Festivals

Christmas Markets in Prague
Immerse yourself in the festive magic of a medieval town

Naadam Festival
Men show off their best skills at three manly games: archery, wrestling, and horse racing

Wave Spot Music Festival
This three-day festival of electronic music and kitesurfing at Pink Lake welcomes you to dance your socks off and immerse into a magical vibe

Ice Skating
Only in Paris can one skate 60 metres above ground at the Eiffel Tower

Firefly Festivals (Hotaru Matsuri)
Watching fireflies is a summer obsession for the Japanese

World Ice Art Championships
Once a year Fairbanks turns into an ice city the Ice Queen would envy!

Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill
A unique multimedia performance in a beautiful historical setting

Christmas Markets in Copenhagen
The best way to get into the festive spirit is to visit a Christmas market—the vendors seem to be aware of the deepest desires of your Christmas heart

London Christmas Lights
The capital of the UK glows and shines getting ready for the holidays

Budapest Christmas Markets
Open an Advent calendar's window and welcome Christmas with Hungarians

Festa dei Gigli in Nola
The event to celebrate the home-coming of Bishop Paolino in 431

Riga Christmas Markets
Follow the aroma of gingerbread and mulled wine to Riga's finest holiday fairs

Underwater Music Festival
Submerge to the world's coolest subaqueous party at Florida's coral reef

Pensacola Mardi Gras
A vibrant celebration with over 150 years of history

Dansville Balloon Festival
Each Labor Day weekend, the skies above the Dansville Airport are decorated with colorful hot air balloons

Christmas Markets in Poland
The main squares of Polish cities turn magical in the winter

Christmas Markets
The magical beauty of Slovenia guarantees that you will have the best Christmas ever!

Christmas Markets
Immerse yourself in a festive atmosphere and check out traditional Irish gifts

Fantasia (Tbourida)
Witness the traditional Moroccan horsemanship spectacle

Pierogi Festival
You’ll never know what Krakow really tastes like until you try some true Polish cuisine. The best time to do this is the National Pierogi Festival

Cologne Christmas Markets
Explore some of the coziest festive fairs in Germany

Belgium's Christmas Markets
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of winter holidays and savor mouth-watering Belgian delicacies

Qoyllur Rit'i or Star Snow Festival
Thousands of pilgrims walk to the foots of Andes to welcome new circle of life or honor the Lord

Warachikuy
Inspiring event when young sons of the Incas show their strength and overcome different trials by fire

Antwerp Christmas Market
The brightly decorated historic city center of Antwerp looks stunning during the holidays

Festa des Vermar or Grape Harvest Festival
100 years before Christ, Mallorca was already making wine

Glacier Ice Caves
These ice caves will make you wonder if you are in Snow Queen’s kingdom

Ibiza Opening Parties
Dancefloors are overtaken by partying folk as the clubbing capital wakes up after its winter sleep

Christmas Markets in the Netherlands
The Netherlands Christmas markets are about to impress you with the variety of festive stalls and dazzling lights

Songkran Water Festival (Thai New Year)
Thai New Year lasts for at least three days, depending on the region, and is one of the most joyful celebrations of the new year worldwide

Cherry Blossoms in Japan
The first week of April is the best chance to see Japanese cherry trees in full bloom!

Rubber Ducky Race (Duck Derby)
50,000 yellow rubber ducks are splashed into the Chicago River to fundraise for the Special Olympics Illinois

Christmas Lights in Vienna
Holiday displays in Vienna are classy and stylish

Manchester Christmas Markets
Manchester City Center is especially joyful during the winter season

Halloween
Choose from a haunted medieval castle, a vampire ball, and a party in a church

Luxembourg Christmas Markets
Bag a unique holiday gift at one of the most visited festive fairs in Europe

Limón Carnival
Taking place in the port city of Limon, the carnival celebrates nice weather and joy of life

Great Week in San Sebastián
Join one of the biggest festivals with fireworks and music in San Sebastian

