Celebrate in the far, far lands

Bring out the passport as world around festivals and events beg a travel itinerary that will make for memories. Continuing the series from last week where we focused on destinations in India themed on cultural highlights in the area, here we take a look outside the borders and explore the adventures ahead

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.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com