Festivals in March

12 of the world's notable festivals fall in March, spanning Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Oceania. Biggest draws include Holi, St Patrick's Day, Semana Santa (Seville).

Holi
1
Holi
March (full moon of Phalguna) · India
Hindu festival of colours celebrating spring and good over evil.
St Patrick's Day
2
St Patrick's Day
17 March · Dublin
Ireland's patron-saint holiday with parades and green celebrations worldwide.
3
Semana Santa (Seville)
Holy Week (Mar–Apr) · Seville
Andalusia's solemn Holy Week processions with baroque floats.
Las Fallas
4
Las Fallas
15–19 March · Valencia
Valencia burns giant satirical papier-mâché monuments.
Nyepi (Day of Silence)
5
Nyepi (Day of Silence)
March (Balinese new year) · Bali
Bali's silent new year, preceded by giant Ogoh-ogoh parades.
Nowruz
6
Nowruz
~21 March (spring equinox) · Iran
Persian New Year marking the spring equinox, across Iran and Central Asia.
South by Southwest (SXSW)
7
South by Southwest (SXSW)
March · Austin
Music, film and tech festival taking over Austin.
8
Semana Santa (Antigua)
Holy Week (Mar–Apr) · Antigua
Antigua's Holy Week with sawdust carpets and processions.
Pasifika Festival
9
Pasifika Festival
March · Auckland
The world's largest Pacific Islander cultural festival.
Fiesta de la Vendimia
10
Fiesta de la Vendimia
Late Feb–Mar · Mendoza
Mendoza's grape-harvest wine festival.
11
Basel Fasnacht
Feb–Mar (Mon after Ash Wed) · Basel
Switzerland's largest carnival, a UNESCO-listed lantern parade.
12
Paro Tshechu
Mar–Apr · Paro
Spring masked-dance festival with a giant thongdrel unveiling.