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Africa attracts tourists from all over the world due to its unique culture and rich traditions. Numerous events in Africa take place on the continent annually, each of them reflecting religious, cultural, historical or ethnic aspects of the community life. Various celebrations are revered, which aim at preserving ancient customs while paying honor to leaders and ancestors.
Read more »Nowhere else you will find Autumnfest celebrated with such joy and enthusiasm as in the Woonsocket, Rhode Island fall celebration. It is observed on Columbus Day annually in World War II Veteran's Memorial State Park, the heart of the Social District of the city. The primary objective of the festival is to provide residents of Rhode Island a chance to learn more about the culture of Woonsocket. The 27th annual celebration of the festival occurred in October 2005.
Read more »Nearly all countries organize such events all the year round, the choice of them is so wide, everything will depend only on the country, you would like to go and your own interests. Some festivals last for several days, others for much longer but most of them imply an unforgettable atmosphere of endless holiday and what can be more refreshing after the tough daily routine?
Read more »Africa! Just hearing the name conjures up images of a continent where vibrant and colorful festivals range from cultural and religious to music and harvest. Whenever you make up your mind to visit Africa, you are almost sure to be a witness of an impressive African festival or event. Some of the most significant of which are the African Harvest Festival, the Homowo Festival, the Yam Festival, Kwanzaa and Ramadan.
Read more »Since its inaugural event in 1952, millions of visitors worldwide have enjoyed experiencing the Sausalito Art Festival, which takes place in the sleepy seaside village of Sausalito, California. The Sausalito Art Festival is regarded by many as America's best Art Festival, mainly due to the beauty of Sausalito with its unique shops and art galleries, which attract art collectors and purists from all over the world.
Read more »Thousands of arts festivals take place annually all over the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. They are visited by millions of professional artists and admirers from all over the world. Among the most prestigious and popular of the festival of arts are Galway Arts Festival, the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Lakefront Festival of Arts, the New Zealand International Arts Festival and Tapestry Arts Festival.
Read more »Columbus Day is a national holiday, observed in each of the 50 states. The holiday commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World in 1492. Depending on the country, there exist variations of this holiday, like Dia de la Raza in countries of Latin America, Hispanic Day in Spain, Discovery Day in the Bahamas and Day of Indigenous Resistance in Venezuela.
Read more »Air Balloon Festivals are held annually throughout the year all over the world. They provide the balloonists with the opportunity to participate in balloon races and demonstrate their ballooning skills high above the crowds. Thousands of people come to observe a great number of balloons gathered at one place and to learn more about the sport. An air balloon festival can provide an unforgettable feeling of freedom if you take the opportunity to ride in a hot air balloon.
Read more »The Plano Balloon Festival has been celebrated for more than twenty years. It is usually held in Oak Point Park and Collin County Community College on Spring Greek Campus in Plano, Texas in mid-September each year. The festival includes a balloon glow, balloon rides, a parachute team demonstration, and arts and crafts. The festival has got a great amount to offer to its sponsors and advertisers.
Read more »Featuring more than 1,500 beers from nearly 300 breweries, the Great American Beer Festival is seen as the largest beer festival in America. The Saturday connoisseur session, in addition to three regular sessions, has beer competition among 400 breweries, food demonstration and live entertainment, to make the Festival one of the most magnificent celebrations of the year.
Read more »Regarded as one of the most progressive annual festivals of the country, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival has grown to become the eminent world event since the establishment of the Festival in 1974. Since its foundation, the Festival has expanded to include various styles of performers, like jazz, country, rock, pop, newgrass and bluegrass.
Read more »Observed every Labor Day weekend, the Big Muddy Blues Festival is a prominent occasion for all blues lovers and entertainers. The two-day music event features many of the best local and national blues musicians, including the Festival's headliner's Mavis Staples, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Koko Tailor, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Henry Townsend, Robert Lockwood and Johnnie Johnson.
Read more »Regarded as a significant part of American culture, bluegrass music traces its roots back to the English, Scottish and Irish people, who emigrated from the British Isles. It is also related to jazz and blues, the music of African-Americans. Though often identified as folk music, bluegrass is something different - as the folks at a bluegrass festival will gladly tell you.
