AUSTRIA
Old Town Festival, August 9-10, Linz. In August, Linz will once again host the annual "Old Town" festival. At the very beginning of the celebration, the mayor of Linz will tap a keg of beer brewed at a local brewery. And in the "wine village" during the festival, you can taste the most exquisite wines. Tastings will be accompanied by cheerful folk songs. And the snacks will also be excellent: the most delicious Tyrolean dishes will be offered to guests by the restaurants located in the "beer garden."
But the festival program is not limited to drinking and dining, of course. A craftsmen's fair will be held on one of the city streets. Also, as part of the festival, a national costume competition will take place. And, of course, the festival will not be complete without dancing and cheerful music: brass bands, children's ensembles, and folk groups will perform on the streets of Linz. //www.altstadtfest-lienz //www.stadt-lienz.at //www.lienz.at //www.austria.info
BELGIUM
Caribbean Festival, August 8–9, Hoogstraten. Over two days, on the festival grounds in Hoogstraten, music will be performed by groups from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Belize, Trinidad, and even Colombia. The program includes performances by Chichi Peralta, Grupo Galе, 3 Canal, Manolito y su Trabuco, ATNG Soca Band, Coco Band, Rodri-Go and others. For those who want to dance salsa, a huge dance floor will be set up. Parties start at 7 pm and end at 5 am. The main thing is that the weather doesn't let us down, because the festival is held outdoors. //www.antilliaansefeesten.be
UNITED KINGDOM
Bristol Balloon Festival, August 7–10, Bristol. This year the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary. The anniversary program will be bright and rich. What do the organizers promise! Demonstration flights – one, mass balloon inflation – two, comedy performances – three, motorcycle show – four, demonstration of unusual-shaped balloons – five, exhibition of miniature handmade balloons – six, a grand military show with artillery and paratroopers – seven. //www.bristolfiesta.co.uk //visitbristol.co.uk
International Bagpipe Festival Piping Live!, August 11–17, Glasgow. Dozens of orchestras from different countries come to the festival in Glasgow, giving concerts not only at the National Bagpipe Center (the main festival venue), but also in numerous pubs, clubs, and just on the streets. In addition to concerts, the festival program includes lectures and excursions on the history of the bagpipes, as well as master classes on playing this instrument. //www.pipingfestival.co.uk //www.seeglasgow.com
International Beatles Week, August 20–26, Liverpool. Beatles fans come to Liverpool every year to attend the biggest celebration dedicated to the Beatles. This year's program includes performances by groups from 10 countries, exhibitions, excursions, and an auction. Among the planned events of the Week, it is especially worth noting Live Music (August 20, The Cavern Pub), Elvis Meets The Beatles (August 21, Cavern Club), The Gig The Beatles Never Gave (August 22, Carling Academy), parties at the Adelphi Hotel, Prellies All-Nighter (night of August 25, Cavern Club), and Fab Four Las Vegas Show (August 25, The Royal Court Theatre). www.cavernclub.org http://www.visitliverpool.com
HUNGARY
Sziget Music Festival, August 12–18, Budapest. The largest festival in Eastern Europe, Sziget, takes place on Óbuda Island. Hence its name (Sziget means 'island' in Hungarian). This year's musical program includes performances by former System of a Down singer Serj Tankian, Róisín Murphy, Carl Cox, Sex Pistols, Iron Maiden, R.E.M., Anti-Flag, Jamiroquai, The Killers, and others. Judging by the program, Sziget will not be as star-studded as in previous years. Moreover, the number of festival days has decreased from seven to six. However, it is unlikely that this fact will reduce the number of visitors to Óbuda Island: whatever the case, Sziget is the main musical event of August in Europe. //www.sziget.hu
GERMANY
Summer Fair Dommarkt, until August 24, Hamburg. This fair is over 600 years old. More than 3 million people visit it annually. Dommarkt is a city within a city; everyone can find something to their liking, whether it be vintage rides, horse riding, carousels, performances by circus performers and musicians, or excursions to the witches' lair and medieval fortress. Local cooks treat visitors to boiled corn on the cob, potato pancakes, fried sausages, waffles, roasted almonds, and candied fruits. Every Friday at 10:30 pm, a fireworks display is held at the fair. But no matter how interesting and wonderful all of the above may be, one should not forget that Dommarkt is first and foremost a fair, so it is unlikely that anyone will be able to leave here with a heavy wallet. //www.hamburger-dom.de //www.hamburg-tourism.de
DENMARK
The Little Mermaid's Birthday, August 23, Copenhagen. The Little Mermaid is the symbol of the Danish capital. Every year in August, Copenhageners celebrate the birthday of their favorite. On August 23, 1913, the statue of the Little Mermaid was installed in the port of Copenhagen. Since then, on her birthday, Copenhageners and tourists from all over the world come here every year. It should be noted that the life of the statue is not at all cloudless: vandals have repeatedly smeared it with paint and even tried to behead it. Deciding to put an end to this outrage, the authorities decided to move the sculpture into the water so that all sorts of fools could not reach it. Since then, on the Little Mermaid's birthday in the port, accompanied by an orchestra, mass swims are organized, in which, by tradition, only women participate. //www.visitcopenhagen.com
