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Mardi Gras: From Banned French Revelry to Carnival Royalty
You might think of Mardi Gras as wild, uninhibited celebration, but it’s got a rebellious past that most people don’t know about. Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Also known as Carnival or Carnaval, it’s celebrated in many countries around the world—mainly those with large Roman Catholic populations—on the day before the religious season of Lent begins. In the decades that followed, New Orleans and other French settlements began marking the holiday with street parties, masked balls and lavish dinners. When the Spanish took control of New Orleans, however, they abolished these rowdy rituals, and the bans remained in force until Louisiana became a U.S. state in 1812.
The violence associated with early Mardi Gras celebrations was so severe that in New Orleans, their jests, pranks and brawls were offending “respectable” people, prompting some newspapers to champion the abolition of the festivities. Think about it – this was a party so wild that authorities repeatedly tried to shut it down. The Spanish, who ruled the Big Easy from 1762 to 1800, apparently cracked down on certain Mardi Gras rituals (though documentation from that period is scarce). U.S. authorities did much the same after taking control in 1803, banning both masked balls and public disguises.
Burning Man: The Tiny Beach Bonfire That Became a Desert Empire
Here’s what nobody tells you about Burning Man – it started as the most casual thing imaginable. On June 22, Harvey, James, and a few friends met on Baker Beach in San Francisco and burned an 8-foot-tall (2.4 m) wooden man and a smaller wooden dog. Harvey later described his inspiration for burning these effigies as a spontaneous act of “radical self-expression”. The festival started nearly 40 years ago.in June 1986 as a small ritual on Baker Beach in San Francisco with just 20 guests. They burned an 8-foot effigy called the “Burning Man.”
The move to the desert wasn’t planned either – it was basically forced on them. 90 participants attend the first Burning Man in the desert in 1990 after Golden Gate Park Police “discover” Burning Man at Baker Beach and demand it be packed away unburnt. A compromise is reached, allowing the statue to be assembled and elevated, BUT not burned on beach site. The agreement not to burn the statue transformed the audience into an unhappy unruly mob, as Larry realized what had been a celebration had become, to the crowd, a “mere roadside attraction.”
Then disaster struck in a way that sounds like something out of a comedy movie. While in storage at the parking lot, a disaster took place. Parking lot attendants had come upon the Burning Man parts and not knowing what they were, took a chain saw to them (shades of the Texan….) cutting them up into so many scraps. But Larry Harvey wasn’t about to give up. In 1990, a separate event was planned by Kevin Evans and John Law on the remote and largely unknown playa, known as the Black Rock Desert, about 110 miles (180 km) north of Reno, Nevada.
Coachella: Pearl Jam’s Corporate Rebellion Created a Festival Monster
The most expensive music festival tickets in America exist because of one band’s principled stand against corporate greed. The festival’s origins trace back to a 1993 concert that Pearl Jam performed at the Empire Polo Club while boycotting venues controlled by Ticketmaster. On November 5, 1993, during their Vs. Tour, American rock band Pearl Jam performed for almost 25,000 fans at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The site was selected because the band refused to play in Los Angeles as a result of a dispute with Ticketmaster over service charges applied to ticket purchases.
Pearl Jam’s protest was about more than just money – it was about accessibility. Coachella’s origins can be traced back to a 1993 feud between Pearl Jam and Ticketmaster, which began after the corporation had bought up its main competitor Ticketron. The band viewed Ticketmaster as establishing a monopoly on the concert industry, and in an effort to keep ticket prices to Pearl Jam shows affordable, the band sought to protest the move by boycotting all venues controlled by the corporation.
The irony is beautiful and tragic. The show established the polo club’s suitability for large-scale events; Paul Tollett, whose concert promotion company Goldenvoice booked the venue for Pearl Jam, said the concert sowed the seeds for an eventual music festival there. Back when Pearl Jam was searching for alternate performance space, concert promoter Paul Tollett helped them find the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. The success of the Pearl Jam show gave Tollett an idea to hold an annual festival there. In 1999, that idea became the first Coachella Festival. A band fighting against expensive tickets accidentally created one of the world’s most expensive music festivals.
