Best events to visit around the world in December 2023 – January 2024

Let’s explore 5 special events you should not miss during December 2023 to January 2024

1. Chichibu Yomatsuri Night Festival (Saitama, Japan)
1-6 December 2023

From 1-6 December every year, a large number of people travel to the Chichibu Shrine for the spectacular “Chichibu Yomatsuri” winter festival, which is one of the three most well-known parades in Japan. Highlights include a gathering of flower parades from six districts, featuring spectacular floral displays and carvings. The event also includes a night firework show with over 7,000 individual fireworks, although it takes place only on 2-3 December. It surely is a grand event and should not be missed by any means.

Tips – Saitama is just 30 kilometers from Tokyo. It is easy to access and you are able to return to spend the night back in Tokyo.

2. Mevlana Whirling Dervishes Festival (Konya, Türkiye)
7-17 December 2023

The Mevlana Whirling Dervishes Festival is an ancient egotistical dance ritual that is a spiritual symbol of the Mevlevi Sufi sect’s faith in great poet and philosopher “Mevlana Celaddiin-i Rumi,” the founder of the Mevlevian sect of Islam. The disciples wear flowing white skirts that reach to the floor and tall brown cylindrical hats. They dance together with eyes closed in a meditative state by rotating in circles round and round to the rhythm of the Kudüm drum. The event is open to viewers of all religions.

3. Hong Kong WinterFest 2023 (West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong)
26 November 2023 to 2 January 2024

Take a break from the activities of exploring delicious food and shopping for brandname products at great prices at the end of the year for a cool breeze amidst the colorful lights at the annual “Hong Kong Winterfest” festival in West Kowloon Cultural District. The most prominent feature within the event area has to be the giant outdoor Christmas tree, almost 20 meters high, in the Art Park along Victoria Harbour. There are also fun check-in spots like “Christmas Wonderland” that perfectly combines the flavor of the Western world with the charm of the East. There is also be a Christmas flea market for shopping at the event.

4. Gabrielle Chanel, Fashion Manifesto @ Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK)
Today to 25 February 2024

A special exhibition to get to know the identity of “Gabrielle Chanel”, the French designer who revolutionized the world’s fashion industry, with the exhibition “Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto” which will take you on a journey back in time to when “House of CHANEL” was founded and opened its first boutique in Paris in 1910. Over 200 of Chanel’s masterpieces during her lifetime, including clothing, bags, jewelry, all the way to the legendary CHANEL No.5 perfume bottle that has stood the test of time for more than a hundred years.

5. Thailand Biennale, Chiang Rai 2023 (Chiang Rai, Thailand)
9 December 2023 to 30 April 2024

The 3rd International Contemporary Art Fair was held in Chiang Rai Province under the concept of “The Open World” which was inspired by the Buddha statue that is enshrined at Wat Pa Sak, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province, which relates to wisdom, awakening and opening the world of artistic perception. At the event you will find artworks by more than 60 artists from 23 countries around the world, committed to using art to reflect the history, culture and way of life of Lanna. They bring knowledge and understanding of Chiang Rai’s past and present and interpret it through the experiences and perspectives on art that are unique to each artist.

Follow the program and art exhibitions at www.thailandbiennale.org

Plan to explore the world? Fly there with Thai Airways!