Christmas Markets in Reykjavik
Reykjavik Christmas markets draw the attention of many tourists thanks to their fairytale atmosphere

Calcio Storico (Calcio Fiorentino)
54 footballers in traditional costumes play the brutal game to glorify their historic districts

Imilchil Marriage Festival
Those looking for romance will find it in the lake plateau of the Middle Atlas Mountains

Asilah Arts Festival
The new world art mecca, the town of Asilah is hosting an annual festival that turns the walls of its streets into art

Redhead Days (Roodharigendag)
A celebration of everything about ginger hair and redheads

Christmas Markets
Berlin is the true capital of famed German Christmas markets

Guca Festival
Lots of music and rakija at the craziest brass festival in the world

Christmas Lights
Edinburgh celebrates the most wonderful time of the year

Hoi An Lantern Full Moon Festival
Most Vietnamese holidays are celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar which has a full moon cycle. The full moon festival hence is of a big meaning and is a monthly event in Hoi An

Indigenous New Year or We Tripantu
Mapuche Indians along with other Chilean indigenous nations celebrate their traditions in June

Onbashira
A deadly festival of log riding that attracts more than half a million people

Festa del Redentore in Venice
Enjoy the fireworks from one of the many gondolas in St. Mark's Basin

Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
A truly wild festival with giant floats and hundreds of participants

Belgian National Day
Free museums entry, a parade and fireworks are part of the celebration

St. Stupid’s Day Parade
Bored with solemn processions? St. Stupid’s Day allows to play a fool in the silliest walk of all times

The Burry Man
Follow the Burry Man throughout the streets of Queensferry as he drinks whisky and spreads good luck

Bloomfield Little Italy Days
Four days packed with spectacular Italian-themed entertainment

Cambodian Water Festival or Bon Om Touk
One of the most authentic festivals in Cambodia that attracts several millions people each year and marks a unique natural phenomenon—the reversing flow between the Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River

Zulu Reed Dance
Tens of thousands of bare-breasted maidens dance and sing, bringing reeds to their King

Yasothon Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival
The fertility rites and ceremonies play a major role in Thai culture. One of the most famous is the Rocket festival

Tapati Rapa Nui
A fervent celebration of masculine strength and feminine grace

Medieval Festivals
Sword fights, troubadours and minstrels, and witches burning at the stake—all just as in the Middle Ages

Seoul International Fireworks Festival
This one-night only, much sought-after fall event promises spectacular fireworks that elevate the city’s already vibrant skyline as well as a number of other exciting programs

Celebration of Light
Don't miss one of the most spectacular sound and light events in the world!

Sankthans
Huge bonfires are lit to ward off evil witches while Norwegians are getting married for fun during the midnight sun

Oshkosh Air Show
Meet the world's greatest air show, attracting over 700,000 visitors every year

Fiera del Cacio
The cheese fair held in the birthplace of pecorino itself offers the best selection of world-famous Tuscan cheese

Wang Yeh Boat Burning Festival
Become a part of the traditional ceremony of ship burning

Sinjska Alka
A medieval equestrian knightly competition in Sinj that is part of the UNESCO list

Horsetail Fall or Firefall
For just a few days each year, this waterfall is illuminated by the sun and becomes one of Yosemite’s most amazing spectacles

Christmas Markets in Scotland
Scotland loves Christmas! It hosts some of the best Christmas Markets in the UK

Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival
The biggest hot air balloon festival in the state

Notting Hill Carnival
The capital of Great Britain is hardly recognizable when the Afro-Caribbean spirit revels in the streets of London

Krakow Christmas Market
The iconic central square of Krakow, Rynek Główny, hosts most of the city's winter holiday festivities

Borneo International Kite Festival
Dragons, tigers, lizards, cats, and more! It gets very crowded up there, high in the sky

Tradition or Savagery? Grindadráp!
The national hunting and eating of the pilot whales for many people may seem an oddity, but for Faroese this has been a long time tradition

Lantern Festival in Japan (Toro Nagashi)
Japanese Lantern Festivals, where people commemorate the souls of the dead, is the second most essential event in the country after New Year's Eve.

