THE BEST END OF WINTER FESTIVALS
From the waning days of February through March, these are the places to be
So you got through Carnival and Fat Tuesday (that’s Mardi Gras), and you’re scratching your head wondering what to do next… Cast aside your plastic beads… With a smorgasbord of opportunities, the festivities go on, with jazz, camels, lemons, rice paper lanterns, music, films, conferences, and lots and lots of dancing. Raise the vibration. All over the world.
You can go to India, Taiwan, Canada, Denmark, France, India, Greece, Austria, the Caribbean, or Australia. We have the best festivals covered.
This is what is still happening in February and we’ll take you through March — it’s all about dance, film, human rights watch, higher things, and celebrating with vibrant color all over you, of course.
Vinterjazz
Denmark
February 1st – 24th, 2024
The capital of Denmark, (Copenhagen) has its Jazz Festival in July… But this is Vinterjazz, and it takes place all over Denmark, not just the capital. They love jazz in Denmark! God bless them.
It is now celebrating its 25th year, and happening in over 180 venues all across the country presenting 600 plus concerts of international jazz artists.
Nice Carnaval
The French Riviera, France
February 17 – March 3rd, 2024
If you missed the granddaddy of them all, Rio Carnival, in Brazil, also known as the biggest show on earth, you can still dress up here and shake your booty on the French Riviera.
Documented first in the year 1294 — that is not a typo — Nice Carnaval is considered to be one of the world’s major carnival events. The Promenade du Paillon and the streets of Nice are turned into the magical frivolity of carnival, with flower floats, a giant parade, and an eye-wateringly vibrant amount of color.
The Lemon Festival
Menton, France
February 17th – March 3rd, 2024
Lemons, lemons everywhere, for fifteen days landscaped artfully at The 90th Fete du Citron in the south of France. It is a celebration of citrus and lemons, with incredible giant structures and designs made out of citrus fruit. It’s all very yellow and orange. So you are not caught unawares…
There are floats and night parades, a craftsman fair, and an orchid festival too.
Desert Festival of Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer, India
February 22nd – 24th, 2024
An ancient cultured festival of events such as camel racing, turban tying, and the longest mustache competition, which is not frivolous in these parts — this is not Brooklyn or some craft beer commercial. The festival showcases the cultural wonders and folk art of Rajasthan condensed into three days. Let them explain it better.
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
Shifeng, Taiwan
February 24th, 2024
Let my people’s wishes go! On the first full moon of the Chinese New Year, tens of thousands of people descend on the tiny hill town of Shifeng, write their wishes on fire lanterns, and release them into the sky together creating a beautiful spectacle of floating lights. Approximately one to two hundred thousand lanterns lift to the Heavens on February 24th, with night markets and sky lantern releases continuing for two weeks. You can make it on a day trip from Taipei.
Elevate Festival
Graz, Austria
February 28th – March 4th, 2024
Celebrating 20 years of Elevate, an annual disciplinary festival held in various venues in Graz, Austria, focusing on cultural and socio-political topics, with human rights experts, climate researchers, and activists who gather once a year with musicians and artists to illuminate pertinent issues of our future.
Besides performances, concerts, installations, and DJ sets, there are workshops, film screenings, and discussions.
This year has the festival theme: Western Promises. All art and talks are free, music events are 20 euros and up. Day tickets are 44 euros.
SXSW (cool speak for South by Southwest, btw)
Austin, Texas
March 8th – 16th, 2024
SXSW started out as a music festival back in 1987 and now is a conjoined music, film, and so much more festival. It’s an event. There are around 2,000 bands playing, a diverse selection of films, and a dizzying array of panels, A-list speakers, and global thought leaders.
A fun festival to attend and groundbreaking if you’re an artist. It’s also not a bad time temperature-wise to visit Austin, where in mid-summer you turn into a melted puddle.
The festival is much easier to navigate on a bike as there is so much happening simultaneously. Everywhere. All at the same time.
If you appreciate all kinds of live music just go.
SXM Festival
St Martin, The French West Indies (The Caribbean)
March 11 – 18th 2024
Close but not the same. Don’t get confused, but who cares you’ll have an amazing time. This is a sexy seven-day festival on the island of St. Martin. There are International DJs and parties galore. And St. Martin is always sexy and always fun, so when they try to make it a good time, it’s doubly awesome. You can dance through the night in hidden luminescent island coves.
The French side is a little more elegant than the Dutch, but that’s splitting hairs as far as beaches (all gorgeous and tranquil) and the food all over the island, which is excellent, especially (biases showing) the local island food, often served out of huts or on open barbecue grills. Visit Marigot on the French side for the best island food, and the best hotel, although very expensive, is La Samanna, also on the French side.
The Ides of March
Rome, Italy
March 15th, (annually)
Marking the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC…. in one of the oldest cities in the world. Every year for over 2000 years Romans have re-enacted the assassination of Julius Caesar on the very spot where he was stabbed 23 times, in Largo di Torre Argentina, in the center of Rome, before Marc Antony emerged uttering “Friends, Romans, Countrymen….”
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Melbourne, Australia
March 15th – 24th, 2024
Good on ya mate. It’s all happening down under at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Australia’s largest festival of such kind. Celebrating all things food and drink. It’s a gourmand’s wet dream.
Breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner everywhere for 10 days. Over 200 events across the city, with satellite events happening in the state of Victoria. Cooking classes, performances, talks, parties, and lots to drink, and bringing global culinary excellence to Melbourne since 1993.
The Galaxidi Flour War Carnival
Galaxidi, Greece
March 18th, 2024
It is just as it sounds – a flour war! Two hours out of Athens, the pretty coastal village of Galaxidi celebrates Lent by going into the streets of the old fishing town, where they dance around throwing sacks of dye-colored flour over each other to awaken their inner child. What is it with people covering each other in stuff?
Fly into Athens. Awaken inner child.
ULTRA Music Festival
Miami, Florida
March 22nd – 24th, 2024
Ultra-Miami is the landmark festival for EDM (Electronic Dance Music and you’re welcome) shows.
Happening since 1999 and now spun off around the world, from South Africa to Ibiza, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, and China. To name a few.
If in doubt, just dance, but maybe don’t do it in China.
For three days — Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix, Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, and David Guetta are on the lineup, and can help you with that.
HOLI Festival
Mumbai and Delhi, India, and Nepal
March 25th, 2024
A joyous festival where you get covered, from head to toe, in vibrant color as people pelt each other with exploding powder balloons and colored water guns. It happens on the full moon day in the streets, parks, and near temples. Wear old clothes and celebrate good over evil and the arrival of spring.
Some people drink bhang, a Hindi drink made from cannabis to really get into a fun mood.
If you can’t make it to a festival, it’s St Patrick’s Day just about everywhere, on March 17. Go green. Check back here soon for more WONDERLUST festival news!