Read more »The National book festival is organized annually by the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. It views its mission to encourage United States citizens to develop a love of reading. It is established and maintained by generous sponsors, and the national book festival is opened to the general public. The patrons of the festival are AARP, the James Madison Council, Freddie Mac, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Read more »The intellectual development of mankind has resulted in a multitude of books, and a variety of methods to bring them to the eye of the public. One of these methods, festival of books, is seen today as an integral part of any civilized society. The United States claims to hold more such festivals than any other country worldwide. Their success continues to attract a large number of spectators, book enthusiasts, as well as prominent authors, poets and movie-makers.
Read more »Certainly Canada is not usually counted among the countries normally thought of that have abundant festivals and carnivals. However, if you happen to visit the country in the winter, you have a chance to witness the largest winter carnival in the world - Carnival de Quebec, known also as the Quebec City Winter Carnival. In addition to this Canadian festival, Canada is also famous for its Toronto International Film Festival, the Stratford Festival of Canada, Kitchener Oktoberfest, and the Edmonton International Film Festival.
Read more »The Canadian National Exhibition, commonly referred to as CNE, is held annually at the Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada. It is seen today as the biggest and oldest annual exhibition in the world. Having marked its 125th anniversary in 2003, the Canadian National Exhibition can boast of numerous accomplishments and innovations, which has resulted in its achievement of becoming one of the most celebrated events of the year.
Read more »Started in 2003 by George Sarris, the Underground Comedy Festival is held annually in New York City. Today it features more than 350 comedians in over 100 events, including Sketch and Film, One Person Shows, and Improv. Because of these it is regarded as the largest comedy festival in the country. The increasing popularity of the festival has resulted in its expenditure to New Jersey.
Read more »Over the years, Brighton has been regarded by many as the cultural capital of the South, and also the home to many of England's art festivals and stars. Among the festivals held annually in the country, the Paramount Brighton Comedy Festival is one of the top events nationwide, seen as the best way to enjoy the brightest talents of the festival.
Read more »The notion of fringe theatre becomes more popular nowadays. It is used to denote entertainment, which is not of the mainstream. Currently, a number of theatre festivals, also known as fringe festivals, are held in Edmonton, Adelaide, Winnipeg, Edinburgh and other cities, giving artists the possibility to produce a variety of interesting performances.
Read more »Scotland is attractive, due mainly to its fringe festivals, which are regarded as the major attraction of the country. Despite the fact that the majority of fringe festivals take place in summer, there are a number of attractions to visit all the year round, so that you are sure to enjoy your Scottish holiday regardless of the time of year.
Read more »The Eid Festival is observed by Muslim communities as the holiday of compassion, love, and brotherhood. It symbolizes the spirit of sacrifices given by the members of Muslim community. Celebrated by all the representatives of the Islamic world, the Eid Festival features the rich religion of Islam. Two Islamic festivals are known as Eid: Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha.
Read more »Eid is a name that is used in reference to two Islamic festivals in Muslim communities: Eid ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fast of Ramadan, and Eid ul-Adha, which commemorates Prophet Ibrahim, sacrificing his son to Allah. In Iran, Eid is related to many holidays, including the birthday of Shia Imams, Ghardir Khom and Nowrooz.
Read more »The Woodstock Music and Art Festival is a child of the cultural revolution, which aimed at rejecting existing norms and templates and finding effective, expressive means for music and ideas of the new generation. It was the time when millions of young people came together to realize that they were not alone in their views.
Read more »Arranged and sponsored by K-Jazz FM, the Long Beach Blues Festival is a two-day holiday, which attracts thousands of blues lovers from across the United States. It is held every Labor Day Weekend, bringing its spectators the best of blues. A jam of musicians, as it is often called, the festival is attended by a great number of outstanding celebrities of music industry.
Read more »Since the introduction of a film as a genre where perception and thought come together, film festivals have been seen as prominent events on the international art calendar. The first major film festival occurred in Venice in 1932. It was followed by a number of other film festivals in Cannes, Moscow, Karlovy Vary, and Berlin, which are now seen as the most prestigious film festivals in the world.
