What is World Youth Day? A recent question mentions World Youth Day. Wikipedia says that it's an event for young people organized by the Catholic Church. That isn't very helpful, since there are a lot of different types of Christian youth events. How is World Youth Day different from other events? Why do people go? What can people expect if they go? Who counts as a young person? What's the goal?
I asked the same question to the Priest who lead our (it was my wife and my honeymoon) pilgrimage for the 2005 World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany. 

His answer was, It's like a renaissance festival for young(ish) Catholics.

And, since I've never been to a renaissance festival, but I have been to a World Yotuth Day, I think I agree.

Of the few that I've been keen on following up on, in Germany, Australia and Spain, it seems like a major world youth day event takes place every 3rd summer.  It's a two and a half week shindig with parishes from all over the host country taking in pilgrims.  

The first half is the Days in the Diocese where pilgrims stay with host families from all over the country and get to know what things are like on a parish level  (this was awesome in Germany, I love you Osnabrück and your life-sized foosball game and endless deserts)

The second half is when everyone moves in closer to the epicenter and the major things start happening.  There is daily Catechesis (with Bishops and Cardinals), Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession as well as rock and folk Concerts, gymnastics and lots of juggling. 

Mostly it's about the anticipation of the one big event where everyone comes together for vespers and mass with the Pope and that is awesome.  There's really nothing like camping out with a million other Catholics from all over the world.  Maybe it was just because it was my honeymoon, but it was the best experience of my life!