AUSTRIA
Danube Island Festival, June 23-25, Vienna. For three June days, Vienna residents will leave their homes and head to the island between two city bridges. The goal of festival participants is complete immersion in a lively, energetic, captivating musical element, a symbolic break from the earth (it is no coincidence that the festival takes place on an island). You should go to the festival on the Danube island in sports shoes, for you will be dancing modern dances and the traditional Viennese waltz for three days and two nights. The festival organizers promise fireworks and a special children's program. //www.donauinselfest.at
BELGIUM
Music festival Fеte de la Musique, June 21-25, Mons, Brussels and other cities. The annual multi-genre Fеte de la Musique will take place in late June in various Belgian cities. Classical music, jazz, popular music, including French chanson beloved by Belgians, will be performed at open-air and indoor concert venues. The festival will open on June 21 in Mons, festival concerts will take place in Anderlecht on June 24, and in Brussels concerts will run daily from June 21 to 25. //www.conseildelamusique.be
Rock festival, June 29 - July 2, Werchter. Rock Werchter is Belgium's largest international rock festival, known beyond Europe. It takes place at two venues in Werchter, 30 km from Brussels, and attracts up to 50,000 people annually. This year's headliners will be The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who, Placebo, Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation, Depeche Mode, Goldfrapp and Franz Ferdinand. //www.rockwerchter.be
BULGARIA
Opera Festival, until June 18, Plovdiv. The main theme of this year's festival will be the works of Giuseppe Verdi. On June 12 you can see "Rigoletto", on June 14 - "A Masked Ball". The festival will end on June 18 with a gala concert. //www.plovdivguide.com
Laduvane Festival, June 24, various cities. Laduvane is a ring divination ritual based on ancient Bulgarian folk traditions that has evolved into a folk festival over time. In the western regions of Bulgaria, this divination is performed at New Year, while in the eastern regions it takes place in late June (on St. John's Day). According to ancient traditions, unmarried women and girls who passionately wish to marry perform ancient ritual dances (the most interesting part of the festival for spectators), and then proceed to divination (the most interesting part of the festival for the participants themselves). They can discern the pattern of fate in pots of spring water, where oats and barley symbolizing fertility were placed the previous evening, as well as in rings tied with red thread to a bunch of perennial herbs – ivy, geranium, and basil. //www.bulgariatravel.org
UNITED KINGDOM
Royal Ascot, June 20-24, Ascot. Royal Ascot has long been known not only as a sporting event but also as a fashion contest. Particular attention is paid to ladies' hats. While thoroughbred horses compete in flat racing and steeplechase, the audience follows the elegant and whimsical headwear of ladies with no less excitement. Today, twenty-five races are held at Ascot per year: sixteen flat races between May and October, and nine National Hunt races between November and April. The Royal meeting in June combines top-level sport, tradition, pageantry, and style. //www.royalascot.co //www.businessandevents.co
Living History Festival, June 10-11 and 24-25, Oxburgh Hall (Norfolk). It has become a good tradition at Oxburgh Hall to hold costumed living history festivals. The ancient moated manor house, gardens, and estate woods of Oxburgh Hall will be filled with 15th-century people on June 10 and 11: the history of the Tudor era will come alive and be recreated here. Two weeks later, visitors will be invited to immerse themselves in another historical era – the 17th century, a time of rapid development of parliamentarism in England. The main goal of this festival is the accurate re-creation of everyday situations, characters, and costumes. According to the organizers, this contributes to a lively perception of history. //www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Midsummer Parade, June 24-25, Chester. The tradition of this parade in Chester dates back to the Tudor era. The main feature and main characters of the parade are Chester's "family of giants" – Father, Mother, two Daughters, as well as various giant creatures – an elephant, a camel, a dragon, and a unicorn. Traditionally, the giants are accompanied by musicians, horses, angels, goblins, and green men. The most important event in Chester these days is the Midsummer Watch Parade. //www.chester.gov.uk
West End Festival, until June 25; Jazz Festival, June 23 - July 2, Glasgow. West End will take place in Glasgow for the tenth time. The anniversary events promise to be especially hot: music, theater, film, street processions, folk festivities, costumed parades, special exhibitions in the Botanical Garden – this is by no means a complete list of West End Festival events. The main goal of the festival is to interest everyone, from classical music lovers to fans of Latin American rhythms.
