International Events Calendar: February 2025

When Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, followed by a federal holiday on Monday, it makes a three-day weekend even sweeter. Super Bowl Sunday is an unofficial holiday as one of the nation’s most watched and celebrated sports events. More well-loved cultural traditions converge in February 2025 when Mardi Gras and Lunar New Year celebrations take place, including San Francisco’s colorful Chinatown parade. Daytona 500 is always a big February draw for NASCAR fans. Black History Month is packed with local events across the nation and, in Washington, D.C., two giant pandas have become the most popular new residents at the National Zoo.

CURRENT

Mardi Gras 
New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Venice

In New Orleans, the Mardi Gras season known as “Carnival” commences on Monday, Jan. 6 and concludes on Fat Tuesday, March 4, 2025. With a focus on security and safety, Nola’s French Quarter tradition features costumed marchers, mule-drawn mini floats, and spirited brass bands. 

There’s dancing in the streets. Colorful floats, food, drink, extraordinary costumes and headdresses, plus the rhythmic grand samba parade attracts millions to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This year’s Carnival begins Feb. 28, culminating in a grand finale on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

In Italy, Venice Carnival is held from Feb. 22 through March 4, 2025. A spectacle of elaborate masks and costumes, the lively atmosphere is punctuated by events, parades, processions, street performances, and fireworks. 

Lunar New Year
Chinatown, San Francisco and New York City

Celebrating the Year of the Snake, one of the world’s top 10 parades is in San Francisco. The city hosts one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in North America, the biggest one for Chinese New Year outside of Asia. On Feb. 15, 2025, kick off is from downtown at 5:15 p.m. before wending its way through Chinatown. chineseparade.com

In New York City, Chinatown’s 26th annual Lunar New Year Parade features dragon dancing, amazing outfits, martial art performers, and more. Taking place on Feb. 25, 2025, the colorful parade kicks off at 1 p.m. to head down Mott and Canal streets ending at Grand Street.  

Meet the Pandas
Smithsonian’s National Zoo | Washington, D.C.

Bao Li and Qing Bao made a long-awaited public debut in late January and are now ready for their close-up. At the National Zoo, catch a glimpse of the giant pandas, a symbol of international diplomacy, in their renovated habitat on Asia Trail. nationalzoo.si.edu

Through April 7
Qi Baishi: Inspiration in Ink | San Francisco

Staying with the Asian theme, take an intimate look at a modern master whose work revitalized traditional Chinese ink painting. By capturing everyday scenes and familiar moments, he evoked the essential beauty of nature and joy of life’s simple pleasures. At the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. exhibitions.asianart.org

FEBRUARY EVENTS

Throughout February
Love Me Tender | Las Vegas 

The king of rock n’ roll lives on. Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday was marked with a champagne toast at the venue where his seven-year residency began in 1969. Love Me Tender Month at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino features new romance packages, dining specials, and Elvis-inspired celebrations. WestgateLasVegas.com 

Feb. 7 through June 9
American Photography | Amsterdam

At the Rijksmuseum, the first major exhibition of American photography brings together 200 works spanning three centuries. Featured artists include Andy Warhol, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Robert Frank, Nan Goldin, and Irving Penn. rijksmuseum.nl

Feb. 8
Billy Joel 2025 Tour | Indianapolis

Billy Joel is performing—and selling out—in several U.S. stadiums with fellow legends Stevie Nicks and Sting at select stops through May. Additional cities include Charlotte, Syracuse, Toronto, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City and Detroit. billyjoel.com/tour

Feb. 8 – May 11
Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature | New York City

Presented to mark the 250th anniversary of Friedrich’s birth, this is the first comprehensive U.S. exhibition dedicated to the renowned German Romantic artist. Some 75 masterpieces on loan from 30 countries illustrate unique landscapes and a profound love of nature. metmuseum.org

Feb. 9
Super Bowl LIX | New Orleans

The 75,000-seat Caesars Superdome is the venue when the Crescent City hosts its 11th Super Bowl, the most-watched television program of the year. Reflecting the spirit of Mardi Gras, in the heart of the French Quarter the first-ever Super Bowl Host Committee Parade takes place on the morning prior to game day. nolasuperbowl.com

Feb. 13 – 16
San Francisco Symphony | Esa-Pekka Salonen & Yuja Wang

Experience the musical world of Esa-Pekka Salonen in his final season as San Francisco Symphony Music Director. Bucket-list brilliance in a piano program featuring Stravinsky and Debussy. Davies Symphony Hall. sfsymphony.org 

Feb. 13 – 19
San Francisco Ballet | Cool Britannia

A dynamic exploration of British dance through provocative new voices: Chroma by Sir Wayne McGregor; Within the Golden Hour by Christopher Wheeldon; and Dust by Akram Khan. War Memorial Opera House. sfballet.com

Feb. 16
Daytona 500 | Florida

When the 67th running of The Great American Race at Daytona International Speedway gets underway in Daytona, Florida at 2:30 p.m. (ET), there will be 150,000 live spectators filling the stands.  daytonainternationalspeedway.com

Feb. 20 through Sept. 7
Gustav Klimt: Pigment & Pixel | Vienna

At the turn of the 20th century, observers were shocked by artist Gustav Klimt’s use of allegory, symbolism, and eroticism whilst painting the vast ceilings at Festival Hall,  University of Vienna. While the originals were destroyed in a fire, Belvedere Museum in Vienna, Austria, reveals true replicas, thanks to AI and technology. belvedere.at/en/gustav-klimt-pigment-pixel-0

Photo credits: Chinese dragon (Gary Tou, Unsplash); Mardi Gras (Graham Guenther, Unsplash); Meet the Pandas (National Zoo Smithsonian); Borrowing Mountain (Beijing Fine Art Academy); BillyJoel.com (Myrna Suárez); SF Symphony (Julia Wesely); SF Ballet (Wheeldon’s Within The Golden Hour© // © Erik Tomasson); The Faculty Paintings (Google Arts & Culture)

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