Azerbaijan is a country where old customs are combined with the new ones, that is why this country is the most culturally rich among all the Caucasus countries. Colorful music festivals, old folk events, all these events give an opportunity to find out the colorful spirit and hospitality of people of this country. You are going to have unending celebrations whether you are visiting the cobbled streets in Baku or going to the beautiful countryside because of the local festivals. The Azerbaijan tourist visa requirements can be visited before you decide to make your trip so that you can easily get into this beautiful country.
In this guide book, Go Kite Tours reveals the best festivals to visit in Azerbaijan that will give every tourist memories of a lifetime.
1. Farvardin Bayram -the Iranian New Year
The most popular and the most liked festival in Azerbaijan is Novruz Bayram. It occurs in late March and is the spring and the Persian New Year. There are colorful lights and wheat sprouts (Semeni) and festival decorations on the streets and homes.
In this week-long festival, the people make traditional desserts such as pakhlava and shekerbura and families sit down to sumptuous feasts. There are concerts, dances, and fire-jumping events on the public squares as a symbol of cleansing and renewal.
It is also among the most popular festivals that the tourists should visit in Azerbaijan as it gives them a profound cultural feel of the land of old traditions and hospitality of the local people.
2. Gabala international music festival
This festival is located in the beautiful town of Gabala, which is surrounded with beautiful mountains and brings the classic musicians and performers in the world. The Gabala International Music Festival is based in the summer period and usually takes place in July or August and serves as a celebration of world peace using music.
Prepare to see open-air concerts with orchestras, solo artists, and groups of artists of different countries. Stunning natural beauty and the world-performing level make the magic atmosphere in Gabala.
This is without a doubt one of the most spellbinding festivals that music lovers should come to in Azerbaijan combining culture, art and nature in one memorable event.
3. Baku Jazz Festival
All autumn, Baku is covered with the sound of jazz. Baku Jazz Festival is a gathering of local and international musicians in a week of soulful music usually held in October. The festival locations are big concert halls, as well as small cafes, where the guests get an opportunity to feel the music culture of the city firsthand.
It is a music heaven with workshops, jam sessions and street performances. The event also demonstrates a strong attachment of the Azerbaijan to the world of jazz, which started in the early 20th century.
In case you are fond of rhythm and improvisation, this festival is one of the must visit festivals in Azerbaijan.
4. Goychay Pomegranate Festival
Pomegranate Goychay Pomegranate Festival is the festival that promotes one of the most valuable fruits in Azerbaijan. It is a lively event held every November and it is full of parades, dance shows, and, naturally, unlimited types of pomegranate products; juices, jam, and even wines.
The town is turned into a fairground that everyone, both locals and visitors, takes pleasure in the festive mood. Pomegranate competitions on who has the biggest, sweetest pomegranate as well as displays of craft and music performances bring it to a fun-filled family celebration.
It will be an excellent chance to feel the pride of agriculture in Azerbaijan and taste its natural harvest.
5. Baku International Film Festival
The Baku International Film Festival provides a curious insight into the local and international film industry to the movie lovers. The festival is traditionally in December and shows Azerbaijan and other movies of the world including documentaries, short films, and feature films.
There are panels, discussions and networking which attract filmmakers, critics and the people who enjoy cinematic art. Having been visiting Baku at the time of winter, this event can be considered an exciting cultural experience, being very comfortable in the conditions of modern theatres.
6. International Mugham Festival
Mugham is one of the traditional forms of Azerbaijan music that occupies a special position in the national culture. This art form is highlighted in the International Mugham Festival, which happens twice a year in Baku and is sponsored by UNESCO.
The festival brings together artists representing different nations, and each of them understands Mugham in their own way. Soulful music combined with poetic narrations of the story is what makes the festival emotionally charged.
During this period, cultural tours hosted by Go Kite Tours enables the tourists to listen to the music and at the same time sightseeing Baku historical landmarks.
7. Baku Food Festival
The Baku Food festival is one to be visited in case you are a foodie. Holding it every year in spring or early summer is a no exception as the event is a celebration of Azerbaijan rich culinary traditions. The chefs of the town demonstrate their talents offering iconic cuisine like plov, dolma, kebabs, and qutab.
Tourists will have the opportunity to taste a range of local delicacies, attend culinary classes, and get to know the history of Azerbaijan cuisine. The atmosphere and the aroma of grilled meat, fresh herbs, and so on makes it an unresistible food event.
Another issue of interest of the festival is the attention to modern food trends and fusion cuisines as they demonstrate how Azerbaijan chefs can combine tradition and innovation.
8. Maiden Tower International Art Festival
The Maiden Tower International Art Festival turns one of the most recognizable objects in Baku into a living gallery. Artists all over the world come together to share creative works that are based on the Maiden Tower and the Azerbaijani culture.
This is an annual festival which happens in May and involves massive works of art, street shows and live painting. It is an ideal mixture of past and modern imagination and it attracts both lovers of art and photographers.
Spending time in the Old City of Baku at this event is much like entering an open-air museum.
The Reason as to Why You Should attend these Festivals
One of the most appropriate means of interacting with the culture and the people of Azerbaijan is through attending local festivals. It may be the soulful music of Mugham, the festivity of Novruz Bayram, or the artistic touch of the Maiden Tower Festival, all events are an experience in themselves.
During these celebrations, the visitors can have an experience of the real food, local art, and the atmosphere of the celebration that characterizes the beauty of Azerbaijan. You can choose to do your trip based on these cultural points in Go Kite Tours making sure that you do not miss the best things that the country has to offer.
Plan Your Visit to Azerbaijan
To make the most of your festival experience, plan ahead by checking event schedules and local travel arrangements. Ensure that your Azerbaijan visa application is complete before your travel dates, as processing times can vary.
From the rhythmic beats of jazz to the colorful traditions of Novruz, the festivals of Azerbaijan promise unforgettable memories and cultural encounters.
Explore the spirit of celebration with Go Kite Tours, and let the magic of Azerbaijan’s festivals enrich your journey like never before.
