View synonyms for festival

festival

[ fes-tuh-vuhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a day or time of religious or other celebration, marked by feasting, ceremonies, or other observances:
the festival of Christmas; a Roman festival.
a periodic commemoration, anniversary, or celebration:
an annual strawberry festival.
a period or program of festive activities, cultural events, or entertainment:
a music festival.
gaiety; revelry; merrymaking.

festival

/ ˈfɛstɪvəl /

a day or period set aside for celebration or feasting, esp one of religious significance
any occasion for celebration, esp one which commemorates an anniversary or other significant event
an organized series of special events and performances, usually in one place
a festival of drama
archaic.
a time of revelry; merrymaking
modifier relating to or characteristic of a festival

1300–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin fēstivālis ( diēs ) holy (day). See festive, -al ¹

C14: from Church Latin fēstivālis of a feast, from Latin festīvus festive

The ancient Egyptian festival of Wepet Renpet (“opening of the year”) was not just a time of rebirth—it was dedicated to drinking.

The only repercussions Iraqi has faced are outside of Egypt, as she lost her place in an upcoming Swiss Film Festival, he added.

Check out a clip from this exclusive interview with SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace at the 2014 Savannah Film Festival.

Like Edgar, he remembers a unique time when American rappers came down and performed at the Primer Festival de Rap Cubano.

A big cake requires a big festival, and Augustus was happy to comply.

Signer Costa was at the Festival in 1829, and he afterwards appeared on the stage at the Royal.

On the 2nd of November I saw a festival of another description—namely, a religious one.

Musical festival in Westminster abbey, in commemoration of the birthday of Handel.

The repetition of her festival may possibly point to separate celebrations of the communities of Palatine and Quirinal.

Of the Feralia of February 21, the culmination of the festival of the kindred dead (Parentalia), we have already spoken.

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