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8 of the world’s most colourful festivals
The brightest and boldest events worth travelling for
From the Hindu festival of Holi in India to Madeira’s bright and beautiful Flower Festival, here are some of the world’s most vibrant celebrations you can attend on a festival holiday.
Whether you're looking to celebrate a major event such as the Japanese cherry blossom (which occurs for only a few weeks each year), or take to a European city for a short break during a wonderful light festival – like Lyon's Fete des Lumieres – these holidays will add entertainment, colour and unforgettable memories to your next escape.
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Holi, India - 9th to 10th March 2020
The Hindu festival of Holi marks the arrival of spring, with bright bonfires lit on the eve of the festival to signify the victory of good over evil.
During the festivities people cover each other in colourful powder, while lovers paint their faces the same shade in celebration of Holi and the love between deities Krishna and Radha - Krishna feared he would be rejected by Radha because of their different skin tones.
After inviting her to paint his face any colour she wished, the two fell in love!
Fete des Lumieres, Lyon – 5th to 8th December 2019
Each December, Lyonnais artists create enchanting light installations to illuminate the city’s Renaissance facades, parks and squares.
To win the trophy, artists compete on inspired creations, using geometry, imagination, satire and lots of colour. Past installations include a child’s bedroom scene, in which real-life statues appeared to be toy soldiers and vehicles resembled toy cars against a giant illuminated ferris wheel in Place Bellecour.
Madeira Flower Festival – Spring 2020
Another vibrant festival celebrating the excitement of spring, the Madeira Flower Festival takes place in May as the flowers begin to bloom. Children in beautiful floral costumes parade the streets of Funchal, each carrying a flower to be placed on the ‘Wall of Hope’ - made entirely out of flowers.
Flower carpets and floats sail down Avenida Arriaga and kiosks sell a range of bouquets, embroidery and traditional food and drinks. This a day to celebrate nature and culture, and the technicoloured parades make it a photographer’s dream.
Hanami, Japan – Between March and May
The enchanting cherry blossom festival is celebrated all over Japan as soon as the cherry and plum trees begin to flower in the spring. Families, friends and colleagues picnic beneath sheets of pastel-hued blossoms, tucking into artistic, floral-themed bento.
During the festival, a particularly popular treat are pink mochi desserts, sweetened balls of rice paste wrapped in pickled cherry leaves. It is said that hanami dates back over a thousand years, to when aristocrats celebrated the flowers with poetry and parties in the temples of feudal lords.
Celebrate hanami in Japan in 2021 with Good Housekeeping Holidays
Mardi Gras, New Orleans – 25th February 2020
Mardi Gras is a time of mischief and burlesque and for this reason it’s been banned multiple times over the years. Major parades are held daily, as well as masquerade balls, while music, dance and colourful costumes fill the streets.
Cross dressing plays an important part in the huge celebration where people of different colours, sexualities and professions can express themselves and delight in the weird and wonderful.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, UK – 6th to 9th August 2020
Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons is a completely free festival, with punters travelling from all over to marvel at balloons floating over Ashton Court, near the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Special events include trade stands, fairground rides and the ‘special shape’ balloons launch. Favourites in this category have included a Tesco trolley-shaped balloon, a Rupert Bear imitation and even a Bertie Bassett mascot.
Some of the balloons even arrive from abroad for this spectacular fiesta and a highlight of the event is the Nightglow, when balloons are inflated after dark, glowing and floating to a musical soundtrack.
Chinese New Year, Hong Kong – 25th January 2020
Although celebrated differently throughout China and around the world, colourful decorations are a key part of any Lunar New Year celebration.
Red and gold feature heavily: windows and doors are decorated with red paper cut-outs and bunting, red signs painted in Chinese calligraphy adorn doorways and money is gifted in red paper envelopes.
Elaborate decorations are also made out of plants and flowers - bamboo, sunflowers, narcissus and kumquats each symbolise something different. Perhaps the most iconic symbols of the festival are the brightly coloured lanterns and the costumed dragon dance.
Venice Carnival, Italy – 8th to 25th February 2020
We’ve all seen the intricately-painted masks that tell us it’s carnival season in Venice. Alongside a range of masked balls, tourists can attend a festival on the water featuring a floating parade of gondolas and animations projected onto the walls of the city.
Street shows include ‘The Flight of the Eagle’ and ‘The Flight of the Lion’ in which a dancer dressed as an eagle and a large canvas of the San Marco Lion ‘fly’ up to the bell tower in a spectacular display of colour over the audience in the square below.
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