Festivals and Travel to Exotic Places in February

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The weather should be good in:
Myanmar, Cambodia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand [not east coast], Vietnam, Yemen, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe

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For good weather and festivals, early February:

Nepal [Khatmandu Valley] Basant Pancha festival, 1 day Nepal Pictures

Vietnam [Nationwide] Tet [New Year] Jan/Feb 1 month.
[Huong Tich Mountain range], Huong Tich/Lac Long Quan Festival [Buddhist pilgrimage],
Feb/Mar/early-April. Vietnam Pictures

Canada, Ottawa [Ontario] Winterlude Festival, weekends only, parades, dances, snow races, ice sculptures, sleigh rides and more, but especially skating. If skating is your thing, then this is your festival. 1-17 Feb. Canada Pictures

Canada, Quebec City, Carnaval de Québec, 10 days of parades, themed parties, ice sculptures and winter sports, in a pretty Francophile city. Late Jan- mid Feb.

Japan [Sapporo] Snow Festival, Feb. A mass of spectacular ice sculptures in this pleasant town. Warm saké goes perfectly with ice buildings. Japan Pictures

For good weather and festivals, late February:

Nepal [Khatmandu Valley] Tibet new Year, 1 day
[Khatmandu Valley] Maha Shivarat, 1 day

Egypt [Abu Simbel] Abu Simbel Fest. Feb 22. Egypt Pictures

Mexico [Veracruz] Carnival. late Feb/March 9 days. Mexico Pictures

India
[North India] Holi, Festival of Colour. Late Feb/early March. 1 day.
[Anandpur Sahib] Hola Mohalla. Late Feb/early March, 1 day. India Pictures

Italy, Venice Carnival. Colourful, fascinating, funny and a superb environment. Venice Carnival Pictures.

Also excellent Carnivals in: Viareggio [Italy]; Binche [Belgium]; Nice [France];Cologne [Germany]; Sitges a very wild, gay show [Spain, near Barcelona]

Or go for festivals only, not the weather! i.e. this is not the best season:

Carnivals:
Brazil [Rio de Janeiro and other places] Carnival. No longer on the street - it's now in a huge stadium, expensive and caution is needed outside.
Perhaps try carnivals in other cities - a lot more user friendly - such as Salvador and Olinda, both beautiful, lively and with good beaches nearby.
Or check Trinidad [island], in the Caribbean, where the carnival is on the street and mad in the nicest way, though if you want a nice beach too you'll have to nip over to neighbouring Tobago. Brazil Pictures

Bolivia, [Copacabana] Candlemas. Late Jan-Feb
[Oruro] Devil's Carnival . Feb/March. 8 days.

Tibet [Nationwide] New Year. Feb/March 4 days, cold!
[Lhasa] Great Prayer fest. Feb/March 7 days. Tibet Pictures

Peru [Puno, Cusco+] Candlemas. Late Jan/early Feb, 2 weeks. Peru Pictures

China [Xian+] Lantern Fest. Feb 10. days
[Harbin] Ice Lantern fest. All Jan & Feb, cold! China Pictures