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SEASONS
Very Special Occasions & Cultural Events
 
Updated for

Frances Moorhouse, Arts & Calendar Editor

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THE SEASONS CALENDAR

The cultural diversity, heritage and civilization of  nations, cities and towns is brilliantly portrayed throughout Europe, especially on special occasions.  Our calendar offers the viewer a  selection of festivals, historical commemorations, arts and cultural events plus the magic of the pageantry, pomp and circumstance for which Europe is especially renowned.  You may peruse the entire calendar or use the following links to skip directly to the month of your choice.

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 














 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Events in Progress

Until July  in London
The Tower of London:  Hands on History
- Get to grips with 10 centuries of attacking and defending the Tower in the Hands on History exhibition on the top floor of the White Tower, enhanced with new hands-on activities for Year Two.  The Tower of London,  England

Until July 5th In London
The Holloway Arts Festival 
- Now in its seventh year, The Holloway Arts Festival returns with a packed 10-day programme featuring over 40 events showcasing an exciting mix of music, visual arts, literature, cinema, theatre, dance and comedy featuring local talent alongside international artists.  London,  England

Until July 12th in Zurich
The Zurich Festival
- A combination of opera, concert, play, dance and independent theatre.   Zurich,  Switzerland

Until July 15th in Germany
Vikings Exhibition in Speyer
- This exhibition tries to broaden the visitors' views of the Vikings.  It aims to separate historical fact from legend and reveals every aspect of the Viking era. The exhibits - including rune stones, weapons, jewelry, precious silverware, coins, parts of ships, manuscripts, pagan tombs and baptismal fonts - come from museums, collections and institutions in Scandinavia and offer an unknown insight into the life of the Vikings. Speyer,  Germany

Until July 18th in Salzburg
The SommerSzene
is often seen as an antipole to the Salzburg Festival. The event has in fact developed over the years to an internationally acclaimed festival unparalleled in Austria.  The 14-day festival focuses on the contemporary world of dance. Theater, music, film and visual arts supplement the SommerSzene program. The program is characterized by its transgression of boundaries, artistic risk, new presentation formats and a superior quality year after year. 
Szene Salzburg has stood for contemporary theater and music since the late 1960s. Originally intended as a platform for local artists, the Szene grew to become an international avant-garde festival during the 70s and 80s. The Szene functions as an international producer and offers residencies to national and international artists.

Until July 19th in Germany
Countless visitors from all over the world have experienced every four years the ‘Landshuter Hochzeit 1475’, a historical pageant that is among the greatest in Europe. More than 2000 participants in medieval costume will bring from June 27th to July 19th 2009 the festival to life in all the splendor of the Late Middle Ages - the wedding between Hedwig, the Polish King’s daughter, and Georg, the son of the Landshut Duke. Visitors can watch the ‘masque’, a burlesque entertainment, medieval dancing and playing. Festive games in the night camp give the guests an idea of the great festival. During the procession they cheer the bride, and on the tournament ground knights perform the jousting.  Landshuter,  Germany

Until August 2nd in London
Young London: Into Music
is a new urban youth festival aimed at developing the next generation of talent in east London. A series of five individual events are produced and delivered in the five Olympic and Paralympic Host Boroughs of Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.  London,  England

Until August 8th in Scotland
Return to the Ridings
- The annual Border Common Ridings are a stunning mounting spectacle packed with heart stirring music. Each participating town has its own distinctive history and ceremony providing a unique Return to the Ridings experience. Scotland

Until August 29th in Berlin
Long Night of Museums
- The "Long Nights of Museums" has become a favorite among Berliners and tourists alike.  Around 100 museums, large and small, featuring established and new collections, open their doors from 6pm Saturday evening until 2am Sunday morning.  Unique music, theatre, and culinary events will enhance the permanent and temporary exhibitions and promise to make the nighttime museum visit a unique experience.  Berlin,  Germany

to August 29th in York
‘Pearls Pearls Pearls’,
a juried exhibition of new work to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles; and ‘The Wholecloth Tradition’ showing pieces from the Guild collection,  At the Quilt Museum and Gallery,  York,  England

Until August 30th in England
Glyndebourne Opera Festival
, East Sussex  - The country’s most exclusive opera festival. England

Until August 30th in Vienna
Music Film Festival at the Vienna City Hall Park
- The Vienna City Hall Park is a pulsating meeting point for classical fans and night owls – with lots to please the palate as well as free film shows.  Against the backdrop of the illuminated City Hall, a first rate program on a giant screen gets the hearts of all music lovers beating faster as darkness falls.  The selection of classical super hits ranges from opera and operetta to dance and concert performances.  Vienna,  Austria

