Top Fair and Festivals in November 2024

Looking for a fun fair or festival to attend in 2024? Here is a list of our favorites which make for a great trip and experience!

1. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

• Where: Mexico (especially in Oaxaca, Mexico City, and Michoacán)
• When: November 1-2, 2024
• What to Expect: A vibrant celebration honoring deceased loved ones. You’ll see colorful altars (ofrendas), traditional marigold flowers, sugar skulls, and lively parades with dancers and musicians dressed as skeletons.

2. Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night)

• Where: United Kingdom (various cities like London, Lewes)
• When: November 5, 2024
• What to Expect: Celebrated with fireworks, bonfires, and effigies of Guy Fawkes, it’s a night full of excitement, tradition, and fireworks displays across the UK. The town of Lewes holds the most extravagant celebrations

3. Pushkar Camel Fair

• Where: Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
• When: November 9-15 2024
• What to Expect: A massive livestock fair featuring camel and horse trading, colorful folk performances, camel races, cultural exhibitions, and an enchanting fairground atmosphere with rides and street food.

4. Vienna Christmas Market

• Where: Vienna, Austria
• When: November 16, 2024 – December 23, 2024
• What to Expect: A magical Christmas market with beautifully decorated wooden stalls offering traditional holiday crafts, gifts, mulled wine, and sweets. The whole city lights up, making it a charming winter destination.

5. Thanksgiving Day Parade

• Where: New York City, USA
• When: November 28, 2024
• What to Expect: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an iconic event featuring giant helium balloons, elaborate floats, performances by marching bands, and appearances by celebrities. It’s a major holiday kickoff in the US.

6. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Festivals

• Where: Thailand (Chiang Mai and Sukhothai are especially famous)
• When: November 14-16, 2024
• What to Expect: The floating lantern festival (Loy Krathong) and sky lantern festival (Yi Peng) are stunning visual spectacles. Thousands of lanterns are released into the sky and rivers, symbolizing letting go of negativity and making wishes for the future.

7. Melbourne Cup

• Where: Melbourne, Australia
• When: November 4, 2024
• What to Expect: One of Australia’s biggest horse racing events, it’s known as “the race that stops a nation.” People dress in their finest clothes, sip champagne, and enjoy a day of high fashion and exciting races.

8. Iceland Airwaves

• Where: Reykjavik, Iceland
• When: November 7-9, 2024
• What to Expect: A cutting-edge music festival featuring both international and local acts. The event is set in intimate venues around Reykjavik and is known for showcasing up-and-coming artists in indie, electronic, and alternative music.

9. Diwali (Festival of Lights)

• Where: India, Nepal, and across the Indian diaspora globally
• When: Oct. 31, 2024
• What to Expect: Celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness. Expect to see homes decorated with oil lamps (diyas), firework displays, rangoli designs, and plenty of feasting and sweets.

10. Sonepur Mela (Sonepur Fair)

• Where: Sonepur, Bihar, India
• When: November 20 – December 5, 2024
• What to Expect: Known as one of the largest livestock fairs in Asia, it’s a traditional rural fair offering elephants, horses, and cattle for sale, along with circus performances, folk shows, and religious ceremonies along the Ganges River.

11. Istanbul Book Fair

• Where: Istanbul, Turkey
• When: November 2-10, 2024
• What to Expect: One of the largest book fairs in Turkey, attracting authors, publishers, and readers from around the world. It’s a hub for literary discussions, book signings, and cultural exchange.