Just because the holiday season is over does not mean the fun is over. Festivals and we don’t mean little ones are going on in destinations all over the world. From the Sundance Film Festival in January in Park City Mardis Gras in February in New Orleans, we invite you to take a look at two upcoming must see festivals this year.
Sydney Festival – January 9-26th Sydney Australia
Already in full swing, this amazing festival is celebrating its 37th year. Attracting over 500,000 people each year, the festival is a major arts festival that features over 100 events including art, music, dance and vendors. A cultural celebration this year’s events include dozens of musicians, dance companies and troupes, operas, circuses and cabaret and more. The Festival Village is located in Hyde Park and offers visitors five bars, food and fun.
Note: Australia’s summer is the U.S. winter so while people throughout the U.S. are cold and wishing for sun, Australia is in the heat of summer making this truly an ideal winter festival. After spending time at the festival, go for a swim, hit the waves and do some world class surfing, sail, fish, take a walk, enjoy the sites and the sounds.
Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
In its 30th year, this international festival takes place from the 5th of January to February. A long running festival, this festival is lesser known than many, but far from lesser. Taking place in far northeaster China, it features enormous ice structures and many fun winter events including polar bear swims and an ice-lantern exhibition which has ancient roots. In 2001, the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture festival joined with the Heilongjiang International Ski Festival to form the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.
Considered the largest ice and snow festival in the world and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Festival highlights include sculptures throughout the areas including at Sun Island, Zhaolin Park and St. Sophia Church. A snow sculpture competition, a group wedding ceremony on ice, the Hundred-Flower Dance, international Book Fair and Ice and Snow Anime International Expo are just a few of the events this year.
Whether you enjoy ice festivals or festivals celebrating the heat of summer in another hemisphere, the world has plenty to choose from in winter. Find out what you have been missing when you travel.
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