Posted on 04/14/2023

This is your chance to become a part of history.

Imagine it: Feeling the boom of lively fireworks and dazzling lights on the Portuguese island of Madeira on New Year’s Eve. Sitting down and watching performers from across the world move in unison to the beat of a drum at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Watching hundreds of colorful balloons rising above the ground at the picture-perfect Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. 
The good news? Collette travelers don’t imagine it. They experience it. 

When you book a tour featuring a special event or a festival, you’ve got your ticket to an exclusive experience – something that few world travelers will get to do. You’re witnessing tradition, culture, and beauty, and getting a brand-new perspective of a well-loved destination. So, where are you headed to gain that VIP status?

Scotland

In military terms, a tattoo began simply as a bugle or drum call signaling soldiers to their barracks for the evening. This music has since evolved into elaborate, theatrical shows with extended performances including costumed dancers, drill teams, and other performers, military and civilian alike, alongside the musicians. The 70-year-old Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland is perhaps the most well-known tattoo in the world and at the tattoo, precision is the highlight. 

Countless drummers standing shoulder-to-shoulder and tapping as one. Perfect rows of wind instrument performers moving in formation like a well-oiled machine. Dance troupes moving so perfectly together that it looks like they’re effortlessly flowing together like water. Those interested in military history, theatrics, and a grand fireworks finale shouldn’t miss out on this spectacle.

 

Portugal 

There’s no wrong time to visit the Portuguese Riviera, but New Year’s Eve is definitely a great option. Portugal boasts more than 300 sunny days a year, so you’ll get to take advantage of mild winter temperatures on your journey. You’ll also enjoy your seat to one of the most celebrated holiday fireworks shows in the world. Visitors from around the globe flock to Funchal, the capital of the island of Madeira, for their warm holiday spirit. 

 

Photo by Mario La Pergola on Unsplash

 

Travelers on this tour dress to the nines and enjoy an elegant gala dinner and watch an unforgettable light show boom over the waters of the Atlantic. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine to ring in the New Year with a bonus: Celebrate like the locals and munch on 12 raisins at midnight to bring you good luck each month in the upcoming year.

The U.S.A.

Head to New Mexico and have your camera ready. At the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the clear blue sky turns into a moving rainbow of colorful hot air balloons. Last year, there were more than 600 pilots operating balloons from around the world. 

 

It’s clear to see why this is the most photographed event in the world. There are more than 25 million photographs taken at the fiesta each year! And the juxtaposition of perfect views can’t be beaten. Attendees can look up to see hundreds of colorful balloons dotting the sky on a bright October day in New Mexico, and return at night to see balloons lit up during the “Balloon Glow.”