Read more »Held first from September 20 to October 5, 1946 in the South of France, the Cannes Film Festival is the most prestigious film festival across the globe. Since the time of its establishment, the festival has been held in May every year. It attracts a great number of movie stars and film professionals who strive to win the universal recognition at the most celebrated film festival.
Read more »One of the most significant events in the Hindu culture, Holi Festival, embodies all the merriment, liveliness, and abundance of the spring season. It is known as one of the most showy and colorful festivals worldwide, held annually for two days in late March. The last religious Hindu festival, it commemorates spring as well as various occasions in Hindu mythology.
Read more »In India, Hindu festivals are widely popular and eagerly awaited. They reflect ancient history of traditions and religious beliefs, and hence, are regarded as an integral part of the national culture. Among the most celebrated Hindu festivals are Diwali, Holi, Ugadi, Gudi Pawda, Bhaubeej, Dala Chhath, Krishna Janmastami, and Onam, all of which are solemnized.
Read more »The National Folk Festival is a name used to refer to the following festivals of folk music: the Touring National Folk Festival in the USA, the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia, and several Folk Festivals across the United Kingdom. All of them enjoy wide popularity, attracting thousands of folk music lovers annually.
Read more »The Takoma Park Folk Festival is one of the leading music festivals. It was established in 1978 by Sam Abbott, and is held annually in Takoma Park, Maryland, the United States. Eight stages of the festival are home to a large number of musicians from all over the world. The 28th Takoma Park Folk Festival was held on September 11, 2005 from 11 a. m. to 6 p. m.
Read more »The Tomato Festival, referred to as La Tomatina is held annually in August in Bunol, Valencia, Spain. Thousands of visitors from all over the world come to participate in a battle, where the citizenry takes to the streets to throw nearly one hundred ton of tomatoes at each other. The holiday is inconsistent in date, held on the last Wednesday in August. The 2005 Tomato Festival occurred on August 31.
Read more »With more than 350 various ales, parries and ciders, the Chappel Beer Festival is regarded as the largest beer festival in East Anglia. It is held at the East Anglian Railway Museum at Chappel railway station. The festival is run by the Campaign For Real Art branches in Essex. The 19th Chappel Beer Festival took place from 6 to 10 September 2005 and it's safe to say that more beer was consumed in the four days of the festival than most countries consume in a typical month!
Read more »The passage of time has seen most forms of dance evolve from popular pastime to internationally recognized art form. Expressing the growth and prosperity of the dance related industry. Today nearly all the countries can boast at least one dance festival, designed to commemorate the ongoing form of artistic expression. Currently among the dance festivals ranking highest are American Dance Festival, Canadian Dance Festival, Awa Dance Festival and Jacob's Pillow.
Read more »Observed in many nations worldwide, fall festivals comprise a significant part of the national calendar, designed to commemorate various events of cultural, historical or religious importance. Among the most widely recognized autumn celebrations are Autumnfest, Beaverdale Fall Festival, Chinese Festival of the Autumn Moon, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day and others.
Read more »Italy claims to have more festivals than any other country in the world. And chances are that on any given day of the week an Italian festival honoring someone or some event is happening! The festivals range from the Florentine Festival of Calcio Storico to the street parades and masked balls of Carnivale', to the annual Venice Film Festival, which is an Italian Film Festival that continues to garner more and more attention each year.
Read more »Recognized as one of the most widely attended and popular events in...OHIO, the Milan Melon Festival attracts thousands of spectators annually. It is held during the Labor Day weekend in Milan, Ohio, not Milan, Italy! The festival is immensely popular due to its numerous activities which draw in visitors, including the Melon Eating Contest, the Big Wheelie Race, the grand parade and many others.
Read more »The increased penetration of one culture into another has resulted in the establishment of festivals within a specific country that are dedicated to the particular events, traditions and culture of another country. Irish culture, for example, is seen as one of the richest and most unique, which explains the observance of Irish customs worldwide. In Ireland, they don't just celebrate one Celtic festival, they recognize several: the National Celtic Festival, the Hebridean Celtic Festival and Clogane and Brandon Celtic Festival of Lughnasa, all of them being observed far beyond the bounds of Ireland.
