food stalls dot the event venue. The festival will start on April 11th, 2025. 

Lollapalooza

This annual music festival in Chicago's Grant Park invites tourists for a four-day jamboree of music, comedy, and dance. It initially began in 1991 as a touring band but has grown to become one of the world's largest music festivals, attracting approximately 400,000 music enthusiasts. Lollapalooza features eight live stages and has hosted big names in the industry, such as Paul McCartney, Ariana Grande, Sam Smith, and Childish Gambino. The energy is often infectious at the concerts as the atmosphere fills with heavy metal, electronic dance, punk rock, and hip-hop tunes. 

The fiesta also integrates the food and the arts, with Chow Town bringing together a collection of food vendors from the Chicago dining scene while an art market showcases art pieces and a turntable paint station. Kids also get in on the fun through Kidzapalooza, where they can enjoy age-appropriate music concerts and workshops. 

Kutztown Folk Festival

If you appreciate a fun cultural trip, expect to have a blast at the annual Kutztown Folk Festival. The event traces its beginnings to the 1950s and remains one of the country's oldest-running folklife festivals. The brainchild of local professors who wanted to pay homage to the Pennsylvania German population, the Kutztown Folk Festival offers a unique look into the life and culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch. It runs for nine days and portrays authentic folklife through an assortment of art, food, and handmade Dutch quilts. 

The atmosphere is culturally immersive, and guests can join the natives in donning traditional costumes, admiring antiques and collectibles, dancing to folk songs, watching performances on six music stages, and countless kid-friendly activities. 

Aloha Festival

Get a behind-the-scenes look into the dynamics of Hawaiian culture. The free-of-charge carnival promises an engrossing journey for tourists. It attracts all ages and interests, making it the perfect pursuit for visiting families. Guests enjoy a parade with colorful costumes and elaborate cultural performances by communities from the Pacific Rim. Furthermore, street performances, music shows, art and craft workshops, and food tasting are some of the many activities you can look forward to at the fun fest. 

Besides the various fun activities, attending the festival is an escape that allows you to revel in the tropical Hawaiian weather and get a taste of island life. The friendly locals also add to the experience, guaranteeing first-timers amiable human interactions. 

Burning Man Festival

Every year since 1986, thousands of festivalgoers have congregated in Nevada's Black Rock Desert for this famous hippie festival. The idea came from Jerry James and Larry Harvey, who first organized a small gathering in San Francisco's Baker Beach. The festival celebrates the essence of community, encouraging self-expression, self-discovery, and self-reliance. The event is famous for the burning of an effigy, which marks the climax as a large fire consumes a larger-than-life human creation. 

Festival visitors do more than merely attend the fiesta by creating art from scratch. Every time it is held, a unique theme is chosen for the festival, which features cordial human interactions, artistic installations, performances, and the building of the "Burning Man."

Woodstock Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is Celebrated in many cities across the United States and Canada. However, the tiny Illinois village hosts a fascinating one that compels tourists to mark the date on their calendars. Scheduled for January 30th, 2025, the lively gala pays tribute to the classic movie "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray. The film was shot in the town in 1992 and brings together everyday people and celebrities keen on reliving the movie's iconic scenes back to life. 

Groundhog Day features various activities, including screenings of the iconic movie at the historic Woodstock Square, a tour of the filming locations, Bingo, and trivia based on the film. If you've ever watched the flick, you will enjoy a sense of nostalgia while attending the event. 

Austin City Limits Music Festival

Attention music enthusiasts! This annual extravaganza at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, captivates audiences with two consecutive weekends of raw music performances. It features an eight-stage setup and incorporates food, art, and drinks. The festival was established in 2002 as a one-weekend affair until 2012, when members of the Austin City Council elected to extend the duration to two weekends. It includes shows by artists representing a spectrum of genres and has been graced by world-renowned names like Foo Fighters, Hot Chili Peppers, and Vampire Weekend. 

Aside from the music, the gathering features a lineup of alternate activities, ranging from food vendors from local restaurants and festival merchandise and art sales to alcoholic drinks servings and a special zone for kids attending the gathering. 

Festival Fun Awaits in 2025

The festival period is an excellent time to visit any destination in the country, whether a small town or a bustling metropolis. It offers a prime opportunity to mingle with locals in a fun environment and get a first-hand experience of the area's heritage through a celebration of culture, food, arts, and other societal aspects. As the new year begins, curate your travel itinerary to coincide with any of the mentioned festivals across the US for an unforgettable experience.