Fall Festivals Around the World

Fall is here, which means it’s officially time for pumpkin-flavored everything, eating questionable amounts of candy, and pretending we can pull off a cozy sweater when it’s somehow 78 degrees outside.

But while many of us are busy picking pumpkins and debating when it’s socially acceptable to turn on the heat, the rest of the world is celebrating autumn in some pretty spectacular ways.

One of our writers shared an article from GetYourGuide highlighting fall festivals around the world, and it sent us down a delightful travel-planning rabbit hole. (As if we needed an excuse to start pricing flights and dreaming of far-away places!)

Take Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, (which is actually celebrated in September) where enormous beer tents buzz with conversation, brass Oompa bands fill the air with lively music, and servers weave through packed tables carrying trays of overflowing steins and plates of pretzels, sausages, and other hearty Bavarian favorites. Add traditional dirndls and lederhosen and you’ve got enough festive energy to make your local Oktoberfest look like a quiet Tuesday.

Then there’s Diwali, the Festival of Lights, celebrated across India and in communities around the world. Imagine homes glowing with tiny oil lamps, streets sparkling with colorful lights, doorways decorated with intricate rangoli patterns, and the night sky bursting with fireworks. Families gather for feasts, exchange sweets and gifts, and celebrate the triumph of light over darkness. It’s beautiful, meaningful, and arguably a much more impressive lighting display than the tacky one your neighbor spends several days setting up each December.

In Japan, autumn brings festivals that combine centuries-old traditions with the spectacular colors of the season. Picture brilliant red maple leaves and golden ginkgo trees framing temple grounds, traditional processions winding through historic streets, and food stalls serving sizzling treats to crowds of visitors. Depending on the festival, you might encounter elaborate floats, traditional music, or lively performances. It’s the kind of fall scenery that makes you want to take a thousand photos — and then realize you’ve mostly photographed the same tree from slightly different angles. (Hey…It was a beautiful tree!)

It turns out there are plenty of ways to celebrate fall around the world, and not all of them involve drinking overly-sweetened pumpkin coffees or going door-to-door, begging for treats.

Speaking of Halloween, though, another one of our writers shared an article about Halloween costumes for dogs. Since, apparently, dressing ourselves up in ridiculous outfits isn’t enough, we now have to convince our pets to participate, too.

From pumpkins and superheroes to tiny ghosts and other four-legged fashion statements, dogs in Halloween costumes are undeniably adorable.

Of course, there’s a fine line between a festive pup and a dog who looks like he’s already contacted a lawyer about his treatment. If your dog spends the entire evening trying to remove his costume, consider that his official review.

So, what’s your ideal fall celebration? Would you rather be sampling Bavarian pretzels at Oktoberfest, admiring the dazzling lights of Diwali, wandering through Japan’s fiery autumn foliage, or staying home and dressing your dog as a taco? (No judgment. Honestly, the taco dog is adorable.)

Tell us about your favorite fall traditions, a festival you’d love to experience, or the most ridiculous Halloween costume you’ve ever put on a pet. We’re always up for a little seasonal inspiration — especially if it involves travel, good food, or dogs who are considerably better dressed than we are!