Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec
Times, dates, and locations of events are sometimes changed or even cancelled. Always remember to check with organizers and local authorities before booking tickets and making travel plans.
Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin, Germany
February (every year)
Biggest film festival in Germany.
Biike Brennen
Sylt, Germany
February (every year)
Bonfires mark the end of winter.
Carnival
Aalst, Belgium
February (every year)
Processions, onion-throwing, broom dancing, and cross-dressing.
Carnival
Bailleul-Mont des Cats, France
February (every year)
Processions, floats, and brass bands.
Carnival
Barcelona, Spain
February (every year)
Feasting, confetti parades, and a funeral cortege.
Carnival
Basel, Switzerland
February (Monday to Thursday, the week after Ash Wednesday)
Costumed parade.
Carnival
Binche, Belgium
February (every year)
Masked parades and costume balls.
Carnival
Bremen, Germany
February (every year)
Masked parades and costumed characters.
Carnaval
Dunkerque, France
February (every year)
Street carnival and parade.
Carnival
Foiano, Italy
February (every year)
Music, floats, and parties.
Carnival
Funchal, Portugal
February (every year)
Traditional Carnival celebrations on the island of Madeira.
Carnival
Granville, France
February (first Sunday of every February)
Festivities include a masked parade.
Carnival
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
February (every year)
Carnival, Canary Islands style, includes “Drag Queen Day”.
Carnival
Loulé, Portugal
February (every year)
Floats and fancy-dress parades.
Carnival
Madrid, Spain
February (every year)
Feasting and fancy-dress parades.
Carnival
Mainz, Germany
February (every year)
Masquerade and procession.
Busójárás Festival
Mohács, Hungary
February (starts Thursday before Ash Wednesday)
Combination carnival celebrating the end of winter and the beginning of Lent.
Carnival
Nice, France
February (every year)
Processions, fireworks, concerts, and floats.
Carnival
Pau, France
February (every year)
Bonfires, pancakes, processions, cross-dressing, and pig races!
Carnival
Putignano, Italy
December - February (every year)
Parade of papier-mache floats.
Carnival
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
February (every year)
Processions, cross-dressing, horse parade, and street parties.
Carnival
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
February (every year)
Horse parade and costume procession.
Carnival
Sciacca, Italy
February (every year)
Sicilian costume parade and carnival floats.
Carnival
Sitges, Spain
February (every year)
Popular gay resort hosts 250,000 for this wild celebration
Carnival
Venice, Italy
February (every year)
Masquerades, processions, ceremonies, parades, and masked balls.
Carnival
Verona, Italy
February (every year)
Masked parade and regatta.
Carnival
Viareggio, Italy
February (every year)
Parades, fireworks, and famous papier-maché puppets.
Carnival
Vilanova i La Geltrú, Spain
February (every year)
Parades, meringue wars, sweet wars (food fights), and masquerades.
Carnival
Rijeka, Croatia
January - February (every year)
Carnival parade meets Slavic folklore and mythology.
Cresta Run
St Moritz, Switzerland
December - February (every year)
Similar to bobsled tracks, but made of natural ice. Try it if you dare!
Holland Flowers Festival
Zwaagdijk-Oost, Holland
February (every year)
Holland’s premier flower show.
Icehotel
Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
December - April (every year)
Hotel made of ice in Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle.
Jorvik Viking Festival
York, England
February (every year)
Battle reenactments, long ship racing, Viking markets, and torchlit procession.
Lemon Festival
Menton, France
February (every year)
Parades with floats made of lemons.
Monte Carlo Vintage Car Rally
Monte Carlo, Monaco
January - February (every year)
Vintage cars and lots of pomp.
Olympic Bobsleigh Run
La Plagne, France
November - February (every year)
Try out the Olympic track.
Opera Ball
Vienna, Austria
February (every year)
The socialite’s highlight of the ball season.
Orange Carnival (Carnevale delle Arance)
Ivrea, Italy
February (every year)
Orange-throwing battle.
Orchid Festival
Richmond, England
February - March (every year)
A dream for orchid lovers.
Prix de Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
January - February (every year)
International competition for young dancers at the Palais de Beaulieu.
Saint Valentine’s Body
Terni, Italy
February - March (every year)
The Saint’s body lies in the cathedral, love-themed celebrations all month.
Saint Valentine's Day
Rome, Italy
February (every year)
Celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day in the city of his martyrdom.
Saint Valentine's Day
Paris, France
February (every year)
Celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day in the city of love.
Sami Winter Fair
Jokkmokk, Sweden
February (every year)
Reindeer races, market, experience the culture of the Samis (or Lapps).
La Sartiglia
Oristano, Italy
February (every year)
Carnival, medieval tournament, races, and celebrations.
Snow Festival
Kiruna, Sweden
January - February (every year)
Snow sculpting, dog-sledding, reindeer, and northern lights.
Up Helly Aa
Hillswick, Scotland
February (third Friday of every February)
Fire festival, torchlit fancy-dress procession, burning of Viking ship.
Up Helly Aa
South Nesting, Scotland
February (first Friday of every February)
Fire festival, torchlit fancy-dress procession, burning of Viking ship.
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