festival

Definition of festivalnext
as in celebration
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something tourists flock to the town for its annual strawberry festival

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of festival Two people were killed and at least five others were injured in a shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday night as the civic center complex hosted a major food festival. Dennis Romero, NBC news, 27 July 2026 Three people are dead and four others are injured after shots rang out at the Bite of Seattle food festival at the Seattle Center on Sunday, according to officials. Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 27 July 2026 Accessible portable toilets are available throughout festival grounds as well as at accessible viewing platforms throughout the festival. Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026 The festival is infused with the spirit of the highly influential Connecticut composer Charles Ives. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for festival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festival
Noun
  • Sacramento State is planning its biggest homecoming celebration yet as the university begins its first football season in the Mid-American Conference, but this year's festivities come with a major change after a concert last season ended in chaos.
    Steve Large, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Unfortunately, the big 20th-anniversary celebration likely stymied any conversations around cleaning house.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • Sacramento State is planning its biggest homecoming celebration yet as the university begins its first football season in the Mid-American Conference, but this year's festivities come with a major change after a concert last season ended in chaos.
    Steve Large, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • For the wedding festivities, Spencer wore a total of five custom Dolce & Gabbana dresses.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • Spain will host a gran fiesta for its winning team on the streets of Madrid.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 July 2026
  • The Carnaval de Guaranda, for instance, takes inspiration from a rowdy annual fiesta held in the Bolivar Province and is made with vodka, hops, figs, white truffle, turmeric, and a local moonshine called pájaro azul.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Festival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festival. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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