Top 6 Festivals for February

As we ease out of January, everyone heaves a collective sigh of relief. The light of spring is almost in sight. We can start to look forward to longer days and warmer weather.

To celebrate the culmination of the winter season and the coming of spring, many cities all over the world host lively festivals to raise spirits. Festivals are a unique opportunity to see a particular country, region or city’s traditions and customs in full swing. A destination’s personality shines through during celebratory events making festivals statements of individuality. Music, food, art and sports all play a crucial role in these events ensuring there is something for everyone.

If you’re looking for an excuse to dust off your dancing shoes or simply try something a bit different, then stick with us as we give you the low down on the top festivals for February.

1. Carnaval de Quebec

When most of us feel like hibernating beneath our duvet with a hot chocolate, the Canadians don their swimsuit and take a snow bath. Yes, really! The Carnaval de Quebec takes places in Quebec Old Town at the very start of February. It calls itself the world’s largest winter festival.

The carnival has taken place annually for over 130 years. Featuring a range of fun outdoor activities, it encourages everyone to embrace the winter weather. Dog-Sled races through the streets, parades, ice slides, snow rafting, an international snow and ice sculpture competition, dance parties in the snow and even a canoe race across a frozen lake. Yeah, we’re not sure how that one works either! All in all, it’s set to be a fun filled few days as long as you’re wrapped up warm!

2. Chinese New Year

This festival is a month long celebration of the Lunar New Year taking place between 19th January and 20th February. You can of course attend a Chinese New Year celebration almost anywhere in the world. There is however nothing quite like the colourful explosions that take place in China’s main cities.

Red and gold decorations are strewn through the streets, with door gods and spring couplets placed on every street corner, alleyway and door frame. In Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, temples throughout the cities become hives of activity as special temple fairs take over. Parades and performances are also held in parks and the night sky is lit up with continuous firework displays.

3. Mardi Gras

Participation is inevitable at this city wide street party in New Orleans. Mardi Gras literally translates as Fat Tuesday, better known to us as Shrove Tuesday. What started out as a series of masquerade balls in the 18th century soon evolved into the outlandish carnival parade that we know today.

The parades are extremely extravagant and take place over 4 or 5 days. Bejewelled and bedazzled dancers in colourful costumes lead the way as crowds of people dance their way through the streets of New Orleans. Music plays long into the night keeping participants dancing into the early hours. There are numerous bars, cafes and restaurants spilling out onto the pavements to serve special Mardi Gras snacks and beverages.

The sense of community and infectious atmosphere are what make Mardi Gras so enjoyable. There really is no better time to experience New Orleans in all its glory.

4. Rio Carnival

Like Mardi Gras the Rio Carnival takes places on the Saturday before and the following days leading up to Fat Tuesday. During this time the Brazilian capital is transformed into the ultimate demonstration of indigenous identity.

Different bandas- small parade groups, lead by drummers and singers and tailed by whomever fancies dancing to the beat behind them. Each banda has a different dress code ranging from a simple t-shirt to the more artistic. The pinnacle event of the Rio Carnival is the Samba Parade. This is a dance party to top all dance parties and takes places on the last two nights of the carnival. Stands filled with onlookers line the Sambodromo which forms the longest, glitziest, liveliest and most glamourous runway in the world.

One thing’s for certain, whether you’re a samba pro or have two left feet, this samba spectacular will have you toe tapping before the first dancer can shake a tail feather.

5. Carnavale Venezia

It seems February festivals elicit a global acknowledgment that extravagant fancy dress and costume parties are the only way to herald the arrival of spring. In Venice, the 12 day Carnavale which takes place in the first weeks of February is the highlight of the city’s social calendar. It is also another great excuse to invest in an elaborate mask.

The festival has been celebrated since the 15th century and has become the world’s most famous baroque-style fancy dress party. Over the 12 days visitors can attend masked balls, parades, musical and street performances, sporting events and gondola rides through the canals.

6. Berlin Film Festival

After all that dancing and merry making, the Berlin Film Festival is a decidedly understated affair, although no less interesting. As a city Berlin is a hub of art, culture, innovation and a sophisticated social scene.

Fondly known as the Berlinale, the film festival attracts around 19,000 films makers from all over the world and showcases over 400 films. Besides exclusive film screenings, visitors and participants can attend workshops and panel discussions as well as rub shoulders with the film making elite at any number of glamorous dinners and hip parties.

After all that, February has never felt so fabulous! Give yourself a kick start at one of these famous celebrations and hop, skip, and dance your way merrily into spring.

If you have visited one of these February festivals we’d love to hear all about your experiences, or if you have a recommendation for one we might have missed simply leave a comment below!