Monthly Events: March Around the World As Everything Wakes Up

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March has this particular energy that’s hard to explain. It’s the month where things shift. The light changes, the air changes, and suddenly the world has a lot more going on. After the quiet of January and the short burst of February, March genuinely delivers. Here’s what I’ve been looking into.

Spring Equinox: The World Marks the Turn of the Season

The Spring Equinox falls around March 20th or 21st each year, and it’s one of those universal moments that cultures across history have celebrated in very different ways. Equal hours of daylight and darkness, and a sense that something is beginning again.

Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is tied to the Spring Equinox and is one of the oldest celebrations in the world. It’s observed by over 300 million people across Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and diaspora communities globally. Families clean their homes thoroughly (a practice called khane tekani), set a symbolic table called a haft-sin, and gather to welcome the new year together. In cities like Toronto, London, and Los Angeles, Nowruz events draw tens of thousands of people.

The United Nations officially recognises Nowruz as an international day of celebration. nowruznewday.org has background and events listings.

In Japan, the Spring Equinox is a public holiday called Shunbun no Hi, when people visit family graves and reflect on the natural world. It’s a quieter observance but deeply meaningful in Japanese culture.

At Chichen Itza in Mexico, the equinox creates a famous shadow effect on the pyramid of El Castillo that draws visitors from across the world. If ancient history and astronomy appeal to you, it’s worth looking into.

St. Patrick’s Day: Bigger Than Ireland Could Have Imagined

March 17th might be the most globally recognised national day on the calendar. St. Patrick’s Day started as a religious feast day in Ireland, but it has grown into something that genuinely spans the planet.

In Dublin, the festival runs across several days and includes a massive parade, live music, theatre events, and cultural happenings throughout the city. stpatricksfestival.ie is the official site and worth browsing early if you’re thinking of going.

But the celebrations outside Ireland are equally remarkable. New York City hosts one of the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the world, dating back to 1762. Chicago famously dyes the Chicago River green. Boston, Philadelphia, and Savannah all throw enormous events.

Globally, landmarks from the Sydney Opera House to the Colosseum in Rome go green for the night as part of the Global Greening initiative. It’s actually quite moving to see how far the tradition has spread.

Even if you’re not Irish and have no connection to Ireland, there’s something infectious about St. Patrick’s Day. Local pubs almost everywhere mark it in some way. It’s one of those rare occasions that genuinely brings people together across cultures.

Holi: The Festival of Colours That’s Hard to Forget

If there’s one event in March that tends to stop people in their tracks when they first see photos of it, it’s Holi. The Hindu festival of colours usually falls in late February or early March, and in 2025 it lands on March 14th.

Holi marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. The celebrations involve throwing brightly coloured powder and water at each other in joyful, chaotic gatherings. The images are extraordinary, but experiencing it in person is another level entirely.

The biggest celebrations take place across northern India, particularly in Mathura and Vrindavan, which are considered the spiritual homes of the festival. The festivities there last several days and are genuinely spectacular.

But Holi is celebrated worldwide now. Events take place in cities across the USA, UK, Australia, and Europe, often organised by Hindu cultural organisations and open to everyone. The ISKCON temples network often hosts events worth looking up.

One practical tip: wear clothes you don’t mind ruining. The colours are stubborn, and that’s entirely part of the point.

Ramadan: A Month of Reflection That Begins in March

In 2025, Ramadan begins around March 1st and runs through to late March, concluding with the feast of Eid al-Fitr. The timing shifts each year because it follows the Islamic lunar calendar, but it frequently overlaps with March.

Ramadan is observed by around 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide and involves fasting from dawn to sunset, prayer, reflection, and community. The nightly breaking of the fast, called Iftar, is a beautiful communal meal that many cities now celebrate quite publicly.

In cities with large Muslim communities like Dubai, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, London, and Dearborn in Michigan, Ramadan transforms the atmosphere noticeably. Night markets open up, restaurants offer Iftar menus, and mosques hold extended evening prayers called Tarawih.

If you’ve never attended an Iftar event, many mosques and community organisations in the USA and UK invite non-Muslim guests and neighbours. It’s a genuinely warm and welcoming experience. islamicfinder.org can help locate local events and prayer times.

Understanding and respecting Ramadan when travelling in Muslim-majority countries during this period makes a real difference to your experience of the place.

Music Festivals and Cultural Events Heating Up

March is when the live events calendar really starts accelerating, and there’s a good spread of options across different interests and budgets.

SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas, is one of the most eclectic and exciting events anywhere in the world. It combines a massive music festival with film screenings, tech conferences, and creative industries events across ten days. The sheer range of things happening simultaneously is overwhelming in the best way. sxsw.com has the full programme.

In the UK, the Cheltenham Literature Festival and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival both launch their spring programmes in March. Meanwhile, in Europe, Les Transmusicales in France and various jazz events across Belgium and the Netherlands are starting to fill calendars.