Until August 31st in Scotland
Whole in One Golf Exhibition
(Rozelle Estate,
Ayrshire - Charts the history of open golf, incorporating a wealth of unusual and rarely seen exhibits. Scotland is widely acknowledged as the ‘Home of Golf’ and boasts some of the best, most challenging and most beautiful courses in the world. Scotland

Tthrough August 31st in Amsterdam
Robeco Summer Concerts 2009 at The Concertgebouw - The Concertgebouw will host Robeco Summer Concerts.  Amsterdam is one of the few cities in Europe that offers exceptional classical concerts every evening in the summer months. For each visitor, the Robeco Summer Concerts provides the fantastic experience to enjoy the famous acoustics of the Large and Small Halls. The theme of this years Robeco Summer Concerts is "Friends." The series opens the Robeco Summer Night with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Many other orchestras will join the concerts this summer, including the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Jaap van Zweden which will perform all symphonies by Beethoven. Operas like Verdi's Falstaff and Dido and Aeneas by Purcell can also be heard. The festival offers more than a hundred concerts, both in the field of classical music, world music and jazz. In the summer months, the Concertgebouw is the most visited concert hall in the world.  Amsterdam,  The Netherlands

Until September 5th in Switzerland
William Tell Open-Air Theatre
- Friedrich Schiller’s dramatic play about William Tell’s fight for freedom has been performed on the splendid natural stage in Matten’s Rugen Forest since 1912. Over 170 amateur actors make up the large Tell “family” and every year, many horses, cows and goats also play their part in making the open-air theatre an impressive experience. Performances take place in all weathers thanks to the covered stand with around 2300 seats. Interlaken,  Switzerland

to September 6th in London
Henry VIII: Man and Monarch
- To mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne, historian and broadcaster Dr David Starkey will guest-curate a major exhibition at the British Library.  Rarely displayed items from the Library’s unrivalled Henry VIII collections, including correspondence, key official documents, maps and books will be on display – including the ‘Love Letter that Changed the Nation’, Henry VIII’s declaration of his ‘unchangeable intention’ to marry Anne Boleyn.  At the British Library,  London,  England

To September on Thursdays in France
Cadre Noir Equestrian Shows
- The Cadre Noir, created in 1814 as a military riding academy, remains France's most prestigious school, dedicated to the French equestrian tradition and riding techniques.  Saumur in the Loire Valley,  France

To September 13th in Liverpool
Colour Chart: Reinventing Colour,
1950 to Today at Tate Liverpool – with works by Andy Warhol to Damien Hirst.   Liverpool,  England

Currently through September 13th in Berlin
In the Footsteps of the Dead
- Nine crime scenes, nine bodies, nine different causes of death - an exhibition now running at the Berlin Medical Historical Museum offers a gripping view into the everyday life of forensic medicine. The doctors' work is explained through reconstructed homicides, a selection of murder weapons, and pictures from autopsies. The exhibition "Vom Tatort ins Labor" ["From the Scene of the Crime to the Laboratory"] Berlin,  Germany

Through September 13th in Santa Barbara
PCPA Theaterfest
-   Enjoy the 45th annual season of PCPA Theaterfest performed under the stars at Solvang Festival Theater, a 700-seat venue in the half-round. Summer productions: Les Miserables, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Music Man and Spitfire Grill. Santa Barbara,  California

Until September 14th in Loire Valley
UNESCO on show at Chateau de Chenonceau
- Château de Chenonceau, a symbol of the influence of French culture, exclusively offers the biggest exhibition of works of art from the UNESCO collection. After Miquel Barcelo, Julian Schnabel, les Lalanne, Zao Wou-Ki, Trémois, Manolo Valdés, Olivier Debré, etc., Chenonceau has decided to present a selection of paintings, tapestries, sculptures and models belonging to the remarkable private collection of UNESCO, unknown to the public. With the works of Erro, Guinovart, Le Corbusier, Jean Lurçat, Tadao Ando... For more than 30 years now, Château de Chenonceau has been an art gallery for the greatest artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.   The Loire Valley,  France

to September 19th in Chartres
Chartres en Lumières Chartres Festival
- In Chartres, from 11 April to 20 September, twenty or so of the city's most beautiful buildings and sites are draped in light and music. The city becomes a poetic sight, the highlight being the royal front of the cathedral illuminated in colour. On 20 September, the celebration comes to a close with the Festival of Light featuring illuminations of new sites, concerts and street shows etc. France

Until September 21st in California
Butterflies Alive!
 - Experience the magic of Butterflies Alive! as you walk through a beautiful garden filled with flowers, luscious greenery, and more than 1,000 free-flying butterflies. Watch as the butterflies flutter past you, and see them as they drink nectar from nearby flowers. Butterflies Alive! will offer many memorable opportunities, so bring your family, friends and cameras. Exhibition entrance included with general admission.  Santa Barbara,  California

