AUSTRIA
Concordia Ball, June 6, Vienna. Every year, more than 300 balls of various levels and scales take place in the Austrian capital. At balls here, people not only dance but, above all, socialize with like-minded people. There are balls for pharmacists, florists, chimney sweeps, hunters, and confectioners. The summer ball of journalists or the Concordia Ball takes place in June. It attracts not only journalists but also businessmen, scientists, and artists.
This year, the ball will begin on the evening of June 6. The Vienna Opera Orchestra will greet guests in the lobby. The program includes the most cheerful and romantic waltzes, polkas, and quadrilles, which will sound in the luxurious halls of the City Hall and on the open courtyard terrace until morning. The organizers ask to follow the dress code. Ladies should be in all white: evening dresses, gloves, shoes. Gentlemen are recommended black tuxedos with bow ties combined with white gloves. //www.concordia.at
Bicycle race in the Dolomites, June 8, Lienz. For over 20 years, the Dolomiten Radrundfahrt bicycle race has been held every summer in the Alps. At various times, the race featured Marco Pantani, Jan Ullrich, Miguel Induráin, and Lance Armstrong. Every year, this sports festival gathers more than 2,000 cyclists. Fans from all over Europe come to support the cyclists.
The competition starts and finishes in the city of Lienz. The distance of the classic race is 112 km. More experienced athletes can test themselves on a 123 km route with an elevation change of about 3,000 meters. //www.dolomitensport-lienz.com
BELGIUM
Graspop rock festival, June 27-29, Dessel. The Graspop festival in the Belgian town of Dessel is a mecca for metalheads: every summer, heavy rock stars gather here. This year, over 70 bands will perform on four stages, including KISS, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, In Flames, Apocaliptica, Whitesnake. Bringing drinks into the festival grounds is strictly prohibited. You can stay overnight in a campsite located near the concert venues. //www.graspop.be
BULGARIA
International Theatre Arts Festival, June 2-12, Varna. The theatre festival in Varna began in the early 1990s and has been held annually in Bulgaria ever since. Initially, only local theatre troupes came to the festival, but since 1996 it has gained international scope. Now theatres from all over Europe come to Varna. In addition to performances, the festival program includes acting workshops, exhibitions, critics' debates, and social parties. //www.theatrefest-varna.org
Festival 'Dancing on Hot Coals,' June 3, Strandzha. The nestinari dancing on burning coals has been performed by residents of the small mountain village of Bulgari for hundreds of years on the day of Saints Constantine and Helen (May 21 - old style, June 3 - new style). Nestinarstvo is one of the oldest rituals in the Balkans. It all begins after sunset, when the chief nestinar – a man dressed in a white shirt and girded with a red belt – spreads the coals in a circle on the village square. The street lights go out, spectators gradually gather around the crimson circle. The nestinari dance barefoot around the perimeter of the circle with icons in their hands and at some point suddenly step into it. Sometimes their feet barely touch the ground, other times they step firmly and confidently, extinguishing the coals with their weight. Their faces are pale, and their eyes are half-closed. Not a trace remains on their soles from the hot coals.
The nestinari believe that the key to success is spiritual preparation and cold feet, along with the monotonous music of bagpipes and drums. They say that during the dance they enter a state of spiritual trance. It is commonly believed that they can foresee the future. And the residents of the village of Strandzha believe that as long as the custom is observed, people will be healthy and the harvest will be abundant. //www.discoverstrandja.com //www.strandjavillage.com
UNITED KINGDOM
Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival, June 12-14, Cardiff. Beer and cider enthusiasts traditionally gather in Cardiff in mid-June for the Great Welsh Festival. Guests will be presented with over 150 varieties of beer and ale, as well as about 30 varieties of apple and pear cider. The average price per pint of beer will be £2-2.4. //www.gwbcf.cardiffcamra.co.uk
Isle of Wight music festival, June 13-15. The Isle of Wight festival first took place in 1968. In its three years, it saw many legendary musicians: Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Marc Bolan, Leonard Cohen, The Doors, Jethro Tull, The Who. But in 1970 the festival ceased to exist and was revived only in 2002. This season, the program includes performances by Sex Pistols (without Sid Vicious), The Police (rumored to be with Sting), the eternally young Iggy Pop as part of Iggy & the Stooges, and another two dozen English-language performers. //www.isleofwightfestival.com
Royal Ascot, June 17-21, Ascot. Royal Ascot is the most famous horse race in the world and the main event in British high society. For the race week, over 300,000 people annually come to Ascot, a small town in Berkshire. The total prize fund exceeds £3.5 million. The Gold Cup, the most prestigious prize, the awarding of which has been considered the main event of the week since 1807, has been presented to winners at Ascot since 1807.
