Austria
24 July - 31 August. Salzburg Festival, Salzburg. Perhaps this is the most famous classical music and opera festival, which has been held in Mozart's city for almost a hundred years now. More than 200 thousand music lovers will visit the Festival Hall, the Mozarteum, the square in front of St. Rupert's Cathedral and other concert venues. The festival will open on 24 July with a concert performance of music by Mozart and Haydn and an opera production of Henry Purcell's King Arthur. // www.salzburgfestival.at
28 June - 14 July. Vienna Jazz Festival, Vienna. In July, Vienna will become the European jazz Mecca. Numerous concerts will take place at a variety of venues: at the Vienna State Opera, the concert hall in the Museumsquartier, the Arkadenhof of the City Hall, in the open air in the Spittelau area, at the Chamber Opera, and at the Porgy & Bess club.
Jazz celebrities will be presented in abundance. Take, for example, Al Jarreau, who, thanks to his stunning vocals, became a Grammy winner in the categories of jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues. Or Ed Polcer, who played with Benny Goodman, Dick Wellstood, and Vic Dickenson. Benny Golson, one of the best tenor saxophonists and jazz composers in the world, will give several concerts together with the Fritz Pauer Trio.
The festival's discovery promises to be 23-year-old soloist and pianist Alicia Keys, who received as many as five Grammys for her debut album. This attractive young woman not only performs but also composes jazz pieces. Her work receives the most flattering feedback from her senior colleagues. //www.viennajazz.org
10 July. Milka Chocolate Festival, Bludenz. For 20 years now, Austria has been hosting a real chocolate celebration. Every year, parents perform one of their children's favorite rituals: they take them by the hand and lead them to a meeting with the huge toy cow Milka. Adults and children happily look at painted faces and take part in funny contests and competitions. The most pleasant and surprising thing is that the festival's prize fund is more than a ton of chocolate. //www.milka.de
Belgium
9-11 July. Cactus Festival: three days of alternative music, Bruges. The favorite place of recreation for residents of the Northern Venice, as Bruges is traditionally called, is the Minnewaterpark (Lake of Love). It is there that, for a good 20 years now, a festival of nonconformist music has been held, bringing together innovative musicians. On 9 July, Patti Smith will perform at the Cactus Festival, on 10 July Elvis Costello, and on 11 July Zap Mama. //www.cactusmusic.be
Great Britain
3-4 July. Great Summer Music and Fireworks Festival, Warwick. Warwick Castle is a famous ancient fortress. It is here that the Great Summer Festival has settled. Tourists planning to visit Warwick in early July can expect classical music performed by the best orchestras in the world and a stunning fireworks display. //www.warwick-castle.co.uk
2 July. Carnival of Latin Rhythms, London. The Latin Splash carnival takes place annually in the south of London. Stars of international magnitude associated with genuine 'latino' give musical concerts, present dance programs, and specially invited chefs prepare national food that everyone can taste. Another entertainment of the festival is beach soccer. We recommend attending this event in a national costume to blend in with the colorful festive crowd. //www.true-vision.net
10 July - 1 August. International Street Festival in Merseyside. Merseyside is an association of 12 cities, the main of which is Liverpool. It is there that the main part of the festival will unfold. Artists, singers, musicians and dancers will come from different countries, exotic or not. The festival fully justifies its name, since all events take place right on the streets: carnival processions, ultra-fashionable hip-hop and DJ sets, and circus performances. In a word, the city will come alive for a month and a half and turn into a center of street culture. //www.brouhaha.uk.com
Germany
4-6 July. Chaos Days, Munich. The annual punk festival gathers nonconformists in Munich who, for several days, try to establish their own laws in the city. It is clear that all this is quite harmless and does not pose any danger to peaceful residents. The real punk drive does not go beyond clubs and closed venues, where the best bands play. Although the festival certainly affects the mood in the city: a large number of people with extraordinary appearance appear on the streets, who, however, behave quite peacefully. //www.chaos-tage.de
