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
0 Comments