Springtime Festivals You Must Experience

Here’s a comprehensive guide to springtime festivals you should experience, featuring a mix of cultural celebrations, floral displays, and unique traditions worldwide. These festivals embody the renewal, beauty, and joy of the season:

🌸 FLOWER FESTIVALS

Springtime naturally brings blooming landscapes, and these festivals celebrate the season’s floral splendor.

1. Cherry Blossom Festivals (Japan)

Where: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and nationwide

When: Late March to mid-April

Why Go: The Japanese sakura (cherry blossoms) symbolize beauty and impermanence. Enjoy hanami (flower viewing) picnics under the blossoms, illuminated night displays, and tea ceremonies.

Highlight: Ueno Park in Tokyo and Maruyama Park in Kyoto are must-visit spots.

2. Keukenhof Tulip Festival (Netherlands)

Where: Keukenhof Gardens, Lisse

When: Mid-March to mid-May

Why Go: Known as the "Garden of Europe," this festival features over 7 million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in stunning arrangements.

Highlight: Take a bike ride through the colorful tulip fields surrounding the gardens.

3. Floriade Expo (Canberra, Australia)

Where: Canberra

When: Mid-September to mid-October (Southern Hemisphere spring)

Why Go: Australia's biggest spring festival features vibrant flower displays, sculptures, and cultural programs.

Highlight: NightFest, a dazzling evening event with live music and illuminated blooms.

4. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (Washington, USA)

Where: Skagit Valley, Washington

When: April

Why Go: Vast fields of tulips, family-friendly events, and art shows make this a great celebration of spring.

Highlight: Take a scenic drive through the tulip fields and enjoy local food and wine.

🎉 CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS

These festivals highlight local traditions, stories, and rituals welcoming the spring season.

5. Holi (India and Nepal)

Where: Nationwide in India, particularly vibrant in Mathura, Vrindavan, and Jaipur

When: March (varies by lunar calendar)

Why Go: Known as the "Festival of Colors," Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil. Participants throw vibrant powders, splash water, and dance in joyous revelry.

Highlight: In Vrindavan and Mathura, witness traditional celebrations tied to the legend of Krishna and Radha.

6. Songkran (Thailand)

Where: Nationwide, especially Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket

When: April 13–15

Why Go: Marking the Thai New Year, Songkran is famous for its epic water fights, cleansing rituals, and joyous community spirit.

Highlight: Visit temples to witness traditional ceremonies and then join the city-wide water battles.

7. Nowruz (Iran and Central Asia)

Where: Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Kurdish regions

When: March 20 or 21 (Spring Equinox)

Why Go: The Persian New Year celebrates renewal and the start of spring with feasts, dances, and cultural events.

Highlight: The symbolic haft-seen table and public dances in Uzbekistan’s Registan Square.

8. Las Fallas (Valencia, Spain)

Where: Valencia

When: March 15–19

Why Go: This fiery festival honors Saint Joseph with elaborate, satirical effigies (ninots) that are paraded through the city and then burned in grand ceremonies.

Highlight: The climactic Nit de la Cremà (Night of the Burning).

9. Feria de Abril (Seville, Spain)

Where: Seville

When: Two weeks after Easter

Why Go: A vibrant fair featuring flamenco dancing, colorful traditional costumes, horse parades, and delicious Andalusian cuisine.

Highlight: The private casetas (party tents) lining the fairground.

🌿 NATURAL WONDERS AND FESTIVALS

Explore seasonal phenomena and cultural events centered on spring’s natural beauty.

10. National Cherry Blossom Festival (Washington, D.C., USA)

Where: Washington, D.C.

When: Late March to mid-April

Why Go: A celebration of U.S.-Japan friendship with cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin, parades, and cultural performances.

Highlight: The Blossom Kite Festival on the National Mall.

11. Hanami Matsuri (Kyoto, Japan)

Where: Kyoto

When: Late March to April

Why Go: Kyoto's historic temples and gardens are adorned with blooming cherry blossoms, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

Highlight: The Philosopher’s Path and evening light-ups at Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

12. Tulip Time Festival (Holland, Michigan, USA)

Where: Holland, Michigan

When: Early May

Why Go: Celebrate Dutch heritage with millions of tulips, traditional dances, parades, and music.

Highlight: Wooden shoe dances and windmill garden tours.

✨ UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Looking for something out-of-the-box? These festivals are as intriguing as they are beautiful.

13. Cimburijada (Festival of Scrambled Eggs, Bosnia)

Where: Zenica, Bosnia

When: March 21 (Spring Equinox)

Why Go: Celebrate the start of spring with a massive communal breakfast featuring scrambled eggs along the Bosna River.

Highlight: The communal spirit and live music.

14. Sechseläuten (Zurich, Switzerland)

Where: Zurich

When: Mid-April

Why Go: A unique Swiss tradition marking the end of winter by burning a snowman effigy (Böögg).

Highlight: Watch the Böögg explode—the quicker it burns, the better the summer forecast!