These are some autumn destinations that is recommended for visiting during fall 2020 season, if you wish to attend one of these world-renowned festivals:

  


Day of the Dead – Mexico –  Late October

Is a Mexican holiday celebrated by Mexicans and it focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. In this festival, people honor the dead with lively celebrations, local food, parade masks and more.

  


Oktoberfest Germany 18 September – 03 October

 Held annually in Germany, it is a festival running from late September to the beginning of October. Millions of people from around the world attend event every year and variants of the festival has spread to other countries like Belgium, Holland and England among others, where people meet to listen and sing traditional music accompanied with German food and lots of soft drinks.

 


 Festival of Lights – Diwali – India  30 October – 3 November

 As the Hindu god Rama returns home from battle and exile, believers everywhere light oil lamps to show him the way. This “festival of light” is the most significant event on the Indian calendar – akin to Christmas in the West – marking the end of the harvest season with feasts, gifts and prayers. Homes are festooned with jasmine flowers and candles, while vibrantly coloured sands shaped like lotus flowers form welcome mats for visitors. Women wear their best and most colourful saris, and fireworks brighten the darkness of night. Though originally an ancient religious festival, Diwali is celebrated by even the non-observant who mark the occasion as a time of post-harvest abundance, renewal and inner enlightenment – and foreign visitors are heartily invited to do the same.

 This celebration includes millions of lights shining outside doors and windows, around temples, buildings and houses in the communities. Is one of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness.

 


 Moon Festival China Mid of Autumn September – October

 Is a festival celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese and others, and is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night. Modern celebrations include different activities such as the preparation of typical local dishes including ‘moon cake’, lighting lanterns and other games and activities.

 


 International Balloon Fiesta United States – USA  02 – 10 October

 This annual festival is the largest of its kind in the world and takes place in Albuquerque, USA. Usually attracting over 500 balloons each year, it creates spectacular views not only from the air, but also from the ground.

 


 Halloween Parade United States – NY – USA 31 October

 Every year, thousands of people wearing creative costumes, parade up Sixth Avenue. So if you love costumes and want to enjoy a reunion of witches, zombies, clowns, giant puppets and others, the Big Apple is an excellent option for this autumn.

 


 Floating Lantern Festival Thailand  31 October – 01 November

 Also called Loi Krathong, it  takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In this event you can see lights from hundreds of candles twinkle on the water, as they float down rivers and streams.

 


 Masskara Festival  Philippines 4th Sunday of October

 The annual festival features a street dance competition as well as the Masskara queen beauty pageant, carnivals, concerts, food festivals, sports events and others.

 


 Guy Fawkes Day United Kingdom 05 November

 Also known as bonfire night, it is a celebration held in the United Kingdom to commemorate the failure on November 5, 1605, of Guido Fawkes and conspirators when they attempted to destroy the palace of Westminster. Celebrations take place across the country and includes fireworks and bonfires. Typical dishes such as toffee apples, jacket potatoes, bonfire toffee are often eaten.

 


 Nuit Blanche France 03 October

 A Nuit Blanche is an annual all-night arts festival that have museums, art galleries, and other cultural institutions open and free of charge. Although this tradition began in France, it has expanded to other countries such as Canada, Belgium and others.

 


 Matchmaking Festival – Lisdoonvarna Ireland 2 September – 9 October

 If you’re single and ready to mingle, Lisdoonvarna (or Lisdoon, for short) is the place to be. This Matchmaking Festival boasts a history nearly 150 years old, harking back to when fellows from the surrounding farmlands would come to town in search of ladies to woo. Today’s event features speed-dating, pub crawls, barn dances, horse racing and lots of business for the legendary local matchmaker, Willie Daly, who is said to have hooked up hundred of lovebirds. Not single? Not a problem. The curious antics of mating Europeans prove that dating can also be a spectator sport.

 


 Newcastle Arts Festival  Australia 29 September – 02 October

 Performances, exhibitions, screenings, workshops, panels. Artists, thinkers, writers, musicians, filmmakers. You want it, this festival’s got it. The programme is all over the place – in a good way – fostering creativity and enlightenment through art that’s nothing if not thought-provoking.

 


 Lake of stars – Mangochi Malawi 30 September – 2 October

 A music festival with a heart, Lake of Stars is as much about helping people and improving the local economy as it is about providing a transformative experience for festival-goers. By increasing tourism to the small country and offering investments of time and money – from donations of ticket sales benefitting flood relief efforts, to attendees volunteering with partner charities like the MicroLoan Foundation – the festival is dedicated to improving the lives of Malawians. For visitors, it offers a lineup of Western and African acts, along with a side programme of poetry readings, workshops, theatre performances and film screenings, plus a beautiful lake setting for water sports and mesmerising sunrises. We call that a win-win-win.

 


 Concurs de Castells Tarragona  Spain 1 – 2 October

 Catch Catalonia’s fabled human towers in action at this annual competition, pitting 32 tower teams against one another for who can create the tallest and most difficult-to-build human constructions. The art of the human tower dates back to the 18th century, when a traditional Valencian dance began taking on a new dimension. Today climbers, barefoot and sporting sashes (faixa) around their torsos for back support, create towers 9 stories high, each crowned by a small child called the enxaneta, or rider. The tower competition is the main event, but Catalan culture is also on display in many ways, including parades, music, street performances and concerts.

