Autumn is snuggle weather. Full of food, warmth and colour. If you’re an autumn lover, we found some festivals to celebrate the season, some closer to home than others.
Circleville Pumpkin Show
In the United States, autumn means pumpkins, and in the Ohio town of Circleville, they can’t get enough of them. The annual Pumpkin show includes a largest pumpkin competition: last year’s winner weighed a massive 704kgs. There’s also a Miss Pumpkin competition, a parade, pumpkin-sculpting, more pumpkin-flavoured treats than you can imagine, and pumpkins as far as the eye can see. 10/18-21. http://www.pumpkinshow.com/
Bright Autumn Festival
It wouldn’t be autumn without spectacular reds, yellows and oranges, and where better to celebrate colour than the appropriately-named town of Bright. The Victorian alpine town hosts their autumn festival annually, with open gardens, markets, nut roasting and a gala day finale. 04/28 – 05/7.
http://www.brightautumnfestival.org.au/
Riebeek Valley Olive Festival
The towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West in South Africa’s Riebeek Valley, north-west of Cape Town, celebrate the annual autumn olive harvest with a festival celebrating all things olives. The region puts its award-winning olive oils, olives, tapenades and soaps on display for visitors from far and wide to try. http://riebeekvalleyolivefestival.co.za/ Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 05/2017
Mandurah Crab Festival
In Mandurah, WA Autumn means it’s crab season, and the month of March is dedicated to celebrating all things seafood. The festival boasts 135 stalls, over 200 performers and 42 different crab dishes: a crustacean-lover’s delight. March. https://www.crabfest.com.au/
Tremblant symphony of colours
The mountain village of Tremblant, Ontario, becomes awash with orange, red and yellow every autumn. Adjacent to the highest peak in the Laurentian Mountains, visitors can catch a gondola ride to the peak and get a bird’s eye view of the fall foliage.
https://www.tremblant.ca/things-to-do/activities/fall-in-tremblant
Autumn Harvest Festival
Rouse Hill House is one of the most beautiful and historic properties in Sydney, and in Autumn, it comes alive for a Harvest festival with a decidedly historical taste. With cooking demonstrations, local artisans sharing their produce and tours of the farm, it’s a delicious way to spend an autumn Sunday. Sunday, 05/29. http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/events/autumn-harvest-festival-2016
Mid-autumn Festival in Nanjing
The Chinese mid-Autumn festival is the festival of gathering, thanksgiving and prayer. The festival of moon worship, participants carry bright lanterns in its honour. It’s also about eating traditional moon cakes, traditionally filled with red bean paste or lotus seeds. In 2017, it will be celebrated on 10/4.