The year is packed to the brim with lots of festivals and celebrations which have a lot of cultural, historical and traditional significance.
Venice Carnival
Venice and masquerades go hand in hand, with the city’s first carnival being held in the 12th century, where there was a party for two straight weeks. The tradition continues each year when the streets or canals are crawling with parties, super fancy events, concerts, and many more. Wearing a mask marked the occasion back then, but still, the Venetian masks are very much worn and adorned with the charm of the carnival.
When: Around 8th to 25th February
Rio de Janeiro Carnival, Brazil
The most coveted carnival in the world is a technicolour extravaganza featuring the most exotic dances and parades, and it is basically a celebration of the best of Rio De Janeiro. The costumes that each performer wears are truly a work of art as they take months to design, which makes them a visual spectacle filled with themed floats that march with the beats of samba.
When: 9-17 February
St Paddy’s Day, Ireland
One of the most popular festivals, St Paddy’s Day, is one of the beloved festivals in Ireland, which brings the country to life, especially the capital, Dublin. It is synonymous with loads of Guinness, a jig at the pub, happy locals and, of course, a neverending trail of green clothing and decorations to honour the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick.
When: 17 March
La Tomatina, Spain
This festival has gained international momentum in recent years, especially when it was featured in the hit 2011 film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which takes place in the tiny Valencian town of Bunol. The tradition started in 1945 when the town became a tomato-throwing carnival full of music, dance, and, of course, lots of tomatoes. The tickets cost around 35 euros, but it is one of the best traditional festivals to see in action.
When: 28 August
Notting Hill Carnival
If going to Brazil is on your list, but you don’t have the time, the Notting Hill area in London is host to a similar Caribbean-themed fest, which has become a beloved festival in the UK. Since 1996, the residents and tourists have been in for a treat by witnessing this event, which is full of costumed parades, suave music and, of course, lots of enjoyment. Nothing Hill serves as the perfect colourful backdrop for this equally colourful carnival.
When: 25-26 August
Mooncake Festival, China
This is one of the most significant festivals celebrated in China, which is dedicated to the moon when it is the largest. This mid-autumn festival is highlighted by the distribution of moon-shaped cakes, which are made with lotus seed paste and duck egg yolk for a creamy and smooth texture, which is just heaven in the mouth. A post-harvest festival that began in the Zhou dynasty (1046 BC – 256 BC) made people appreciate the beauty of the moon, where the whole family ate together under the moonlight.
When: 17 September
Oktoberfest
The biggest Volksfest in the world, which is an annual affair held in Bavaria, Germany and, is definitely the most well-known festival in the world, which many people attend from around the world. Packed to the brim with a copious amount of beer, the two-hundred-year-old tradition is fervently kept alive with 16-18 days of people getting dressed in traditional attires, parades, rides, lip-smacking food and millions of litres of beer.
When: 21 September – 6 October
Albuquerque Balloon Festival, USA
Filling the air with more than 550 balloons, this is the biggest hot air balloon festival in the world, which started in 1972. With the crisp blue sky above, a green pasture below and the vast American landscape in front, the event is packed with live music, photo contests and Mass Ascension, where all the balloons float up together, which is truly a sight to behold.
When: 5-13 October
Chiang Mai Lantern Festival
The festival, which is locally known as the Yi Peng en, encapsulates the feeling of letting go and welcoming the new. The city witnesses hundreds of lanterns released together as the sky becomes lit with a flurry of yellow-orange lanterns twirling and swirling in the air while the banana leaves filled with incense and flowers float on the water beneath. This type of festival occurs simultaneously across northern Thailand as it is seen as a way of honouring Lord Buddha.
When: 25 November
Chichibu Yomatsuri, Japan
This two-nigh festival is the highlight of the year in the city of Chichibu, which is just one and a half hours away from Toyko, which lies on its northwestern periphery. On the first few days of December, the city is illuminated to celebrate the local shine, which has a history of more than 300 years. There are lanterns, traditional flute music, and local men carrying the mikoshi, a ten-tonne float, as they race up the hill. Then, the two-hour fireworks display begins to mark the night of the event.
When: 2-3 December
