Best Festivals, Carnivals & Events to Experience Around the World This Winter

Looking to book a break in the winter season of 2019/20? Why not plan it around one of these incredible events (at least one of them should be on your bucket list!)

Winter is the most magical season of the year, and countries around the world love to celebrate it. There’s an extensive line-up of colourful events to enjoy during winter which comprise of everything from music performances and street parades to ice sculptures, snow activities and seasonal delicacies. We’ve put together a list of the top winter festivals and events around the world which offer endless fun and entertainment.

Sapporo Snow Festival, Japan - 31st Jan - 11th Feb 2020
This amazing event in Sapporo, the capital of the mountainous Japanese island Hokkaido is a sculpture festival celebrating all things winter. The Sapporo Snow Festival comprises of a snow sculpture show and contest at the Susukino Site and other fun seasonal activities across two other locations including snow mazes, snow-rafting, skating and giant ice slides as well as an ice bar serving hot drinks and delicious Japanese cuisines served from street shacks to keep you nice and warm. Experiencing the Sapporo Snow Festival is a great way to immerse yourself in Japanese culture!

Venice Carnival, Italy - 8th - 25th Feb 2020
As winter comes to an end, Venice comes to life with fancy Venetian masks, grandeur masquerade balls and parades, music and colourful costumes filling the city’s narrow labyrinth of laneways and St Mark’s Square. This famous festival dates back all the way to the 11th century and is the Venetian version of Mardi Gras, celebrated before lent. Mask making is an art form in Venice and a centuries’ old tradition which makes also makes this event a cultural celebration. Book a holiday package to Venice with Brightsun and buy yourself a pretty mask to take part in this enchanting open-air festival.

Carnaval de Que´bec, Canada - 7th-16th Feb 2020
Carnaval de Que´bec is one of the world’s largest winter carnivals which is hosted in the charming Canadian city of Quebec. This traditional carnival offers a host of fun winter adventures catering for all ages, including tubing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, skating and ice canoe racing along the St. Lawrence River, plus stunning carved snow sculptures, shows and evening floating parades. There’s even an Ice Palace that is built for Bonhomme - the representative for the carnival and a legendary snowman in Quebec. Why not celebrate winter in style and book some flights to Quebec.

Amsterdam Light Festival, Netherlands - 28th Nov 2019 - 19th Jan 2020
Amsterdam’s famous Light Festival is an annual event that illuminates the city’s streets, houses, bridges and waterways during the dark winter months with stunning light installations that are created by artists from all over the globe. This open-air exhibition has been running since 2012 and carries a new theme each and every year. It can be enjoyed by wandering on foot, a leisurely bike ride or by a cruise along the city’s canals.

If you happen to be in Amsterdam for New Year, don’t miss the annual New Year’s Dive, a tradition dating back to 1960 where celebrants start the year fresh (literally) by diving into the sea. The biggest dive is held at the beach in Scheveningen, which sees over 10,000 celebrants taking the plunge!

Rio Carnival, Brazil 21st - 26th Feb 2020
Perhaps the winter chill is a bit too much for you and you’d rather escape somewhere hot and tropical? Then why not plan to travel to Rio for Carnival. This world-famous spectacle is the largest festival in the world with street parades and parties galore and a colourful street dance competition which some of the best local samba schools participate in. This is the perfect place to experience the Brazilian culture and music scene, enjoy fantastic dance performances and admire extravagant costumes. If you do plan to experience Carnival, prepare for crowds as there over a million visitors each year from all around the world!