Holi Celebrations in Europe for 2023

It's no surprise then that many cultures celebrate the arrival of spring - including those in India. Every year, Hindus observe Holi, which is also known as the Festival of Light, Colours, Spring, and Love.

In 2023, this ancient holiday officially falls on Wednesday, March 8th. Those who celebrate will get together to dance, party, and throw coloured dye at one another. Needless to say, it's truly a sight to behold!

You don't have to fly to India to experience this spectacular celebration, however. Here are the best Holi celebrations in Europe for 2023.

The Tower Bridge in London (source)

When: 11 March, 12pm - 7pm

Where: The City Pavilion, Collier Row Road, Dagenham, RM5 2BH

Get yourself down to London, where the EEL Association is putting on an extravagant Holi celebration.

There are Holi special festive dhol players all throughout the day. Also, enjoy dance music from 1pm - 4pm, then a spectacular laser and light-themed Holi rave party from 4 - 7pm, courtesy of DJ Vix.

You can walk around and see the various dance performances and workshops, as well as participate in games and fun activities. You and your loved ones can also benefit from the indoor and outdoor 360 booths that take photos and videos to capture unforgettable memories.

This is a very affordable family event, as there are tons of complimentary things. There's free candy floss for the kids, hair and makeup studio sessions for the ladies, and henna, mehendi, ice golas, sweet cones, and popcorn for everyone. Kids up to 12 get coloured sunglasses, and girls over 16 get Holi t-shirts too.

When you get hungry, you can buy delicious multi-cuisine street food from the stalls. Then, finish off your meals with something from the Indian sweets counter.

The City Pavilion is a small day trip out, so feel free to book a stay at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London to treat yourself to a fantastic view of the River Thames, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament.

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The Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam (source)

When: 11 March, 2pm - 10pm

Where: Zuiderpark, Zuiderparkweg, 3084 KD Rotterdam

On this day, thousands of people will come together to celebrate the Festival of Light. APNA's putting on the biggest Holi celebration in the Netherlands, so if you're in the country, it's worth travelling to Rotterdam to see the festivities.

The organisation aims to celebrate 150 years of Hindustani immigration in the Netherlands. In the Zuiderpark, you'll be so far in nature that you won't hear or see the city anymore. This allows you to get in touch with your spiritual side and nature, which pairs perfectly with the Holi events.

While much of the Netherlands has retained its historical buildings, the historic centre of Rotterdam was destroyed in World War II. As a result, it has very modern architecture. Stay at the Holiday Inn Express Rotterdam - Central Station to see this for yourself. Plus, it puts you in a very convenient location to catch train rides.

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Overview of Durbuy (source)

When: 12 March, 12pm - 4pm

Where: Radhadesh, Petite Somme 5, 6940, Durbuy

This is another festival that you can bring your family to. In fact, children under 2 can get in for free! There's no alcohol or smoking allowed at this event, making it ideal for the little ones.

This Holi Festival takes place in the community of Radhadesh, which has a unique blend of western and eastern cultures, so you'll have remarkable experiences here. It's located at Château de Petite Somme, which is a truly gorgeous castle.

Not only is there a blending of cultures, but they also practice permaculture (eco-farming) and have their own cow sanctuary. You'll even find an artisan bakery that's run by local residents.

Starting at 12pm, they'll have Darshan in the temple room, as well as meditative kirtan. Then, don't forget to go to the left side of the castle at 1pm, as this is when the Battle of Colours happens! Bring some money to buy colours at the Holi Arena.

Things will wind down at 2pm with a warm vegetarian meal served at the big white tent found behind the castle.

Durbuy is quite a small town, so it might not be easy to find accommodations. You might save some time by flying into Liege and then staying at Pentahotel Liege before heading to Holi.

Click here for cheap flights to Durbuy.

The Eiffel Tower at night (source)

When: 14 May, 10am - 7pm

Where: Jardin d'Acclimatation, bois de Boulogne, Route de la Porte Dauphine à la Porte des Sablons, 75116 Paris, France

If you can't make it out to Europe to celebrate Holi in March, then this event is perfect for you. It's a few months after the actual holiday, but it won't matter too much, since you'll have plenty of other people to commemorate the occasion with you.

You can get into the Holi Festival with a Jardin d'Acclimatation ticket. Once you're inside, you'll be amazed by the different dances put on by groups from different parts of India. In addition, there are many workshops to experience, as well as a craft market and numerous food stalls to buy tasty dishes from when you're hungry.

At the peak of the event, everyone will throw 200 kg of Holi powder into the air! Together, you'll celebrate friendship, happiness, love, optimism, harmony, and vitality with all the other event attendees.

To rest your weary feet easily, stay at Le 5 Particulier. It's close to Jardin d'Acclimatation, so you won't have to go far to rest after an exhilarating day.

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A lush overhead view of Berlin (source)

When: 26 August, 12pm - 10pm

Where: Central Fairground, Kurt-Schumacher-Damm 207, 13405, Berlin

This is another Holi celebration to go to if you don't have free time in March. Do note that this isn't an event for children - there's a minimum age limit of 16.

It's an exciting festival with electro, minimal, and house music. The organisers always hire both national and international DJs, so you'll revel in a wide range of tracks.

Although the Holi celebration starts at 12pm, the colours aren't thrown until 3pm, so you have plenty of time to explore. From 3pm - 9:50pm, you'll witness hourly countdowns when people throw colours at one another. Feel free to participate as many times as you like!

In your downtime, you can purchase cold drinks and hot food from the various food stands on site.

While you're in town, stay at the Park Inn by Radisson Berlin Alexanderplatz. It's not far from all the popular tourist attractions, and you can have wonderfully crafted drinks on the rooftop terrace.

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