Festival de la Mejorana
The Festival gathers folk musicians and dancers from all around the country and introduces the cultural spirit of Panama

Birmingham Christmas Market
The Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market is a huge winter celebration with lots of food, drinks, music, and fun

Christmas Markets in Spain
Colorful and cozy Christmas markets in Spain ignite a desire to come back to this country again and again

Midburn Festival
Feel the power of art, creativity and style at one of world's best festivals

Up Helly Aa
To mark the end of the Yule season, thousands of Vikings traditionally burn the galley with thousands of torches

Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival
During the Beehive Festival in the Yanshui District, thousands of soaring firecrackers are launched into the crowd making for a truly unique experience!

Braemar Gathering
The Gathering is famous for its hospitality, friendship, multitude of events and the presence of the Royal Family, and it's only a 2-hour drive from Edinburgh

Chicago Christmas Lights
Get into the festive spirit while walking or driving through spectacular holiday lights

Cherry Blossom in South Korea
South Korea is blessed with cherry blossoms that turn the country into a fairy tale every spring

Busójárás
The 500-year-old traditions with bonfires and parades of fearsome monsters unfold on the bank of the Danube, making one of the strangest and most unforgettable events in Hungary

Signal Festival
One of the most visited events in Prague attracts thousands of tourists and locals with its fantastic light shows

Fiestas de La Blanca & Celedón, Vitoria-Gasteiz
If you see a figure with an umbrella coming down from a church on a rope—then you are in Basque Country!

Plum (Ume) Blossom
The beautiful though often underappreciated blossom of the Japanese plum is one of the first signs of spring

Rørosmartnan or Røros Fair
This ancient Scandinavian market is recreated in this special UNESCO world heritage site

Brussels Christmas Market
One of the best and largest holiday markets in Europe

Finland Christmas Markets
What could beat winter dull better than the cheerful bustle of holiday fairs?

Magusto festival in Portugal
A joyful harvest celebration when family and friends gather near the bonfire

Brazilian Day
If it's not a sign to put your green and yellow clothes on, then what is? Celebrate Brazil's Independence Day NYC style

Tallinn Christmas Market
Get some gifts for your loved ones and indulge in food & drinks that will keep you warm

Buenos Aires Tango Festival and Championship
Feel the spirit of Argentina by visiting the most beautiful and passionate dance festival in Buenos Aires

Bula Festival
"Hello" everybody; Bula Festival in Nadi welcomes everyone for a week of fun

Ravello Music Festival
A classical music festival with breathtaking views over Amalfi Coast

Christmas Markets in England
Holidays wouldn't be complete without a winter market experience

West Indian Labor Day Parade
A colourful and vibrant celebration of the Caribbean culture

Sled Dog Experience
Go for a ride with a team of huskies in a picturesque backcountry

Hazelnut Festival, or Fiera di a Nuciola in Cervione
A delicious festival to celebrate the hazelnut harvest

L'Escalade
Don't miss this original and colourful Swiss celebration in Geneva

Cuecas Mil
This is the only occasion to see a thousand Chilean national dances at one spectacle

Cherry Blossom
Cherry blossom festivities in Taiwan attract about 50,000 tourists every year

Thaipusam
Hindu devotees dance with heavy and prickly kavadis decorated with flowers and peacock feathers and pour life-giving milk to honour Murugan

Hangang Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
Every spring, about 1,700 King Cherry trees blossom on Yeouido Island in a spectacle not to be missed

Amsterdam Light Festival
Everything is illuminated around you. This is a period of Amsterdam beautifully transforming into a city from a fairy tale

Festival De Cannes
One of the world's biggest and most important events, the Cannes Film Festival in the French Riviera, speaks for itself

Sziget Festival
The island of freedom is where almost half-a-million people from around a hundred countries meet

Roskilde Festival
The largest music event in Northern Europe was inspired by Woodstock

