festival

UK: /ˈfɛstɪv^əl/ US: /ˈfɛstəvəl/ ,(fes′tə vəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fes•ti•val /ˈfɛstəvəl/   n. [countable]

1. a day or time of religious or other celebration, marked by ceremonies and feasting:
   the May festival.
2. a period or program of festive activities, cultural events, or entertainment:
   a music and art festival.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fes•ti•val  (fes′tə vəl), n. 

1. a day or time of religious or other celebration, marked by feasting, ceremonies, or other observances:
   the festival of Christmas; a Roman festival.
2. a periodic commemoration, anniversary, or celebration:
   an annual strawberry festival.
3. a period or program of festive activities, cultural events, or entertainment:
   a music festival.
4. gaiety;
   revelry;
   merrymaking.

adj. 

5. festal:
   a festival atmosphere of unrestrained joy.

• Medieval Latin fēstivālis (diēs) holy (day). See festive, -al¹
• Middle English 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

festival / ˈfɛstɪv^əl/ noun

1. a day or period set aside for celebration or feasting, esp one of religious significance
2. any occasion for celebration, esp one which commemorates an anniversary or other significant event
3. an organized series of special events and performances, usually in one place: a festival of drama
4. a time of revelry; merrymaking
5. (modifier) relating to or characteristic of a festival

Etymology: 14th Century: from Church Latin fēstivālis of a feast, from Latin festīvus festive