Sturgis: Motorcycle Stunts, Not Freedom Rides
Everyone thinks Sturgis is about motorcycle culture and freedom, but it actually started as something much more specific and practical. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was founded by a local motorcycle club called the Jackpine Gypsies in 1938, but their goal wasn’t to celebrate the open road or rebellion. Instead, they wanted to promote motorcycle racing and stunt riding as legitimate sports.
The club was trying to legitimize motorcycling at a time when bikers were often seen as troublemakers. They organized hill climbs, races, and stunt demonstrations to show that motorcycles could be about skill and sport, not just rowdy behavior. The “freedom and rebellion” imagery came much later, especially after movies like “Easy Rider” changed how people viewed motorcycle culture.
Today’s Sturgis draws over 700,000 people annually, making it the largest motorcycle rally in the world. But those original founders would probably be amazed to see how their small racing event transformed into a massive celebration of biker culture. The economic impact on South Dakota is now estimated at over $800 million annually, turning a small town into a temporary mega-city every August.
South by Southwest: The Happy Accident That Became Music Industry Gospel
SXSW didn’t start as the music industry’s most important conference – it began as a tiny local music event in Austin that got lucky with timing. In 1987, the organizers faced a scheduling conflict that seemed like a disaster but turned into the best thing that ever happened to them. A major music conference was supposed to happen in another city during the same week, but it was canceled at the last minute.
Suddenly, all the music industry executives who had planned to attend that other conference were looking for something to do. Word spread through the industry grapevine about this little music event in Austin, and dozens of record label executives, music journalists, and industry insiders decided to check it out instead. What was supposed to be a small gathering of local musicians and fans suddenly became a major industry event.
The serendipitous timing couldn’t have been better. Austin was already developing its reputation as a music city, and the laid-back atmosphere was a perfect contrast to the stuffy conference these industry folks had originally planned to attend. They loved the authentic music scene, the affordable venues, and the fact that they could see multiple bands in one night by just walking down the street.
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: A Radio Station Birthday Party That Floated Away
The world’s largest hot air balloon festival started as a publicity stunt for a radio station’s milestone anniversary. In 1972, KOB Radio in Albuquerque was celebrating its 50th birthday and needed something memorable to mark the occasion. The station manager decided that hot air balloons would make for great visuals and good radio content.
They managed to gather exactly 13 balloons for the event, which was held in a shopping center parking lot. The organizers had no idea what they were doing – they just thought it would be fun to have some colorful balloons floating around while the radio station broadcast live from the event. The whole thing was supposed to last a few hours and then be forgotten.
But the visual spectacle was so stunning that local TV stations covered it, newspapers wrote about it, and people started talking about making it an annual event. The following year, more balloon pilots wanted to participate, and by the third year, it had outgrown the parking lot. Today, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta features over 600 balloons and draws nearly 900,000 visitors over nine days, making it the most photographed event in the world.
Lollapalooza: Jane’s Addiction’s Farewell Tour That Never Ended
The festival that defined alternative rock in the 1990s was never supposed to be a festival at all. Perry Farrell, the lead singer of Jane’s Addiction, created Lollapalooza in 1991 as a farewell tour for his band, which was breaking up due to internal conflicts and drug problems. The idea was to go out with a bang, bringing together various alternative and punk bands for one final celebration.
Farrell wanted to create something different from typical rock tours. He included performance artists, political activists, and vendors selling everything from body piercings to tie-dyed clothing. The goal was to create a cultural experience, not just a concert. The name “Lollapalooza” came from a Three Stooges short film and meant “something extraordinary.”
The tour was such a massive success that it essentially created the modern music festival format. By the time it ended, Farrell realized he had stumbled onto something much bigger than a farewell tour. The festival continued annually through the 1990s, launched the careers of dozens of alternative bands, and influenced countless other festivals. Today’s Lollapalooza takes place in multiple countries and cities, but it all started as one band’s attempt to say goodbye in style.
