From religious ceremonies to spotlighting breakout bands, October is filled with a variety of festivals around the world. The changing colors in many places, along with cooler days, and the refreshing calm before the hectic holiday season draw locals and travelers to some of the world’s most famous – and obscure – events.
Festivals often showcase local and traditional music, dance, arts and crafts, and food. Attending a festival is one of the best ways to learn about local traditions, customs, cuisine, and values. Here’s a roundup of October festivals around the world.
Halloween
The greatest fall festival of them all, Halloween combines ghoulish decorations and elaborate costumes to make one of the biggest party nights of the year. Celebrated on October 31, Halloween is most popular in western regions, but other countries have embraced the fun-loving, spook-filled holiday in recent years, as well. In Hong Kong, Halloween focuses around an event called “Yue Lan,” or Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. People give gifts to the spirits of the dead to keep them happy. In Tokyo, costume contests and parades line the streets and malls, and dance clubs stay open all night. In the United States, small children go door to door in their neighborhoods in costumes to collect candy. The tradition is known as “trick or treating.”
Browse Halloween tours in the US
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest – New Orleans
Add this one to your music bucket list this season: The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest celebrates the sounds, sights, and tastes of New Orleans. With two stages featuring live blues, arts and crafts, food vendors, and traditional southern barbecue, it’s a true soul festival. Legendary blues artist and harmonica player James Cotton headlines this year’s festival. The festival takes place October 18-20 in Lafayette Square in New Orleans’ central business district. The event is sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and is free and open to the public. Find the full musical lineup online here.
Guinness Cork Jazz Fest – Ireland
With over 400 performances in more than 60 venues throughout the city, an array of street bands, and fringe events, the three-day Guinness Cork Jazz Fest transforms Cork into a musical set, with live instruments, singers, and feet tapping, hip swaying numbers. The 2013 talent includes Portico Quartet with renowned Swedish vocalist Cornelia, Courtney Pine, and Dean Brown – a famous American guitarist. Today, more than 40,000 people from all over the world come to Cork to celebrate. Internationally famous jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, and Lionel Hampton have performed at the Cork festival. The 2013 festival takes place October 25-28.
Chicago Marathon
Chicago Marathon. Photo credit: Benjamin Lipsman via Flickr.
On Sunday, October 13, over 40,000 runners will gather in Grant Park in Chicago and wait for the signal start running. The Chicago Marathon is one of top six world marathons, known as World Marathon Majors, alongside Boston, New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo marathons. Runners come from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The athletes will run through 29 of Chicago’s neighborhoods. The course is known as a “fast” race for being mostly flat, drawing runners looking to best their own personal times. If you’re not ready to run 26.2 miles, bring a sign and a loud voice and join the enthusiastic crowds that line the course to cheer on and congratulate the runners.
Read more: Tips for Visiting During the Chicago Marathon
Dijon International and Gastronomic Fair (“Foire Internationale et Gastronomique”)
Known for its mustard of the same name, Dijon is the capital of the Burgundy (Bourgogne) District. The sophisticated, cosmopolitan city hosts the annual Dijon International and Gastronomic Fair, an elite food, wine, home, and leisure event that caters to industry professionals and interested public. One of the top ranked food fairs in France, the festival expects to draw 200,000 visitors this year, as well as 600 exhibitors. Special events include cooking demonstrations, chef competitions, wine workshops, and of course, food and wine, to taste and purchase. The festival will take place October 31 – November 11, 2013 at the Parc des Expositions, Congress and Exhibition Center in Dijon, located 90 minutes from Paris by high speed train.
Iceland Airwaves
Iceland Airwaves. Photo credit: Þorgils Völundarson via Flickr.
Do the bands Of Monsters and Men, Ratatat, or Fatboy Slim sound familiar? Some of today’s emerging international stars got their start at Iceland Airwaves, an annual music festival held in Reykjavik, Iceland devoted to finding and showcasing up-and-coming talent. It’s one of the world’s downright coolest festivals: it started in 1999 in an airplane hangar at Reykjavik Airport. The festival is known for its laid back, party spirit, packed with enthusiastic, welcoming fans and industry representatives looking for the next big act. There are more than 30 music venues with over 400 performances throughout the city – including in book stores, chapels, stores, cafes, and street corners during the five day festival. The 2013 festival will be held October 30 – November 3.
Albuquerque International Balloon Festival
Albuquerque International Balloon Festival. Photo credit: nicolicreer via Flickr.
For 10 days in October, the skies above Albuquerque, New Mexico come alive with hot air balloons of every color, size, and shape. A whimsical and one-of-a-kind event, the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival draws thousands of people from around the globe – from hot-air balloon enthusiasts to spectactors. The festival features flying competitions, special-shaped balloons, and the main attraction – a spectacular mass ascension of hot-air balloons. The balloons launch at the 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park. While balloons float above, a ground festival takes place with entertainers, food, fireworks, and various contests. This is a great festival for spectators of all ages, especially families and kids. The 2013 festival takes place October 5-13.
Círio de Nazaré – Belém, Brazil
Cirio de Nazare. Photo credit: Celso Abreu via Flickr.
