Festivals

Reenactments of tribal wars, traditional dancing, archery contests and children’s competitions create a lively scene at the Baliem Valley Festival in Papua Wamena every July spread across three days. Finishing with a decorated vehicle parade and fun-filled carnival, the festival celebrates both traditional and modern tribal life.

An explosion of color, the three-day Jember Fashion Carnaval in Jember, Indonesia, is a spectacular sight. The city’s main streets are converted into a 2.2-mile catwalk, the longest in the entire world. Visitors are invited to create their own imaginative costumes and vote on the extravagant costumes presented.

Celebrating the beautiful sounds of traditional Indonesian percussion, the Gamelan Festival brings the best of the local flavor. Gaining national recognition, the festival entertains thousands each year. The two-day festival incorporates the music of many different countries to promote ties with other nations.

Clambering inside a massive volcanic crater may sound a bit crazy, but on the island of Java, this means one thing – it’s the annual one-day Yadnya Kasada Festival. Hundreds of Indonesians climb inside the crater to deliver offerings to the gods. The religious festival takes place at the foot of Mount Bromo, which makes for an incredibly beautiful setting.