Iowa State Fair: Where Butter Sculptures Became Political Statements
The Iowa State Fair isn’t just about corn dogs and prize-winning pigs – it’s where butter sculpture became a legitimate art form and a surprisingly effective political weapon. The tradition started in 1911 when a dairy company sponsored the first butter cow sculpture as a way to promote their products. What they didn’t expect was how quickly it would become the fair’s most popular attraction.
The genius of butter sculpture is that it’s temporary art – it has to be kept refrigerated and eventually melts away. This made it perfect for political commentary, since any controversial message would literally disappear after the fair ended. During election years, sculptors began adding political figures and messages to their butter displays, knowing they could make bold statements without permanent consequences.
The butter cow sculptor became one of the most influential political positions in Iowa, since millions of people would see their work during the fair’s run. Politicians began courting the sculptors, hoping to be included in favorable butter portrayals. The position became so important that when the long-time sculptor retired, the succession was covered by national news outlets. Today, the Iowa State Fair’s butter cow display is visited by over a million people annually, making it one of the most viewed art installations in America.
Sundance: Robert Redford’s Character Name Became Film Industry Gold
The most prestigious film festival in America got its name from a 1969 Western, and it almost didn’t happen at all. The festival was originally called the Utah/US Film Festival when it started in 1978, and it was a small, regional event that struggled to get attention from the film industry. Robert Redford had been involved with the festival from early on, but it wasn’t until 1984 that he took it over completely.
Redford renamed it the Sundance Film Festival after his character Sundance Kid from “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” The name change was more than just branding – it represented Redford’s vision of creating a festival that celebrated independent filmmaking and gave voice to stories that Hollywood wouldn’t tell. The mountain location in Park City, Utah, was chosen specifically to get away from the industry atmosphere of Los Angeles.
What made Sundance different was its focus on discoveries rather than established stars. While other festivals courted big-budget films and celebrities, Sundance actively sought out unknown filmmakers with unique stories to tell. This philosophy paid off spectacularly – films like “The Blair Witch Project,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” and “Whiplash” were all Sundance discoveries that went on to become major cultural phenomena.
Cherry Blossom Festival: The Gift That Almost Wasn’t
Washington D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms were nearly chopped down during World War II, and the festival celebrating them was almost canceled forever. The trees were a gift from Japan in 1912, part of a diplomatic effort to strengthen relations between the two countries. The first Cherry Blossom Festival was held in 1935 to celebrate this symbol of international friendship.
But when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, everything changed. Anti-Japanese sentiment ran so high that there were actual proposals to cut down all the cherry trees as a symbolic rejection of Japan. Vandals damaged some trees, and the festival was quietly canceled. Government officials seriously considered removing this “reminder of the enemy” from the nation’s capital.
Fortunately, calmer heads prevailed, and the trees were reclassified as a “gift from the people of Japan to the people of America,” emphasizing the cultural rather than political nature of the gift. The festival resumed after the war ended, and today it draws over 1.5 million visitors annually. The cherry blossoms have become one of Washington D.C.’s most beloved attractions, but they came remarkably close to being lost forever to wartime hysteria.
Rose Parade: Rich Easterners Showing Off California’s Weather
The Tournament of Roses Parade wasn’t created to celebrate flowers – it was basically a 19th-century marketing scheme designed to lure wealthy East Coast residents to California. The parade was founded in 1890 by members of the Valley Hunt Club, a group of wealthy transplants from the East who wanted to showcase California’s mild winter weather to their friends back home.
The brilliant marketing angle was timing. While the East Coast was buried in snow on New Year’s Day, California was sunny and warm enough for outdoor flower displays. The Hunt Club members literally sent invitations to their wealthy friends, encouraging them to “come out and see our flowers in January.” The parade was designed to be photographed and written about, spreading the word about California’s perfect climate.
