Easter, Passover, Thai New Year and a faint whiff of summer in Europe; this is quite a month and there are lots of events to look forward to. If your favourite festival isn’t included here or you know of an event that should be on our list, then LET US KNOW.
The Marathon des Sables
Morocco
27 March – 7 April
For uber sports men, there’s the “Toughest Footrace on Earth” across the Sahara Desert in Morocco. It’s a run of 243 kilometres over 6 days and around 600 competitors from over 30 countries take part every year.
For more info visit www.saharamarathon.co.uk
The Future is Wild – Futuroscope
France
1 April
This brand new attraction opens on the first of April in Futuroscope outside Poitiers. “The Future is Wild” takes you on an interactive safari far into the future, across steppes, marshland and tropical jungle. Armed with binoculars and sensor bracelets, you will discover and communicate with animals that could be living on our planet in 5 million, 100 million and 200 million years from now such as toratons, spitfire birds, carakillers, squibbons, and more.
For more info visit www.futuroscope.com
Songkran
Thailand
13 – 15 April
Songkran is the Thai New Year. It lasts for 3 days and is the most important of all the Thai festivals and holidays. Thais celebrate with water. Everyone gets soaking wet and since it is the hottest season of the year, the custom is quite refreshing.
For more info visit www.tourismthailand.org
Passover or Pesach
Israel
20 – 27 April
One of the most popular Jewish holidays is Pesach, which marks the beginning of the harvest season in Israel and remembers the freeing of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt when the Angel of Death “passed over”.
For more info visit www.goisrael.com
O’Neill Highland Open
Scotland
24 April – 01 May
One of the most progressive events in competitive surfing, the O’Neill Highland Open returns to Scotland and Thurso East Beach to challenge the best surfers in the world in the ice cold waters of the far north coast.
For more info visit www.oneilleurope.com
Mazu Festival
China
25 April
On this day the birth of the Goddess Mazu is celebrated in China. The Temple of Mazu is thronged with thousands of pilgrims, who come to pay homage to the goddess.
For more info visit www.chinatour.com
ANZAC Day
Australia
25 April
A day set aside for solemn ceremonies and remembrance for all Australian men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in war.
For more info visit www.anzacday.org.au
Orthodox Easter
Greece
25 – 27 April
The Orthodox Easter celebration in Greece is the country’s most important festival. Nationwide festivities and celebrations will take place.
For more info visit www.gnto.gr
Bollenstreek Flower Parade
Holland
26 – 27 April
Flower Parade is the first and biggest flower parade held in Holland every year. The procession will comprise 20 large floats and more than 30 decorated luxury cars, interspersed with marching bands.
For more info visit: www.holland.com
Freedom Day
South Africa
27 April
Fourteen years after South Africa's first democratic general election, and eight years after the introduction of its new constitution, South Africa is celebrating Freedom Day.
For more info visit www.southafrica.info
Queen’s Birthday
Holland
29 - 30 April
Don’t miss out on this incredible, orange coloured, birthday party for Holland’s former queen. Theroyal madness starts on Queensnight, the 29th of April and ends in the late night of Queensday, the 30th of April. Enjoy Amsterdam’s Vrijmarkt where there will be lots of artists, food stands and bands celebrating in orange. For more info visit www.amsterdamtourist.nl