New Year's Eve at Bayfront Park
If you visit Miami during the winter holidays, don't miss the biggest New Year's Eve celebration around

International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
Check out the largest hot air balloon festival in Canada with more than 125 balloons from all around the world

New Year Celebrations in Vágur
The festivities involve throwing torches on the wooden boats, carrying flags, putting up the gates, and singing

Cattle Descent (Cow Parade)
Celebration of the arguculture and the art of shepherding

Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival
Germans are totally into pumpkins. You can check it out at the largest pumpkin festival in the world

Rock in Rio Lisboa
One of the world's biggest music and entertainment festivals

Festa Ħut (Fish Festival)
Enjoy a day out by the sea in the scenic village of Marsaxlokk and savor some fresh fish

International Pillow Fight Day
If you see feathers all over the street, it's probably the International Pillow Fight Day, the fluffiest fight in the world

Fur Rondy
Run, Rudolph, run! This festival in Alaska offers a unique blend of winter fun and Alaskan tradition

Kadayawan Festival
A celebration of life and gratefulness—that's what this festival is about

Edinburgh Festival Fringe
A unique blend of thousands of known and less-known artists performing a wide variety of shows in smaller venues around the city

Westman Islands Camping Festival (Þjóðhátíð)
A great festival that mixes music, drinking, eating and a little romance

Holi Festival
If your life seems grey and you are looking for more color, check out Goa's Holi Festival

Grape Harvest and Wine Season
Visit the Canton of Valais or the famous region of Lavaux that boasts 830 hectares of terraced vineyards that stretch for almost 30 km along Lake Geneva

Halloween in Montreal
All the spooky, scary, and terrifying things to do in October

Makha Bucha Day
One of the holiest days for Buddhists, celebrates the day when 1250 disciples of Buddha gathered for his preaching. The holiday includes one of the most spectacular ceremonies in Buddhism

Huhu Grub
When Huhu beetle larvae are eaten with closed eyes, they may be easily confused with buttery chicken

Baden-Baden Christmas Market
Nestled in the mountains of the Black Forest, Baden-Baden is a true winter wonderland

Natale di Roma or Rome's Birthday
This spectacle of parades, fireworks, open museums, and exclusive natural illumination happens just once a year during Rome birthday party

Polyphonic Song Festival
A music festival which represents Corsica's cultural identity

Christmas Markets in Switzerland
Check out some of the most atmospheric Christmas fairs in Europe to get into the mood before the holidays

Menningarnótt
One of the most popular events that brings thousands of Icelanders to the capital of the country

Viking Festivals
The original setting and ancient Viking atmosphere makes you feel like a member of the warriors' camp

Toronto Caribbean Carnival or Caribana
Toronto invites lovers of Caribbean culture to the largest North American street festival of colorful traditions

Pain, Amour et Chocolat
If you have a great love affair with chocolate, you have to visit Bread, Love, and Chocolate Fair in Antibes for the Valentine's Day weekend

Dinant International Bathtub Regatta
The unusual Belgian water race attracts participants from all over the world

Festival de Barriletes Gigantes or Day of the Dead Kite Festival
Giant flamboyant hand-made kites embody the millennia-old tradition of communicating with the dead

State Fair of Texas
Visit one of the largest and longest-running fairs in Texas

Kanamara Matsuri
An interesting festival that celebrates fertility and openness that welcomes everyone!

Waitangi Day
Festivities introduce Māori culture, highlighting traditional underground oven cooking and tribal customs

Beer Festivals
Autumn is the best time to discover the beer culture of Belgium

Madeira Carnival in Funchal
Joyful parades and endless fun on the streets

Festival de Merengue (Merengue Festival) in Dominican Republic
This exciting and flirtatious dance plays a major role in the Dominican culture

BBC Proms
Enjoy eight weeks of world-class music in iconic venue at a reasonable price

Bronte Pistachio Season
When visiting Sicily, don't miss the opportunity to try "green gold"—pistachios

Burning of the Clavie
This Pagan feast may be erased from Gregorian calendar, but not from people's minds

Corpus Christi
It is a colorful ceremony parading through the streets of Cusco, celebrating both Catholic and Inca tradition

Hadaka Matsuri
Finally being nude brings some luck and fortune at this festival!

