The leaves will be ablaze with color, the jack-o-lanterns will literally be ablaze, and the luxury ecosystem will be on fire, as well. October brings jet-set adventures of all kinds. The longest sporting event in the world begins just off the coast of Spain. Renowned artist Yayoi Kusama’s works will be on display in Tokyo, Dallas and Los Angeles. We’ll finally get to read Jennifer Egan’s new novel. There’s also Frieze London, the official openings of two new Yves Saint Laurent museums, the Chicago Marathon, and the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket. Oh, and there will be some football games. Our Dandelion Chandelier list of the most important events in the luxury ecosystem this month is jam-packed with events both day and night.
Speaking of which, October is definitively the month of moonlight and midnight adventures. Consider this: in China, the Mid-Autumn Festival – this year to be celebrated on October 4 – is traditionally the time to read poetry under the full moon (it’s also known as the “Mooncake Festival,” and celebrants eat mooncake pastries with rich sweet bean filling). The day is also known as the Moon Festival, as the moon is at its roundest and brightest. In Hong Kong, the celebration also includes Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance celebrations, and brilliant lantern carnivals and displays.
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, begins on October 19. It spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops and around temples and other buildings; the main festival night coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu calendar.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the International Balloon Fiesta runs for nine days (October 7-15); after dark, Balloon Glows create a shimmering, magical nighttime landscape in the desert.
On Nuit Blanche on October 7, all of Paris will be alight as museums, monuments, cinemas, parks, and swimming pools stay open from dusk to dawn for one night only.
Not everything is happening under the cover of darkness, of course. In China, National Day is October 1, and Golden Week is Oct 1-8. Also in China, October 28 is the Chongyang Festival (or Double Ninth Festival); people will eat cake, drink chrysanthemum wine, climb mountains, and pay homage to chrysanthemums. The festival has also been designated as Senior’s Day, a day to respect the elderly.
In addition to all of that, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And of course there’s Halloween, on Tuesday, October 31. The theme for this year’s Greenwich Village annual Halloween Parade in New York is “Cabinet of Curiosities: An Imaginary Menagerie.” Basically, it’s going to feel like a midnight party in the pumpkin patch pretty well all month long. It’s good to know that all over the world, people will be moonstruck.
October 2017 Events:
– Travel
– Food & Drink
– Planes, Yachts & Autos
– Sports & Fitness
– Fashion & Design
– Entertainment
– The Arts
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