Pilgrimage Season: December 2016 – May 2017
Thousands of visitors and pilgrims climb up to Adam’s Peak from December to May every year. The peak of the mountain is Sri Lanka’s highest point and a string of twinkling lights guides pilgrims to this peak. Dalhousie is the base from which the trek begins for most visitors and it’s a 3-4 hour climb (one way) to the top.
Hot Air Balloon Festival – March 2017
This one week long flying festival, is when Sri Lanka celebrates its burgeoning ballooning scene. You will see a colorful collection of balloons floating across the towns of Hambantota, Sigiriya and the city of Colombo. This festival is an ideal opportunity to enjoy a scenic aerial tour of the beautiful island of Sri Lanka.
Galle/Jaffna Music Festival – March 2017
This music festival alternates between Galle (South) and Jaffna (North) every year. This is a diverse music festival exhibiting all sorts of music from classical pieces to folk and fusion music. Alongside the main line of events, there are also workshops that take place pertaining to themes such as sound, arts and crafts, and engineering. More information: www.gallemusicfestival.org
Sinhalese New Year – April 2017
In April every year, the Sinhalese and Tamil celebrate their New Year when the sun transitions from Pisces to Aries. 13th and 14th of April are the dates fixed for this cultural celebration. Rituals across countrywide Sinhalese and Tamil folk include family dinners, colorful street parties, fireworks, exchanging presents and cooking traditional sweetmeats.
Vesak Poya – May 2017
The full moon Poya holiday in May is when Buddhists celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha. Vesak is similar to a festival of lights where the entire country is decorated with vesak lanterns and other amazing works of art and craft that tells a story of Buddhist history. Don’t be surprised if you find free food distributed at roadside stalls.
Hikkaduwa Beach Festival – July/August 2017
The beach town of Hikkaduwa devotes itself for five days to a popular beach fest. Live music, Sri Lankan dancers, international DJ’s, kite festivals, kids corner, fireworks and much more is what you will find here.
Kataragama Festival – July/August 2017
An annual festival is held in the religious town of Kataragama, during which devoted Hindus engage in some extremely fascinating self-mutilation rituals. The evening procession is another highlight here as it is conducted in absolute silence.
Kandy Perahera – August 2017
The residents of Kandy and talented citizens from all over the country partake in a colorful and vibrant annual parade that carries around the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha on an elegantly decorated elephant. Blue Lanka Tours and other travel agents often include this festival in the itineraries of guests visiting Sri Lanka during this period.
Colombo Fashion Week – August 2017
This is an event that is celebrated to showcase the talents of Sri Lanka’s high profile designers. This three day long festival in Colombo will include a variety of catwalk shows, workshops and other fashion-focused events. More information at – http://www.colombofashionweek.com