Austria
Mozart Week, January 21-30, Salzburg. Austrians celebrate Mozart's birthday (January 27) with a festival of music. The orchestral and chamber music of the composer and his contemporaries will be performed by world-class stars. //www.mozarteum.at
International Balloon Festival, through January 15, Filzmoos. For 25 years now, in January Filzmoos (a ski resort in the east of the state of Salzburg) has been bringing together balloonists from all over the world. On a snow-covered clearing in the magical light of an Alpine morning, colorful balloons will rise into the air, and residents and numerous guests of this beautiful Austrian village will gladly watch the flight, celebrating with mulled wine and concerts. //www.filzmoos.at
Great Britain
Winter Ale Festival, January 27-29, Cambridge. The English are very proud of their "real ale": they say that the main advantage of ale over keg beer is the taste, and that each cask of ale has its own character and temperament. Moreover, real British ale is never carbonated, with a head of foam over the glass like beer, and it is colored in an amazing way: experts say that a good ale should "glow." There is a huge variety of ale types – from light brown, light and slightly sweet in taste to bitter and almost black "winter" varieties. More than 60 varieties of ale will be presented at the festival, each with an appropriate snack. //www.ussc.cam.ac.uk
Festival "Celtic Connections", through January 30, Glasgow. This is the largest festival of Celtic art, annually attracting thousands of fans of Celtic culture from around the world. The festival will last 19 days, and every day the city will welcome guests, dance, sing and discover new talents, for the festival program is extensive: ethnic choirs, traditional dances, the sounds of the bagpipes are interestingly combined with Scottish rock and special music parties. "January would not be January without 'Celtic Connections', because every day of the festival is filled with warmth and kindness, and the nights are non-stop celebrations. And the music gets fresher and more beautiful every year" (Christine Munro). //www.celticconnections.com
Germany
Carnival, January 28-30, Bremen. The Bremen carnival originated in 1985, when a local samba club decided to hold a Brazilian music festival on the street. Since then, the carnival has grown, but the sounds of samba never leave it. On Friday, the 28th, a "children's carnival" and a big samba party at night are expected; on Saturday – a "carnival of animals," a parade and a costume ball; and on Sunday – a day of farewell to the carnival. //www.bremer-karneval.de
Carnival season, through February 8, Munich. The carnival season in the capital of Bavaria begins on the Feast of the Three Kings and lasts a whole month. In Munich, you can freely buy tickets for children's and adult masquerade balls, numerous dance parties and beer tastings. Often the fun spills out into the streets: spontaneous processions of masqueraders are a common occurrence, as many stores sell carnival costumes, decorations, and makeup. The most packed with carnival events will be the last week before Lent. //www.muenchen.de
Spain
Gran Canarian carnival, January 21 – February 17, Las Palmas. The carnival in Las Palmas starts three weeks before the beginning of Lent, and the most intense program is expected in the last seven days of the carnival. The most striking event, of course, will be the election of the Queen, and then the festive ball.
The carnival program also includes other interesting moments: costume parties, competitions for masquerade costumes and makeup, a children's carnival, and the election of a young queen. Competitions of music groups are hugely popular – music stars are specially invited to the carnival, and they readily agree to perform. The carnival in Las Palmas will end with the traditional "burial of the sardine," a symbol of the coming Lent, and a night of fireworks. //www.laspalmascarnaval.com
Italy
Venice Carnival, January 28 – February 8, Venice. The carnival in Venice will open with a mandatory commedia dell'arte performance featuring traditional masks – Pantalone, Brighella, and Harlequin, while Scaramouche will generously slap Doctor and Captain. It is believed that the Venice Carnival "grew" out of the comedy of masks, and it is the mask that becomes the organizing and guiding force of the general merriment, when all hierarchies and social conventions are abolished. But that's only what people think.
In reality, the carnival has long had costumed participants in masks and spectators who gawk at them, so the carnival in Venice increasingly resembles a theatrical performance. There will, of course, be processions, parades, masquerade balls, live music, and attractions. The magic of the carnival will completely envelop the city, and on the closing day, the "Angel" will be released from the bell tower of St. Mark's – no longer a rag doll, but an acrobat in an angel costume. Still, this is a big show for tourists, not a folk festival "for everyone." This year's carnival theme is "Casanova." Obviously, all participants and spectators of the carnival should prepare for inevitable love adventures. //www.carnevale.venezia.it
Carnival, January 23 and 30, February 8-13, Viareggio. The carnival in Viareggio is no less famous than the Venetian one and is known as the most colorful and funniest. It first took place 132 years ago, when Shrovetide festivities grew into a carnival show whose main attraction was platforms with giant dolls. Since then, huge papier-mâché dolls, which are made long before the start of the carnival in a huge hangar on the seashore, have been the main hallmark of this carnival, and the Burlamacco doll has become not only its symbol, but is also kept in the Roman Museum of Folklore. The epicenter of the carnival action will be the famous boulevards along the coast. //www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com
Switzerland
World Snow Festival, January 17-22, Grindelwald. Many European cities have already hosted snow festivals, but the World Snow Festival in Grindelwald is considered one of the most prestigious and spectacular. Ice sculptors from many countries will be cutting away everything superfluous from ice blocks to leave only the clear and transparent embodied creative idea. Visitors will be able not only to watch the creative process, but also to talk with the masters and even help them create sculptures. On the last day of the festival, the jury will announce winners in various categories, and the snow festival will end with concerts and folk festivities. //www.grindelwald.com