What's On In Europe This Summer?
Our Summary of European Events & Festivals
July
The Montreux
Jazz Festival on the banks of Lake Geneva
in Switzerland makes the perfect place to chill out
with some great music. Over the same period the
Istanbul International Jazz Festival takes place
in the exotic Turkish capital.
The Tour
de France winds its way across the beautiful
French countryside towards a finale in Paris.
Pamplona
is the place to run with the bulls, and every year
thousands do. The Festival of San Fermin runs for
nine days.
British Formula 1 Grand Prix - Silverstone,
England.
Berlin's Love
Parade is one of Europe's biggest street parties,
an outdoor rave that attracts over 1 million participants.
German Formula 1 Grand Prix - Hockenheim, Germany.
August
Amsterdam
Pride celebrates all that is unique about
the Amsterdam lifestyle. Prudes beware.
The Geneva
Summer Festival is a hugely popular international
festival of the arts - also expect funfairs, techno
events, comedy, cabaret, fashion food...
The best athletes in Europe gather for the European
Athletic Championships during August.
Siena's medieval horse race - the Il
Palio di Siena - in the magnificent central
piazza of this ancient town lasts just a couple of
minutes, but is eagerly anticpated all year.
The Hossegor
Rip Curl Pro surfing event (Hossegor, France)
is a beach-side, sun and surf carnival like few others.
The biggest food fight in the world - La Tomatina
- takes place in Bunyol, Spain as thousands descend
to throw truckloads of tomatoes at each other. Why?
No-one knows...
Cyprus' Festival of Ancient Greek Drama features
re-enactments of ancient dramas and comedies in the
Odeon at Pafos.
September
Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps.
The Fetes
Des Vendages in Pessac-Leognan (France) signals
the beginning of the harvest season, and kicks things
off with plenty of food, music, and - of course -
wine.
Ferrari return to theirspiritual homeland for the
Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Monza.
For a taste of culture, the St
Wencelas Sacred Music Festival is held throughout
Prague's spectacular churches.
Bonn hosts over two week's of celebrations in honour
of Germany's most-famous composer - Beethoven - in
the International
Beethoven Festival.
Barcelona comes even more alive as La Merced
(the national holiday of Catalunya) is celebrated
in a variety of ways.
October
The
Northern Lights start to strut their stuff
from October, and can be seen in northern regions
until March. Some of the most spectacular (natural)
displays of illumination, the Lights can be seen on
cloudless nights in northern parts of the UK.
Oktoberfest
is held from the last week of September, finishing
up in the second week of October. The best way to
quench your thirst German-style.
O Grove Seafood Festival in O Gove, Spain is
a quasi-religious celebration of seafood and the traditions
of the sea.
The annual Matchmaking Festival takes place
in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland. Music, food,
races, single drunk people...
Sample some great beer at the Antwerp Beer Festival
in Belgium.
The Corsica Wind Festival is a unique celebration
of nature, the spirit of adventure, and freedom of
expression.
The Alba Truffle Festival in Italy celebrates
the delicacy known as 'white diamonds' with food,
drink, and of course a few truffles.
November
The ski season
in Europe kicks off in November, with plenty of
snow forecast and some great deals available.
Awakening
of the Hoppeditz is Dusseldorf, Germany's
main carnival.
The Cannabis Cup is Amsterdam's 'Academy Awards'
for those that partake in a little bit of the 'happy
baccy'. Another flimsy excuse for a huge party...
Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany is
one of the world's premier Christmas market celebrations.
The main square is a winter wonderland of food, colour,
and mulled wine.
December
The Escalade
in Geneva features music, bonfires, and mulled wine.
Cuddle up lake-side.
The Tivoli Christmas Season in Denmark features
Santa, markets, illuminations, and just a bit of alcohol
as well.
25th - Christmas, we presume.
31st - Hogmanay!
More Information
Check out What's
On When or general travel sites such as Rough
Guide, Fodors,
and Lonely
Planet.
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