Seasonal discoveries
Events & Festivals
Discover travel events, festivals, and cultural celebrations around the world.111 events
Cultural experiences
5 events
Date pending official confirmation
Bonfire Night Guy Fawkes
Bonfire Night, also called Guy Fawkes Night, is an annual British commemoration rooted in the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Guy Fawkes was arrested on 5 November while guarding explosives intended to destroy the House of Lords and assassinate King James I and Parliament. News of the king’s survival prompted bonfires in London, a tradition that developed into a national observance. Visitors may experience bonfires, fireworks and Guy Fawkes effigies at local celebrations, and may encounter bonfire toffee, a treacle-flavoured seasonal treat. Events and arrangements vary, so check current official dates and details before travelling.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Day of the Dead
In Mexico, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a traditional multi-day holiday, generally observed on November 1 and 2, although local customs may include other dates. Families and friends gather to remember relatives and friends who have died, often sharing humorous stories and memories. Visitors may encounter calaveras, cempasúchil marigolds, home altars known as ofrendas, and favorite foods and drinks prepared in honor of the deceased. Grave visits may also form part of the observance. The tradition reflects both Indigenous Mexican influences and the Christian Allhallowtide season. Customs vary by locality, so check current official dates and local arrangements before planning.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
German Christmas Markets
In Germany, Christmas markets—Weihnachtsmärkte—are a cherished Advent custom, held during the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Their roots reach back to the late Middle Ages in the German-speaking world, and the tradition became especially popular during the Reformation era. Visitors can explore festive street markets, often arranged around a town square, and enjoy food, drinks, and the seasonal atmosphere. Each market reflects its town while sharing this broader cultural tradition. Because opening periods and local arrangements can vary, check current official dates and practical details before travelling.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Pushkar Camel Fair
The Pushkar Camel Fair is an annual, multi-day livestock fair and cultural celebration in Pushkar, Rajasthan, one of India’s largest gatherings for camels, horses, and cattle. It begins in the Hindu month of Kartik and concludes around Kartik Purnima, usually in late October or early November. Visitors can see livestock trading, camel races, dances, team tug-of-war, and lively competitions, while pilgrims gather at sacred Pushkar Lake for bathing and worship. The fair blends commerce, local traditions, and Hindu pilgrimage in a colourful desert-town setting. Check current official dates and arrangements before travelling, as timing follows the lunar calendar.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Yi Peng Lantern Festival
Yi Peng, or the Northern Thai Lantern Festival, is a traditional Lan Na celebration in northern Thailand, deeply rooted in Theravada Buddhism. Most closely associated with Chiang Mai, it unfolds over three days and culminates on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar, usually in November. Its signature sight is the release of thousands of khom loi, or sky lanterns, believed to carry away misfortune and send wishes toward the heavens. Yi Peng is distinct from, but celebrated concurrently with, Thailand’s national Loy Krathong festival. Visitors can experience the lantern-filled atmosphere in Chiang Mai; check current official dates and arrangements before planning.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn moreFestivals
9 events
Date pending official confirmation
Deepavali (Malaysia)
Deepavali, Malaysia’s Hindu festival of lights, celebrates the spiritual triumph of dharma over adharma, light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Known widely as Diwali, it is observed in Hindu traditions and has related forms in Jainism and Sikhism. The festival falls during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika, usually from around mid-October to mid-November, and celebrations generally continue for five or six days. Visitors can experience the atmosphere of a significant religious and cultural holiday in Malaysia, while respecting local observances. Dates and public-holiday arrangements can vary, so check current official dates and arrangements before travelling.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Deepavali (Singapore)
Deepavali, Singapore’s celebration of the Hindu Festival of Lights, reflects a tradition whose name and customs vary across Indian religions and communities. Diwali symbolises the spiritual victory of dharma over adharma, light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It is generally observed over five or six days between around mid-October and mid-November, according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar. In Singapore’s diverse cultural setting, visitors can use the occasion to explore the festival’s religious meaning and its associations with figures such as Rama, Lakshmi and Ganesha. Local activities and arrangements may vary, so check current official dates and details before visiting.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Diwali Festival of Lights
Diwali, naturally known as the Festival of Lights, is one of India’s major celebrations. Primarily Hindu, it is also observed in Jain and Sikh traditions, and symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Celebrations generally last five or six days between around mid-October and mid-November. Depending on the region, traditions may recall Rama’s return to Ayodhya or honor Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity. Visitors may see homes illuminated with clay lamps, colorful rangoli designs, fireworks, shared sweets, and family worship. Check current official dates and local arrangements before planning your visit.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Tihar Festival of Lights
