If you are in the United States during Holi, which is celebrated in almost every state, all through the spring with events featuring gulal and dance, participate in one of the events near you.
There can be no better way to mark the beginning of the spring season than to celebrate it with colors, cheer and lot of fun. Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, is celebrated all across India, Nepal and other parts of the world. While Holi revelers from around the world converge in India to see this unique spectacle of colors, because of an explosive growth in the Indian American population, Holi has become popular in the United States, as well. Celebrated almost in every state in America, all through the spring with events featuring gulal and dance, Holi is the new festival to mark in your calendars. Here are some of the best places to celebrate Holi in this country:
1. Festival of Colors, USA
Arguably one of the most popular Holi festivals in America, the Festival of Colors was started back in 1989 in Spanish Fork, Utah. Owing to its popularity, there are now Festival of Colors Holi events across many cities in the southwest in states such as California, Utah and Nevada. Each year, the festival attracts a vibrant crowd of merry makers comprising, not just Indian Americans but people across ethnicities. In 2017, some 35,000 revelers attended the event at its Spanish Fork, Utah, location alone. The two-day festival is played with dry, environmentally safe and skin-friendly gulal (dry color powder). The organizers describe it as an interactive Holi with live bands, DJ’s, Yoga teachers, cuisine, free hugs and lots of love.
WHERE: Multiple locations in Utah, California and Nevada
WHEN: Beginning March 30 and 31, 2019, at Spanish Fork, Utah
For more details go to: http://www.festivalofcolorsusa.com/
2. Holi DC, 2019
A community festival by ISCKON of DC has been a Washington tradition for Holi lovers. The well-organized event has everything that a footloose reveler may want. They provide free shuttle services to and from the festival site. It also includes free family photo, color packs at nominal prices and most of all a thali with Indian delicacies. Check this out if food and celebration go hand in hand for you.
WHERE: Potomac, MD
WHEN: May 4, 2019
For more details, visit https://www.holidc.com/
3. Holi at Phinney Center, Seattle, WA
What is Holi without a cup of kadak chai and Indian inspired food truck? There would be all these and more at the Holi celebrations by the Phinney Neighborhood Association of Seattle. Described as the festival of colors, or the festival of love, the Holi celebrations at Phinney Center in Seattle also comprises throwing handfuls of colored powders on each other and listening to dance and music by locally acclaimed performers.
WHERE: Phinney Center, Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA
WHEN: March 23, 2019
For more details, visit https://www.phinneycenter.org/calendar/holi-festival-colors-2019/
4. Holi at Moundsville, West Virginia
An exuberant festival promoted as a family event has become one of the most popular Indian events in West Virginia. Bring your family and a lot of cheer.
WHERE: Palace of Gold, Ridge Road, Moundsville, WV
WHEN: September 16, 2019
For more details, visit http://www.festivalofcolors.us/cities.html#moundsville
5. Houston Holi, 2019
Touted as the largest Holi celebration in the country, it’s a perfect Indian mela complete with colors, rides, concerts and street foods. If you are in Houston, get a slice of this India meets America tradition.
WHERE: Crown Festival Park, Sugarland, TX
WHEN: March 23, 2019
For more details, visit https://www.houstonholi.com/
6. Holi in the City, NYC
Being promoted as the New York City’s biggest festival of colors party, the annual party, according to the organizers, has been a sellout for the past five years. The brunch party has colors, food and performances.
WHERE: World Famous 4 Story Mega Niteclub & Rooftop Lounge
WHEN: March 23, 30 2019
For more details, visit http://holiinthecity.com/
7. Biggest Holi in New England, Holbrook, MA
Described as unity in diversity, this is New England’s largest Holi event. You can enjoy kirtan, dance, drama, aarti and prasadam along with devotional chanting with world instruments.
WHERE: Braj Mandir, Holbrook, MA
WHEN: April 6, 2019
For more details, visit https://www.sriradhabhakti.org/
8. Holi Festival, New Brunswick, NJ
Home to one of the largest Indian American communities in the United States, the Garden State has a Holi celebration in almost every neighborhood. From Holi parties in Jersey City to Freehold, if you are in New Jersey, it’s unlikely you will miss the tradition. At New Brunswick in Central Jersey, the 10th annual free Holi event comprises music, dance, raffle, henna and of course colors.
WHERE: New Brunswick Free Public Library, New Brunswick, NJ
WHEN: March 30
For more details, visit https://www.jerseyfamilyfun.com/event/holi-festival-new-brunswick/
9. Global Connection: Holi, Chicago, IL
Presented by ComEd, this free public program, Navy Pier’s Holi is a classy affair. There is color throwing at Miller Lite Beer Garden. A special reception at Aon Ballroom sand music and dance performances will follow at the ballroom.
WHERE: Aon Ballroom, Chicago
WHEN: March 23, 2019
For more details, visit https://navypier.org/event/global-connections-holi-2019/
10. First Lions Holi Color Fun, Hanford, CA
The color filled event would also mark the 60th year of Hanford Breakfast Lions. A great family event to mark the beginning of spring.
WHERE: Hanford Civic Center Park, Hanford, CA
WHEN: April 7, 2019
For more details, visit https://4a2lions.org/event/first-lions-happy-holi-color-fun-2019/
Know of a great Holi event in your city? Let us know about it via events@americanbazaaronline.com
READ MORE:
Festival of colors Holi celebrated in Virginia (March 25, 2015)
Priyanka Chopra, Indian men’s, women’s cricket teams celebrate Holi in style (March 24, 2016)
New Jersey includes 19 Hindu festivals to religious holiday list for school students (June 6, 2016)