From two of the most important festivals in the Indian calendar, to sausage festivals in Lincoln and Weimar, October is a month full of fun. Here is our selection of the best festivals in October 2022.

Indian Cultural Festivals in October

Durga Puja, 1 to 5 October
Durga Puja
Hindu priests worship goddess Durga on the day of Mahanavami of Dassera, Deposit Photos.

The Carnival of the East, or Durga Puja 2022 is the biggest event in Kolkata. Spread over more than a week, it celebrates the victory of good over evil with colourful processions and idols of the 10-armed goddess Durga. Durga Puja is about renewal, so houses are cleaned and new clothes are bought, while there is lots of music, dances and festive food.

Diwali, 24 October

India’s biggest festival Diwali 2022, or the Festival of Lights, sees thousands of candles adorn houses, streets and markets. It celebrates the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. Expect plenty of fireworks and mouth-watering food and sweets.

UK Literary and Film Festivals in October

BFI London Film Festival, 5 to 16 October
BFI London Film Festival
Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton and Mia Goth attend UK Premiere of Suspiria during the 62nd BFI London Film Festival. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI).

The 66th BFI London Film Festival once more hits red carpets around the UK capital in October. Expect a plethora of films, including world premieres, talks, panel events, galas and Hollywood celebrities, as well as the prestigious LFF awards. The BFI Southbank is the heart of the festival.

Cheltenham Literature Festival, 7 to 16 October

The Regency spa town once more hosts the Cheltenham Literature Festival in October. From humble origins in the local town hall, it has become the leading UK festival of the word. This year will see celebrities as varied as Stanley Tucci, Mel C and Jeremy Hunt.

Global Cultural Festivals in October

Lord of Miracles, Señor de los Milagros, Peru, 18-28 October

The highlight of Peru’s Catholic calendar, the Lord of Miracles, or Señor de los Milagros is a procession around Lima each October. It marks the miraculous survival of a painting from the 1746 earthquake that destroyed most of the Peruvian capital. Purple is the colour as incense is burnt and a Mass commemorates the event.

Food Festivals in October

Lincoln Sausage Festival, UK, 15 October

Foodies should head for Lincoln this month, as the merry city folk tuck into more than 30,000 bangers at the Lincoln Sausage Festival. Even if sausage is not your thing you can enjoy the magnificent medieval Lincoln Castle and its cobbled streets, as well as the appearance of Mr and Mrs Sausage.

Barbados Food and Rum Festival, 27 – 30 October
Festivals in October Barbados Food and Rum Festival
Enjoy some Barbados rum

Alternatively, add some spice, and sun, to your life and head to the Caribbean for the Barbados Food and Rum Festival, which allows you to discover Barbados rum while enjoying the best in Caribbean cuisine. This year’s theme is Feed The Future.

Other Festivals in October 2022

As if that is not enough to savour, October will also see the following festivals:

Sagres Birdwatching Festival 2022; Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2022; Ilkley Literature Festival, Yorkshire, 2022; Isle of Wight Literary Festival, 2022; Onion Market 2022, Weimar Germany; Berlin Festival of Lights 2022, Germany; Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2022; Wildscreen Festival, Bristol, UK, 2022; Limon Carnival Costa Rica 2022; Eurochocolate Festival 2022, Perugia, Italy; Marathon du Malton 2022, UK; Tokyo International Film Festival 2022, Japan; Dashain Festival Nepal, 2022; Raindance Film Festival 2022, London; and Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2022.

And that’s not even mentioning Halloween! For more details on all the festivals and events in October, click here.

Cover image: Woman hands with henna holding candle, Deposit photos.

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