12 Fall Festivals in Europe You Need to Experience This Season
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Fall festivals in Europe take many forms, from traditional beer-drinking festivals in Germany and bonfires in the United Kingdom to truffle-eating festivals in Italy and dance festivals in Amsterdam.
Fall might not be the warmest or sunniest time to visit Europe, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most exciting. In the fall, landscapes across Europe start to take on a kaleidoscope of colors, many destinations are less busy, so you can snag a bargain deal, and fall celebrations are in full flow.
To show you what Europe offers in the fall, we’ve compiled a list of 12 of the best fall festivals. These festivals are interesting, unique, and entertaining.
Amsterdam Dance Event, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Let’s start this list of the best fall festivals in Europe with a hugely entertaining festival in the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam. For over 25 years, the Amsterdam Dance Event has been considered the world’s leading electronic music festival. It takes place over five days in mid-October and features DJs, artists, and record labels from across the globe.
Over 2,900 artists perform in 200+ venues during the event, so you won’t struggle to find something you enjoy, especially if you love House, Afro House, Hardstyle, or Melodic Techno. The best shows require a ticket, but you can attend many free shows and events. The free shows are an excellent opportunity to watch electronic music’s best up-and-coming talent.
Read also: Best Festivals Across the Globe to Attend
Paris Nuit Blanche, Paris, France
If you prefer museum hunting and gallery exploring to electronic music and wild parties, consider attending the Paris Nuit Blanche instead of the Amsterdam Dance Event. Nuit Blanche, or White Night in English, is an all-night arts festival that immerses people in a place’s art, culture, and history.
While this event started in Helsinki, it has also become a big hit in Paris, France’s historical capital. As such, Paris throws a Nuit Blanche festival twice yearly – on June 1st and the 1st Saturday in October. During the event, Paris is brought to life at night with colorful illuminations, light installations, art installations, and unique cultural performances.
Read also: Best Things To Do in Paris
Guy Fawkes Night, United Kingdom
You might call me biased because I’m from the United Kingdom, but I firmly believe Guy Fawkes Night, also called Guy Fawkes Day and Bonfire Night, is one of the world’s most entertaining festivals. It’s undoubtedly one of the most interesting. Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated across the United Kingdom on November 5th.
It is celebrated to commemorate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, which saw Guy Fawkes, a British military man, attempt to blow up the British Parliament to assassinate King James I of England. On November 5th, millions of Brits mark the day with epic fireworks displays, roaring bonfires, and exhilarating parties. Firework displays represent the gunpowder Guy Fawkes nearly used to blow up Parliament.
Read also: Must Visit Cities in the UK
Signal Festival, Prague, Czech Republic
Signal Festival is a breathtaking event that takes place annually in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. This dazzling four-day festival, usually in mid-October, sees light shows and contemporary art installations, giving a new lease of life to the city’s most famous Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.
This fall festival is a fantastic way to experience the city at night. As you walk the city’s narrow medieval streets, you’ll discover magnificent displays, futuristic demonstrations, and impressive works of art. The Signal Festival typically has a theme, for example, eco-systems. Popular places to witness this spectacular event unfold are Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, and the Municipal Library of Prague.
Read also: Must Visit Cities in Europe
Oktoberfest, Germany
Beer drinkers and partygoers searching for an exciting fall festival should head to Germany this October and participate in the Oktoberfest. Originating in Munich during the 19th century, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest volksfest. For those who don’t know, a volksfest is a German beer or wine festival.
From late September to early October, millions of people worldwide celebrate Oktoberfest. However, it’s most popular in Munich, where over six million people attend the festivities. During the event, Germans and travelers partake in beer drinking, traditional games, live music, and dance events. Many people wear traditional Bavarian costumes, and beers are drunk from large beer glasses called steins. Sounds like a lot of fun, right?
Read also: Best Cities You Should Visit in Germany
Alba White Truffle Festival, Alba, Italy
If you like the finer things in life, you should attend the Alba White Truffle Festival in Alba, Italy. Alba is a picturesque town in Piedmont, Italy, famed for producing white truffles. Luckily for the town, white truffles are one of the world’s rarest and most expensive ingredients. For context, one pound of white truffle can cost over $4,000.
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All things considered, it’s not surprising Alba throws a white truffle festival in celebration of the truffle. Alba honors the white truffle with various events and activities between October and December. You can expect food markets, truffle sampling, live concerts, cooking classes, auctions, and guided tours. Get saving now, though, if you want to take some truffles home.
