Great Festivals Worth Putting on Your “Bucket List”
by Barb Cline, Your Personal Travel Professional
A festival is a place where people looking to have a great time can dance, listen to great music, celebrate, party, have fun, and relax. They happen all over the world for many different reasons. Some celebrate religion, some the new year, some art, some the harvest or the full moon whatever the reason, every month, somewhere in the world, you’ll find people descending on a location to celebrate and share a common experience.
Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan 2021 — May 1-8, 2021 (Holland, Michigan)
Once a year, for more than 90 years, the city holds the Tulip Time Festival, which is all about beauty and color. The events that are held usually in spring bring hundreds of thousands of people, locals and tourists, who come to see the marvelous bloom of thousands of tulips in various places in the parks and the city. In addition, the visitors can enjoy the diverse culture and entertainment events, such as three different parades (Muziekparade, Kinderparade, Volksparade), diverse traditional Dutch food in Dutch marktplaats, handmade crafts and souvenirs, concerts, entertainments shows, and fireworks.
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2021—October 2-10, 2021 (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
For nine days in October, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta® creates an enchanted world of special-shaped balloon rodeos, twilight balloon glows, and vibrant balloon-filled skies. Brisk autumn mornings in the Rio Grande Valley create an otherworldly backdrop for the breathtaking majesty of its most popular event: Mass Ascension of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®. Any local will tell you that October is the most beautiful time of the year in New Mexico, made so in large part by the much-anticipated sight of colorful balloons punctuating the skyline. During this season, the sky is bluer, the days are gentler, and the mornings crisper—almost as though the landscape has taken a deep sigh—and on the desert’s warm breath sails the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Floriade 2022—April 28, 2022-October 23, 2022 (Almere, Netherlands)
It will be the 23rd AIPH world horticultural exhibition. Almere will be the stage for the Floriade Expo 2022 International Horticultural Expo for six months: the greenest day out. Once every 10 years, Floriade is the park to enjoy the scent and color of flowers, plants, vegetables, and fruit. The Expo offers 40 inspiring country presentations, a spectacular greenhouse complex, a cable car over the Floriade park, pavilions with sustainable innovations, and a vibrant arts and culture program. Floriade will be an extraordinary experience for young and old in 2022. Don’t miss it!
Passion Play—May 14, 2022-October 4, 2022 (Oberammergau, Germany)
Nearly 400 years ago, the history of the Passion Play began. The plague raged in many parts of Europe and did not spare Oberammergau either. In 1633, the Oberammergau villagers promised to perform the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ every tenth year, in so far as no one was to die of the plague anymore. The villagers were answered by God and, therefore, in 1634, the first Passion Play took place. The promise has been kept until today. The Passion Play had to be postponed for two years due to COVID-19. The 42nd Oberammergau Passion Play will now take place in 2022. Most people will combine this event with visiting Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Danube, or Rhine River cruises.
