The Gerewol is a week-long courtship ritual performed by the Wodaabe nomadic people of Niger and Chad, marking the end of the rainy season. In this unique tradition, young men use elaborate makeup and costumes to compete in the Yaake dance, demonstrating beauty and endurance to win the approval of female judges in the heart of the Sahel.

The Festima Mask Festival is the largest cultural event in West Africa dedicated to preserving and celebrating the culture of the traditional African mask. Its most famous attraction is the performance of hundreds of diverse traditional masks (made of materials like leaves, wood, and textile) from various ethnic groups across West African nations. During the festival, mask wearers perform energetic, ritualistic dances set to traditional music, which symbolize the communication with ancestors and spirits.

The Bosch Parade is a prestigious biennial event that pays tribute to the 15th-century master of the surreal painting, Hieronymus Bosch. It’s a dramatic aquatic theater, featuring spectacular floating art installations and silent theatrical performances. Visitors can enjoy a slow-moving procession of extravagant, semi-submerged sculptures, haunting musical soundscapes, and vibrant artistic celebrations within the temporary ‘Garden of Delights’ festival village.

The Tarragona Human Tower Competition is a biennial event where teams build massive human pyramids reaching up to ten levels in height. Thousands of participants form a dense human base to support climbers in a former bullring, creating a high-stakes arena atmosphere. This UNESCO tradition is a unique contest where teams are judged on their ability to both assemble and safely dismantle these complex structures.