From yacht racing in St. Barths and celebratory water fights in Thailand to garden tours and vintage car shows in the United States, April offers a host of things to do around the world.

April 2016 Events

April 11–16: Maxi sailing yachts race against one another in spectacular fashion during Les Voiles de St-Barth, with the Caribbean island’s dazzling white beaches and emerald hills as a backdrop.

April 13–15: Celebrate the Thai New Year at one of the most popular festivals in Thailand, the three-day Songkran Festival. Originating from the Thai tradition of splashing water on family members and statues of Buddha to pay homage and seek good fortune, the festival has transformed into a countrywide water fight — all in good fun, of course — with festivalgoers splashing and shooting water on passers-by via water guns, hoses and water balloons. The most widespread revelry takes place in Bangkok.

April 17: Witness fireworks, folk dancing and a procession of more than 50 ornately decorated elephants parading through the city during the 200-year-old Hindu temple festival Thrissur Pooram, in the cultural capital of Kerala. During the festival, temples in the area are invited to pay homage to the presiding deity at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, and in so doing create a stunningly beautiful display of pageantry and ceremony.

April 21–May 8: One of the country’s premier equestrian events, the Del Mar National Horse Show began as part of the San Diego County Fair. Celebrating its 71st anniversary this year, the show spans three weeks, encompassing a range of competitions. April 21–24 is the rodeo-themed “Western Week”; April 28–May 1 sees the elegant “Dressage Week”; and May 3–8 is the exciting and high-stakes “Hunter/Jumper Week.”

April 22–May 1: Jazz lovers descend upon New Orleans for the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May each year to experience the Jazz & Heritage Festival. Besides stellar music on 12 stages, the wonderful food and crafts are also part of the appeal. Headlining this year are Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Pearl Jam and Van Morrison, along with New Orleans favorites Trombone Shorty, Jon Batiste, Ivan Neville and Kermit Ruffins.

April 23–30: The rolling, vineyard-clad countryside of Virginia bursts with spring flowers during the annual Historic Garden Week. One of America’s most beautiful wine regions, Virginia’s Albemarle County is home to two Harper-recommended resorts, as well as Jefferson’s Monticello Estate and world-class wineries such as Barboursville and Keswick.

April 27: Travel to Amsterdam for King’s Day, or Koningsdag, formerly known as Queen’s Day, when the Dutch heartily celebrate the reigning monarch’s date of birth. It’s a day to wear orange (the color of the royal family), attend parties, shop at the citywide flea market, welcome warmer weather and enjoy a day off work. For utmost enjoyment, sample the local sweet pastry tompouce as you take in the celebration, and the influx of people — Amsterdam’s population doubles on this special occasion.

April 30: On the pristine fairways of the iconic Pinehurst Resort, in North Carolina, the Concours d'Elegance will showcase a vintage car competition, featuring some of the world's most historic and rare automobiles.