Festivals in the Low Season

Traditional witch decorations in Thale, Harz, Germany (Shutterstock)

Walpurgisnacht, Harz Mountains, Germany

30th April – 1st May 2026

A spooky spring sister to Halloween, Walpurgisnacht blends pagan ritual and Christian saint worship with harmless modern festivity. The origins of this supernatural celebration have morphed over time: from the coming of spring to the protection from evil spirits and witches. Nowadays however, locals dress up in costume, play pranks on each other and gather round bonfires and fireworks displays. The Harz Mountains, home to the Hexentanzplatz, or the original ‘witch dancefloor’ where they supposedly danced around the fire before marrying the devil, is the centre of the festivities. Over 30 villages host events with live music, barbecues and children’s activities too.

Traditional Nama Dance (Nama Cultural Festival)

Nama Cultural Festival, Keetmanshoop, Namibia

28th – 31st May 2026

Full of drums, dancing and vibrant clothing, this festival is a unification of the Nama people across Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. The celebration oozes with pride, sharing their heritage from generation to generation through the mediums of music, dance and storytelling. The event also has a distinctive focus on tackling issues facing their community, with this year’s theme being ‘unity towards progress and growth’. Don’t miss the market, selling artisan crafts as well as traditional cuisine like jom, a porridge made with bread flour, and kapana, a dish of grilled meat.

Masked performance as part of Domkar Tshechu, Bhutan (Shutterstock)

Domkhar Tshechu, Chumey Valley, Bhutan

26-28th April 2026

Honoring Guru Rinpoche, the saint who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th Century, this festival delves deep into spirituality. Locals see this time as an opportunity to affirm their faith and strengthen their sense of community, whilst for visitors it’s an eye-opening immersion into the country’s living traditions. The centerpiece of the celebration is the masked Cham dances where monks depict Buddhist teachings in vibrant costume, and accompanied by the rumble of drums and cymbals. Another religious event believed to grant spiritual liberation is the unfurling of the Thongrel, a large embroidered script portraying the saint.