The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to festivals:

Festival – celebration that focuses upon a theme, and may run for hours to weeks. The theme of a festival might be an area of interest such as art, or an aspect of the community in which the festival is being held, such as the community's history or culture. Festivals are often periodical, for example, held annually.

• Beer festival –
• Comedy festival –
• Esala Perahera festival –
• Film festival –
• Fire festival (Beltane) –
• Fire festival (the Japanese festival) –
• Folk festival – celebrates traditional folk crafts and folk music.
• Food festival –
• Harvest festival –
  • Cultural harvest festivals –
• Language festivals
• Literary festival –
• Japanese Cultural Festival –
• Mela Festival –
• Music festival –
• Peanut Festival –
• Religious festival –
  • Calendar of saints (Feast days) –
  • Hindu festivals –
  • List of Sikh festivals –
• Renaissance festival –
• Rock festival – a large-scale rock music concert, featuring multiple acts. Also called a "rock fest".
• Science festival –
• Sindhi festivals –
• Storytelling festival –
• Theatre festival –
• Vegetarian festivals and vegan food fests –
• Video gaming festival –
• Winter festivals –

The activities or events of a festival may be primarily of the spectator or participatory variety, or a mixture of these. A festival may include spectator or participatory variations of one or more of the following types of events or activities, among others.

• Ceremonies –
• Concerts, music –
• Competitions –
• Contests –
• Dancing events –
• Meals, eating, and drinking –
• Parades –
• Parties –
• Performances –
• Races –
• Singing –
• Speeches –
• Sports –

History of festivals

• Feria
• List of Donington Park Festivals
• List of electronic music festivals
• List of machinima festivals

Following are festivals that are events (similar to a fair). They are typically hosted, and are held at a specific location.

• Holiday
  • List of holidays