Festivals in September

13 of the world's notable festivals fall in September, spanning Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Biggest draws include Oktoberfest, Mid-Autumn Festival, Ganesh Chaturthi.

Oktoberfest
1
Oktoberfest
Mid-Sep to early Oct · Munich
The world's largest folk festival and beer celebration in Bavaria.
Mid-Autumn Festival
2
Mid-Autumn Festival
Sep–Oct (full moon) · China
Mooncakes and lanterns mark the harvest moon across East Asia.
Ganesh Chaturthi
3
Ganesh Chaturthi
Aug–Sep · Mumbai
Ten-day festival immersing Ganesha idols, huge in Mumbai.
La Mercè
4
La Mercè
~24 September · Barcelona
Barcelona's biggest street party with human towers and fire runs.
5
Thimphu Tshechu
Sep–Oct · Thimphu
Bhutan's grandest masked-dance festival at the dzong.
Onam
6
Onam
Aug–Sep · India
Kerala's harvest festival with boat races and flower carpets.
Meskel
7
Meskel
27 September · Addis Ababa
Ethiopian Orthodox 'Finding of the True Cross' bonfire festival.
Indra Jatra
8
Indra Jatra
September · Kathmandu
Kathmandu's chariot festival honouring the living goddess Kumari.
Pchum Ben
9
Pchum Ben
September or October (15 days, lunar) · Phnom Penh
Cambodia's festival of the ancestors, when families take food to the pagodas for the spirits of the dead.
Lake of Stars Festival
10
Lake of Stars Festival
September · Nkhata Bay
African music festival on the shores of Lake Malawi.
11
Goroka Show
September · Goroka
Highlands 'sing-sing' gathering of hundreds of tribes.
12
Hermanus Whale Festival
September · Hermanus
Shore-based whale watching celebration in the Western Cape.
13
Wodaabe Gerewol
September · Niger
Wodaabe courtship gathering where men compete in beauty displays.