NOVEMBER FESTIVALS
The US election is done. Time to think of fun places to go and things to do!
If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the year, and, more importantly, the debacle with the US election/ Phew! Well done. It’s suddenly November. Think positive.
Out pops the hot roasted chestnuts, the hot chocolate, ear muffs, and mulled wine.
Global festivals this month include comedy, trading camels, banqueting monkeys, music, and pirating in the Cayman Islands, and it ends with Thanksgiving, again, so soon.
From New York, India, Iceland, and Vancouver, to Montreal, Canada, and Thailand, here are a few fun things happening this month. WONDERLUST has your back.
New York Comedy Festival
New York City, November 7th – 17th
We need funny more than ever, and this year, festival founder Caroline Hirsch is bringing Judd Apatow and his 200-plus star-studded comedian friends to a borough near you. Over eleven days and all five city boroughs, there’s no way you’ll keep a straight face New York. There will be 100-plus shows from Carnegie Hall to the East Village, from Brooklyn to Harlem to Chelsea.
The festival opens at Harlem’s Apollo Theater on November 7th, with a special tribute to the late, great Joan Rivers, commemorating ten years since her passing. All proceeds go to her favorite charity, God’s Love We Deliver, who deliver up to 4 million meals per year to people too sick to cook or shop for themselves. And on Saturday, November 9th, at The Beacon Theater in Manhattan, Judd Apatow and a glitterati of hilarious folks, come together to benefit the American Red Cross, specifically for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina.
November 11th at Lincoln Center, Jerry Seinfeld, Bruce Springsteen, Norah Jones, DJ Questlove, and Jon Stewart, just to name a few, join forces for the 18th Stand Up for Heroes fundraiser event to aid veterans and military families. Bill Maher also returns to the Beacon Theater on November 16th on his Bill Maher: The WTF? Tour.
Iceland Airwaves
Reykjavik, Iceland, November 7th – 9th
It’s all about alternative and electronic music, evolving from an aircraft hangar party over 20 years ago and now for in-the-know festival fans. And also now hosting an industry conference. It’s not so much about huge headliners but finding a new favorite band or enjoying art or fashion events. Downtown Reykjavik is taken over by industry gunslingers. There are many free off-site shows. Everything’s indoors, and walkable. And it’s Reykjavik.
If you’re lucky enough to see it snow in Reykjavik, it’s Christmas-card fairytale magical.
There are hotel and air packages available from many U.S. cities on Icelandair through the festival website, including trips to the famed Blue Lagoon….
Pirates Week Festival
George Town, Cayman Islands, November 8th – 30th
In celebration of your inner pirate, you can spend ten days dressed as one, whilst dancing around on white sand beaches, eating fabulous food, and watching a full-scale pirate invasion with three full-scale pirate ships. There are parades, fireworks, and dancing. Aye aye, me beauty!
Pushkar Camel Fair
Pushkar, Rajasthan, India, November 9th – 15th
It’s a camel festival in India for 12 days! Yes, read that sentence again! There’s a camel beauty contest, a camel race, snake charmers, dancers, musicians, fortune tellers, magicians, and holy men coming together under the auspicious autumn full moon. The first five days feature the trading of goats, horses, cows, sheep, and camels — but it’s mainly about camels. In case there was a shred of doubt. Market stalls appear in a surreal dystopian county-fair dusty atmosphere. A wonderful earthy aroma of dung, music, and waves of incense ride the air.
More than 30,000 camels are traded during the fair. I have mixed feelings about this.
If you bathe in Pushkar Lake at dawn you’re supposed to be absolved of your sins. Suchlike, it’s a spiritual experience worth having.
Fly into Kishangarh which is closest, or Jaipur, or Delhi, and take a train for eight hours. Indian trains are something else. Worth the trip on their own…
Yi Peng, and Loy Krathong Lantern Festival
Chiang Mai, Thailand, November 14th – 16th
Yi Peng is the festival of lights which overlaps with Loy Krathong, the lantern festival also held on the full moon. They are both magnificent celebrations of light, colorful parades, music, dance, delicious Thai food, lantern-making contests, and fireworks displays. You can give thanks and release your fears, negativity, or regrets via a candle on a banana leaf sailing down the river (Loy Krathong), or a lantern sent up into the sky (Yi Peng). Buddhists also make a wish.