Particular attention deserves the strict dress code for which Ascot is famous. It is mandatory only for guests of the Royal Enclosure and requires ladies to wear hats, cover their shoulders, and wear skirts no shorter than two inches above the knee. Since 1970, trouser suits have also been permitted. On each of the five days of the races, a lady is expected to wear a new hat. Gentlemen are allowed a black or gray tailcoat, gray striped trousers, a high-collared shirt, a solid silk tie, gloves, and a top hat. Deviations from these rules are only possible for people in public service and foreigners, who may wear national costumes if they wish. //www.royalascot.co.uk
The Glastonbury Music Festival, June 27-29, Glastonbury. The Glastonbury Music Festival has been held in the UK since 1970 and is considered the main musical event, if not of the whole world, then certainly of Europe. For several years now, it has gathered top-tier stars and about 200,000 modern music lovers. This year, there was a scandal: the famous band Radiohead announced they refuse to perform at Glastonbury because its organization causes significant harm to the environment. However, not everyone agrees with Tom Yorke and his team yet, so the program of Glastonbury-2008 cannot be called sparse. The festival's lineup includes Manu Chao, The Verve, Massive Attack, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Fatboy Slim, UNKLE, Róisín Murphy, rapper Jay-Z, Leonard Cohen, Sinéad O'Connor, Pete Doherty, and over 100 other musical groups and performers. //www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
GERMANY
Harley Days in Hamburg, June 20-22. For four years in a row, in mid-June, Hamburg is filled with the roar of powerful engines. Harley enthusiasts gather in the ancient German city. In 2007, the international biker meeting was attended by 50,000 people. This year, a tent city will again be set up on the outskirts of the city, with biker competitions, demonstration performances, and themed exhibitions. Musical groups covering a wide range of genres—jazz, rock, funk, country—will perform on the main stage. The celebration will end with a motorcycle parade. //www.hamburgharleydays.de
Kiel Week, June 21-29, Kiel. Every year in June, since 1882, the German city of Kiel turns into the noisiest European city for a week. About 1,700 events and 3 million guests—such is the scale of this festival. It is expected that this year more than 5,000 sailors from 50 countries will participate in the competitions. Guests of this water festival can expect a diverse musical program, street theater performances, and plenty of beer. Kiel Week will end with a beautiful fireworks display. //www.kieler-woche.de
DENMARK
Distortion Festival, June 4-8, Copenhagen. Distortion is a festival dedicated to dance and electronic music, club culture, street fashion, and art. It is a celebration for nonconformists and all those who are free-spirited and reject stereotypes. Everything here is subordinated only to music, dance, and inspiration. This year, the festival will be held for the tenth time. The venue is Copenhagen and its suburbs. The organizers assure: “You can be anything; you don’t have to be rich or famous, thin or strong. Just be yourself with us.” //www.cphdistortion.dk
Viking Festival, June 29 – July 15, Frederikssund. Every year at the end of June, Danes turn into Vikings, and their wives go to the market, where they trade excellent fish and bone souvenirs. And, of course, no Viking festival is complete without a costume show and fun parties with libations. //www.vikingespil.dk
SPAIN
Sonar Multimedia Festival, June 19-21, Barcelona. Sonar is perhaps the largest multimedia festival in Europe. Its main part is musical: the trendiest DJs gather at Sonar. This year, DJ Birdy, DJ Key, DJ Lui, DJ Mehdi vs. A-Trak feat. Kid Sister, DJ Soak, DJ Yoda's Magic Cinema Show, DJ2D2, and several dozen others are promised. Festival guests will be surprised not only by the latest experimental music but also by new, non-Hollywood films and video art. //www.sonar.es
ITALY
“Battle of the Flowers,” June 14-15, Ventimiglia. In the small ancient town of Ventimiglia, the 46th “Battle of the Flowers” festival will take place. This is a real carnival, bright and noisy, which will gather on the city streets not only residents of Ventimiglia and neighboring towns but also people from France and Monaco. This year's theme is Dante's “Divine Comedy.” To the delight of tourists, flower figures representing Dante's characters will be displayed on city streets. Carts will ride through the city, tossing flowers into the crowd. The audience, according to the festival organizers, should respond in kind. The festival program also includes costume processions, Italian music concerts, and a pyrotechnic show. www.battagliadifiori.com
CYPRUS
Water Festival “Kataklysmos,” June 14-16, cities of Cyprus. “Kataklysmos” is a unique Cypriot festival with no analogues in any other country. Mentions of this holiday are found in the Old Testament. The idea of the festival is connected with the Great Flood and the rebirth of life on earth. Festive events take place in all coastal cities and last several days. The festival traditionally opens with a church service. After that, a cross is lowered into the water from the embankment, and the fastest swimmer must retrieve it. During these days, various games, swimming competitions, and sea regattas are held. Throughout the festival, Cypriots pour water on each other, which, in their opinion, symbolizes the purification of body and soul. “Kataklysmos” is especially exuberantly celebrated in Larnaca, Limassol, Protaras, Paphos, and Ayia Napa. //www.visitcyprus.com
