Shimla Winter Carnival Returns: Music, Culture & Festive Cheer to Ring in 2025
As the year winds down, Shimla is all set to sparkle with joy as the Winter Carnival makes its comeback from December 24 to January 1. Now in its third year, the carnival promises a vibrant mix of folk traditions, live music, food stalls, and cultural parades, turning the hill town into a festive hub for both locals and tourists.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurate the celebrations, with the Ridge and Mall Road transformed into cultural hotspots. Nati dance performances, Himachali cuisine, handicraft stalls, and selfie points captured the city’s heritage charm.
Highlights included a grand mahanati (mass Nati dance) and a cultural parade showcasing costumes and traditions from all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh. Every evening will feature performances by popular artists—from folk singers and rock bands to Sufi musicians and Bollywood playback stars.
The lineup is packed:
- Dec 24: Payal Thakur & Rohanpreet Singh
- Dec 25–26: Rock band Tatva, Arun Justa, Dilip Sirmauri, Vivek Raghav
- Dec 27–28: Folk & Sufi nights with Hemant Sharma, Anuj Sharma, Dr Neeta Pandey
- Dec 29–30: Sanchita Bhattacharya, Kuldeep Sharma, Kumar Sahil
- Dec 31 (New Year’s Eve): Himachal Police Band, Gaurav Kaundal, Kishan Verma
- Jan 1 (Grand Finale): Comedian Ehsaan Qureshi & Bollywood singer Hema Sardesai
With cultural evenings, laughter, and music filling the winter air, Shimla’s carnival is set to be the perfect way to welcome 2025.
