America celebrated its Independence Day this week with all the usual panache, parades and pie-eating contests we’ve come to know and love. But while popular culture has turned “Independence Day” into a synonym for 4th July, there are of course many more Independence Days around the world that know how to throw a party.

The question is, where is it actually worth going to see the celebrations? Planning your trip around a public holiday always comes with the risk of few public events, and everything being closed.

Take South Korea, for example—their Independence Day, aka Gwangbokjeol, takes place on 15th August each year, and celebrates their 1945 liberation from Japanese Colonial rule. It’s one of the most important holidays in the country, with schools, businesses etc. closing down for the day. However, traditions tend more on the formal side, with flags flying everywhere and an official government ceremony. There is a song, though!

If we had to pick just a few countries where we’d get in on the annual festivities, we’d opt for…

Indonesia

17th August may just be one day in the calendar, but preparations for Indonesian Independence Day start weeks in advance. Cities are cleaned up to look their best, before red and white bunting is draped from buildings all over the country.

On the day itself, formalities begin with a flag hoisting ceremony at the National Palace attended by Indonesia’s political elite. High school students with especially impressive marching skills join the military band and soldiers in a bout of tradition. And then the real fun starts.

Alongside games like sack racing (Balap Karung) and the Indonesian equivalent of a Halloween donut on a string (Makan Kerupuk), you’ve got the undeniably bonkers Panjat Pinang. Tall, skinny Areca palm trunks are greased up and erected in a field, and hung with prizes like bicycles and TVs. All contestants have to do is create a human totem pole to reach the top, and the prizes are theirs. Easy, right?

Over on the island of Lombok, you’ll find the annual Peresean competition, where local gladiators fight to prove their agility. Don’t worry, though—while the action might look pretty realistic, Peresean is actually a traditional performance art of the local Sasak people, and a battle is considered a rite of passage.

If all that sounds a little too strenuous, maybe stick to a Krupuk (prawn cracker) eating competition, or head to Bali and watch the traditional turtle releasing.

Guatemala

All the way back on 15th September 1821, Guatemala declared independence from Spain… and immediately became part of the First Mexican Empire, along with most of Central America. A couple of years later, they moved on to the Federal Republic of Central America, before becoming a sovereign Republic in 1847. To keep things simple, they still celebrate their 1821 independence from Spain.

As well as flying flags and wearing the national colours, locals decorate towns with altars dedicated to the country’s traditions and culture. You can expect everything from photos and maps, to poetry and food, and even feathers from the elusive quetzal, Guatemala’s national bird.

Music is another main feature of Independence Day in Guatemala, starting with the sound of marimbas echoing through the streets all day long. Add in the marching bands, parades and dancing in the street, and you’ve got yourself a party in every major town.

The most iconic Independence Day activity in Guatemala has to be the torch run. In honour of the original messenger spreading word of independence on horseback by torchlight, people all over the country run with a lit torch to a different town to share in the celebrations.

Many travel to cities such as Antigua Guatemala or Guatemala City to light a torch and take it home to their community. Others take part in a section of the original route, which stretched all the way to Costa Rica. But one thing all runners have in common is that they’ll likely face projectile water balloons along the way, helpfully(?) thrown by supporters to cool them down.

And as with any good Independence Day celebration, Guatemala serves up a feast for the ages. Street food vendors come out in force with tacos, tamales, tostadas and more. Round that all off with an evening of fireworks, and you’ll have done it right. Just beware, Guatemala loves fireworks, and anyone can buy them, so we’d head to an official event just to be safe!

Jamaica

From the end of July to 6th August every year, Jamaica throws a big old party. The celebrations start with Emancipation Day on 1st August, commemorating the 1834 abolition of slavery, and carry on all the way through to Independence Day on 6th August. It’s all about remembering the country’s history, and celebrating its freedom and culture.

Events formally begin with a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation in town centres across the island, while the Emancipation Jubilee in St. Ann’s Bay and the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition get the party going. Expect impressive dancing and folk performances, traditional cuisine and reggae aplenty.