3-12 July. Love Week, Berlin. The largest rave festival in Europe, the Love Parade, will not take place this year. In this connection, Berlin clubs, mass media and a number of interested parties, on their own initiative, decided to hold an alternative celebration in the German capital - Love Week. The Week of Love will last a full 10 days. In more than 40 Berlin clubs, about a hundred parties will be held, united into a single club festival. //www.love-week.de
28 July - 15 August. Festival on Lake Masch, Hanover. One of the largest summer festivals in northern Germany, in the beautiful oasis of Hanover, on Lake Masch. The festival has been held since 1986 and includes a traditional set for relaxation: live concerts, spectacular shows and beautiful fireworks. Original national cuisine of different peoples, a large amount of alcohol, as well as special areas and attractions in enclosed green parks for children will help adults truly relax on these days. http://www.hannover.de
Spain
14-18 July. Balloon Festival, Barcelona. The largest hot air balloon festival in Spain and one of the largest in Europe. About 40 brave teams from different countries will rise into the sky on huge colorful balloons. This is spectacular and thrilling. //www.globuskontiki.com
July 6-14. Bull runs and the festival of San Fermin, Pamplona. The bull runs are an integral part of the grand festival in Pamplona. It is dedicated to the patron saint of Pamplona, Saint Fermin. The most thrilling moments of the celebration come when enraged bulls are released onto the narrow streets of the city, and brave volunteers try to outrun them. Note that it usually does not go without casualties.
Italy
July 2-10. World Fireworks Championship, San Remo. The city was not chosen by chance for this festival. Its natural features create a kind of amphitheater for the pyrotechnic artistry of masters from Spain, France, China and other countries. True virtuosos of their craft launch hundreds of fireworks that paint the night sky with amazing pictures. //www.fioridifuoco.it
Netherlands
July 9-11. Jazz Festival, The Hague. One of the biggest jazz festivals in Holland has a history of almost 30 years. Almost all the biggest world stars have played at it. Moreover, many celebrities (such as Shirley Horn, Tania Maria, Roy Hargrove and Rachelle Ferrell) were discovered by the festival in The Hague. Incidentally, quite interesting exhibitions dedicated to jazz will also be held in the city in parallel with it. //www.northseajazz.nl
France
July 13-14. Bastille Day, Paris. One of the most grandiose French holidays is Bastille Day. For two days the capital of France is immersed in fun: absolutely everyone takes part in the public festivities. The celebration will end with a beautiful fireworks display over the city.
July 17-21. City Festival, Ambert. The festival is intended for children, but their parents will also have something to see here. Small wandering troupes, carnival costumes bright with color on the streets, music sounding from everywhere - what could be better!
July 3-27. Festival in Avignon. One of the oldest and most famous festivals in France has been held since 1947, although it only took its current form in 1980. Street musicians and wandering troupes make good profits these days, and residents have fun. //www.avignon-off.org
Czech Republic
July 25 - August 8. Ameropa Chamber Music Festival, Prague. At the end of July, Prague will turn into a musical capital: for two weeks, beautiful classical music will sound almost continuously in the beautiful city. Professional and student ensembles will perform at the famous Rudolfinum, the Czech Museum of Music and other concert halls. The festival will feature works by Dvořák, Smetana and, of course, Mozart, who wrote in the Bohemian capital not only the famous Prague Symphony (No. 38), but also the opera “Don Giovanni”. //www.ameropa.org
July 2-10. 39th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The Karlovy Vary Film Festival has a good reputation. Being the same age as Cannes, it is considered one of the largest film festivals in Central and Eastern Europe. This year, American actor Harvey Keitel and the famous Frodo (Elijah Wood) are expected among the guests. The competition screening will feature 17 films from France, Poland, Germany, Spain, Iran, Japan, the USA, Croatia and other countries. Russia is a traditional participant of the festival. In 1996, Sergei Bodrov's film “Prisoner of the Mountains” received the highest award, and this year Russian cinema is represented by Valery Todorovsky's film “My Step Brother Frankenstein”. //www.iffkv.cz