Find the best events, festivals, and celebrations taking place around the world this April.
From water fights, to flowers shows, snowboarding and concerts taking places all around the globe, take your pick from these delightful options. As always do check out our blog on Festivals and Events to Attend in March for festivals and events that start in March 2020 and continue onto February.
Dates: 1st - 30th April 2020
Location: Srinagar, India
The festival takes places at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden which is situated in the foothills of the Zabarwan range. The garden overlooks the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar and hosts Asia’s largest Tulip Flower Show with close to forty eight varieties of tulips on display. During this time, the Kashmir valley blooms with colour, even as the cold has not yet dissipated, with the possibility of experiencing occasional snowfall or rain lurking in the background. Judged as the second best tulip garden in the world by the World Summit Tulip Society, the gardens are truly a sight to see.
Dates: 9th - 13th April 2020
Location: Byron Bay, Australia
The Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm that just north of Byron Bay, hosts the Bluesfest music festival annually, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. With over 200 artist performances playing over 60 hours of incredible live music, over 5 days this Easter get ready for a rocking time in Bluesfest. The event is a must attend with over 200 performances with various stages spread across 120 hectares with 5 licensed bars, over 100 food and market stalls, undercover food courts, beer gardens, children’s entertainment, and the facilities for up to 6,000 people to set up camps.
Attracting an audience of over 100,000 people, it is now regarded as the foremost destination festival in Australia & renowned for being a safe, fun, family-friendly event. Last year’s line-up includes the likes of Jack Johnson, Hozier, Iggy Pop and The Raconteurs, and this year there will be performances by The Wailer in honour of Bob Marley’s 75th Birthday, and other famous artists and bands like Dave Matthews Band, Crowded House, Alanis Morissette, Lenny Kravitz and Patti Smith and Her Band among others.
Dates: 10th - 20th and 17th - 19th April 2020
Location: California, USA
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual music festival that is held over the period of two weekends in Indio, which lies just east of Palm Springs. The event play host to a number of musical artists from many different genres of music, including rock, pop, indie, hip hop, and electronic dance music, as well as art installations and sculptures. Several stages across the grounds are continuously hosting live music performances during the weekend. While last year saw Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Tame Impala performing, this year’s lineup is headed by the reformed Rage Against The Machine, the reclusive R&B crooner Frank Ocean, and hip hop's leading artist Travis Scott along with performances by Thom Yorke, Lana Del Rey, Flume, as well as many, many more who will be performing live at Empire Polo Club in Indio.
Dates: 13th- 15th April 2020
Location: Thailand
This three day event is a celebration of the Thai New Year and is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable events you’ll attend. Traditionally to celebrate Songkran people would return to their ancestral homes and pay respect to their elders by spraying a little scented water on their hands. Over the years however Songkran has changed into a three day long country wide water fight where everyone takes a break from the usual to just get out and play. Nobody is safe, as everyone participates is small or big ways and you will see everything possible turned into a weapon as this event of watery warfare takes place in Thailand. Go join the over four million tourists that flock to Thailand every year to take part. The exact date varies every year depending on the lunar cycle but usually happens sometime in April.
Dates: 13th- 15th April 2020
Location: Xishuangbanna, China
As known as the Water Splashing Festival, Poshui Jie is similar in many ways to Songkran held in Thailand. The origins of both festival lie in Buddhist purification rituals to celebrate and welcome the new year. The festival used to center around a ritual of ‘bathing the Buddha,’ where statues of Buddha in the temples were washed with clean water and that water was then sprinkled over the heads of devotees in a ritual meant to bring good luck for the coming year. However this has devolved into free for all water fights are heartily embraced by the younger generation, with the older Dai people preferring the more somber temple ceremonies, dressing up in their best traditional sarongs to welcome the new year. One will witness two days of dragon boat races, parades, and feasting before the water festivities start.
Dates: 13th - 18th April 2020
Location: Mayrhofen, Austria
Primarily a festival about snow sports, Snowbombing has become possible one of the biggest parties held on the snow around the world. Held in Mayrhofen, Austria in April every year, it has grown in popularity to become the biggest music festival held in these mountains over the last couple of years. Famous as a Ride N Seek snowboard competition, at the event you will get to see industry pros throwing some serious tricks at the park during the day while getting to enjoy a fascinating mix of musical acts during the night. The final fun twist is the fancy dress day where the attendees arrive at the mountains with colourful ski-wear and fake mustaches. All this combines to make the Snowbombing one of the best festivals on snow.
Dates: 24th April - 3rd May 2020
Location: Cervia, Italy
The Cervia International Kite Festival is a unique gathering of kite artists from all over the world and 2020 is the events 40th edition, meaning that the Festival will be bigger than ever before. It has been taking place since 1981 and is one of the few festivals that can claim that it has continued in the origin of its traditions while still having the same organizers. Also, the event takes place in a beautiful place: along the beach of Pinarella di Cervia, a popular summer destination in Italy with very warm weather and gentle onshore breezes, making it ideal for kiting. The live concerts that take place in the evening only add to the magic of the festival along with the spectacular night flights suspended between the sky and the sea. Wind energy works and the Kite Fair, are two highlights of the event with the former promoting a greater understanding of wind energy and the latter laying claim to being one of the most important marketplaces in Europe for artistic and ethnic quality handicrafts. You can also learn kite building technique at one of the workshops and stands there or just sit back and admire the talents of the Wind artists from all over the world.
Dates: 27th April 2020
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
On April twenty-seventh every year, the city of Amsterdam turns a very bright shade of orange to commemorate the birthday of the King, Willem-Alexander of the House of Orange. The day, termed as ‘King’s Day’ fill the city with a contagious festival-like atmosphere with street vendors, a market day when anyone can sell pretty much anything (apart from alcohol), and an absolutely crazy boat parade party that takes place on the canals which will have you dancing along with the music. There are in fact so many people who turn up to celebrate this day that the center of the city becomes pretty-much car, tram, and cycle-free. Do remember to carry something Orange to wear or pick up something at the market there.
Dates: 30th April - 3rd May 2020
Location: Malta
Veteran DJ Annie Mac takes her 'Presents' series to another level with a four-day festival in Malta. As well as top-notch DJs, the festival makes the most of its island location with castle raves, boat parties and pool parties to get your summer started early. Last year featured performances by The Black Madonna, Peggy Gou, Octavian, and Horse Meat Disco. This year headliners include Annie Mac, Helena Hauff, Eats Everything, and slowthai among others.
After attending this festival be sure to head out to check out the beautiful islands that are complete with lush beaches, cultural ruins, idyllic towns and some truly fantastic views.
Do check out our blog on the Best Places to Visit in April for more inspiration for your April travel plans.