The end of the year might be approaching, but that doesn’t mean festival season is over. From the last two editions of the 2015 Bacardi NH7 Weekender, to a crazy Brazilian New Years Eve bash, to a calm, introspective festival dedicated to poet Rumi, December has a lot to offer. So if you plan to festival hop this month, The Sherp has picked out 12 festivals, a mix of music and culture, that you absolutely must attend.

 

1. Bacardi NH7 Weekender
When: December 4-6 and December 5-6
Where:Β Pune and Bengaluru

This may be one of the most beloved music festivals India has to offer, and in December, the Weekender hits Pune and Bengaluru. Having always put together an amazing roster of artists for each city, this year’s lineup does not seem to disappoint either. The two citiesΒ will be graced by the presence of the legendary A.R Rahman, along with Mark Ronson and Flying Lotus. But these names aren’t even the half of it. You can check out the exciting lineups here, and book your tickets here.

dec1 dec2(Images via: Bacardi NH7 Weekender/Facebook)

 

2.Β Bacardi Enchanted Valley Carnival
When: December 18-20
Where: Aamby Valley, Maharashtra

Bacardi Enchanted Valley Carnival is a one-of-a-kind camping festival that gives you an all-round experience over the span of three days. The festival amalgamates the earthiness of camping with the effervescence of a music festival perfectly. With incredible food, music and environment all in one place, BEVC touches all bases. With a lineup that includes Tiesto, Fatboy Slim, Ferry Corsten and Oliver Heldens, this three-day bash nesled in the beautiful Aamby Valley is really something to look forward to.

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3. Sunburn Festival
When: December 27-30
Where: Vagator Beach, Goa

In its ninth year now, the massive electronic music festival, one of the largest in the world, has stunned yet again with its massive stages and incredible artists. This massive 4-day bash is all set to be held at Vagator Beach from 27th-30th December. This year, it has topped itself with quite a star-studdedΒ lineup, which includes Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Seth Troxler, Kygo and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike! If you want large-scale hedonism, there’s really nothing like Sunburn on the sandy shores of Goa in December.

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4. Vh1 Supersonic

When: December 27-30
Where: Candolim, Bardez, Goa, India

Being one of the biggest electronic music festivals in India, Vh1 Supersonic isΒ a class of its own. Candolim beach comes alive every year-end because of this fantastically organised festival, that concentrates on issues like women’s safety and drug-intolerance. If you’re looking to enjoy dance music, without the hectic chaos that comes with it Vh1 Supersonic is the festival for you. This year’s exciting lineup includes names like Axwell, Disclosure, Deorro, Nervo, Zedd, Culture Shock, and a whole lot of other amazing talent!

dec23 dec22(Images via: VH1 Supersonic/Facebook)

 

5. Johnnie Walker The Journey
When: December 12-13
Where: Mehboob Studios, Mumbai

This year’s Johnnie Walker The Journey boasts of a gravity-numbing artist,Β post-rock giants, an ambient wizard, a synth pop legend and a cinematicΒ masterpiece.Β After the brilliant turn with trip hop genius Bonobo and jazz virtuosos Snarky Puppy,Β Johnnie Walker The Journey is back with an even more promising lineup this year.Β With the legendary Giorgio Moroder, Explosions in the Sky,Β Tycho, performance and theatreΒ whiz Leo, along with the compellingΒ documentary β€˜Listen to Me Marlon’ on the life and times of the great Marlon BrandoΒ for their very first time in India,Β Johnnie Walker The Journey is quality on the go.

dec26 dec27(Images via: Johnnie Walker The Journey/Facebook)

 

6. Art Basel
When: December 3-6
Where: Miami, Florida

This four day spectacle takes over Miami every year, with its epicentre at the Miami Beach Convention Centre. It comprises of a number of off-beat art fairs strewn across the city, where you can look at, admire, and even buy art that isn’t ridiculously expensive. The fact that it is so accessible is making it one of the most talked-about art fairs in the world. There are fairs that host prestigious, pricey art, bohemian art, design showcases for the intellectually curious, and installations, workshops and exciting parties all through!

