AUSTRIA
European Bike Week, September 2–7, Carinthia, Faaker See. Tens of thousands of bikers will gather in the vicinity of the Alpine Lake Faaker See in early autumn for Europe's largest bike festival. Its program includes a biker parade, bike show, parades, test rides, and concerts. //www.kaernten.at, //www.europeanbikeweek.com
International Media Art Festival Ars Electronica, September 4–9, Linz. Representatives from more than 60 countries will present to the public the most striking and unusual works of so-called cyber art, combining creative ideas and high technology. The Ars Electronica program includes an IT development fair, exhibitions, an animation festival, and concerts. Prizes will be awarded for the best works in the categories "Interactive Art," "Computer Animation," Digital Music, and Hybrid Art. Over 2,500 projects are submitted to the competition annually. Winners receive €10,000 each. Most festival events will take place in the building of the Ars Electronica museum. //www.aec.at
Bulgaria
International Puppet Theatre Festival "Two is Too Few, Three is Too Many", September 3–7, Plovdiv. The organizer of the "Two is Too Few, Three is Too Many" festival is the Plovdiv Puppet Theatre, one of the oldest theatres in Bulgaria. Its program includes performances by puppet theatres from Bulgaria, Belarus, Russia, Iran, and Spain. Additionally, those interested can attend master classes on making marionettes, puppet exhibitions, and book presentations. The opening will feature a performance of "The Little Prince." //pptheatre.com, //www.plovdivcity.net
GREAT BRITAIN
Bestival Music Festival, September 5–7, Isle of Wight. Bestival will be held outdoors on the Isle of Wight, near Newport, in Robin Hill Park. This year's program features performances by dozens of artists, including Amy Winehouse, Gary Numan, George Clinton, Aphex Twin, My Bloody Valentine, Underworld, CSS, Hot Chip, Will Young, The Coral, Sugarhill Gang, The Breeders, The Human League, and 808 State. Bestival visitors can also look forward to meetings in the literary tent, cocktail bars, and sports competitions. Overnight stays on the island are possible in a special festival campsite. For those without their own tents or trailers, the organizers promise to provide teepees, yurts, and huts for an additional fee. //www.bestival.net, //www.iwight.gov.uk
London festivals. The Thames Festival London, which will take place in the UK capital on September 13–14, celebrates its 11th year this year. The festival program includes colorful carnivals, parades, a fair, art exhibitions, discos, concerts, theatre and acrobatic performances, children's entertainment, shows on a floating stage, and boat rides. The event will conclude with a "glowing" costumed procession along the Thames embankment and fireworks. //www.thamesfestival.org
At the end of the month (September 26–28), a tattoo festival will be held in London. As the organizers assure, the tattoo festival is by no means for the chosen few, but practically for all creative and free-thinking people. One hundred and fifty artists will help realize the boldest dreams. The festival will take place at Tobacco Dock, built in the early 19th century. //www.thelondontattooconvention.com
HUNGARY
Budapest International Wine Festival, September 10–14, Budapest. In September, the annual wine festival takes place at the famous Buda Castle in Budapest. Winemakers from Hungary and other countries come to the festival, presenting their best wines that have won awards at international competitions. Interaction with winemakers will be accompanied by concerts, theatrical performances, dance parties, and of course, tastings. The main thing is not to overdo it. //www.aborfesztival.hu, //www.budapestinfo.hu
GERMANY
The Oktoberfest festival, September 20 – October 5, Munich. Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival, attracting about 6 million people annually. At the Theresienwiese, enormous tents will be set up once again, a shooting range will open, carousels will start spinning – and beer will flow like a river. The festival will begin with the traditional parade of brewers and the ceremonial tapping of the first beer barrel. Guests will be offered sausages, fish, and pork shoulder with their beer. It's best to reserve seats in the tents in advance, the organizers assure. //www.oktoberfest.de
DENMARK
The Golden Days festival in Copenhagen, September 5–21, Copenhagen. Each year, the festival focuses on the people and events that have made Denmark famous in various historical periods. This year's theme is "Copenhagen in the 1920s–30s." The authors and participants of the project (gallerists, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, and others) promise to tell about how their country lived in the years "between two wars": what it thought, dreamed, and talked about. The festival will include screenings of silent films, jazz concerts, and art exhibitions. //www.goldendays.dk, //www.visitcopenhagen.com