One of the largest Catholic processions in Brazil and around the world, over two million people join Círio de Nazaré, a celebration of and pilgrimage for the Virgin Mary. The festival takes place in in Belém, where pilgrims walk 3.6 kilometers from the Cathedral to the Nazaré Basilica. The spectacular procession is marked by intense emotion and devotion. In conjunction with the walk, hundreds of boats participate in a water procession. The festival takes place October 14-17, 2013.
Fantasy Fest Key West
If you’re looking for a street party that rivals Mardi Gras in New Orleans, head to Key West, Florida for Fantasy Fest. The 10-day celebration includes balls, a parade, costume competitions, body painting, drag queen contests, and costume parties and draws over 100,000 people. One of the highlights of the festival is the naming of the Conch King and Queen. Derived from the local Key West nickname “Conchs,” the King and Queen are decided based on who raises the most money in a fundraising competition for AIDS Help, an organization that assists individuals with HIV. Thousands of dollars in prize money are up for grabs in the costume contests. This 2013 festival is held the last week of October, and the theme is “Superheroes, Villains, and Beyond.”
Vegetarian Festival – Thailand
Thailand Vegetarian Festival. Photo credit: Binder.donedat via Flickr.
From eschewing meat and embracing values of honesty and practicing good deeds to impaling cheeks and piercing skin, the Vegetarian Festival in Thailand is a traditional religious and cultural celebration. Rooted in Chinese traditions, the festival is held in Thai cities with large Chinese populations, particularly in Phuket. It’s closely associated with the Chinese Nine Emperor Gods festival and honors the “mah song,” or people with the spirit of the gods in them. The mah song walk on coals and pierce their skin while in a trance and have little bleeding or scarring after. In 2013, the festival is estimated to be held during October 5-13.
Frankfurt Book Fair
Frankfurt Book Fair. Photo credit: Danny Sullivan via Flickr.
Discover new trends in publishing and emerging literature at the Frankfurt Book Fair. It’s the world’s largest trade fair for books, baed on the number of publishing companies represented and the number of visitors. It’s also the world’s most important book fair for international deals and trading. There over over 7,000 exhibitors from over 100 and more than 286,000 visitors. History abounds at this fair, begun over 500 years ago to the time of Johannes Gutenberg’s inventions. Every year the festival highlights an international country’s literature; Brazil has been chosen for 2013. This year the festival runs October 9-13, with the first three days reserved for industry-only and the last two open to the public.
Dasain – Nepal
A 15-day long national religious festival in Napal, Dasain honors the goddess Durga with offerings, community gatherings, and even animal sacrifices. Dasain celebrates the victories of the goddess over demons and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Nepalese people around the world gather where they are to pay respect, and many return to Nepal. It’s the longest and most important festival in the Nepalese calendar. All government offices and schools are closed during the festival period. The festival runs October 5-19, 2013.
Jambay Ihakhang Drup in Bumthang – Bhutan
Jambay Ihakhang Drup. Photo credit: Zachary Collier via Flickr.
Jampa Ihakhang is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, located in Bumthang. Founded by a Tibetan King in the 7th century, the temple was built to appease and subdue a demoness said to live in the mountains. The site is recognized as sacred across the country. Relics reside inside the temple, including a Buddha state and more than 100 statues of the gods of Kalachakra. The festival of Jambay Ihakhang Drop takes place near the temple, and is internationally known for its fire rituals. A naked dance takes place around the fire displays. The festival lasts for five days; in 2013 it will take place October 18-22.
Insomnia Festival – Norway
The sun rarely sets during October in Norway, providing a great backdrop for all night music and dance parties. The named Insomnia Festival is the largest and most important electronic music festival in Norway and takes place in the city Torso. The name stems from a Norwegian movie of the same name – eventually made into an American remake, also of the same name. The festival targets clubbers but also includes seminars, workshops, and exhibitions around Techno Culture. The 2013 festival takes place October 24-26.
Loi Krathong – Thailand
Loi Krathong. Photo credit: Tim Gerland via Flickr.
Loi Krathong loosely translates to “Floating Crown” or “Floating Decoration” and describes ornate floating containers called “krathong.” Traditional krathong are made from banana trees or spider lily plants. Modern versions are often made from bread or styrofoam. The floats are decorated with banana leaves, incense sticks, and candles. On the night of the full moon in the 12th month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar, the floats are released into local rivers, lakes, and ponds. The beautiful festival is celebrated annually throughout Thailand and parts of Laos and Burma. In 2013, it’s anticipated that the festival will fall between November 15-18.
Treasure Island Music Fest – San Francisco
View of SF from the Treasure Island Music Festival. Photo credit: Helena Price via Flickr.
Music festival enthusiasts describe Treasure Island Music Fest in San Francisco as an intimate, laid back event with excellent music options and plenty of standing and sitting room. It’s a small two-day festival that brings in relatively well-known musical acts. The festival is held on Treasure Island where bands play against a backdrop of palm trees and the San Francisco skyline. A free shuttle service is provided. The music festival takes place October 19-20, 2013.
-Cyndi Waite
Festivals Around the World in October by Cyndi Waite from Viator Travel Blog