Cultural Festivals
Festivals are an essential form of cultural practices that entice people around the world to embrace the different arts, music, food and other practices from other cultures and countries.
They afford appreciation of different cultures and foster unity by creating active and colorful events. 2024 takes a number of colors that depict the cultural heritage, creativity and talent of people through the best festivals.
This article will assist you with the 5 Best Cultural Festivals to attend in 2024 if you fancy bright colors, stunning outfits, tasty foreign food and captivating music.
1. Sapporo Snow Festival, Japan
Said to be one of the biggest winter celebrations globally, Sapporo Snow Festival held in Hokkaido, Japan is estimated to attract close to 2 million domestic and international tourists in 2024. Taking place from February 4th to 11th every year, this Sapporo’s famous weeklong event turns Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome Site into the snow and ice kingdom.
Dog sledding and ice bar are other fun related to the winter season, particularly the husky breed of dogs. Go outside into the freezing weather to watch an impressive ice and snow carving festival which features sculptures of up to 13 meters in height and lighted beautifully for night viewing.
This event will have ice slides, snow rafting, concerts, food vends and shopping arcades. The Sapporo Snow Festival is a lot of fun and definitely you should visit it if you are planning to travel to Japan in 2024!
2. Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
It can be argued that the most famous beer festival in the world is Oktoberfest in Munich, which attracts more than 6 million people per year. In 2024 it stands from the middle of September to the first week of October.
You can feast on plenty of beer, pretzels, roast chicken or ‘Hendl’, ‘Schweinshaxe’ or grilled ham hock, roasted ox known as ‘Ochsenbraterei’, and many more; watch colorful parades, music, people wearing traditional costumes and other attractions like fun-fair with many stalls and rides.
Keep yourself dressed in your conventional traditional alpine costume of dirndl or lederhosen dress and consume beers from the original 14 Munich breweries in one-liter jars in the fourteen large beer-busting tents. Book early to attend one of the most popular cultural events in the world, the cultural festivals.
3. At right: Day of the Dead in Mexico
Probably one of the most distinct and traditional festivals of Mexico of ancient origin is the Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos that takes place on November 1 and 2.
Mexican families feast and party in order to welcome back the spirits of deceased relatives and friends using open displays of parades, colorful adornments, marimbas and other delicious food items such as sugar skulls, marigold flowers and many more.
Some of the places that one can experience these lively festivities are Janitzio Island which is in Michoacán, Oaxaca City in Oaxaca , Mixquic in Mexico City and San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato.
You could paint your face and dress like the characters in the traditions and participate in candlelight processions, eat some festive foods such as the pan de muerto (the bread of the dead), and taste the Mexican spirits such as tequila and pulque in one of the most colorful cultural events in Mexico.
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4. Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year Celebrations is another name for what is known as the Spring Festival, from the People’s Republic of China.
China has excellent celebrations of this Chinese New Year that may take about two weeks. According to the lunar calendar, this takes place in the first month of the lunar year, which in 2024 will be from 29th January to 6th February.
Some key events include the Chunyun which is the traveling season, spring festival travel rush, CCTV New Year’s Gala TV extravaganza, dragon and lion dance, firecrackers and red lanterns and decor, reunion feast and red envelope gifting tradition.
Enjoy the most exciting spectacles which include organized flower fairs, illuminations, floats and bazaars selling festive items in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chengdu and Guilin.
Taste some of the typical Chinese New Year foods such as prawn dumplings, the New Year cake called ‘Nian Gao’, sweet rice balls known as ‘tangyuan’ and many others in order to fully capture the essence of Chinese culture.
5. Rio Carnival
Rio Carnival is one of the most popular festivals of Rio de Janeiro situated in Brazil. Without a doubt, Rio Carnival is one of the largest and most colorful celebrations of this type in the world, and I highly recommend visiting it.
The Brazilian carnival occurs four days before Lent, either in February or March which is always a perfect time to party, enjoy samba street parades, pulsating music and dance from over 200 samba schools, bright and erotic costumes, Brazilian food and drink and exotic cocktail bars to keep the energy levels high throughout the day and night.
Such a show is best watched from beach districts like the Copacabana and Ipanema which are close to the heart of activity, or spend the big bucks for a bird’s eye view of the spectacle from the luxurious floats.
If you do not like crowds and noise, you can still enjoy the vibrant energy and the sultry Brazilian feeling that can be felt during the Carnival and which makes Rio famous all over the world.
Conclusion
Here are the top cultural festivals to watch out for in 2024 which should be on your calendar as you book for your tickets early enough to enjoy the spectacular traditional meals, music, art, and unity of community celebrations all spiced up by local energy.
From ice sculptures in Japan and beer in Munich to honoring loved ones in Mexico and samba dancing in Rio, there is a festival that will fill you with joy and lots of fun due to its display of cultural entertainment.
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