10 BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATIONS RIGHT NOW
We’ve rounded up 10 beautiful events happening right now around the world that can make your holiday one you won’t forget. There’s beauty wherever you look, from fire and ice shows, to old fashioned Christmas markets, to gardens lit up, as if by fairies.
One of the biggest techno shows in the world touches down in Dallas, Texas on Friday December 27th and continues through Saturday December 28th. Drown in a sea of brilliant lights and confetti, while experiencing some of the most innovative DJs and EDM in the world. Headliners include Deadmau5, Fedde Le Grand, Carnage, Icona Pop, and more. See the full lineup here.
The spectacle moves to Mexico City for New Year’s Eve (12/31/13) where you can experience the brilliant lights as you ring in 2014. For more information, check out the Lights All Night website.
Photo: Courtesy of Kevin Padraja
Sunday evenings from December 15th, 2013 - March 30, 2014
Whistler, BC Canada
Trek to the base of Whistler Mountain in British Columbia Canada to experience dazzling displays of athleticism. Every Sunday, from December until March 2014, Whistler Blackcomb joins two primal elements—fire and ice—to entertain bundled-up crowds.
Photo: Courtesy of Patrick Hui.
Incredible professional skiers perform acrobatic jumps and flips through hoops of fire, blazing against the winter wonderland.
Photo: Wally Gobetz.
Now - January 12th, 2014
New York City
For over four decades, the American Museum of Natural History has been adding its own special tree to the urban forest of New York City. This year, the museum partnered with OrigamiUSA to present an incredible tree, decorated with over 1,000 hand-folded paper ornaments, created by a group of international origami artisans.
This year’s theme is “Wicked, Wild, and Wonderful. ” It features scorpions, dinosaurs, exotic plants, snakes, spiders, and other creatures plucked from the Museum’s current exhibition, “The Power of Poison.”
Photo: Courtesy of R. Mickens for The American Museum of Natural History
The 13-foot tree is decked with both new and vintage origami art pieces.
Make sure to spot the forty-year-old model of a pterosaur, an extinct animal that was one of the first to evolve to flight. The piece was folded in the early 1970s for one of the first origami holiday trees.
The beautiful origami holiday tree will be exhibited through January 12th, 2014. For more information, visit the American Museum of Natural History’s website.
Photo: Courtesy of Sébastien Mathé for Paris Opéra Ballet
Now- January 4th, 2014
Paris
A trip to the ballet is always a beautiful holiday treat. The wildly glamorous Paris Opéra Ballet is currently performing Charles Perrault’s “La Belle au Bois Dormant,” the classic fairy tale ballet of Sleeping Beauty.
Photo: Courtesy Sébastien Mathé for Paris Opéra Ballet
Video: Courtesy Paris Opéra Ballet
The Opera House itself is a confection to behold. The costumes are a dream. And the dancing is divine. To purchase tickets to La Belle au Bois Dormant, visit the Paris Opéra Ballet’s website.
Photo: Courtesy of Company XIV
It’s a Christmas tale like you’ve never seen before. Spicy, and very very beautiful! To buy tickets and see showtimes, visit The Nutcracker Rogue’s event page.
Photo: Courtesy of Waheed Arshad for Kew
Now - January 4th, 2014
London
As the sun sets, the stars blink on, and Kew Gardens winter gardens start to twinkle. The beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens are gorgeous all year, but they taken on a magical element during the Christmas season. A mile long trail through the spectacular gardens is illuminated with a series of lighting installations developed by artisans across the UK.
Photo: Courtesy of Kew.
There is also a small Christmas village to visit. Listen to carolers, finish up your holiday shopping, and grab some mugs of mulled wine and iced cinnamon star cookies for your lovely stroll!
If you’re making your trip to Kew a family event, stop by Santa’s Woodland Grotto for a spin on the Victorian carousel and maybe even a visit to Saint Nick himself!
Photo: Courtesy of The Grotto.
7) Christmas Festival of Lights
Now- December 30th, 2013 (Closed Christmas Day)
Portland, Oregon
Immerse in the Christmas spirit in Portland, Oregon. The annual Christmas Festival of Lights is the world’s largest choral festival. This year features almost 160 holiday concerts performed by schools, churches, and civic choirs. The concerts are performed in The Grotto, a 600-seat chapel with incredible cathedral-quality acoustics.
Outside The Grotto, over 1 million lights twinkle along a walkable path. The family-friendly event also features caroling, puppet shows, and a petting zoo.
For more information, visit the event website or follow the Festival of Lights on Twitter.
Now - January 7th, 2014
Yes, Virginia, there really are people who live at the North Pole. It’s a city in Alaska about 14 miles south of Fairbanks. And what makes it even more special this time of year, is that they truck in about 2.2 million pounds of ice so sculptors can have their way with it. Watch the ice chips fly and amazing works of art emerge. The intricately carved ice sculptures are lit beautifully at night. And, of course, it’s right in Santa’s backyard, so definitely worth a visit. Maybe he’ll leave some cookies out for YOU at his house. ;)
Photo: Courtesy of Nicholas of Myra for Cologne’s Cathedral Christmas Market.
Now - December 23, 2013
Cologne Germany
Artisans are busy handcrafting last minute presents—blown glass, hand-bound wreaths, carved wood objects and ornaments—beneath the beautiful gaze of the iconic Cologne Cathedral. Sip some mulled wine, check out the wooden stalls for goodies, and enjoy some of the more than 100 holiday-themed performances that take place from now right up until Christmas Eve.
Now - January 1, 2014
Brussels, Belgium
If you want to take a break from the holiday themes, but you still want to get out and see something beautiful, check out Passion Function Beauty, a wonderful exhibition of the life and work of master Belgian architect and furniture designer Henry van de Velde. More than 500 items, including paintings, furniture, silverware, jewelry, ceramics, book bindings, and architectural designs are laid out chronologically. It’s quite an array of special work. And snag some beautiful Belgian chocolates nearby to munch while you peruse.
We hope you enjoy this time, wherever you find yourself to be. We wish you a beautiful holiday and an even more beautiful New Year ahead.
Read more about Beautiful Celebrations, as they relate to Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact in our posts throughout this week, including 10 Beautiful Celebration Books, Celebrating Winter’s Nature and New Celebration Treats: Bubbles and Sweets.
Get busy and enter the BN Competitions, Our theme this week is Beautiful Celebrations. Send in your images and ideas. Deadline is 12.23.13.
Photo: Courtesy of InterActiveMediaSW.
Also, check out our special competition: The Most Beautiful Sound in the World! We are thrilled about this effort, together with SoundCloud and The Sound Agency. And we can’t wait to hear what you’ve got! Now closed for entries. Judging is in progress. Finalists announced and voting begins 01.02.14.