European Medieval Festival, August 29–30, Horsens. Every August, Horsens turns into a medieval city for two days. Knights, monks, fortune-tellers, craftsmen, and traders appear on the streets. In the evenings, houses are lit with candles, and bonfires and torches burn on the streets. Taverns serve medieval cuisine, beer, and wine. If you wish, you can shoot a bow, practice walking on stilts, attend a real historical wedding, and relax in a medieval bath. //www.middelalderfestival.dk
SPAIN
Great Fiesta in Bilbao, August 16–24, Bilbao. The most famous fiesta in the Basque Country takes place at the end of August in Bilbao. The name of the annual festival, Aste Nagusia, translates to 'Big Week'. Indeed, the holiday week lives up to its name as it is longer than usual: the fun continues for nine days and nights. On the first day of the festival, the townspeople welcome the main heroine of the celebration – the doll Marijaia, after which carnival processions, concerts, street performances, games, competitions, fireworks, and strongman contests begin. //www.bilbao.net //www.bilbao.net //www.visitbilbao.info
ITALY
Arts Festival 'Under the Tuscan Sun', August 2–10, Cortona. The festival, symbolizing a love for life and all things beautiful, will open this year with a performance by Bolshoi Theatre stars at Piazza Signorelli. The Russian program includes works by Tchaikovsky, Khachaturian, Weber, Shostakovich… In addition, the festival guests will be treated to performances by the Venetian Baroque Orchestra, Australian singer Danielle de Niese, Israeli violinist Pinchas Zukerman, Argentine tenor José Cura, American violinist Joshua Bell, Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski, the Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra, and others. Works by Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Dvořák, Beethoven, and Handel will be presented to the audience. Besides daily concerts, the program includes photo exhibitions, lectures, seminars, and wine tastings. //www.festivaldelsole.com
NETHERLANDS
Grachtenfestival, August 16–24, Amsterdam. In mid-August, Amsterdam hosts the 11th Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival), known for its open-air classical music concerts. Concerts will take place in squares, parks, gardens, along canal banks, near monuments and museums, as well as on specially equipped boats and inside Amsterdam International Airport. Young musicians from different countries who have won international competitions will perform at the festival. In addition to concerts, the Grachtenfestival program includes masterclasses with renowned musicians and composers, and boat tours along Amsterdam's canals. //www.grachtenfestival.nl
FINLAND
Mobile Phone Throwing World Championship, August 23, Savonlinna. Mobile phone throwing competitions have been held since 2002 for people of all ages and professions, with strict regulations. Organizers provide the phones for throwing, protests against jury decisions are not accepted, and doping tests are not conducted. However, the jury may disqualify a participant if they are deemed dangerous to other participants or spectators. Two throwing styles are allowed: traditional (over the shoulder) and freestyle. The winner is the one who throws their mobile phone the farthest. The competition is growing in popularity each year; similar championships now take place in Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The city of Savonlinna is 340 km from Helsinki and 320 km from St. Petersburg. Buses and trains run daily from Helsinki to Savonlinna. //www.savonlinnafestivals.com //www.savonlinnatravel.com
CZECH REPUBLIC
International Bagpipe Festival Strakonice, August 21–24, Strakonice. In the Czech Republic, the bagpipe is loved no less than in Scotland. There is even a legend about the bagpiper Švanda, who could break evil spells with his playing. In honor of this musical instrument, the ancient town of Strakonice holds a festival that draws musicians from all over the Czech Republic. The bagpipe festival takes place every two years in the second half of August. Bagpipe music can be heard at the Strakonice Castle grounds, in the castle park, church, and concert halls. Besides concerts, the festival program includes orchestra parades, theatrical performances, a fair, and seminars on the history of bagpipes and Czech culture. Strakonice can be reached by bus from Prague or Brno. //www.dudackyfestival.cz //www.strakonice.net
SWITZERLAND
Street Parade in Zurich, August 9, Zurich. The famous Street Parade is considered one of the most vibrant and energetic music festivals in Zurich. As usual, hundreds of thousands of young people will come to listen to contemporary music in early August. Several stages will be set up along the shore of Lake Zurich, with popular DJs presiding. The Street Parade starts at 1:00 PM, with the official closing scheduled for 10:00 PM, after which the celebration smoothly moves into the city's numerous nightclubs. //www.streetparade.ch //www.zuerich.com
SWISS TEDDY Festival, August 16–17, Zurich. The SWISS TEDDY Festival is a paradise for lovers of teddy bears and soft toys. This exhibition has been held in Zurich for over ten years. The SWISS TEDDY Festival attracts quite serious people – craftsmen, representatives of specialized stores, and collectors. Visitors can expect an exhibition of exclusive toys and antique dolls. Masterclasses are planned for professionals and enthusiasts: if desired, one can make a toy with their own hands. A special play program is planned for children. The honorary guests of this year's festival are craftsmen from Ukraine and Russia. The ticket price for the festival is 10 francs. Admission is free for children under 12, and a ticket for children aged 12 to 15 costs 5 francs. //www.baerenfestival.ch //www.albisguetli.ch
Oksana KISLITSYNA.
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