Read more »The three-day Dublin Irish Festival puts emphasis not only on pleasure and merriment, but also on history and culture. A great number of educational and historical opportunities, ranging from workshops to the seminars, to the Irish influence in world music reflect the cultural disposition of the event. Due to its non-traditional approach, the festival draws thousands of spectators.
Read more »Like any part of the world, Asia strives to preserve its ancient traditions, which reflect historical, cultural and religious aspects of community life. Thus almost all Asian countries have a wide variety of festivals and events of national importance. Today China and Japan claim to have many more such festivals as compared to any other Asian country. The important thing is that the public has its pick of which Asian festival they want to enjoy.
Read more »Due to its unique and mystical culture, Asia attracts tourists from all over the world. A great number of events take place in this part of the world annually, and each of them reflecting historical, religious, cultural or ethnic peculiarities of community life. Asian events vary depending on their origin, character and duration. The most widely celebrated Asian festivals have earned the status of national holidays.
Read more »It is hard for literature to survive in our world of high technologies, increasingly developing television and the Internet networks. But think a bit -- and you will realize that one of the best gifts is still a book, and there is hardly a handful movies surpassing the originals. The core is, perhaps, a true power of words, which makes us worry along with our favourite heroes, love and hate with them, and sacrifice our business to being totally absorbed in a book.
Read more »If reading is to your most liking you should visit at least one literary festival in your life. Actually, the globe events are not limited by music shows and carnivals, and if you want to keep single pace with the world of literature a literary festival is definitely your chance to do it. Midwest Literary Festival, Ilkley Literature Festival, Lewes Live Literature, and many others - any will become a bounty for true literature virtuosos.
Read more »The immortal plays of a famous English playwright William Shakespeare have been exciting hearts and souls all over the world for more than four centuries. We read these magnificent works again and again finding more and more new touches in well-known heroes and situations. We live with the heroes, we love with them, we take part in their adventures and feelings. This is a magic and mysterious power of Shakespearean world.
Read more »For more than four centuries people have been reading prominent works of William Shakespeare, and virtually, there are no other as much famous and brilliant playwrights in the British culture and, possibly, in that of the whole world, as William Shakespeare. Not only the native lands respect and love this true genius of word, but the entire globe alike. Hardly is there a man in the world not to have heard about William Shakespeare, the so-called 'Swan of Avon'.
Read more »Music is a mystery able to unite people from different countries, of different nations, and with different interests. Music sounds make all people more free and closer to each other. You do not need to be acquainted with the man standing next to you at the concert. You just know that he is fond of the same music as you are - the very fact brings you together. So is a magical power of music. And the feeling of being united, being a part of something great and beautiful makes people visit music festivals, which take place all over the world a year round. And once visited a music festival, you will never remove a deep imprint from your memory and soul it had left.
Read more »Greece has always been famous for its unique history and culture, abundant in myths and ancient traditions. Whenever you happen to participate in a Greek festival, you are sure to enjoy gourmet Greek food, folk music, dancing, and a number of cultural exhibitions. The Belmont Greek Festival is a characteristic example of Greek celebrations.
Read more »The cultural display of the city of Athens is the Athens Festival, held annually since 1955 at Herod Atticus Odeon. Every summer, the ancient theatre offers magnificent performance of classical drama and dance, symphony orchestra, and operatic events. Running from early June to September, the Athens Festival is an event of great importance for theatre lovers worldwide.
Read more »The Festival of Lights is strictly observed in Indian and Jewish cultures. It is used in reference to the Jewish festival, Hanukkah, and the Hindu festival, Diwali, both of which are recognized as the prominent events of religious significance. Owing to constant migrations, the Festival of Lights is celebrated now by Indians and Jewish people in various parts of the world.
Read more »When speaking about Indian festivals, we should emphasize their dominant role in bringing all community members together. The majority of Indian festivals are held to commemorate important dates on the national calendar. One of the most significant Indian festivals is Holi, observed throughout India as a holiday of the spring season.
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