Ultra Music Festival in Miami typically runs in late March and draws enormous crowds for electronic music. It’s one of the biggest events of its kind in the world. ultramusicfestival.com has tickets and lineups.

Closer to home for many in the UK and Ireland, St. David’s Day on March 1st celebrates Welsh culture with events across Wales and Welsh communities internationally. It’s a lovely and underrated national day.

Sport in March: Something for Everyone

March is one of the best months in the sporting calendar if you cast your net even slightly wide. There’s a genuinely impressive spread of events happening simultaneously around the world.

March Madness is the NCAA college basketball tournament in the USA, and it’s one of the most unpredictable and thrilling sporting events of the year. Offices fill out brackets, upsets happen constantly, and the drama is relentless. ncaa.com covers the full bracket and schedule.

The Cheltenham Festival in the UK is the pinnacle of jump racing, drawing horses, trainers, and punters from across the world for four days in mid-March. The atmosphere at Cheltenham racecourse is unlike anything else in British sport. thejockeyclub.co.uk has tickets and race info.

Formula 1 roars back into life in March with the opening race of the new season. Wherever it’s held, the first race generates enormous anticipation after the winter break. formula1.com has the full calendar.

The Six Nations Rugby usually reaches its climax in March, with the final round of matches deciding the championship. If you haven’t caught any of the earlier games, the last weekend is the one to watch.

International Observances Worth Your Attention

March is home to several globally recognised awareness days and observances that genuinely matter, and a few of them are quite surprising in their scope.

International Women’s Day on March 8th is one of the most widely observed days in the world. Events, marches, panels, and cultural celebrations happen in virtually every country. In some nations, including Russia, Ukraine, and parts of Africa and Asia, it’s a public holiday. internationalwomensday.com has event listings globally.

World Wildlife Day falls on March 3rd, established by the United Nations. Zoos, nature reserves, and conservation organisations worldwide hold events and open days. It’s a good excuse to visit somewhere local you haven’t explored yet.

World Sleep Day lands in mid-March and is genuinely one of the more delightful awareness days on the calendar. Organised by the World Sleep Society, it raises awareness of sleep health and disorders. worldsleepday.org has resources if you’re curious.

Hina Matsuri, or Girls’ Day, is a Japanese celebration on March 3rd where families display decorative dolls and celebrate their daughters’ happiness and health. It’s a charming and visually beautiful tradition.

And in many countries, Mother’s Day falls in March. In the UK and Ireland, it lands on the fourth Sunday of Lent, known as Mothering Sunday. So if you have family there, it’s worth checking the date well in advance.

Food, Nature, and the Return of Good Things

March is the month when nature starts delivering again in the Northern Hemisphere, and there’s plenty to eat, see, and appreciate if you pay attention.

Wild garlic season begins in March across the UK and parts of Europe, carpeting woodland floors with white flowers and filling the air with a distinctive smell. It’s free to forage in many places and makes excellent pesto, soup, and bread. A quick search for foraging walks near you will usually turn up local guided events.

In the USA, maple syrup season peaks in late winter and early spring across New England and Canada. Sugar shacks open to visitors, and many farms run events where you can see the tapping process and taste fresh syrup. vermontmaplesugar.com is a good starting point.

Whale watching season begins in earnest in March along various coastlines. The waters off Baja California, the Azores, and parts of Scotland all offer excellent sightings. whalewatchingguide.com lists global operators.

In Japan, cherry blossom season typically begins in late March in southern regions like Kyushu and Okinawa, with the famous wave of pink gradually moving north through April. Tracking the forecasts is half the fun. japan-guide.com has an updated blossom forecast each year.

A Few Tips for Making the Most of March

March can sneak up on you because it’s one of those transitional months people don’t always deliberately plan for. Here’s what I’ve found useful.

Nowruz events outside Iran and Central Asia are often surprisingly accessible. Community centres and cultural organisations in cities like London, Toronto, and New York run open events that are warm and welcoming to anyone curious.

For SXSW, you don’t need a wristband or badge to enjoy Austin during the festival. Many showcases are free, street performances happen constantly, and the city itself is electric during those ten days.

Cheltenham Festival tickets for the Thursday and Friday tend to be slightly easier to get than Gold Cup day on Friday and Champion Day on Tuesday. If you want to go but haven’t booked, don’t give up immediately.

And if the cherry blossom call is strong, bear in mind that Japan in late March is entering one of its two peak tourist seasons. Booking accommodation in Kyoto or Tokyo several months ahead is genuinely necessary, not just advisable.

More than anything, though, March rewards people who simply step outside more. The light is returning, things are growing, and the world genuinely feels like it’s opening back up. That alone is worth celebrating.

Is there a March event you think deserves more attention? I’d love to hear what’s on your list.