11 Diverse Fall Vacation Ideas Across Continents

In some parts of the world, the weather conditions start to be less warm and more rainy when the fall season approaches. But that doesn`t mean there is nothing interesting going on. Fall vacation ideas may include seasonal festivals, art exhibitions, or national holidays. And there are many of them as you will learn about in this article.

EUROPE

Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany)

Famous beer festival that usually begins in late September and runs into the first weekend of October. Its roots date back to the 12^th of October 1810 when Prince Bavaria`s Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The celebrations extended for several days with horse racing, bear drinking, and feasting.

Nowadays when you attend the festival there are many beer tents each representing different Munich breweries. They serve a wide variety of traditional German beers. Besides drinks, you can try Bavarian cuisine like sausages, pretzels, and roast chicken.

Some of the people may be wearing traditional Bavarian clothing too. The Festival offers thrilling rides, games, and other, even family-friendly attractions.

Autumn Festival (Paris, France)

The multi-disciplinary festival was founded in 1972. You can expect dance, film, music, theatre, and visual arts. Many places around Paris are part of it, including Théâtre de l’Odéon or the Centre Pompidou. The festival starts in mid-September and lasts until the second half of December. It usually hosts around 50 events and welcomes 250,000 visitors and spectators.

London Film Festival

The history of the festival dates back to 1957 when it had its inaugural edition. It screened 15-20 already successful films like Kanal by A. Wajda, The Seventh Seal by I. Bergman, and Nights of Cabiria by F. Fellini among others.

Now it is one of the longest-running film festivals globally. Every year it showcases around 240 feature films and 150 short films from more than 70 countries. You can expect to see a wide selection of films, including feature-length movies, documentaries, short films, and experimental cinema. Many of these films are making their world or European premieres at the festival. Also, it includes red carpet premieres, Q&A sessions with directors, actors, film crew, VR and Immersive experiences, and film awards.

USA & MEXICO

Albuguergue International Ballon Fiesta (New Mexico, USA)

As the name suggests in the city of Albuquerque happens one of the most colorful festivals in the USA. It celebrates the world of hot air ballooning. Its roots go back to 1972 when 13 hot air balloons took off from a shopping mall parking lot.

There are a couple of different events you can experience. Mass Ascensions are when hundreds of balloons launch in two waves and take to to sky at once. Special Shape Rodeo presents uniquely shaped balloons from animals to popular characters. Dawn Petrol offers early morning spectacles when a selected group of balloons takes off with twinkling lights.

You can take a ride in a balloon too if you feel adventurous. The Fiesta also hosts various competitions, cultural performances, local cuisine, and crafts.

Art Basel Miami Beach (Miami, USA)

It all started in Switzerland in 1979 when it attracted more than 16,000 visitors to 90 galleries from 10 countries. Art Basel Miami is an extension of it. Its debut was in 2002. You can see modern and contemporary artworks of established and emerging artists. Painting, sculptures, photography, digital art, public art. And special projects that push the boundaries of art and creativity like large-scale installations, performance art, and interactive art.

Besides art, there are many panel discussions, and lectures and later you can experience Miami`s nightlife. For serious art collectors, Art Basel Miami Beach is an opportunity to acquire unique and valuable artworks from galleries around the world.

Taste of Chicago’s Fall Flavor Week (Chicago, USA)

The food festival happens in Grant Park and includes around 35 of Chicago`s favorite food vendors, live music, dance lessons, and karaoke.

You can try Chicago classics like pizza, hot dogs, cheesecake as well as food of international influences. Since Chicago has a history of being a cultural melting pot. Besides food, you can try to enjoy beer in the beer hall or drink a glass of wine in the garden or cocktail lounge.

Day of the Dead (Mexico)

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is one of Mexico’s most iconic and culturally rich traditions. It’s a heartfelt celebration that honors deceased loved ones and is deeply rooted in Mexican history and indigenous beliefs.

Its origins can be traced back to ancient Mesoamerican civilizations. Cultures like Aztecs, Mayans, and Nahua people had rituals that commemorated the dead including offerings and ceremonies to honor the deceased. Then later in the 16^th century, Spanish conquistadors blended them with Catholicism. This process resulted in the modern-day Día de los Muertos.

You can expect to see altars in Mexican family homes decorated with photos of loved ones, candles, marigold flowers, and sugar skulls. People also visit cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves. Some people paint their faces to resemble skulls known as “Calavera” makeup. Some bigger cities have parades and processions with costumes, music, and dancing. You can also try “Bread of the Dead” – a sweet, round loaf of bread that is often baked and eaten during festivities.

ASIA

Chuseok (South Korea)

This is a harvest festival celebrated in North and South Korea. It is something like Korean Thanksgiving Day. Its roots date back to ancient Korea to agrarian and shamanistic traditions. Through it, people express gratitude for bountiful crops and do rituals (like Carye that honors ancestors) to ensure a good harvest next year. Part of the celebration involves visiting graves, cleaning them, and making offerings of food, flowers, and Songpyeon (rice cakes). People usually wear traditional clothing and play traditional Korean games like ssireum (Korean wrestling), archery, and folk games (Ganggangsullae).

Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival (China)

Two separate holidays that are closely linked. 1^st October is Chinese National Day when you can experience many patriotic events throughout China. Military parades, fireworks, flag-raising, and cultural performances are very common. Tiananmen Square in Beijing is the central point for many of these celebrations.

Mid-Autumn Festival`s history dates back to 3000 years ago. It is usually celebrated in late September or early October. The roots of the festival lie in ancient agricultural rituals where people were thanked for the harvest. You can expect to try mooncakes (traditional pastries filled with sweets), moon viewing, lanterns, and dragon and lion dances.

Diwali (India, other countries with Hindu communities)

The Festival of the Lights also known as Deepavali is celebrated in India and among Hindu communities. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil. Its history dates back 2000 years and its origins are in legends and religious traditions.

One of the most well-known stories associated with Diwali is the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana. Another legend is the story of Lord Krishna defeating the demon Narakasura. Diwali also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year in some regions.

You can expect to see decorations with Diyas (oil lamps), rangoli (made of colored powders, rice, and flower petals), fireworks, prayers, pujas (religious rituals), gifts exchanging, sweets and special foods, traditional dances like Garba and Raas, lanterns and lamps.

Autumn Colors in Japan (various locations)

In autumn occurs natural but breathtaking phenomenon when the leaves of trees change color and create stunning landscapes of reds, oranges, and yellows. In Japan it is also known as “Koyo” and it is celebrated by locals as well as tourists.

It has a rich cultural history that goes back over a thousand years to the Heian period (794-1185). During this time Japanese aristocrats started with moon-viewing parties when they composed poetry about the beauty of the leaves.

Maple trees are among the most iconic trees for autumn colors in Japan. The vibrant red leaves of these trees are a sight to behold. Some famous places for maple viewing include Kyoto’s Tofuku-ji Temple and the town of Nikko.

Ginkgo trees turn a brilliant shade of golden yellow in the fall. The streets of Tokyo and other cities are often lined with ginkgo trees.

To see more of the autumn`s beauty you can try hiking or nature walks like Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes or the Japanese Alps. Or you can visit rural villages, hot springs such as Hakone and Beppu, and temples and shrines like Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera and Nikko’s Toshogu Shrine.

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