Over 7,000 artists and workers in the northern Chinese city of Harbin have been working around the clock putting the finishing touches to the annual Ice Festival grounds
Over 7,000 artists and workers in the northern Chinese city of Harbin have been working around the clock putting the finishing touches to the annual Ice Festival grounds Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Different countries feature different sights, culture and people -- and this is the key reason why their respective festivals can also differ in terms of excitement and attractions.

People who want to travel and witness some of the most bizarre and fun festivals around the world should never miss these five celebrations.

1. Harbin Festival

The Harbin Festival is celebrated in Harbin, China from Jan. 5 to Feb. 5 every year. It is the biggest snow and ice festival in the world. Visitors will witness giant and beautiful snow and ice carvings throughout its duration. There are breathtaking works of art in the snow that stand over 20 feet tall and you can walk inside whole buildings completely made of ice.

2. Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro

The festival is celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil just before the Lenten season of each year. According to Emlii.com, it is the biggest carnival in the world with over two million people coming to see the parades and performances on a daily basis. The festivals originated in 1823. Today, travelers come to see the giant floats, beautiful costumes and great performances held on the streets.

3. The Running of the Bulls

Travelers who are in for some excitement should join "The Running of the Bulls," which is included in the San Fermin Festival in Spain. Every year, over a thousand people run in front of a dozen bulls that run wild through the streets of the town. There are hundreds of injuries reported after the event, but the strangely, the activity never runs out of participants.

4. La Tomatina

Every year on the last Wednesday of August, people flock to the town of Bunol in Spain. The festival lasts for a whole week and features the "World's Biggest Food Fight." About 50,000 people join the activity where 100 metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are brought to the town streets and people start throwing these at each other. In a report by Latomatinatours.com, the activity lasts for one hour then fire trucks come to wash everyone with water cannons.

5. Boryeong Mud Festival

The annual festival happens every summer in the town of Boryeong. It started in 1998 and has since become one of the biggest celebrations in the country. Mud is brought to the Daecheon beach area where people start to apply these on their bodies. The mud is said to be rich in minerals which improve the condition and radiance of the skin.