Vaikathashtami
Vaikom Mahadevar Temple (40km from Kottayam) on the shores of Vembanad lake celebrates two Ashtami festivals annually - one in Kumbham and the other in Vrischikam. The ashtami celebrated in the malayalam month Vrischikam (November/December) i.e the Vaikathashtami is more prominent. It is celebrated to commemorate the legend that it was on this day that Parasurama, the founder of the temple granted boons to the sage. The highlight of this 12 day long colourful festival is the elephant processions carrying the image of Lord Shiva. Another procession from the nearby Muruka temple of Udayanapuram joins with this. Devotees gather together to witness this unique event believing that it is the meeting of Lord Shiva and his son Lord Subrahmania. Musical ensembles, fireworks, Kathakali, Ottamthullal, Pathakam, Velakali and several programmes were held during the festive days.

Ettumanoor Ezharapponnana
The annual Arattu festival held in the Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple (17km from Kottayam) is popularly known as Ettumanoor Ezharapponnana. The festival falls in the Malayalam month Kumbham (February - March). The major highlight of the festival is the Ezharapponnana Ezhunnallathu on the 8th day which draws thousands of devotees. It is the ceremonial procession of the idol of Lord Shiva on the golden statues of seven-and-half elephants. Each of the seven elephants is two feet high and the eighth one is of one foot only. The other main ritual is thulabharam; i.e the offerings made by the devotees for the favors they received from the deity. Traditional and cultural programmes are held during the ten-day long festival.

Phalguna Utsav
Thirunakkara temple celebrates three festivals in the month of Thulam (Oct-Nov), Mithunam (June-July) and Meenam (March-April). The most important among these is the Phalguna Utsav. Also known as Arattu Utsav, it commence from the 1st day of the malayalam month Meenan and lasts for 10days. Kathakali is the main highlight, as there are all-night Kathakali performances by eminent artistes. Mayilattom (peacock dance) and vellomkali are other attractions. The festival draws to a close with the colourful Arat procession with nine caparisoned elephants.   

Erumeli Petta Thullal
Erumeli Petta Thullal is a ritual dance performed by devotees as part of their pilgrimage to Sabarimala. Erumeli is small village situated 56km from Kottayam. At the Petta junction of Erumeli, there is a Sastha temple (Kochambalam) and mosque (Vavarambalam) facing each other. Pilgrims on their way to Sabarimala, gather here in groups to participate in Petta thullal. It is a frenzied dance with chanting of Ayyappa mantras and hymns, accompanied by loud music created by traditional instruments. Prior to Petta Thullal, the pilgrims smear colour on their faces and bodies and dress like forest-dwellers. 

Also known as Petta Kettu, Petta Thullal starts from the kochambalam and the dancers proceed to the Mosque, in the name of Vavar, who was a close friend of Ayyappan, to pay their homage. They are ceremonially received there and goes around the mosque. A representative of Vavar Swamy will then accompany the group to the big temple (Valiambalam) which is about a kilometre away. Petta Thullal comes to an end after going around the the big temple. The devotees wash their bodies in the small river nearby and go to Sabarimala.

Petta Thullal takes place almost everyday from the 1st of the malayalam month of Vrichikam (around November) till a couple of days prior to the Sabarimala temple closing on January.

Puthenpalli Chandanakkudam, Changanacherry
Puthenpalli Chandanakkudam is the festival celebrated in Puthurpalli mosque at Changanacherry, 18 km south of Kottayam. This two day festival is held in the month of December usually on Christmas day. The main highlight of this festival is the colorful chandanakudam procession of five to seven tuskers beginning from the Puthurpalli. Cultural programmes, musical ensembles and the firework displays are the added attractions.

Ponadu Chootu Padayani
Ponadu Chootu Padayani is the annual festival at the ancient Bhagavathy Temple in Meenachil taluk. The celebration starts with a colourful procession carrying bunches of dry palm fronds (chootu) around the temple. After the procession, the ritual art form 'Patayani', is performed. The strange feature of the festival is that the patayani performers hit each other with the burning chootu.

Neelamperoor Padayani  
Neelamperoor Padayani is the annual festival celebrated during the month of September at Palli Bhagavathy Temple in Neelamperoor, 16 km from Kottayam. The main highlight of the festival is the ritualistic dance, padayani. The performers wear colourful masks and spectacular headgears and a rhythmic dance called Thothakali is performed in front of the fire accompanied with drumbeats and traditional music. As a part of the padayani, a colourful procession is carried out in the night carrying the effigies of mythological characters like Bhima, Ravana, etc . The major highlight and attraction of the procession is the display of the huge swan which is about 45 feet high. 

Trikarthika Utsavam 
Trikarthika Utsavam is the annual festival celebrated at Kumaranalloor Bhagavathy Temple, 6 km from Kottayam, in the month of Vrischikam (November-December). The main highlight of the celebration is the Karthika Pooja and Karthika Vilakku, i.e the display of lights. There is a story connected with these rituals. It is said that the Gods of Udayanapuram and Thrissur Vadakkunnathan temples were charmed by the beauty of the Devi while she was returning after her Karthika bath. The Gods came out of their temple, stood over the compound wall of Kumaranalloor Temple by affectionately looking at her. The temple priest, in search of the Gods met them on the walls at the southern end of the temple. And from that day onwards Karthika Pooja is performed by keeping lights on the walls of the temple.

Bharananganam Feast
The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and feast of St Sebastian, celebrated at St Mary’s Farona Church, Bharanamganam is jointly known as Bharanganganam feast. These feasts are held on 9th November and 20th January respectively. Bharananganam feast attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India. It is believed that the feast of St Sebastian has some connections with a Sree Krishna Temple situated nearby and both the feast and the temple aarattu are held more or less during the same period. The circumambulation ceremony during the feast, which uses kolvilakku (lamp with long handles) resembles the temple procession.  

Flower Show and Food Festival 
An annual food festival and flower, fruit and vegetable show is held in Kottayam during the third week of January. There will be cultural programmes on all days. These events are quite popular and are worth a visit.

Backwater Cruises 
Backwater Cruises in Kottayam include the journey through Vembanad and Punnamada Lake. For this purpose houseboats, traditionally known as the Kettuvalloms, are available with facilities like kitchen, toilet, bathrooms, sitouts etc. By cruise through the kumarakon back waters one can enjoy the beauty of paddy fields, Kumarakom bird sanctuary, pathiramanal island etc. The house boats can be board from Chandragiri Bridge which is located near the ancient Kizhur Sartha Temple.

Kottayam Boat Race (Thazhathangady Boat Race) 
Organised by Kottayam West Club with the cooperation of Kottayam Municipality, Thiruvarppu Panchayat and Kottayam District Tourist Promotion Council, Thazhathangady Boat Race is conducted during Onam season i.e in August or September. This 100 years old boat race is held on the first Sunday after Thiruonam at Thazhathangady, on the banks of the Meenachil River, situated 3 km towards the west of Kottayam town. It is a beautiful event with water carnivals and various boat race competitions include Chundan, Churulans, Oadis, Irrutukuthies etc.

Kumarakom Boat Race
Also known as Sree Narayana Jayanthi Vallam Kali, Kumarakom Boat race is held at Kottathodu, Kumarakom in month of August/ September every year during Onam. Though all types of snake boats participate in this race, the importance is given to iruttukuthi, in which about 50 oarsmen row. The Successful iruttukuthi will win the ever rolling Sree Narayana Trophy. Prior to the race, there will be a grand procession of country boats carrying a portrait of Sri Narayana Guru and 'thidampu' from Kumaramangalom Temple to the venue of the race.