However, jazz fans who find themselves in Glasgow by fate will be interested not only in West End, but also in the jazz fest, which starts in the same city in the last days of June. Among its participants are Homegrown, Dennis Rollins Badbone, James Taylor Quartet, Chris Botti and other musicians. //www.glasgow.gov.uk //www.westendfestival.co.uk //www.jazzfest.co.uk
GERMANY
Kiel Week, June 17-25, Kiel. The main event of June in Germany will, of course, be the FIFA World Cup, but that is no reason to forget about traditional June celebrations. Moreover, Kiel Week has been held since 1882, and, by long-standing tradition, the head of state opens the festival. The festival week in Kiel consists of two parts – yacht racing competitions and street celebrations. It is believed that the Kiel Regatta is the unofficial world championship for amateurs and professionals of sailing. The festival program includes live music (classical and popular), famous performances by the Kiel Children's Theater, and numerous art exhibitions in city galleries. Kiel Week ends with the most beautiful fireworks display in Europe. //www.kieler-woche.de
Antique Festival, June 17 - July 5, Trier. Around 100 AD, an amphitheater was built in Trier, which now serves as the stage for the annual summer Antique Festivals. Their basis is musical and theatrical performances. This year's program features the following premiere performances: Euripides' tragedy "Medea" (June 17) and Richard Strauss's opera "Ariadne auf Naxos" (June 25). //www.antikenfestspiele.de
Rock festival "Hurricane", June 23-25, Scheessel. At the end of June, the grand rock festival "Hurricane" will take place in northern Germany. The venue is the town of Scheessel, located between Hamburg, Bremen, and Hanover. Since 1997, thousands of musicians performing rock, pop, jazz, and alternative music gather here every year. This year, the festival will feature Apocalyptica, Arctic Monkeys, Adam Green, Billy Talent, Death Cab For Cutie, Manu Chao, Muse, and other musicians. //www.hurricane.de
DENMARK
Rock festival, June 25 - July 2, Roskilde. This festival, with a 35-year history, attracts more than 100,000 people annually. The festival concerts proper will take place on several stages from June 29 to July 2. Bob Dylan, Guns N' Roses, Morrissey, Roger Waters, Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Placebo, Sigur Ros, The Streets, and many others will perform on the main, Orange Stage. This year, the festival organizers decided to conduct an unprecedented experiment under the motto "More than Music". On June 25, a camp for spectators will open, where they will be able not only to enjoy wonderful music but also to participate in sports competitions (the main theme is football), musical mini-festivals, and theatrical improvisations. Additionally, movie theaters and guitar music clubs will operate in the camp. //www.roskilde-festival.dk
Viking Festival, June 23 - July 9, Frederikssund. Viking festivals have been held in Denmark for 50 years and enjoy incredible popularity. Living history does not paralyze city life but transforms it. Bearded Vikings and their faithful women, swords and ships, will certainly be part of the festival performances. Spectacular Viking competitions are expected in Frederikssund, as well as grand feasts in the reconstructed pantheon "Valhalla". A Viking market will be held on June 24-25, where you can purchase handmade items, including jewelry. The main theme of this year's festival will be the life story of the Danish king Harald Bluetooth, the powerful ruler who baptized Denmark at the end of the 10th century. //www.vikingespil.dk
CYPRUS
Kataklysmos, June 12, all cities of Cyprus. On June 11, Cypriots will celebrate the Day of the Holy Trinity, and the next day they will celebrate the ancient pagan festival Kataklysmos – the festival of water, rooted in the cult of Aphrodite and Adonis (however, the church links it to the memory of the Great Flood). This festival is held on the seashore or by mountain streams. At dusk, thousands of people gather near the water to participate in ritual baths. This is followed by the usual festival program with slight local variations: a fair, music, dancing, singing, performances by artists of various genres. The festival will end with fireworks. Kataklysmos is especially exuberantly celebrated in Larnaca, Limassol, Protaras, Paphos, and Ayia Napa. //www.visitcyprus.org
Medieval Festival, until July 1, Ayia Napa. This festival will be held in Ayia Napa for the first time, so preparations are especially thorough. The first part of the festival is musical. It is dedicated to medieval music and singing. Participants are musical groups from Germany, France, and Cyprus.