Tihar, Nepal’s five-day Festival of Lights, is a Hindu celebration honoring crows, dogs, cows, and oxen on successive days before turning to Laxmi puja. Homes and streets glow with oil lamps, creating a warm atmosphere of devotion and welcome. Visitors may encounter Deusi and Bhailo, traditional singing customs in which groups go door to door performing songs in exchange for blessings and gifts. The festival is commonly held between October and November, though the timing follows the lunar calendar. Check current official dates and local arrangements before planning your visit.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Athens Marathon
The Athens Classic Marathon is an annual road race in Greece, normally held in early November, and often serving as the country’s national marathon championship. Its 42.195-kilometre course reflects the legendary run from Marathon to Athens after the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE. The Marathon Flame is lit at the battle’s tomb and carried to the stadium in Marathon before the races begin. Visitors may follow the marathon atmosphere, while participants can also find concurrent 5- and 10-kilometre races and a racewalking contest. An international marathon symposium is held the day before. Check current official dates and arrangements before planning your visit.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Christmas Season
Singapore’s Christmas season is a festive period generally running from November or December into early January, encompassing Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. For visitors, the experience is centred on festive decorations, with Christmas window displays and tree-lighting ceremonies among the customary traditions associated with the season in various places. Christmas also carries Christian cultural meaning, while gift-giving makes this a particularly active period for retail. The season extends beyond Christmas Day itself, although its exact local timing and arrangements may vary. Check current official dates and arrangements before planning your visit.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is Thailand’s annual festival of floating krathong—small, decorated baskets or ritual vessels—on rivers and other waterways. Many Thai people use the act to express thanks to Khongkha, the Goddess of Water and Rivers. The tradition reflects Thailand’s layered cultural heritage, including local customs and Hindu-Brahmanical and Buddhist influences, with roots reaching back to the Angkorian period. It is held on the evening of the full moon in the twelfth month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar, usually in November, so the Western date changes each year. Visitors can experience the sight of illuminated krathong drifting on the water. Check current official dates and local arrangements before travelling.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Seoul Lantern Festival
Seoul Lantern Festival is a winter celebration of light in Seoul, South Korea. Visitors can see illuminated lanterns and outdoor light installations, browse a Christmas market, and take part in experience programs. The event once ran for about two weeks in November beside Cheonggyecheon Stream; since 2022, it has shifted to a longer December presentation at Gwanghwamun Plaza. It offers an atmospheric way to enjoy Seoul’s winter evenings and the city’s contemporary festival culture. The timing and arrangements can change, so check the current official dates and details before planning your visit.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Water Festival Bon Om Touk
Bon Om Touk, Cambodia’s Water and Moon Festival, is a three-day celebration marking the end of the monsoon season and the seasonal change in the flow of the Tonlé Sap River. Usually held in late October or early November, it brings dragon-boat races to the Sisowath Quay riverfront, along with fireworks and evening concerts. Visitors can watch the racing, enjoy the festive riverside atmosphere, and experience one of Cambodia’s major public celebrations, where very large crowds are common. The exact timing can vary each year, so check current official dates and arrangements before travelling.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn morePublic holidays
3 events
Date pending official confirmation
National Day Golden Week
National Day Golden Week is China’s extended public holiday beginning around October 1, the country’s National Day. It commemorates the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Usually lasting seven consecutive days, it can extend to eight when the Mid-Autumn Festival falls nearby, with surrounding weekends adjusted to create the break. The period was designed partly to support domestic tourism and long-distance family visits. Visitors can expect greatly heightened travel activity, including busy journeys to destinations across the country. Check current official dates and local travel arrangements before planning, as the holiday calendar may vary.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Turkish Republic Day
Turkish Republic Day, known locally as Cumhuriyet Bayramı, is Turkey’s public holiday commemorating the proclamation of the Republic on 29 October 1923. Celebrations begin at 1:00 pm on 28 October and continue for 35 hours, creating an extended period of national remembrance and public festivity. Visitors may encounter solemn commemorations honoring Atatürk alongside grand ceremonies, military parades, cultural events, and fireworks in cities across Turkey. Public spaces can feel especially lively and patriotic. Because schedules and arrangements may vary, check current official dates, local programs, transport information, and access details before travelling.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn more
Date pending official confirmation
Thanksgiving Day
In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is a national federal holiday held on the fourth Thursday of November. It grew from traditions of giving thanks for the harvest and the preceding year, with roots in religious and cultural practices, and is now widely observed as a secular occasion. Families and friends commonly gather for Thanksgiving dinner. Visitors in New York City may also experience the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an annual Manhattan procession watched by spectators in person and on television, ending near Macy’s Herald Square. Check current official dates, parade arrangements, and local holiday opening hours before planning your visit.
Data updated: 2026-07-08Learn moreSeasonal experiences
1 events
Related reading