Top Winter Festivals in the World You Must Attend- Ngtraveller
Mild winters are knocking on the door. Fog and mist are ready to take over the atmosphere. The temperature will drop soon. And you're done with hot chocolate and wool knits. But that doesn't mean the outdoor fun stops. The season brings a carnival to be celebrated around the world. Everyone knows the main Christmas celebrations followed by New Years celebrations. Apart from that, there are many other exciting winter festivals, celebrated with great heart and enthusiasm in various countries.
Travelers from all over the world can enhance their travel experience by immersing themselves in famous winter festivals and learning about the culture. To beat the cheer of Christmas and the more common customs of the New Years holidays, check out these top winter festivals in the world that infuse the warmth of joy in the cold of winter!
Frozen Dead Guy Days, Nederland
Winter is so much more fun and exciting when it comes to a unique festival like this. At the end of each winter, the city of West Boulder holds winter festivals that are popular and a little ridiculous too. The festival features three days of events including truck crushing, snowshoe races, polar diving, and casket races. Yes, you read the last one correctly!
Frozen Dead Guy Days remains a world-renowned show. This local holiday pays tribute to Prideaux Morstoel (aka Grandpa), who has been frozen in a state of suspended animation and is based on him in the Tuff Shed in dry ice high up in Nederland. The festival offers a unique feel, which undoubtedly makes it a wild winter festival all over the world.
Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival, Iceland
Iceland is especially famous for its white winters. But when the days are extremely cold and the nights are darkest, the northern lights (also known as polar lights) light up the sky. The Winter Lights Festival in Reykjavik celebrates both the world of winter and the rays of sunshine that shine after a long period of darkness. The annual festival is called Vetrarhatio in Icelandic and during this nightly festival Reykjavik is packed with art, music, sports and culture.
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Explore museums, soak in thermal pools, enjoy concerts, and do it all while walking under the glow of the Northern Lights. Celebrating one of the most interesting winter festivals in the world, Reykjavik comes to life with beautiful lighting fixtures. Reykjavik is home to many excellent hotels that you can stay in on your budget.
Sapporo Snow Festival, Japan
Snow Festival in Sapporo, Japan, is a sculpture festival that takes place in February and is different from the sculpture contest in your hometown. Instead, it is a great celebration of all the things that make winter in Japan special and exciting. Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido and is one of the most popular destinations in Japan. Odori Park, which stretches into downtown Sapporo, you can see many different volumes of snow and ice artwork.
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The main event is the city's sculpture contest. It is the largest winter festival and attracts more than 2 million visitors each year. It is an unavoidable winter festival all over the world. You can also see other attractions like giant ice slides and vast snow mazes. Sample homemade Japanese food served straight from street stalls to keep things nice and warm, all while cruising the street at night.
Winter Carnival, Manali
The people of Himachal Pradesh welcome the New Year with great enthusiasm. The Manali Winter Carnival is the best example of this. This festival is undoubtedly one of the most unique and brings interesting social experiences. It is one of the great opportunities to be a part of this lively winter festival in India. During the festival, you will find everyone in a festive atmosphere. The door opens to enjoy the beauty of the snow and enjoy the festivities.
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Winter sports, winter beauty pageant, sound carnival, folk dances, street plays, fashion shows, children's shows and magic shows are the main attractions of this festival. You can try the delicious local cuisine or buy souvenirs during the carnival.
Shetland Viking Festival, Scotland
Up Helly Aa is the name of the Shetland Viking Festival that takes place on the last Tuesday in January. It features Scots of Scandinavian descent who have turned the ancient Yule tradition into a modern excuse to set things on fire. This is the largest winter festival in Europe and is essentially a procession, where locals lead a fiery procession through the city to throw torches at a huge sailing ship. On the night of Up Helly Aa, approximately 1,000 warriors or "pimps", some in full Viking clothing, marched in groups, known as "squads." They also wear helmets and carry shields and swords. Each device has a fence covered with insulating material moistened with paraffin.
The troops are preceded and followed by raucous parties in the city to make the area's Viking ancestors proud. This festival is for Lerwick's winter revelers who keep winter cool with the Up Helly Aa Fire Festival.