The strategy worked almost too well. The parade became so popular that it attracted tourists from around the world, not just the East Coast elite. Real estate values in Pasadena skyrocketed as people decided they wanted to live where flowers bloomed in winter. The parade organizers had to add the football game (now the Rose Bowl) to accommodate the crowds and create a full day of entertainment. What started as a small promotional event for California weather became one of the most watched parades in the world.
Bumbershoot: Government-Sponsored Fun During Economic Hardship
Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival has one of the quirkiest names in the festival world, and it started as a government program designed to boost morale during tough economic times. The name comes from “bumbershoot,” an old slang term for umbrella – perfect for rainy Seattle. The festival was launched in 1971 as a city-sponsored event during a recession, when local officials were looking for ways to bring people together and support local businesses.
The city government funded the festival as part of a larger effort to revitalize downtown Seattle, which was struggling with economic decline and urban decay. The idea was to create a free, family-friendly event that would bring people back to the city center and show that Seattle was still a vibrant, culturally rich place to live and visit.
What made Bumbershoot unique was its deliberately eclectic mix of activities. Instead of focusing on just music or just arts, the festival included everything from comedy shows to poetry readings to experimental theater. The goal was to create something for everyone, reflecting Seattle’s diverse cultural interests. The festival’s success helped establish Seattle as a major cultural destination, paving the way for the city’s later recognition as a hub for music, technology, and the arts.
Fantasy Fest: Key West’s October Tourism Rescue Mission
Key West’s famously wild Fantasy Fest was created out of pure economic desperation. October was historically the slowest month for tourism in the Florida Keys – too late for summer visitors, too early for winter snowbirds. Local business owners were facing a seasonal slump that threatened their survival, so they decided to create their own reason for people to visit.
The festival organizers studied Mardi Gras and decided to create something even more uninhibited. Key West’s anything-goes reputation made it the perfect place for a festival with “looser rules” than its New Orleans inspiration. The first Fantasy Fest in 1979 was deliberately scheduled for October to fill the tourism gap, and it featured costume contests, parades, and parties that pushed the boundaries of public decency.
The strategy worked beyond their wildest dreams. Fantasy Fest became so popular that it now draws over 100,000 visitors to Key West annually, generating millions of dollars in revenue during what used to be the slowest month of the year. Hotels that once struggled to fill rooms in October now book solid months in advance. The festival has become so important to the local economy that Key West essentially shuts down for the week, with businesses closing early and the entire town transforming into one giant party.
Electric Daisy Carnival: From Underground Rave to Vegas Spectacle
Electric Daisy Carnival’s move from Los Angeles to Las Vegas wasn’t about growth – it was about survival. The festival started as a small underground rave in Los Angeles in 1997, part of the city’s thriving electronic dance music scene. For years, it operated in a gray area of legality, often in warehouses and other unconventional venues.
The turning point came in 2010 when a teenage girl died from drug-related complications at the Los Angeles event. The tragedy sparked a massive investigation and public outcry about rave culture and drug use at electronic music festivals. Los Angeles officials began imposing strict regulations that made it nearly impossible for EDC to continue operating in the city.
Las Vegas saw an opportunity and actively courted the festival, offering the Las Vegas Motor Speedway as a venue and a more welcoming regulatory environment. The move to Vegas in 2011 transformed EDC from an underground rave into a massive corporate spectacle, complete with elaborate stage designs, carnival rides, and six-figure production budgets. Today’s EDC bears little resemblance to its humble rave origins, but the move to Vegas likely saved the festival from extinction.
Aloha Festivals: Preserving Culture Through Celebration
Hawaii’s Aloha Festivals were created as a cultural preservation project disguised as a tourist attraction. In the 1940s, Hawaiian business leaders were concerned that the islands’ traditional culture was being overwhelmed by mainland American influences brought by military personnel and tourists during and after World War II.
The festival organizers faced a delicate balancing act. They wanted to preserve and showcase authentic Hawaiian culture while also creating something that would appeal to tourists and generate economic benefits for the islands. The solution was to create a festival that would educate both locals and visitors about Hawaiian traditions, music, dance, and history.
The Aloha
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
