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Eight International Festivals That You Must Go To With Your Children

If you’re going to see the world why not take in a few festivals while you are at it? These eight international festivals are guaranteed to create some pretty amazing childhood memories. Not every festival will work for every child so be sure to think hard about the pros and cons of each one before dropping the money on travelling to a big festival with your little ones.

Holi Festival  

Take your kids on a magical journey to Mathura, India for this Child-Friendly International Festival. To get there take the first star on the left and fly straight on till morning because this is the closest your family will ever be to living in a J.M. Barrie book. You, your children and thousands of your newest friends will participate in a giant colored powder throwing fight so big that would make the lost boys jealous. Oh, and there is the added bonus of taking the world’s most amazing pictures. Mathura isn’t the only place in the world this happens, in fact it occurs all over India, Nepal and Sri Lanka as well as several other countries with large populations of people from India. The festival occurs at the very beginning of March in 2018 but the date changes every year like Easter or Ramadan.

Pros:

• Amazing memories of insanely bright and vibrant colours
• Best pictures you’ll ever take of your kids having fun
• You get to teach your kids about a really fun holiday in one of the planets biggest religions
• Better for older children, pre-teens and up

Cons:

• Not a good activity for parents who feel nervous having their kids in large crowds
• Be sure to pack safety glasses for your kids and even then one of them will get powder in their eyes
• India can be an overwhelming place to be, especially if you’re new to travelling
• Babies should not be brought to a coloured powder fight, so please don’t

Provins Medieval Festival    

On June 9th and 10th take your kids on a two day  journey 1200 years into the history of medieval France during this Family Friendly International festival. Enter the walled city of Provins, France and watch craftsmen work forges, sew dresses and make medieval treats for you and your kids. Be entertained by jesters, puppeteers, acrobats, musicians and other performers as they flood the streets. The Provins Medieval Festival also has a strong focus on involving kids in medieval games and activities  including: tug of war, climbing contests, skittles, hoop throwing, treasure fishing, dancing, calligraphy and even games of chess.

Pros:

• France is a relatively easy and safe country to get around in
• Their is a distinctly educational element to this fair
• Their are animal shows and activities for kids
• You are allowed to climb on the walls and ramparts

Cons:

• France can quickly turn into a very expensive trip if you’re not careful
• Lots of walking is involved, up and down hills.
• Castles were not designed for strollers

Just So Festival  

Have you ever wondered what a kid-friendly version of the International Festival Burning Man would look like? Wonder no longer, the Just So Festival is exactly that. This arts festival in Cheshire England has the same imagination overload and crazy artist vibe that the Burning does without the drugs and random nudity. So if you want to step out of the ordinary and into a  wonderland of world class literature, arts, theatre, dance, music, comedy and other creative pursuits then this one is for you. There is also a ‘Tribal Tournament’ involving the unborn to the elderly. Don’t forget the magical midnight feasts, curious creatures, raucous pillow fights, hidden retreats, top notch food, drink and boutique camping options and breathtaking beauty. This magical weekend takes place on August 17, 18, and 19th in 2018.

Pros:

• This festival is designed for families
• With the right excitement and energy this festival could easily outstrip Disneyland in it’s excitement and cherished memories

Cons:

• England can quickly turn into a very expensive trip if you’re not careful
• Lots of walking is involved, up and down hills.

The Kite Festival of Sumpango   

Get ready for this Kid Friendly International Festival that will put wind in your families sails.Take all the colors, pageantry and Burton-esque vibes of the Mexican day of the dead and add insanely giant kites you will get the Kite Festival of Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. On November 1st every year the locals create vibrantly colored kites made of cloth and paper to be flown in the nearby Sacatepéquez cemetery to honor the dead. The locals in this small municipality dress up in colorful clothing and head to the cemetery to spend the day cleaning up the graves and decorating them with flowers while they have picnics right next to their departed family members. The practice of flying colorful kites during the Day of the Dead celebrations has been around for 3,000 years and is recognized by various religious sects, and many locals believe it is a tool for communicating with the beyond.

