Six of the Best: Famous Festivals Around the World

A journey of cultural enlightenment awaits with my pick of the world’s most mesmerising famous festivals. Soak up the spectacle, absorb the atmosphere, take in the traditions and relish the rituals.

Wherever in the world you’re thinking of exploring, it’s well worth a little research to see if you can tie it in with a local festival to get the true flavour of your destination. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed as you witness the nuances of the culture and get an authentic and illuminating insight into the nation – the customs, the dress, the food, the history and, most of all, the people.

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL – CHINA

Picture the scene: a throng of shimmering dragon boats meandering down the river with crowds cheering wildly and music playing melodically.

Held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which generally falls in June, and encompassing three days of public holidays, trust me when I say this is one of the most exhilarating festivals. It makes you feel like you’re experiencing the true essence of China. And what better – or more apt – time to explore an event revolving around the dragon than during the Chinese Year of the Dragon?

The festival’s history is remarkable – it originated when poet Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River in protest at the fall of his beloved homeland. Locals raced along in boats, dropping lumps of rice so the fish wouldn’t feast on his body. Hence a festival speciality is zongzi, a sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves, which tastes even better washed down with ruby sulphur wine.

So, what to expect when you’re here? Plentiful dragon boats. Plus folk entertainment including unicorn dances, opera and even a spot of willow shooting. If you want a true local experience, bathing in flower-scented water to ward off evil is customary, something you can do in the opulent surrounds of your Kempinski bathroom.

The festivities stretch far and wide with the most famous dragon boat races taking place in Beijing, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. With a multitude of Kempinski hotels in China, your trip will be both edifying and elegant. The festival is celebrated in Singapore and Indonesia too – so check out other hotels in the Kempinski constellation in Asia.

Feeling inspired? Discover all of the Kempinski destinations across China. 

DAY OF THE DEAD – MEXICO

A festival that transcends literally everything, including death, Mexico’s Day of the Dead sees deceased spirits welcomed back to walk alongside the living. Being granted a window through which to watch this powerful part of Mexican heritage, and to help us reflect on our own mortality, is an unforgettable privilege.

The festival is held every year from 31 October to 2 November and, unlike Halloween, it’s far from ghoulish. Instead, it’s an uplifting celebration where you’ll encounter the utterly unexpected – from brightly coloured sculptures of bat, dragon and wolf hybrids to giant skulls and puppets being paraded on floats. There are mariachi bands, flamboyant dancers, sand floor tapestries, face painting, flower crowns and food markets selling the traditional ‘bread of the dead’ pastry.

If fortune’s on your side you may encounter a graveside altar decorated with photos, lanterns, marigolds, sugar skull decorations and the favourite foods of a departed loved one – ready for their arrival. 

This other-worldly festival is celebrated throughout Mexico but in Cancún head to Xcaret Park for Yucatecan specialties, lively performances and cemetery tours. When you’re ready to rest, retreat to your decadent room at Kempinski Hotel Cancún and enjoy the sparkling seas and powdery sand that’s sure to make you feel very much alive.

FETU AFAHYE – GHANA

If a trip to captivatingly rich and resplendent Ghana is on your agenda, you may have a rare opportunity to dive head first into the nation’s heritage at Fetu Afahye.

Celebrated on the first Saturday of September, this regatta on a lagoon in Cape Coast involves vibrant processions, traditional dancing, colourful decorations and Ghanaian rituals and regalia – all set to the distinctive beat of ancient drums.

It commemorates a time when locals’ prayers were answered and the nation triumphed over a devastating disease outbreak. There’s a spirit of joy and gratitude for the unity and resilience of the community which, in our own post-pandemic era, will resonate with many of us.

Where to stay after the fascinating spectacle? Kempinksi Hotel Gold Coast City Accra is the ideal option. As the only five-star hotel in the city, you’ll be enveloped in warmth and luxury, and I highly recommend the infinity pool and beautiful gardens. 

OKTOBERFEST – MUNICH, GERMANY

A buzzing Bavarian beerhall welcome and an energy unlike anything else I’ve experienced awaits you at Oktoberfest.

Beginning in late September and lasting more than a fortnight, around 7 million visitors attend this much-loved celebration. Picture yourself sitting at long tables under festoon lights in a themed tent surrounded by happy people in Bavarian lederhosen, all draining litre mugs of beer, chanting the same tune and dancing on tables. It's quite the cathartic and euphoric carnival experience (complete with German sausage, pretzels and dumplings).

Don’t be sidelined into thinking it’s just for grown-ups. It’s a great experience for families with children’s entertainment, including balloon art and face painting, somehow co-existing alongside the beer-swilling.

Insider tip – for something more culturally enriching and less headache-inducing, check out the parades featuring brewery wagons, marching bands, gun salutes, acrobats and dancers.

If you’re feeling delicate afterwards, plunge into a pool with rooftop views, indulge in reviving spa treatments, or take it easy in the tranquil surroundings of Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich.

If you won’t be in Germany for Oktoberfest, you can still play a part in the revelry as a selection of our Asian hotels, including Kempinski Hotel Beijing Yansha Center, include a Paulaner Bräuhaus. These microbrewery restaurants offer the authentic ambience, taste and energy of the German beer hall.

JAKARNAVAL – JAKARTA, INDONESIA

If you’re looking for a place to segue into the new year, then skip the more well-trodden destinations and instead opt for an enriching extravaganza at Jakarnaval.

The focal point of this 31 December festival is the giant parade with creative floats and dynamic dancers, all telling stories of Indonesian legends. There’s live music aplenty with the region’s famous musicians performing and there’s a fun energy with streets flooded with thousands of people enjoying the much-anticipated midnight countdown. The light drone show and fireworks celebration are definitely worth the wait.

When you’ve danced your last dance, recline into your sumptuous bed at Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta where you can re-energise ready to take on the new year.

DUBAI FOOD FESTIVAL – DUBAI, U.A.E.

With Dubai fast emerging as a gastronomic capital, a food festival here means pure indulgence. Held in April and May, I can promise you this is the optimum time to visit the city.

The highlights? Guided food tours, cooking demos, pop-up restaurants, experiential events, themed feasts, live entertainment and informative masterclasses. And a plethora of mouthwatering food – from Insta-worthy Michelin-star dishes to street fare crafted by spice-blending veg-chopping aficionados who deserve just as much recognition.

Not to be missed is the Beach Canteen along the blissful coastline, which transforms into a dining hotspot with food trucks, cooking stations and a great atmosphere.

The festival incorporates Dubai Restaurant Week where the most divine restaurants offer bespoke set-price menus so you can sample fine dining at more appealing prices.

After all this food glorious food, your senses will need a serene spot to relax. What a choice you’ll have with no fewer than four Kempinski hotels in Dubai, including residences so you can stay for as long as your palate desires.

With a selection of famous festivals on every continent, your trip is guaranteed to be a voyage of discovery with new cultures and traditions just waiting to be explored.

If you enjoyed this, why not plan your visit to the Dubai Food Festival with the help of this feature about the evolution of Dubai?