There's no better place to see hoop dancers at the top of their game than at the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest in Phoenix, Arizona.

Think Halloween, and most of us associate it with the hedonistic, multi-billion-dollar event that is seen in the US. Yet, its true origins actually lie in Celtic culture.

As news of rising prices, intolerable weather and poor ticket sales have hit the Nevada desert event in recent years, some speculate its days could be numbered.

Just 38km north of Stonehenge, Avebury draws its own annual solstice visitors who want a more up-close and personal experience with Britain's ancient standing stones.

For three days in April, thousands of people descend on tiny Port Aransas, Texas, from all over the world when it becomes the epicentre of the sand-sculpting universe.

Rather than fading from relevance, the values of this ancient festival – from taking a yearly reset to connecting with nature in a precarious time – are now more important than ever.

Holi represents love, new beginnings and the onset of spring. This year, it also marks a pivot towards eco-conscious celebrations, thanks to Gen Z in India.

This year, Brazilians seem to have recognised that the heart of carnival culture is not in Rio, but in little-known Belo Horizonte.