Pros:

• This festival is family friendly
• Guatemala is an inexpensive place to visit
• This festival provides an amazing look into another culture and opens up conversations about life and death

Cons:

• Guatemala is a small nation with pockets of extreme poverty and crime. You should always check out your country’s travel statements to determine potential danger zones
• Also determine what vaccines you will need before arrival
• Lots of walking is involved, up and down hills.

Carnaval de Rio de Janeiro 

Samba your way into Valentine’s day by visiting Rio de Janeiro from February 9th to 14th to watch or even to take part in the most iconic dance performance in the world. Carnival is a giant parade where samba schools work year-round in preparation for Carnival practicing their dances as well as building their extravagant floats. These schools are judged on their costumes, flow, theme, music quality and performance. Some samba schools also hold street parties in their neighborhoods, through which they parade along with their followers. Tourists can even pay to take part which can be both fun and expensive.

Pros:

• Rio is very used to tourists, even children, during carnival
• If you have the money you can get right in the middle of the action

Cons:

• Brazil is a nation with pockets of extreme poverty and crime. You should always check out your country’s travel statements to determine potential danger zones
• Also determine what vaccines you will need before arrival
• The streets will be far too busy to use strollers

Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival 

Step into the mind of Elsa at The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is the largest ice and snow festival in the world. The festival includes the world’s biggest ice sculptures.Officially, the festival starts on January 5 and lasts for one month however, exhibits often open earlier and stay open longer, weather permitting. While ice sculptures are erected throughout the city, there are two main exhibition areas. ‘Sun Island’ is a recreational area on the opposite side of the Songhua River from the city, which features an expo of enormous snow sculptures. ‘Ice and Snow World’ is an area open at night which features illuminated full size buildings made from blocks of 2–3′ thick ice taken directly from the Songhua River. Winter activities during the festival include Yabuli alpine skiing, winter-swimming in the Songhua River, and the ice-lantern exhibition in Zhaolin Garden.

Pros:

• The Festival is well organized and takes place over a long period of time making it a low stress festival for families with kids
• Harbin China is a very inexpensive place to visit

Cons:

• China has very specific and enforced Visa restrictions. Failure to leave within the specified time can result in jail time.
• China is very intolerant to political expression contrary to the official government position and it would be wise to exercise restraint from discussing politics in China

Carnevale  

Whether you love the opening scene to Beauty and the Beast or want to feel like your in a ball created by the Goblin King in Labyrinth Venice is the place to go. Carnevale in Venice is a huge Family Friendly International Festival that goes on for weeks surrounding February 9th to the 11th. Carnevale caters to both the exceptional wealthy and the average person. Many events, particularly the opulent masquerade balls, require invitations and have steep ticket prices, others, like the candle-lit parade of boats, concerts, and street performances, are free and open to the public.

Pros:

• Get all the pomp, excitement and pageantry of Mardi Gras without the overtly sexual overtones
• Explore one of Europe’s most amazing historic cities at it’s best decorated

Cons:

• Venice is a major tourism destination which means it can turn very expensive very quickly
• Some of the masks may be disturbing or scary to young children

Lantern Festival 

This Family Friendly International Festival is held on March 2nd 2018. Here you can simultaneously re-live both Tangled and Mulan During the Taiwan Lantern Festival. After sunset thousands of sky lanterns light up the north over Pingxi District in Taiwan while simultaneously the Yanshui Fireworks Display lights up the south. To keep you busy there will be a full day of dancing, music, crafts, food and more.

Pros:

• This festival will be remembered for your kids entire lives
• Taiwan is a fairly inexpensive place to visit

Cons:

• With only one day of activities the festival is a little short lived

Looking for more amazing journey’s for your family that you and your children will always cherish, check our blog on the Do’s and Dont’s of Spending Christmas at Euro Disney.