The world's hottest festivals

JAISALMER DESERT FESTIVAL

February 1 to 3, Rajasthan, India

Jaisalmer, known as the Golden City, brings life and colour to the heart of the Thar Desert, as the isolated town celebrates the Desert Festival. The event kicks off with incredible camel parades, with the Rajastanis dressing up the beasts in fine clothes. Tribal music, dance and more fuel the festive mood, as colour tilts beyond the rolling sand dunes. 

 

SAPPORO SNOW FESTIVAL

February 5 to 11, Sapporo, Japan

The Sapporo Snow Festival, one of Japan’s largest winter events, attracts a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad every year. Every winter, about two million people come to Sapporo to see splendid snow and ice sculptures lining Odori Park, the grounds at Community Dome Tsudome, and along the main street in Susukino. For seven days, Sapporo is turned into a winter dreamland of crystal-like ice and white snow.

 

FLOWER MARKETS 2015

February 13 to 19, Hong Kong 

Soak up the festive and convivial ambience by visiting the flower markets in search of the perfect bloom to bring good luck for the Year of the Sheep. Chinese New Year’s Eve Flower Markets is the biggest flower festival celebration in Hong Kong. These banquet of flowers are part of the traditions and cultures of Hong Kong which they believe to bring good luck to the Chinese New Year. Venues are 15 parks and playgrounds across Hong Kong including Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, and Fa Hui Park in Mong Kok, Kowloon. During February 13 to 18, the markets run from noon to midnight while in February 19 the markets are available from midnight to 6am.

 

BATTLE OF THE ORANGES

February 14 to 17, Ivrea, Italy

While the Spaniards throw tomatoes in La Tomatina, Italians throw oranges in Storico Carnevale di Ivrea, the Battle of the Oranges. The festival’s origins are unclear but a popular account is that it commemorates the city’s defiance against the city’s tyrant. The citizens remember their liberation with the biggest food fight in Italy where teams on foot throw oranges against the team riding in carts, representing tyrant’s ranks. Be well prepared if you plan to join this event since oranges can be as hard as tennis balls and the orange pulps are very slippery.

 

MENTON LEMON FESTIVAL

February 14 to March 4, Menton, France

Get your fix of vitamin C as huge fruity floats made of oranges and lemons sway through the streets at the Menton Lemon Festival. What was once a few carts loaded with orange and lemon trees in the early 1930s has turned into a sprawling citrus carnival attracting more than 200,000 people from across the world. Visit www.FeteduCitron.com.

 

MARLBOROUGH WINE FESTIVAL

February 14, Marlborough, New Zealand

Brancott Vineyard in the Marlborough district of New Zealand’s South Island opens its doors (and bottles) to the public. Festival goers get the opportunity to sample a unique selection of wines and local foods all in the heart of one of Marlborough’s oldest and most beautiful vineyards – Brancott Vineyard. The festival, officially only held on Saturday, spreads out both before and after, for a three day spectacular of culinary and vinous excellence. Fifty wineries present wines in tasting and workshops led by the winemakers themselves, accompanied by live music and the Fashion in the Vines contest. Visit www.MarlboroughWineFestival.co.nz.