Cow Racing Festival
Marking the last day of Khmer year, the festival is dedicated to ancestors and is a mix of solemn peaceful celebration and full of adrenaline festive activities

Räbechilbi: Gourd-Lantern Parade in Richterswil
Step into a real Halloween atmosphere with this sparkling procession

Open Kitchen (Odprta Kuhna)
Experience freshly cooked delights by different Slovenian restaurants at the Friday food market in the heart of Ljubljana

Aloha Festivals
A dynamic celebration of Hawaiian culture and Aloha spirit

Tanjazz Festival
Whether you're a jazz buff or an amateur musician, this festival is the place to be

Ear-Shooting Festival (Mala-Ta-Ngia) of Bunun Tribe
Feel the spirit of the Bunon tribe during an interesting aboriginal ritual

Pi Mai or Songkran—Lao New Year & Water Festival
No fireworks or fancy family dinners, but rather a temple worship, splashing water, and street food

Fiesta de Santo Tomás
In honour of this Catholic Saint, Guatemalans perform a traditional indigenous dance

Beltane Fire Festival
Celebrate the arrival of summer in Scotland with music, bonfires, and uninhibited behaviour

Phuket Vegetarian Festival, or Nine Emperor Gods Festival
One of the most notorious festivals in Thailand that does not have that much common with vegetarianism

Liverpool Carnival
Come to celebrate samba and all things Brazil at Liverpool's Brazilica Festival

Chiang Mai Flower Festival
The celebration of the end of the cool season with plenty of flowers is one of the most colorful events of the year

Feria du Melon and Melon Season
Visit Cavaillon's most fragrant and sweet festival and taste some Charentais melons—a local speciality

Riti Settennali
A little medieval town of Guardia Sanframondi situated about 60 km from Naples, hosts the mystical medieval event every seven years

Lundakarnevalen or Lund Carnival
Lund is one of the most intense student towns of Sweden. Every four years its intensity and level of fun rise well above the maximum!

Fiesta del Gran Poder
The Lord delights in watching Bolivians trying to outdance one another to please the Gran Poder

Pétanque World Championship (Mondial La Marseillaise à Pétanque)
A sport in which the French are the ultimate champions

Seoul Lantern Festival
Over 100,000 vibrantly-coloured lanterns illuminate the Cheonggyecheon Stream

Dry Fish Rack
Plenty of unsalted cod is dried by cold spring winds and almost freezing temperatures on huge wooden racks

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
An unforgettable Taiwanese tradition in which thousands of bright lanterns light up the Pingxi sky!

Sapporo Snow Festival
A bit commercialized but this beautiful festival of snow statues is a winter highlight in Sapporo parks

BFI London Film Festival
This is a great event for the local and international film industry and a wonderful occasion to meet your favourite actors in person

Eis-zwei-Geissebei (Sausage Tossing)
An old pre-Carnival tradition from Rapperswil, near Lake Zurich

Cheval Passion
This equestrian event in Avignon is an elegant and original spectacle

Metropolitan Opera in the Parks
Beautiful opera music in the relaxed atmosphere during the Summer Recital Series

Millévin
A joyous and epicurean celebration of the arrival of the new Côtes du Rhône vintage

Els Enfarinats
Every year, the town of Ibi is seized by frantic soldiers who reestablish new justice with flour bombs, eggs, and firecrackers

Songpyeon
Chuseok, or the Korean Thanksgiving, will not be complete without traditional Songpyeon, Korea's special rice cakes

Vredefeesten Balloon Festival Sint-Niklaas
The weekend full of fun and hot air balloons at Grote Markt in Sint-Niklaas

Krakow New Year's Eve (Sylwester)
One of the largest annual events in Małopolska capital takes place at the central square