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7. Snowglobe Music Festival
When: December 29-31
Where: South Lake Tahoe, CA

The SnowGlobe festival is held in California, staged around New Year’s Eve, providing one of the most amazing spectacles amid the freezing temperatures. For electronic music fans, who dig snow, literally and figuratively, the SnowGlobe Music Festival is an absolute haven, as its 2015 lineup features artists such as Jack Ü, Kaskade, Chet Faker, Eric Prydz, to name a few. To add to this, the setting of the festival, that is the gorgeous South Lake Tahoe is a sight to behold, as it is lit up to reflect a quaint winter evening, with warm yellow lights and theatrical art pieces.

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8. RΓ©veillon
When: December 31-January 1
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazilians are known for their massively extravagant festivals, and this one doesn’t miss the mark in any way.Β RΓ©veillon is the world’s largest beach party, with a record attendance of about 2.3 million people each year flocking to the Copacabana beach. After people have had civilised dinners with their families, they head to this gigantic celebrationΒ that has everything from samba dancing, to a ridiculous amount of fireworks. After this, they pay tributeΒ IemanjΓ‘, the goddess of the sea. One of the most striking things about this festival is its all-white dress code.

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9.Β Beyond The Valley
When: December 29-January 1
Where: Victoria, Australia

This absolutely marvellous New Year’s Eve festival packs in a massive punch. It’s not just the eclectic artists in the lineup that make it worth going to, things like camping in teepees in spacious green fields surrounding a central lake. Surrounded by hills rolling out into the distance, the people and the landscape form the perfect backdrop to personal expression. Not to mention the fest’s lineup includes Boyz Noise, Crooked Colours, Seth Troxler, Pusha T, Miami Horror and much much more!

dec15 dec14(Images via: Beyond The Valley/Facebook)

 

10. Junkanoo Parade
When: December 26 and January 1
Where: Nassua, Bahamas

Junkanoo is the largest cultural festival in the Bahamas, and is a celebration of life and freedom. Every year on these two days, the nation’s main street is transformed into a heady mixΒ of colour and sound that is absolutely enthralling. Thousands of people put in months of time and effort into organising this colouful parade, designing and creating costumes. The parade represents freedom from slavery, and the people marching in it are the slaves who according to legend decorated themselves in paint and feathers to celebrate.

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11.Β Djakarta Warehouse Project
When: December 11-12
Where:Β Djakarta, Indonesia

As the self-proclaimed biggest dance music festival in Indonesia, the Djakarta Warehouse Project is somewhat of a cultural legend. The festival is known for establishing the mood for the upcoming new year celebrations by putting together a festival that is both raging, as it is spectacular. This year, the festival is raising its stakes with plans for huge stages and a star-studded lineup. With names like DJ Rayel, Dillon Francis, Armin Van Buuren, DJ Snake, Claptone, Cashmere Cat, Jack Ü, Major Lazer and Jamie Jones to name a few, you know where the party’s at this December.

dec24 dec25(Images via: DWP/Facebook)

 

12. Budapest Christmas Fair
When: November 27-December 31
Where: Budapest, Hungary

The Budapest Christmas Fair is a month-long, free-to-enter festival that celebrates the spirit of Christmas in the most gorgeous way possible. Laid out like a festive country village, the market is all things Hungarian. From food, to produce, to clothes and ornaments, everything is made in Hungary. There are overΒ over 150 cottage-style booths decked with fir garlands and hawking arts and crafts. Every evening after sundown, the centre of the market bursts into life with a party, surrounded by electric icicles and a multitude of twinkling lights.

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13. Mevlana Whirling Dervishes
When: December 10-17
Where: Konya, Turkey

Commemorating the 13th century Sufi poet Rumi, this festival might not sound very exciting, but it has been known to change even aΒ casual observer in a way they’d never expect. The Whirling Dervishes, or the Mevlevi Order have been paying a 10-day tribute to Rumi every year since his death. Set deep in his teachings of love, devotion and knowledge, this festival teaches people a lot about modern Islam they probably didn’t know, and has also been known to bring people closer to a sense of divine.

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