 


 London Cocktail Week London UK 03 – 09 October

 Cocktail lovers are always at home in buzzing London, but rarely more so than during the annual London Cocktail Week. A €10 pass gives visitors access to discounted meals and €5 cocktails at more than 250 restaurants across the city, not to mention curated cocktail tours, masterclasses, paired meals and entry into the self-contained cocktail village in Old Spitalfields Market. Bottoms up.

 


 Festival du Nouveau Cinéma Montréal Canada 5 – 16 October

 Film buffs, pack your bags. You’re going to Montreal. This 44-year-old festival prides itself not only on past triumphs (such as helping launch the careers of names like Jane Campion and Spike Lee), but also on its ability to stay at the top of its game year after year. Expect an onslaught of the avant-garde, featuring over 300 films as well as conferences, art installations, cocktail parties, performances and “transmedia projects” – we’re not entirely sure what that last one is, but it’s guaranteed to be pretty cool.

 


Rocking The Daisies Darling South Africa 6 – 9 October

 Come for the rocking indie and EDM beats emanating from the 9 stages, stay for the sense of camaraderie, the ultra-laid-back atmosphere and the scenic location: the Western Cape winelands an hour north of Cape Town. How to get there? You could drive or take the bus, but more sporty types should consider walking or cycling the 65 kms – made easy by joining the organised “Walking the Daisies” and “Cycling the Daisies” events, the proceeds of which support efforts to make the event as eco-friendly as possible.

 


 Filmekimi Istanbul  Turkey 7 – 16 October

 Didn’t catch Sundance or Cannes? No worries, just grab a seat for one of the many screenings at Istanbul’s premiere film festival. Expect to see all the raved-about movies of the festival year so far, all in one place.

 

 

Halifax Pop Explosion Halifax Canada 21 – 24 October

 Rarely do events named “Explosion” live up to the hype, but Halifax is another story. Part culture conference, part industry meet-up, and entirely musical blowout showcasing talents from home and abroad, this is a musical happening that’s sure to win you some “you went there?” cool points from those in the know.

 


Amsterdam Dance Event Amsterdam, Netherlands 19 – 23 October

 The Conference (panels and meet-ups for industry movers and shakers) combines with the Festival (hundreds of electronic dance music events throughout the city, hosted by DJ’s both celebrated and incipient) and the Playground (an extensive peripheral programme of film screenings, art shows and pop-up cinemas, galleries and shops) for an event that takes the electro dance club lifestyle to a whole new level.

 


La Fiesta des Suds Marseille France 20-22 October

 Slowly shedding its rough industrial mantle, Marseille is coming into its own as a seaside destination with a penchant for the artistic. Settle in at this dockyard venue for an eclectic lineup of live music acts along with art exhibitions, kids’ activities and, of course, plenty of that fine French fare.

  


Frankfurt Book Fair Frankfurt, Germany 19-23 October

 The place to be for book lovers, book sellers, book writers and anyone with a passion for the written word. This 500-year-old event holds a place of honour as the world’s most important book fair, hosting more than 7,000 exhibitors from 100 countries, not to mention nearly 300,000 annual visitors. The first 3 days are for business and industry only, but the public is invited to attend the last 2 days, which are filled with book signings, readings and perusing thousands of new and exciting titles.

 


 Polar Circle Marathon Kangerlussuaq, Greenland 29 – 30 October

 When they say this is “the coolest marathon on earth”, they’re really not joking – join the world’s craziest/most determined joggers at the one of world’s northernmost points for 42 kilometres of ice, ice, baby.

 


The Festival of the Dead Salem Massachusetts 01 – 31 October

 Salem, known for its infamous 17th-century witch hunt, is still cloaked with an aura of magic and mystique, so it’s quite fitting that October marks the month-long Festival of the Dead celebrating the supernatural, concluding on Halloween.

 


Rubber Duck Race Germany 05 October

 Yes, you read that correctly. Each year, around 7,000 rubber duckies “gather” in Tübingen to “race” in the Neckar River. Want to join in on the fun? It’s open to anyone who has a rubber duck. Otherwise, you can rent one (or as many as you want) for 3€ (each) — just make sure to write your name on the duck. The race takes about 45 minutes and the winner receives a €1,000 voucher while the runners-up are also shown some prize love.

 


Republic Day , Portugal 05 October

 This annual holiday commemorates the end of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic in 1910. The government holds a few ceremonial events, but overall, the national holiday offers the Portuguese a 24-hour reprieve from the daily grind.

 


 Nagasaki Kunchi Festival  Japan 07 – 09 October

 This 400-year-old festival celebrates the multicultural history of Nagasaki, incorporating Dutch influences as a nod to the city’s time as a Dutch colony.

 


The Círio de Nazaré Brazil 13 October

 Two million people participate in this festival in Belém dedicated to Our Lady of Nazareth. Fireworks, processions, flowers and good time mark the occasion.

 


The World Series, America 22 October

 While the teams still have yet to be decided as do the cities, one thing is for sure: Major League Baseball’s leading American and National League teams will face off for the 115th edition of the World Series. The first pitch will be tossed on October 22 to mark the start of at least four (seven max) games.

 Wherever you travel to, do not forget to have travel medical insurance that covers you and your family in case something happens.’

 For more information feel free to contact the author suhairanwarkhan@gmail.com

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