When it comes to those Jamaican foods, there’s way more than just jerk chicken to try. Get your leafy greens from callaloo, and if you’re feeling adventurous, try the stew peas with pigtail. Ackee and saltfish is top of the list, though, as Jamaica’s national dish—just, whatever you do, don’t compare it to scrambled eggs. Oh, and let the pros prepare it - ackee can be poisonous if you don’t know what you’re doing!

The week continues with bandwagons and mobile stages roving around the country showcasing local artists, film festivals, singing contests, and the World Reggae Dance Championship. And keep your eyes peeled for the national symbols you’ll see displayed everywhere, too.

Parades and street parties fill the country on 6th August, but for the main event, you’ll want to be in Kingston. We hear the best spot to watch the spectacle is outside Devon House, a former grand colonial mansion turned ice cream parlour. What better way to spend a Jamaican summer’s day than with the nation’s favourite ice cream in hand, right?

The week is rounded off by the Grand Gala at the national stadium. Tickets are free to the public, you’ll just have to be willing to brave some serious crowds and arrive early to grab a seat. But if you do, you’ll be rewarded with even more highlights of Jamaican culture. They really go all-out for this one, with well-known Jamaican musicians, dancers and other creatives taking the stage.

Mashed, baked, fried, and boiled, Idaho has a reputation for its potatoes. In fact, it’s got a whole museum dedicated to the humble spud. It may sound a little dull, but we’d encourage you to lean into the potatomania and book a night or two in this 28-foot long potato. Yep, you heard us right—there’s an eco-friendly potato hotel in South Boise with views over the Owyhee Mountains.

It’s a good spot for checking out Boise, which actually made it onto our list of the Most Underrated Cities in the USA. The city has those cool, college vibes, along with microbreweries and quirky alleys covered in street art.

But you’ll also find a very unexpected nugget of history here in the form of the Basque Block, a small part of town that maintains and celebrates generations of Basque heritage in the area. If you time it right, you can join in with the Jaialdi festival of dance, music, food and games from the old country. It only takes place every five years, with the next one scheduled for summer 2025!

The volcanic landscapes keep on coming out east in Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. The name says it all, really—the whole place looks like something from outer space. Once you’re there, you can hike up Inferno Cone, wander through the Devil’s Orchard, explore Dew Drop Cave… the excellent names just keep coming.

Idaho’s also got a lot of natural beauty to offer, and that starts before you even leave Boise. The road out of town is lined by towering lava rock overlooking the Boise River, known as the Black Cliffs. They’re also very popular with climbers, with over 100 routes up to choose from.

The area is phenomenal for fans of stargazing, boasting some of the darkest skies of all the USA’s national park. The short trails lend themselves to safe night walks, and you can easily camp up at the Lava Flow Campground. If that’s the kind of road trip you’re after, make sure to add Fall Creek Falls and Swan Valley to your list as well!

All the important (or silly, or strange) travel news from across the web this week.

• Disrespectful tourists are getting themselves into trouble again. This time, a British man decided to carve his and his girlfriend’s initials into the wall of the Colosseum in Rome. Lucky for him that the days of making criminals face off against lions are long gone….
• Not quite a plane, definitely not a train, and not exactly an automobile, we’re one step closer to flying cars becoming part of our travel plans. For $300,000 you can pre-order your own one, which has now been certified for testing by the FAA.
• Beware the (almost) suitcase ban in Dubrovnik! The city’s mayor has introduced measures to limit noise pollution, including fining anyone who drags their wheeled suitcase through the city’s cobbled streets.
• Calling all lovers of the window seat! Here are the five most spectacular airport approaches in the world, according to Simple Flying.
• And finally, San Francisco Airport has added a new employee to its Wag Brigade. Duke Ellington Morris, who is of the feline persuasion, has joined the team of trained animals specialising in helping nervous fliers find a bit of calm. We wish him paw-ll the best in his new career!