The second part of the festival includes costume processions, craft fairs, knightly duels, and other medieval entertainments. During the festival, thematic exhibitions dedicated to medieval art and crafts will be held. //www.visitcyprus.org
SPAIN
Sonar Multimedia Festival, June 15-17, Barcelona. Sonar is considered one of the largest multimedia festivals in Europe. All multimedia art genres are combined here: trendy DJs play at the venues, while new cinema is shown simultaneously in closed halls. Most of the festival is devoted to music – new, fashionable, and modern. Professionals as well as ordinary lovers of discos and experimental music genres come here from all over the world. This year, the festival will feature Shit & Shine, Miguel Carvalhais & Return Cruz play Cronica Electronica, Static Caravan DJ's, The Knife. //www.sonar.es
Summer Solstice Festival (La Fiesta de San Juan), June 24-25, Madrid and other cities. The celebration of the summer solstice naturally has a mystical pre-Christian undertone. Symbols of fire and water are the main ones on the night of June 25. Bonfires burn all night in the squares and streets of Madrid, people jump over the fire, firecrackers explode, music blares, and the night ends with fireworks. In short, Ivan Kupala is what San Juan is. //www.munimadrid.es //www.alicanteturismo.com
ITALY
Opera Festival, June 24 - August 27, Verona. The world-famous summer opera festival will open this year in late June and will be held, as per long-standing tradition, in the ancient amphitheater "Arena di Verona" (built during the reign of Emperor Augustus). This "archaeological theater" seats 16,000 spectators. The first opera performance took place here in August 1913, when Verdi's "Aida" was staged. Since then, productions of the best operas and performances by world-renowned artists at the festival have become customary for opera fans. Audiences at the Arena di Verona have seen Maria Callas, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, and other opera stars. This year, Verdi's famous "Aida" (June 25 and 29) and Bizet's "Carmen" (June 30) will be performed. The festival will open with Mascagni's opera "Cavalleria Rusticana" (June 24). //www.arena.it
Music Festival, June 17 - July 22, Ravenna. A major music festival will last a whole month in Ravenna, covering all kinds of musical genres and trends, from classical music to jazz and ethnic music. The special theme of the festival this anniversary year will be Mozart's music. In addition to musical concerts, special exhibitions, film screenings, and theatrical performances have been prepared. The June festival program includes Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni" as well as symphony concerts featuring music by Shostakovich, Brahms, Haydn, and Schubert. //www.ravennafestival.org
Feast of St. John, June 24, Florence, Turin, and other cities. The summer solstice, or St. John's Day, is celebrated exuberantly throughout Italy, but especially lavish festivities take place in Florence, where St. John is considered the city's patron saint. On this day, a mini-carnival is held in the city, with street musicians and theater troupes performing, and pyrotechnicians also delighting the crowd. There will also certainly be a game of Calcio on the central square. It is known that these ancient competitions took place on St. John's Day in Florence as early as the 16th century. Calcio (from Italian "calciare" – "to kick") is considered the forerunner of modern football. //www.enit.it
NETHERLANDS
Dutch Festival, until June 25, Amsterdam. The main feature of this festival is the deliberate and quite tendentious selection of participants in accordance with the organizers' artistic commitment to expanding genre boundaries and canons. The festival cultivates mixed genres and experiments that expand the space for creative self-expression. The annual Dutch Festival is considered to largely determine new trends in contemporary drama, opera, music, and dance. This year's program includes a new art project by Peter Greenaway titled Nightwatching. //www.hollandfestival.nl
FINLAND
Samba Carnival, June 16-17, Helsinki. On June 16, the hottest carnival of the year kicks off in the Finnish capital. The most spectacular event will be Saturday's parade in samba rhythms, featuring over a thousand professional dancers and musicians. //www.samba.fi
St. John's Day, June 24-25, Seurasaari Island. On the summer solstice, the main June celebration – Juhannus (St. John's Day) – will take place on Seurasaari Island, which is considered a kind of open-air museum of wooden architecture. A giant bonfire will be lit on the island, around which the main events will unfold, including lavish weddings (Finns believe that any girl dreams of getting married exactly on this day and exactly on Seurasaari Island). //www.nba.fi
International Dance Festival, June 15-21, Kuopio. Dancers from the Netherlands (Dance Theater), Italy (Compagnia Aterballetto), Spain (Flamenco Ballet), as well as Finnish winners of this year's choreography competitions will perform at the municipal theater and outdoor venues. The special ethnic theme this year is African dance. //www.kuopiodancefestival.fi
FRANCE
Wine Festival, June 29 - July 2, Bordeaux. French wines need no compliments, and the events of the Bordeaux wine festival are certainly not limited to traditional indoor tastings. The Bordeaux Wine Festival is a true celebration for lovers of life. Its program includes concerts of classical and popular music: June 29 – concert by the winners of the Radio France trophy 2005, June 30 – blues evening, July 2 – Nostalgie Evening, which will take place on the city's central square and end with a grand fireworks display. //www.bordeaux-fete-le-vin.com
Rio Loco! Festival, June 21-25, Toulouse. The rich and varied program of the Rio Loco! festival will leave no one indifferent, as the festival includes both art and architecture exhibitions and concerts of classical, jazz, and rock music. This year will feature Arona N'Diaye Rose and 100 dancers and percussionists, Marque Gilmore & DRUM-FM (June 21), N'der & Le Setsima Group (June 22), Ali Boulo Santo & Toulouse Midi-Pyrenees Chorus (June 25). The special theme of this year's festival is the music of Senegal. //www.rio-loco.org
SWEDEN
Midsummer Festival, June 23-25, Stockholm. This summer folklore celebration takes place every year at the Skansen open-air museum in Stockholm. Celebrants weave wreaths and garlands of fresh flowers and together decorate a tree representing the world axis around which the universe revolves. The festival's main action unfolds around this giant tree, symbolizing faith in the renewal of life, unity, and resurrection. The holiday program includes a folklore mini-festival and ancient musical games. //www.skansen.se
Rock Festival, June 15-17, Hultsfred. The Hultsfred Rock Festival is the largest event in Sweden's musical life, attracting more than 30,000 people annually. In 2006, about a hundred performers will take part, including Deftones, Him, Bloodsimple, Lou Reed, and the famous shock-rockers and winners of this year's Eurovision Song Contest – Lordi. //www.rockparty.se
Nyuta KUKUSHKINA.
Газета.Ru