Introduction
If you’re looking for the next great festival experience, you don’t have to go far. In fact, many of the best festivals happen right here in Europe! Here are some of our favorites:
Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival and the largest fair in the world. It is held annually at the Theresienwiese venue within two weeks before the first Sunday of October.
The festival has its roots in a wedding celebration for Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig, who married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. It was originally named Oktoberfest as it was held from 1810 to 1817 on this date (the first 4 years were held at another location). In 1818 it was moved to September, where it has remained ever since.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland
If you’re looking for a festival that’s bigger, better and more exciting than any other art or music festival in the world, look no further than Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Founded in 1947, it has grown to become the largest arts festival in the world with over 30000 performers participating each year. This amazing event takes place from August 2nd through 30th at various venues across Edinburgh city center.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival was established by Jock Troup who was inspired by his experiences at an international theatre festival held in Venice during World War II (1939-1945). After returning home he set out to create an equivalent event on British soil but with a focus on comedy rather than drama as well as having less restrictions regarding content and style (such as nudity).
Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world and has been held annually since 1932. It’s held every year in Venice, Italy and attracts huge crowds from all over the world to watch some of Hollywood’s biggest stars walk down red carpets.
As well as being a great place for movie enthusiasts, it’s also an opportunity for visitors to enjoy beautiful architecture and stunning views of iconic landmarks like St Mark’s Basilica or Piazza San Marco (the main square).
Winter Carnival in Harbin, China
If you’re looking for a winter festival that’s as large and spectacular as the one in Harbin, China is the place to go. Held annually in February, this festival features ice sculptures, snow sculptures and a parade of illuminated ice lanterns. The highlight of this event is its more than 1 million tourists each year who come to see these incredible displays of artistry.
Notting Hill Carnival in London, England
Notting Hill Carnival is a Caribbean festival that takes place on the streets of Notting Hill. It’s one of the biggest street parties in Europe, with hundreds of thousands of people attending each year.
The highlight of the event is its parade on Sunday afternoon, which sees floats and people dressed in colourful costumes marching along Portobello Road and around Hyde Park Corner before heading back down Kensington High Street towards Westbourne Park Road. The parade also features bands playing soca music (a type of music originating from Trinidad and Tobago) as well as steel pan bands (a type of band made up mostly by percussion instruments).
Jazz Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana
Jazz Fest is a free 10-day festival held annually in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the largest music festival in the United States and second largest in the world (after Belgium’s Tomorrowland). The first Jazz Fest was held in 1970 at Congo Square Park once per year, but has since moved to its permanent home at Louis Armstrong Park on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain where it takes place over two weekends each April.
The festival features music from all genres: jazz; R&B; blues; gospel; Cajun/zydeco; folk/world beat/international fusion (Afrobeat!). There are also food booths selling everything from crawfish etouffees to jambalaya pasta bowls–and that’s not even including all of their delicious desserts! You’ll find yourself walking around with a full belly before long if you aren’t careful!
Oktoberfest in Munich is the world’s largest beer festival and the largest fair in the world. It is held annually at the Theresienwiese venue within two weeks before the first Sunday of October.
The world’s largest beer festival is Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. The event is held annually on the first Sunday in October and runs for 16 days.
Theresienwiese, a large public square next to the Bavarian State Opera, has been used as an open-air venue for many large-scale events such as festivals since 1810. In 1811, it was converted into a race course for horses by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (author of Faust). In 1840/41 it became home to an agricultural show that eventually developed into what we know today: Oktoberfest!
You don’t have to go home to enjoy a good festival.
Europe is full of festivals, some of which are more interesting than others. The good news is that you don’t have to travel far from home in order to enjoy a good festival experience.
The best way to find out about these European fests? Look them up on TripAdvisor or your favorite travel website, or ask friends who have been before about their experiences at the event.
Conclusion
We hope this list has inspired you to travel outside of your comfort zone and go see some of these amazing festivals. If you’re looking for more ideas on where to go next, check out our blog post about Europe and Asia!
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