Romancing Texas
What: Austin City Limits
Where: Austin, Texas
When: October 11 - 13
From Vampire Weekend to the Muse, from Arctic Monkeys to Queens of the Stone Age, and from Jimmy Eat World to Kings of Leon - the line-up couldn’t get any better at this year’s Austin City Limits fest, one of the biggest music festivals Austin hosts, apart from SXSW that takes place in the spring. The Festival brings together more than 130 bands on eight stages, including rock, country, folk, indie, Americana, hip-hop, reggae, and bluegrass, and attracts a crowd of more than 65,000 visitors each day.
Jazz Nights
What: Stratford-upon-Avon Music Festival
Where: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
When: October 12 to 20 October
For those whose heart skips a beat for the tunes of chamber music and jazz bands, this is an event to book for. The line-up is full of famous names from the world of classical, jazz and folk music like Joo Yeon Sir (violin), Irina Andrievsky (piano), Freddy Kempf (piano), Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpets) and Leslie Pearson (piano).
A welcoming town
What: Iceland Airwaves 2013
Where: Reykjavik, Iceland
When: October 30 - November 3
Since the first edition was held in 1999 (in an airplane hangar), Iceland Airwaves has become one of the premier annual showcases for new music - Icelandic and otherwise - in the world. Reykjavík is quite possibly the perfect festival city - small enough to be welcoming, sophisticated enough to offer cultural, historical and nightlife diversions to rival most cities. Surrounded by some of the most unique and astonishing natural beauty you’re ever likely to see, the festival has featured artists like Sigur Rós, Hot Chip, Of Monsters and Men, TV On The Radio, Florence and the Machine and Björk.
Pull an all-nighter
What: Full Moon Party
Where: Koh Phangan, Thailand
When: October 19, November 17 and December 17
If you love nothing but to party from dusk to dawn, you need to head to the Full Moon Party at the beach in Haad Rin in Thailand. Bursting with EDM, house, psychedelic trance, drum and bass and reggae, the music doesn’t stop here, it’s the party-goers who have to take a break to keep up. First cut
What: Tokyo International Film Festival
Where: Tokyo, Japan
When: October 17 to 25
How far are you willing to travel to watch an assemblage of movies? The best answer is Far East. The Tokyo International Film Festival will open with the Tom Hanks-starrer biographical action thriller Captian Phillips. Directed by Paul Greengrass, the film is about merchant mariner Captain Richard Phillips who was taken hostage by Somali Pirates.
Drink all you want
What: Norwich Beer Festival
Where: Norwich, England
When: October 28 - November 2
Those of you who missed Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, despair not. With some diversion in travel plans, ye lager fans can holler cheers at Norwich Beer Festival that is part of the many beer promotions held around the UK. Don’t forget to take in the history and scenery of this city too.
Trick or treat
What: Halloween
Where: Most popular in the USA
When: October 31
Even Bangalore celebrates it now, but the mother of all Halloween (actually All Hallows’ Evening) observances is in the US. Meant to be a day to remember the dead, including saints (hallows) and martyrs, as says Wikipedia, it’s marked with decorations made of pumpkins and with children going door-to-door asking to be tricked or treated.
In remembrance
What: Day of the Dead Festival
Where: Mexico
When: November 1 and 2
A bit like Halloween but with a lot more rituals and pageantry, the Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos is a national holiday in Mexico. Families pray for those who have passed on, remembering them with sugar skulls, their favourite foods and leaving them gifts by their graves. The celebrations coincide with Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honouring the deceased . They also leave possessions of the deceased.
The elite kind
What: Melbourne Cup Day
Where: Melbourne, Australia
When: November 5
Held on the first Tuesday of November, The Melbourne Cup, conducted by Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse race. And like all such events, it’s not just about the horses and winnings, but also about the fashion stakes and the fun.
Turkey and all
What: Thanksgiving Day
Where: USA
When: November 28
To thank for the harvest, to thank for the year to come, to seal friendship with the native Americans, and now to prepare for the coming of the holidays, Thanksgiving Day has many histories including that it’s a version of observances brought by the pilgrims from England. A secular custom now, the day is marked by a lavish lunch with family.
A White Day
What: International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music
Where: Prague
When: December 12 -15
Winter is almost here and before you realise, it will be Christmas time. The International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music, organised by Millennium Agency Prague and OR-FEA Prague in co-operation with Czech Choral Union, is the first and biggest advent and Christmas music festival held in Central Europe that invites choirs of all kinds to perform.
A great line-up
What: ZOUKOUT dance party
Where:Sentosa, Singapore
When: December 13 and 14
The party starts at 8 pm and goes on till 5 am the first day and 8 am the next. And keeping you up will be Electro, Trance, House, Techno to Mambo Jambo, Hip Hop and Pop played by the likes of Afrojack, Danny Avila, Dash Berlin, Lee Foss, Martin Solveig, Nervo, Otto Knows, Solomun and Zedd.
The last day
What: Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Festival
Where: Scotland
When: December 30 - January 1
The Scots celebrate the last day of the year with a public street fest. Call it a new year party that has parades, theatre, music and dance.
Indie Spirit
What: Rhythm and Vines Festival
Where: Gisborne, New Zealand
When: December 28 - 31
Started by university friends, this festival provides platform for local artistes and a place where people can party in a safe environment. This year the line-up includes Wiz Khalifa, Empire of the Sun, Shapeshifter and more.