Events in March 2015

From National Cherry Blossom Festival to South by Southwest, Mr. Andrew Harper points out notable events going on around the world in March 2015.

March 2015 Events

Through March 29: Australia and New Zealand jointly host the ICC Cricket World Cup, the most important cricket tournament of the year. The semi-finals will be held in Sydney and Auckland, and the finals take place in Melbourne. If you’ve never attended a cricket match, these games provide perhaps the most exciting introduction to the sport possible.

March 4-8: Charleston, South Carolina, has one of the country’s most vibrant restaurant scenes, celebrated with gusto each year during the BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival. Notable local chefs such as Mike Lata and Sean Brock plan on attending, along with numerous well-known visitors such as Hugh Acheson, Eric Asimov and Rob Mondavi, Jr. Attendees can purchase tickets to the Culinary Village, various seminars and classes, and exclusive Signature Dinners. Proceeds benefit culinary and hospitality scholarship programs.

March 5-15: Hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts descend on Geneva, Switzerland, for the annual International Motor Show, one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world. All the major carmakers attend, from Alfa Romeo and Bentley to Volkswagen and Volvo.

March 13-22: What started as a small festival in Austin, Texas, 29 years ago has grown into one of the most important music events in the world. South by Southwest now draws thousands of spectators to performances by some 2,200 music groups from around the planet. The Festival has also expanded into film, with screenings from March 17-21, and technology, with a fascinating roster of presentations running from March 13-17. Be sure to consult the schedule and reserve tickets in advance.

March 14-17: Where better to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than Dublin? It’s possible to watch the three-hour parade from the shelter of a grandstand if you book ahead, or revel with the locals on the street. Not satisfied with just a parade, Dubliners organize fireworks shows, world-class musical performances and numerous other events in the days around the parade.

March 15-19: Valencia, one of Spain’s most charming and fascinating cities, shines most brightly during Las Fallas, a major festival dating to medieval times complete with parades, fireworks, bullfights and giant bonfires. On the last evening, Las Fallas culminates with the torching of hundreds of massive wooden monuments — some as high as six stories — erected throughout the city.

March 20 – April 12: Washington, D.C., shimmers with flowers during the annual the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The average peak bloom date is April 4, but last year the Yoshino cherry trees were at their most splendid on April 10. Numerous family-friendly events such as parades and picnics mark the occasion, and the Pink Tie Party, a fundraiser for the festival held March 19, is sure to be a highlight.

March 27-29: The St. Thomas Yacht Club in the U.S. Virgin Islands hosts one of the world’s premier sailing events, the St. Thomas International Regatta. The races are accompanied by an array of social events, including dinners and nightly beach parties.

March-April: Although the timing is difficult to predict, each year during these months the famous cherry trees in Japan bloom for one spectacular week. The exact dates of the cherry trees’ peak vary throughout the country, with certain regions blossoming earlier than others. This year, forecasts predict the trees will open on March 26 or 27 in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and be at their best April 2-10.