Best Festivals to Celebrate in October Around the World

With pleasant weather, fiery leaves, and a medley of events and festivals around the world, there are awe-inspiring destinations to visit in October. From festooning the streets with lights to filling the skies with hot air balloons, we have rounded up the most incredible festivals in the world in October.

Discover the Most Celebrated Festivals in October

1. Oktoberfest, Germany

Date: Last Week of September to First Week of October

Are you a hardcore beer lover? Test your appetite at the world’s largest beer festival, Oktoberfest, which draws over seven million people every year. Hosted by Munich and Bavaria for 16 to 18 days, the festival has a heap of food, like different types of cheese and meat. Revelers can dive into a lot of entertainment options, including amusement parks, games, and rides. This exotic merrymaking was started back in 1801 at the wedding of King Ludwig I with a horse race and has been creating milestones every year. There is no need to stress that it is one of the festivals that you must explore before 30.

2. Day of the Dead, Mexico

Date: September 16 to October 3, 2023

Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead is one of the unique and top festivals in the world. It is that time of the year when the deceased souls return to their loved ones for a day. You might have expected it to be a gloomy eve, however, this is a colorful, joyful, and life-affirming festival where they prep food and reminisce good times. This is the day of remembrance and honoring the departed ones. People clean and put flowers on the grave of their deceased family members. They even paint their faces and make decorated altars.

3. Diwali, India

Date: New Moon Day, the 15th day of Kartik month (falls in October or November)

India is a potpourri of cultures. Each state bursts with a myriad of festivals and events representing their traditions. One of the most epic festivals in India is celebrated in October: Diwali (or Deepavali), which is the festival of diyas. It marks the legendary triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. It is the day when the Hindu deity Lord Rama returned home after 14 years of exile, defeating the demon Raavan, and the locals welcomed Him by decorating the place with an array of diyas. The entire country is embellished with lights and fireworks. People worship their gods, deck up in their finest attire, and distribute sweets.

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4. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, USA

Date: October 7 to 15, 2023

Hit New Mexico and celebrate one of October’s most exciting and magical festivals. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta creates a kaleidoscopic sky with hundreds of vibrant hot air balloons floating among the clouds from the Balloon Fiesta Park. Pack your picnic bag as you are here for non-stop action, from family-friendly adventures to mouth-watering food, accompanied by other events and entertainment on the go. Not to forget, you can step into one of these balloons and enjoy the panorama.

5. Concurs de Castells, Spain

Date: October 1 and 2, 2023

If you plan to travel to Spain in the first week of August, be sure to watch it! It is a distinct event or competition where colles castelleres, or an enthusiastic team, gather to create human towers that are equivalent to a ten-story building. Members of each group stand or balance on the shoulders of each other to form this gigantic tower. This more than 200-year-old game is so exciting that it has made it onto the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

6. Takayama Matsuri, Japan

Date: October 9 and 10, 2023

An annual festival, the Takayama Matsuri, included in the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, is celebrated to mark a good harvest in autumn. During these two days, you can join the big festival parade where the people carry the portable shrine. Get close to the incredible array of yachts floating, watch the acrobatic stunts, and admire the glowing lanterns after the sunset.

7. MassKara Festival, Philippines

Date: MassKara Festival, Philippines

One of the biggest festivals in the country, MassKara Festival offers its guests the warmest hospitality and welcome. Indulge in food, drinks, and parties — and dance the night away. Enjoy a carnival-like celebration where the people are masked up and grace you with stunning performances. The festival gets a level up with the exhilarating dance competition. It was started in the 1980s to lift the moods of locals when a worse famine hit them.

8. International Sand Sculpture Festival, Portugal

Date: July 1 to October, 2023

Are you an art admirer? Take your next trip in October to Portugal, where you can join one of the biggest sand sculpture festivals in the world. Held annually from March to October, there is a mega exhibit of the most impressive sand art by renowned artists. You won’t be able to get your eyes off rows and rows of mind-blowing sculptures crafted out of the sand. And the display gets refreshed every year with new additions.

9. Festival Kreol, Seychelles

Date: Final Weekend in October

Traveling by the Seychelles calendar? Tick off the most important date of Festival Kreol. A holiday on the island is itself an incredible getaway. Plus, you get to tuck in a wide-ranging dish meal at an annual celebration by the gorgeous seashore. Yes, this is a gala of music, dance, art, crafts, and more. It’s time to live it up as you enjoy street performances, fashion shows, and other concerts.

10. Polar Circle Marathon

Date: October 28 and 29, 2023

Know what it’s like to participate in the planet’s coolest marathon! It occurs in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, and lets you join some hardcore runners who are all set to race across the country’s super icy landscape with an average temperature of -10°C in October.

Conclusion

Festivals are wonderful ways to come together, share the same message, and explore the local culture. You must explore these festivals in October to go on a celebration spree. Check out the best holiday packages with Rayna Tours.