Festivals around the World
If like me you love to have a deeper connection with the places that you visit, get underneath it’s skin and experience its true culture travelling at festival time could give you just that.
Whilst it is great to plan to go somewhere and see a specific festival there is also nothing better than seeing the smaller, less known about local festivals.
2020 has been a bit short on celebrations and spectacle, so if you fancy changing that next year these are some of our picks of the best festivals around the world.
Whilst we have listed the dates for 2021 the changing situation around the world means that many of them are under review for next year.
Harbin Snow and Ice Festival - China - 5th January - 25th February
Harbin is one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival.
As the worlds longest ice festival it's preparations begin in late December and the festival ends at the end of February; the day not to be missed is the Opening Ceremony which takes place on 5th January each year.
Here you can walk through snow palaces, take part in a myriad of snow activites.
Lunar New Year - Across Asia 12th February 2021
With spectacular celebrations across China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Tibet and Japan these are definitely not to be missed
Venice Carnival - Italy 30th January - 16th February 2021
The Carnival of Venice is by far the most elegant and undoubtedly the most sophisticated. It really is a two-week celebration of absolute, and very decadent, glamour. Ball gowns, frock coats, and beautifully stunning masks are the order of the day rather than your run of the mill fancy dress. When the parades take to the streets of Venice its by gondola. It’s a stunning spectacle that defies description
Sapparo Ice and Snow Festival - Hokkaido Japan- 4th -11th February 2021
With gigantic ice sculptures adorning the city the Sapparo Ice and Snow Festival attracts artists and visitors from all over the world. Considered one of the best festivals of it’s kind it brings light and joy across the city. With sledding, food stalls, ice sculpture contests and a skating rink stretching across 1.5 kilometers of Odori Park.
St Patricks Day - it is easier to say where this is not celebrated 17th March
Your friends will turn green with envy when you tell them you’re going to a St Patrick’s Day celebration. Whether you’re in Dublin or New York, you’ll be guaranteed an amazing time. It’s a bit of a mad bash and if you think you’ve seen a leprechaun in the parade, well, you probably won’t be hallucinating. Don’t stand out like a sore thumb - be dressed from head to toe in green
Holi, India honouring Vishnu – India 28th March
You may well have participated in a replica of this amazing Indian festival of color, but until you’ve attended a Holi festival in India, you won’t have done anything like the real thing. At a real Holi, there are some quite potent drinks available which make sure everyone is really in the right mood for the fun which lasts one night and all through the following day. Get happy, get soaked, then get plastered with multi-colored Holi powder.
Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA 16th February
The Mardi Gras dates change every year depending when the official dates for Easter fall. The festivities generally start two weeks before Shrove Tuesday. When Mardi Gras takes over the streets of New Orleans for two weeks it’s the carnival to rival all carnivals. Make sure you’ve got your best fancy dress costumes with you because Mardi Gras is all about dressing up. Be as wild and as exaggerated as you can imagine, then go join in the fun. Mingle among the crowds thronging the streets, follow the parades, dance the hours away to live music and marching bands then join a masquerade ball. There’s only one rule for Mardi Gras and that’s party until you drop.
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Rio, Brasil 12th February - 17th February 2021
Ready for the biggest and longest Samba dance marathon ever? Shake that booty as you follow the trail of sequins and feathers left by the world’s biggest Samba street parades. You’ll be completely awestruck by the ginormous floats and their amazing decorations. There’s also the famous carnival balls. A different themed ball is held every night of the celebration and every single street in Rio de Janeiro holds its own party. Just don’t go without a mask or two.
Songkran - Thailand 13th April 2021
Songkran is a traditional Buddhist Festival that marks the beginning of Thai New Year. Also known as a water festival the traditional pouring of water that symbolises washing away back luck and sins from a person’s life.
In the largest cities you will find big street parties and celebrations, where huge water fights take place. As it is a public holiday people also use the time to visit their families and attend the Temple. The second day of the festival features a number of Buddhist rituals that involve giving alms to the Buddhist monks.
La Tomatina, Buñol, Valencia, Spain Usually takes place on the last Wednesday in August
The food fight to end all food fights? There’s only one fiesta you can go to if you want to participate in the biggest ketchup making session - that’s La Tomatina in the town of Buñol in Valencia. The older the clothes the better as they’ll be beyond recognition by the time the event is over.
A short event but the one - hour battle is intense. First, you’ll get drenched with a water hose and then, when the cannon fire sounds, it’s all hands on as many tomatoes as you can get to launch at the enemy who just may be your best friend
Loy Krathong & Yee Peng Lantern Festivals, Chiang Mai, Thailand 19th November 2021
Celebrate in a style which really sets the night on fire and be at the Loy Krathong and the Yee Peng Lantern Festivals in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They’re both so uniquely different you won’t want to miss either.
During Loy Krathong, which is celebrated all over Thailand, the rivers and lakes flicker to life when innumerable tiny craft bearing lighted candles are set free to float upon the waters. It’s a truly amazing sight only rivaled by the Yee Peng Lantern Festival when hundreds of thousands of illuminated lanterns are liberated and soar simultaneously into the night sky. It is an impressive spectacular you should see at least once in your life.