IRELAND
International Oyster Festival, September 25–28, Galway. Thousands of oyster lovers come to this festival. Its program includes not only seafood tastings, but also dance parties, competitions, and Irish music concerts. The highlight of the festival will be the oyster opening championship. The participant's task is to open, using a knife and napkin, 30 oysters (at least 76 mm in diameter) faster than others without damaging the meat. //www.galwayoysterfest.com
SPAIN
Animadrid Animation Festival, September 26 – October 3, Pozuelo de Alarcón. Animators and their fans from many countries will come to Animadrid. This year, festival screenings will be presented in the categories of feature-length animated films (over 45 minutes), short films, television programs made using animation, and works by student animators. Winners will receive prizes ranging from €1,500 to €12,000. The program also includes specialized exhibitions, seminars, shows, and drawing competitions. //www.animadrid.com
ITALY
International music festival Settembre Musica, September 1–25, Milan, Turin. Festival concerts will take place in two Italian cities – Milan and Turin. The program includes works by Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Bach, Vivaldi, Bartók, Liszt, Chopin, Prokofiev, Haydn, Mozart, Clementi, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Schumann, Dvořák, Gershwin. Among the performers: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, chamber orchestra "Moscovia", Vienna Mozart Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Italian Radio and Television, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, French ensemble Choeur Grégorien de Paris, Greek Byzantine Choir, pianist Nikolai Lugansky, violinist Pavel Vernikov, vocalist Barbara Hannigan, double bassist William Parker, and many others. //www.mitosettembremusica.it
"Paganiniana", September 25 – October 5, Genoa. The Paganiniana festival has been held in the homeland of the famous violinist and composer since 2000. In addition to classical music concerts, exhibitions, master classes, and conferences are planned. Also, as part of Paganiniana, the 57th International Violin Competition "Paganini Prize" will take place, with musicians from the USA, Belgium, Japan, Poland, Korea, Russia, Italy, Norway, France, Bulgaria, Australia, Germany, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Greece, Serbia, Ukraine, Philippines, China, Romania, Lithuania participating. Winners will receive prizes of €5,000, €10,000, and €25,000. //www.paganini.comune.genova.it
NETHERLANDS
Military Band Festival, September 24–28, Rotterdam. Participants include representatives from Germany, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, and other countries. This year, the festival will open with a street parade on September 20. All military bands will march through the city center and then take part in colorful performances. From September 24, the bands will perform every evening at the Ahoy Rotterdam complex arena. On weekends, September 27 and 28, daytime performances will take place (from 14:00 to 17:30). Additionally, acrobatic performances, dance shows, and folk parties are planned. //www.nationaletaptoe.nl, //www.rotterdam.info
FINLAND
Sibelius Festival in Lahti, September 11–14, Lahti. The international festival of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius will be held in Lahti for the 9th time. The theme of this year's festival is "The Legend of Lemminkäinen" (one of the heroes of the Finnish epic "Kalevala"), which Sibelius repeatedly referenced in his works. Concerts will take place in the Sibelius Hall. //www.sinfonialahti.fi, //www.lahtiguide.fi
SWITZERLAND
Music Parade in Aventicum, September 5–6, Avenches. The annual music parade in the Swiss town of Avenches is a colorful festival that brings together musicians, dancers, and singers from across Europe. Here you can hear Swiss alphorns and Scottish bagpipes, beat drums, call with trumpets, and dance. All this takes place on the stage of the Roman amphitheater, preserved from the time of the Roman settlement Aventicum. This year's program features performances by The Band of the Irish Guards, The Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band, Edinburgh Tattoo Highland Ceilidh Dancers, Top Secret Drum Corps, Swiss Army Brass Band, Showband.CH, and other groups. //www.avenches.ch
Oksana KISLITSYNA.
Gazeta.Ru er="0">