The Ultimate Guide to Winter Festivals in Goa

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Apart from the cool, breezy, pleasant weather and clear skies, the Goan festivals make winter a splendid time to holiday here. They are quite diverse, so attending one isn’t nearly the same as attending them all. Each has something different and unique to offer. In this blog post, we delve into 5 exciting Goan winter festivals that should be on your must-attend list.

Sunburn

1. Sunburn Festival: 28th - 31st Dec
 
That’s right! Asia’s biggest music festival is one of Goa’s top winter events too! Sunburn, the quintessential New Year festival in Goa, started in 2007 as a 3-day electronic dance music (EDM) festival but has now grown to last for 4 whole days during the winter season. Sunburn features renowned artists from across the world, including India. It is attended by hundreds of thousands of EDM lovers from around the globe

This year’s lineup includes stellar EDM artists such as Charlotte de Witte, Timmy Trumpet, Hardwell, and Alesso, dropping their beats on the 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st Dec respectively. Click here to book your tickets now, and come have the time of your life!

IFFI

Source - IFFI

2. International Film Festival of India (IFFI): 20th - 28th Nov
 
Among all the Goa festivals, IFFI happens to be the only Christmas festival in Goa this year. If you’re a cinephile or think you could be one, winter is the ideal season for you to be in Goa because that’s when IFFI, one of India’s biggest international film festivals, takes place over 8 days. Since 1952, 53 editions of IFFI have taken place in Goa, which makes this one the 54th edition of IFFI. The National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) tastefully selects films of artistic merit from the previous year to be screened at the festival during the 8 days.

Other than film screenings, IFFI also hosts technical workshops, masterclasses, interactive sessions, and panel discussions with prolific Indian as well as international filmmakers and celebrities of cinema. Click here to check out the films that will be screened this year and buy your tickets.

Basilica of bom jesus - Front View

Source - Wikipedia

3. Feast of St. Francis Xavier: 3rd Dec
 
3rd December marks the death anniversary of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa. Every year, Christians assemble in thousands to pay homage to him at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, where his body rests inside a silver casket and is taken out for public viewing once every 10 years. After the pilgrims have paid homage, a lavish feast follows at the venue, which is enjoyed by the religious pilgrims and tourists of Goa alike. The adjoining fair, which happens on the same day, is also very popular.

If you’re in Goa on this day, the feast of St. Francis Xavier, also known as Goinchea Saibache Fest (Lord of Goa Festival), is an experience not to be missed.

Serendipity

Source - Serendipity Arts Foundation

4. Serendipity Arts Festival: 15th - 23rd Dec
 
This is the 6th edition of India’s largest multidisciplinary arts festival – one of the largest in South Asia. The 9-day fest offers a great platform to showcase and consume visual, performing, as well as culinary arts like films, literature, fashion, and more. A curatorial panel conceptualizes the core content of the festival every year. Apart from that, the festival has different layers of programming, including workshops, educational initiatives, institutional engagements, and special projects.

Click here to register for this year’s festival for free. Click here to check out their programs and book your seats for them.

madvibes

Source - Madvibes

5. Karacus Marakus Festival: 26th - 30th Jan
 
Here’s This is the only one on our list that isn’t a December Goa festival per se. The 8th edition of this extravagant Goan winter festival included 4 nights of live new-age psytrance music performed by some of the best artists of the genre at Vagator Beach. Its 7th edition was attended by over 3500 psytrance lovers from all over the world. Its 9th edition, happening this year, is also on Vagator Beach, and its lineup of artists is yet to be announced.

Check out this link for updates and to book your tickets for the festival. It is a no-brainer if psychedelic trance music is your jam.

Hotel facade

Book your winter stay at V Escapes, North Goa if you are planning to enjoy one or more of these exciting festivals with friends or family. Here are 5 reasons why you must act on this plan ASAP:
  •  Firstly, you’ll be traveling in style and elegance in chauffeur-driven luxury SUVs, to all festivals and back. With English-speaking, local chauffeurs to drive you around the city - you won’t have to worry about getting anywhere, including your transfers from the airport.
 
  •  Secondly, the villa is fully staffed, with a butler and private chefs, at your service 24/7. Our butler has access to signature cocktail recipes from Village 36 - one of the hottest restaurants & bars in Goa and he’ll whip them up for you, anytime you please.
 
  •  You can soak away the tiredness post the festive madness with hot soaks in the heated jacuzzi or just laze around in the swimming pool overlooking lush greenery.
 
  •  Your Villa Experiences Manager will plan your itinerary perfectly and can even score you the hottest seats at the best restaurants and events in town.
 
  •  Click here to check out all the state-of-the-art amenities at the award-winning villa, and click here to get a virtual peek into the property

To make the 5-bedroom luxury villa in Goa all yours for a staycation, please call +91 93723 23328. 
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