It’s very easy to get to Chiang Mai, you can fly directly there these days. No more rickety buses with uncomfortable wooden seats on dodgy roads traveling for a day from Bangkok. But there is always that option. I mean, you know, you live once…
Eastside Culture Crawl
Vancouver, Canada, November 14th – 17th
The 28th annual visual arts, design, and craft fest showcases artists, some internationally recognized, on Vancouver’s Eastside, who open their studios for this four-day visual arts feast, showcasing their work at various venues from Columbia Street to the waterfront. Over 500 artisans include potters, weavers, jewelers, painters, photographers, glass blowers, woodworkers, and furniture makers.
Macau Grand Prix
Macau, China, November 14th – 17th
The 71st Macau Grand Prix features seven races from November 14th to 17th. A tight twisted course through expanding casinos. You could almost be in Vegas. The big race is on Sunday the 17th. Fly into Hong Kong where Chinese five spice permeates the air, sweet and sour, and barbeque. The city of a thousand smells. Listed as one of the safest in the world. There is free transportation to Macau provided by the Hong Kong Government. Or you can helicopter in. Show off!
Strawberry Fields
Tocumwal, New South Wales, Australia, November 15th – 17th
In its 15th year, this is WONDERLUST’S fun festival of the month. If you can’t make it this year, plan on it for next. Approximately 150 miles from Melbourne, out in the bush next to the Murray River, is an annual celebration of art, multi-genre music, dance, and creative expression.
Strawberry Fields, is about revitalizing your body and soul (we like that) while exploring worldly traditions and culture. From Moroccan Bedouin lounges, and indulgent Bush Spa treatments to educational talks, and funky markets, they mean business… Over the three days, 40 bands play, and almost 50 international DJs. There’s an art gallery, and open-air installations, or join a yoga session as the sun sets. Swim in the Murray River if you get too hot. And you will.
Purposely kept small to keep a sense of community. And Zen. It’s a sweet vibe.
Montreal Bach Festival
Montreal, Canada, November 16th – December 8th
Over 20,000 festival goers come together for maybe a little Air on the G String…? The Montreal Bach Festival celebrates one of history’s greatest composers, Johann Sebastian Bach. Choirs, ensembles, orchestras, and solo musicians come from all over the world for this elegant event. Take a wrap, there may be snow, and prepare to be moved — no maybe about that.
Off-Bach is held alongside the festival and is free of charge offering everyone an opportunity to experience the music, with pop-up performances, conferences, and recitals. Running 26th Nov – 3rd Dec
Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park, London, November 21st – January 5th, 2025
In its 17th year, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is one of the best family-friendly festivals to put you all in the mood. Running for six weeks, and is open from 10 am to 10 pm daily in the heart of London.
There’s mulled wine, hot chocolate, Bavarian beer, a fun fair (“Amusement Park” to US friends), an ice kingdom, live music, and a magical Christmas Market. Or you can skate on the Winter Wonderland ice rink, the largest outdoor rink in the UK. It’s so romantic!
Lopburi Monkey Banquet
Lopburi, Thailand, November 23rd – 24th
On the last Sunday of November, among the ruins of the Phra Prang Sam Yot Temple in Lopburi, a bountiful banquet awaits the guests of honor, none of whom are human.
Held annually where the Lopburi macaques (monkeys) reside, at the ancient Khmer temple Phra Prang Sam Yot, built in the early 13th century, and a day trip from Bangkok. Around 3,000 macaques feast on a banquet of two tons of fruits, vegetables, and rice, which is set out by chefs, villagers, and onlookers. The Governor of Lopburi himself presides.
Once the food is out, forget it! The place is overrun with monkeys. Hold on to food at your peril and hide your sunglasses. Monkeys love them. It’s not just ex-boyfriends.
It costs about $2 to get in, which, helpfully, comes with a stick should you need it.
Amsterdam Light Festival
Amsterdam, Holland, Nov 28 – January 19th, 2025
Christmas isn’t that big of a thing in Amsterdam, but its Light Festival celebrated at the end of November and continuing into the New Year, is hugely popular, featuring more than twenty light sculptures crafted by internationally known artists. The event’s art installations can be experienced via a heated boat on a canal cruise for around 21 euros.
Or rent a bicycle, or simply stroll around on foot. The festival is free of charge.
Thanksgiving Day Parade
New York, USA, Thursday, November 28th
The Thanksgiving Day Macy’s Parade has been a New York tradition since 1924. This is its Centenary. We can count at WONDERLUST.
There’s something very nostalgic about seeing your favorite gigantic cartoon characters blown up into huge balloons, fighting with the gusts of wind whilst being anchored by brave volunteers.
Top marching bands from across the country are invited to represent their states, along with live musical performances by popular artists, brightly colored floats, dancers, and giant balloons.
Insider tip: Get there the night before when they’re blowing up the giant balloons in Central Park…
But if you can’t make it, you can watch it live on TV.