NORWAY
Norwegian Saga in Lofoten, June 20-22, Borg. The largest known Viking house was built about fifteen hundred years ago in Borg, on the famous Lofoten Islands. This estate stood for more than 400 years. Its last owner took his family and belongings and left for Iceland. These events form the basis of a theatrical performance that takes place every year during the longest days of summer, June 20-22. The play is held outdoors at the Viking Museum. The actors who take part in it strive to recreate the atmosphere of that era as accurately as possible. The audience can expect a story of love, ancient music, and duels. //www.sagaspelet.no
FINLAND
Folklore Festival "Jutajaiset", June 20-29, Rovaniemi. At the height of the white nights in Lapland, the folklore festival "Jutajaiset" is held. The festival features musicians, dancers, and singers from all over the world. Here you can meet representatives of Sami culture, Finnish artists, groups from Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Hungary, India, China, and other countries. The traditional program of "Jutajaiset" includes concerts, theatrical performances, dance courses, and village-style parties. //www.jutajaiset.fi
Medieval Fair in Turku, June 26-29, Turku. For four days, Turku will plunge into the Middle Ages. Knights and beautiful ladies, jesters and merchants will come to the medieval fair, which traditionally takes place on the Great Old Square. The square will be lined with merchants' tents selling goods that were in demand among townspeople centuries ago. Lovers of ancient crafts can briefly become apprentices to skilled masters. For the most restless, a special area with games and competitions in the medieval spirit is organized. Hundreds of musicians, dancers, and comedians will entertain the public. //www.keskiaikaisetmarkkinat.fi
FRANCE
Giraglia Rolex Cup Regatta on the Mediterranean Sea, June 8-14, Saint-Tropez. The deserted island near Corsica, Giraglia, gave its name to one of the most important regattas in the Mediterranean. Every year, about 200 yachts with crews from different countries take part in the race. The regatta consists of a series of coastal races and a long ocean race off the coasts of France and Italy along the route Saint-Tropez – Giraglia – Genoa. Participants must cover 243 miles, passing the picturesque Îles d'Hyères and rounding the rocky island of Giraglia, topped with a lighthouse. //www.regattanews.com
"Rallye des Princesses", June 1-6, Paris. The "Rallye des Princesses" is the only car race in the modern world where only women drive vintage cars. True, similar events took place in the past. It is no coincidence that the organizers consider themselves the successors of the women's rally Paris – Saint-Raphaël, held in the early 20th century.
According to the rules, the navigator can be a man, but the woman must drive. She is also responsible for her passenger, changes a flat tire if necessary, and fulfills all the requirements for the driver. The race lasts five days. During this time, participants must cover more than one and a half thousand kilometers. //www.zaniroli.com
CZECH REPUBLIC
Curiosity Festival "Pelhřimov – City of Records", June 13-14, Pelhřimov. The bravest, strongest, funniest, most absurd, and those wishing to become famous and write their name in the Czech Book of Records come in June to the festival "Pelhřimov – City of Records". The categories in which the festival participants compete are quite unusual: opening champagne bottles by slicing off the necks with a saber, speed knitting a sweater (starting from shearing a sheep and ending with sewing buttons to the finished product), drawing a portrait in one line (without lifting the hand)... It is expected that this year the festival will gather about 15,000 people. Finally, the locals advise all guests to visit the Museum of Records and Curiosities, which has existed here since 1994. //www.dobryden.cz
SWITZERLAND
Miniature Railway Festival, June 6-15, Le Bouveret. At the mouth of the Rhone River, in the town of Le Bouveret, is the largest park of miniature railways in Europe, Swiss Vapeur Parc. Here, on an area of 17,000 square meters, steam locomotives pull tiny carriages along the tracks. Once a year, railway enthusiasts from all over the world come here, bringing dozens of models of ancient and modern steam locomotives. For them, the festival is a meeting place with like-minded people, where they can show off their achievements.
The locomotives, rails, railway bridges, and stations are made to about 1/10 of natural size, so they are quite suitable for carrying passengers. Anyone can take a ride in a miniature carriage. Entrance tickets to the park cost 14 Swiss francs for adults and 12 francs for children. //www.swissvapeur.ch
ESTONIA
Old Tallinn Days, June 2-8, Tallinn. For a week, the center of Tallinn will return to the Middle Ages. Minstrels and craftsmen, actors and peddlers will appear on the streets of the Estonian capital. This year, guests can see sword fights and target shooting, as well as visit a crafts fair. The cultural program includes exhibitions, concerts of classical, choral, and folk music, dances, poetry evenings, circus performances, and theatrical shows. On June 6, all museums of old Tallinn will be open for free. //www.vanalinnapaevad.ee //www.tourism.tallinn.ee
Oksana KISLITSYNA.
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