Your Guide To The Hottest Festivals in 2019

There’s nothing better than experiencing a festival by motorhome - while everyone saunters back to their tents you’ll have the comfort of knowing you’re heading back to a quiet space, hot shower and toilet. Plus, you have the added benefit of being able to drive about before or after to explore more of the area around you.

We’ve picked a handful of the hottest festivals taking place in 2019 which include music, food, art and theatre, hot air balloons and cherry blossoms.

January

A roadie around the southern states of the USA is an epic journey, offering delicious soul food, rich history, sunshine and beautiful vistas. Time it around the world-famous Mardi Gras celebrations for an unforgettable trip! With floats, food, iconic bead necklaces, balls and general revelry. Roughly two weeks of partying leads up to the event and there is at least one major parade each day. This amazing spectacle is one that’s inclusive and easy to experience your own way, with no tickets required for the public celebrations, and the entire city getting in the spirit so you’ll feel festive wherever you go.

Our Deep South road trip itinerary from Houston to Atlanta will take you here, there and everywhere in the most southern of southern states.

February

Aucklanders and others from all over the country and world flock to Tapapakanga National Park, not far from the city, each February to spend three days bopping along to tunes, mingling with laidback crowds and enjoying the summer vibes at Splore. It’s a camping event, so campervans and motorhomes are the perfect accompaniment - if you love music and are planning a summer road trip in New Zealand, it is unmissable.

March

Rio’s Carnival celebration is undoubtedly the planet’s most bombastic, mind-blowing spectacle, uniting millions of Brazilians and visitors within the lush environs of the Marvelous City in merriment over the five days preceding the pious Catholic season of Lent.

Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival うえの桜まつり is a traditional spring event held at the popular viewing spot of Ueno Onshi Park. There are over 1,200 cherry trees planted at the park site, which flourish beautifully. During the festival period, the light-up of cherry blossoms can be enjoyed at night, and it’s counted as one of three greatest night views of cherry blossoms in Japan.

April

Coachella is an utterly massive event, and if you’ve chosen not to stay in a Palm Springs resort then a campervan is an absolute must. A two-berth sleeper van will fit within an onsite car camping space and will save you from the merciless Californian heat, unlike a flimsy tent. Los Angeles is probably the best place to pick up your RV rental for Coachella - just make sure to book ASAP as smaller vehicles will sell out quickly around the event dates.

May

Vivid Sydney is a unique annual event of light, music and ideas, featuring an outdoor 'gallery' of extraordinary lighting sculptures, a cutting-edge contemporary music program, some of the world's most important creative industry forums and, of course, the spectacular illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails.

June

You can enjoy the musical modernity of Glastonbury with a campervan rental and the historical delights of the UK in one unforgettable trip. The festival is a big name, conjuring images of megastars playing to crowds wearing gumboots in muddy fields. It’s the atmosphere of an internationally renowned music festival with a heap of British charm, and a campervan is the ideal home base from which to enjoy it all. Once Glastonbury is over, the United Kingdom awaits, and it is an incredible place to explore with your own set of wheels. Quaint country lanes lead to adorable small towns full of heritage and history, and the cities are a spectacle of amazing sights.

The London to Edinburgh itinerary is a great way to hit many of Great Britain’s highlights and will take you past Glastonbury on the way - time is right and you’re in for a memorable holiday. What a great way to visit Edinburgh in your motorhome hire!

July

Australia’s east coast is a treasure trove: friendly towns, amazing wildlife, sparkling cities, uncrowded stretches of sand and anything else you could need for a laid-back road trip - especially if you time it around the Splendour in the Grass music festival which takes place in July in Byron Bay. From Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West to Mumford and Sons, Queens of the Stone Age and The Cure to Lily Allen and Lorde, there is always an array of acts for different tastes and a festive atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. A campervan will come in especially handy for this event, as you can pull up and camp on site with the right ticket.

A Sydney to Brisbane road trip is the ideal itinerary for a lovely road trip with Splendour at its centre.

August

For alt-rock fans, there’s no bigger festival on the circuit than Lollapalooza. Conceived in the early 90s as an outlet for the growing grunge and alternative rock scene, the festival offered a slightly offbeat take on the traditional music festival experience. Despite a hiatus through the late 90s and early 00s, Lollapalooza bounced back and today the fest pulls huge names from the world of alt-rock, rap and alternative pop.

For many RV travellers, this Blackrock Desert Festival is considered the peak, the ultimate conception of love, life and all that is positive in the world. The most ecologically-friendly event on the planet, this alternative milestone festival sees the Black Rock Desert transformed into a thriving city - and for seven days you can park up your RV rental here and enjoy this life-changing experience of art, community, self-reliance and celebration!

Host to thousands of incredible events, markets, theatre productions, musical extravaganzas and more, the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one not to be missed. Thousands flock to the capital city of Scotland all throughout the month of August each year to experience the wonders of spectacular performances and soak up the cultural atmosphere of the art world.

October

For nine days in October, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta creates an enchanted world of special shape balloon rodeos, twilight balloon glows, and vibrant balloon-filled skies. Brisk autumnal mornings in the Rio Grande Valley create an otherworldly backdrop for the breathtaking event. The experience of watching hundreds of gentle airy giants take flight is at once humbling and inspiring. It’s the allure of these magical moments and more that have continued to bring ballooning fans worldwide together for over 46 years.

There’s no need to introduce Oktoberfest to those who love a good brew. The undisputed premier beer festival, and no matter where in the world you live it’s worth making your way to Munich for Oktoberfest at least once in your life. Once you’ve recovered from the festivities, you’ll find that Bavaria is one of the best places in Europe to explore by motorhome, thanks to its alpine geography and the fairytale castles which dot the hills.

December

Be amongst the first in the world to bring in the New Year at Rhythm and Vines. It’s New Zealand’s premiere music and camping festival. Located at the beautiful Waiohika Estate on the East Coast it delivers the ultimate New Year’s experience. Over 20,000 partygoers make the journey to Gisborne each year to celebrate New Year’s and have the time of their lives.

Are you ready? Remember to book your motorhome in early if you’re heading to one of these hot festivals during 2019.