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
Relevance
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
The race also includes software programmer Tim Riley, a political newcomer with a focus on relocating to the Aftershock music festival from Discovery Park to Cal Expo.
—
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Attend a local Earth Day festival or outdoor market to support vendors and organizations focused on sustainability.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
The festival closed with Rohan Kanawade’s buzzy Sundance title Cactus Pears.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Kaye will play some solo acoustic shows in the spring with Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, as well as one festival date on his own.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for festival
Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Attend a local Earth Day festival or outdoor market to support vendors and organizations focused on sustainability.
—Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026
The festival closed with Rohan Kanawade’s buzzy Sundance title Cactus Pears.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Kaye will play some solo acoustic shows in the spring with Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, as well as one festival date on his own.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for festival
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festival
Noun
-
The 19-year-old princess joined her fellow London residents in celebration on May 9, 1945, the day after VE Day.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The effect is meant to be a celebration of the Sonoran Desert, as well as a cautionary tale about humans' impact on it, said Shaw.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Between parking restrictions and road closures, Boston is encouraging Marathon Monday visitors to walk, bike, take the T — anything but drive — to watch the runners or attend the day’s festivities.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The festivities kick off Friday morning when the elite athletes meet with the media just as the Marathon Expo opens at the Hynes Convention Center for the weekend.—
Anna Meiler,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The gathering at Milander Field was part protest, part celebration — a vibrant echo of a Cuban fiesta.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The Spanish colonial government integrated the Santo Niño image into religious processions, music, and dance fiestas as part of efforts to convert the island’s population to Catholicism.—
Laura Payne,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Festival.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festival. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
