Unique Spring Festivals For Your Family Vacation

With the winter weather winding down, it’s officially time to start planning for a family trip. Take advantage of this fun lineup of spring festivals across the globe.

Thrissur Pooram Elephant Fest, India: April 26

Springtime in India is even sweeter when celebrating Thrissur Pooram. The elephant festival is beloved by all and dates back to the late 1700s. Watch as elephants draped in decorative crowns, bells and ornate jewelry parade through the religious city. The kids will love the elephant feeding ceremony, known as aanayoottu, the largest in the world and one of the great highlights of the festival. The aanayoottu draws the largest crowds to the Vadakkunathan Temple every year and is a must see. The entire event continues through April and into May, with activities varying each day.

King’s Day, Amsterdam: April 27

Get your orange gear out and head to Amsterdam for King’s Day, April 27. Celebrate Dutch monarchy and the birthday of the Netherlands ruler during an epic street party. Bring the kids and explore Amsterdam with tens of thousands of festivalgoers. Celebrations begin the night before.

Explore lines of street vendors and market stalls, or hop on a boat party floating on the canal. The event is fun for all ages, but less stressful and best enjoyed with older kids.

PoutineFest in Ottawa, Canada: April 26–29

Taste more than 100 types of poutine during the fourth-annual PoutineFest in Ottawa, Canada. A local favorite, poutine consists of French fries, cheese curds and brown gravy — and it’s worth the celebration.

Enjoy the free, all-ages event April 26–29 in the Poutine Plaza of Ottawa City Hall. Kids head to the kid zone for face painting, games and a rock-climbing wall while the adults enjoy exotic poutine competitions, eating contests, local brews and live entertainment.

Indianapolis 500 in Indiana: May 11–27

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway welcomes the 102nd annual Indianapolis 500. Known as the “greatest spectacle in racing,” the Indy 500 brings 33 professional drivers racing 200 laps and 500 miles for glory and a cold cup of milk poured over their heads in celebration. The kids will get a rush from the race and enjoy the county fair-esque atmosphere, but with higher stakes. Check out the full event schedule and ticket availability here to plan your family trip.