Read also: Best Luxury Destinations in Italy
Derry Halloween, Derry, Northern Ireland
If you’re looking for a spooktacular way to spend Halloween this year, look no further than the Derry Halloween festival between October 28th and October 31st. Derry doesn’t immediately stand out as a place to spend Halloween, but it throws Europe’s largest Halloween festival. Derry loves Halloween because of the city’s ties to Celtic traditions.
During the festival, you’ll experience traditional Samhain celebrations, streets adorned with Halloween decorations, carnival entertainment, costume competitions, and ghost tours. You’ll also find that many bars and nightclubs in the city throw epic Halloween parties. However, the main highlight is the annual parade that features local performers, fireworks, Halloween-themed costumes, and impressive man-made creatures. What’s not to like?
Read also: Best Places for Halloween in the UK
La Mercè Festival, Barcelona, Spain
Admittedly, it doesn’t matter when you visit Barcelona because you’ll always find something going on. However, the fall is an excellent time to visit, specifically from September 20th to September 24th, because you can attend the city’s annual La Mercè festival. This vibrant festival has been a holiday in Barcelona since 1871. It honors the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy.
If you attend the festival, you’ll be treated to epic street parties, colorful parades, live concerts, and magnificent fireworks displays. Two major festival highlights are the human towers called castellers—a Catalan tradition dating back to the 18th century—and the incredible wooden giants that walk the city’s streets.
Read also: Barcelona Travel Guide
Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
Another excellent fall festival you can attend in Spain is the Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla festival in Seville, Southern Spain. If you didn’t know, Seville is the home of the world-famous Spanish art form called Flamenco. Therefore, it only makes sense for the city to host the Bienal de Flamenco. This festival allows locals and tourists to celebrate Flamenco across the city.
It occurs in September every two years and features Flamenco’s best dancers, singers, and guitarists. The event runs for almost the entire month, so you can visit throughout September. If you’re a Flamenco expert, you might also be pleased to hear that many Flamenco dancing competitions are held in Seville during the event. You can also attend Flamenco courses, conferences, and seminars.
Read also: Spain’s Most Luxury Vacation Destinations
Venice Regata Storica Festival, Venice, Italy
The next European fall festival on our list is the Venice Regata Storica Festival, which unsurprisingly takes place in Venice, Italy’s iconic coastal city. The Venice Regata Storica Festival is one of the city’s most eagerly anticipated traditional events. It highlights and celebrates Venice’s rowing culture through boat races and parades.
The event is a marvelous occasion steeped in history, culture, and tradition. It features grand boats with rowers dressed in vibrant costumes, traditional gondolas, and exhilarating races. The festival’s highlight is the parade along the Grand Canal. Surrounded by Venice’s breathtaking architecture, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported back in time. This event is usually held in early September.
Read also: Awesome Weekend Getaways in Italy
Csabai Kolbászfesztivál, Békéscsaba, Hungary
The penultimate fall festival in Europe on our list is the Csabai Kolbászfesztivál festival in Békéscsaba, a small town in Hungary. This four-day sausage festival draws in thousands of visitors with the promise of delicious sausages, fine wines, folk music, and entertaining competitions. To be honest, it seems fitting that one of Europe’s best food festivals is in Hungary.
The primary focus of the event is the Csabai sausage – Hungary’s most famous sausage. During the event, you can learn how the sausage is made, try making sausages yourself, watch sausage-making contests, and eat sausage until your heart’s content. We don’t know about you, but this festival sounds utterly irresistible. We’re already booking our tickets.
Read also: Best European Cities for Foodies
Kookeet, Bruges, Belgium
Last but certainly not least is Kookeet, another exciting European fall food festival. Kookeet is a large food festival that takes place on the last weekend in September in Bruges, Belgium. For three days, you’re given the opportunity to indulge in some of Belgium’s finest culinary delights. What are you waiting for?
During the festivities, dishes are served at an affordable price so everyone can try something new. Besides eating your body weight in food, you’ll also be able to watch live cooking demonstrations, attend the annual cook-off (En Garde), and watch Michelin-starred chefs in action. Some dishes you might see during the festival include scallops and truffle risotto, Cream of Bruge Blomme cheese, and Belgian pancakes.
Read also: Best Culinary Destinations in Europe