Until September 27th in Blois
The night-time show at the Royal Château of Blois
uses the latest sound and imagery technologies, with a text by Alain Decaux recounted by prestigious actors. Show in English on Wednesday. 3/4 hour. Blois,  France

Until late September (Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays) in Versailles - Grandes Eaux Musicales de Versailles - Every Sunday at 11:15 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. plus Saturdays at the same hours, July, August 7 September (Saturdays only).  Grand display set to music of the 50 fountains of the Versailles Gardens.  Fetes de Nuit historical scenes and tableaux at the grand Bassin de Neptune, Saturdays nights, August 24 & 31 and September 23 at 9:30 p.m. - Versailles,  France

Until October in London
More London Free Festival
- The Scoop - Now in its 7th year, More London’s annual Free Festival, runs from June to early October staging over four months of free events and free public arts performances set against stunning views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. London,  England

Until October in Vienna
Haydn Year:  House of Music
  - An absolute must for Haydn fans is Vienna's House of Music with the exhibition "Haydn's Works" and the "Haydn Oasis Concerts" - Vienna,  Austria

Until October 10th in London
Shakespeare’s
Globe Theatre  - London’s iconic venue that boasts some of the finest history known to theatre, features performances throughout the summer.  London

Until October 18th in Chaumont-sur-Loire
International Garden Festival in the Domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire: As every year since its creation in 1992, it will be held above the Loire River in the Domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire. Renowned worldwide for its contribution to the development of creative landscaping, the International Garden Festival features the diversity, the creativity, and the quality of gardeners. Enjoy the theme chosen for 2009: "Gardens of colours".  Chaumont-sur-Loire,  France

Until November 1st in Loire Valley
The Artistic Gardens of Drulon Celebrate their Tenth Anniversary -
A multitude of spring bulbs ... daffodils, tulips and crocus... have been planted to greet the new season's early visitors in an explosion of colour. Throughout the year, flowers and sculptures will be on show in the Floral Garden, Peony Garden or that of Bacchus. As the months go by, peonies, roses, vines and many others will offer an ever-changing show, along with a number of events to mark the occasion: a special peony weekend, meetings with the owners, a full-moon festival... and more. Loire Valley,  France

Until November 11th in France
Re-opening of the Maison des Sancerre
- A feast for the senses - Dedicated to the art of wine-making, the Maison des Sancerre showcases the AOC quality-certified wines of the region. Located in the lovely village of Sancerre, it is housed in a 15th-century stone tower that is the ideal place to learn more about the secrets of the Sancerre vineyard and offers a perfect excuse to sample a sip of wine.  Stroll in the garden to discover all the various fruits and flowers' flavours related to the aromas that you find in the Sancerre wines.  Loire Valley,  France

Spring, Summer, Autumn in Australia
Surf Lifesaving Carnivals
- Enjoy the colorful and exciting beach events throughout summer culminating in the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships held on Scarborough Beach in Perth, Western Australia in April. More than 6,000 surf lifesavers from around Australia and overseas gather to compete in rescue and resuscitation skills, ironmen disciplines, swimming, boat racing, ski paddling, running and board riding.  Australia

Until December 1st in York
Plague, Poverty and Prayer at Barley Hall
- The historic, medieval townhouse of Barley Hall is the setting for the new Plague Poverty and Prayer exhibition, exploring life and death in medieval York.  The exhibition explores everyday life for the citizens of York from the Norman invasion to Tudor times, by examining unique archaeological evidence from the period. Visitors will explore interactive displays, new research, and recently excavated skeletal material, to find out some of the gruesome details about illnesses and diseases from the period; who and what may have treated them; and the importance of folk medicine, prayer, astrology, spells, mysticism to everyone living in Britain at the time.  York,  England

Until December 12th in Belgium
Battlefields Coach Tour in English
- Held in English every Saturday.  This tour starts at 1.30 pm from the Lille Tourist Office and takes 4 hours.  It is commented by an English-speaking professional tour guide and gets around the main WW1 sites in the Ypres area (in Belgium). It includes Essex Farm and Tyne Cot cemeteries.  Belgium

Events in July 2009


July to September in Germany
Sand World, Travemuende -
Approximately 75 sand-sculptors - so-called "Carvers" - from all over the world create masterpieces out of 9,000 tons of sand, just with sand and water, with heights up to twelve meters. This fantastic sculpture scenery on the Baltic Sea Beach of Travemuende near Rostock is unique in Germany.

Early to Mid-July in France
Saison Musicale - Baroque music festival
in the Romanesque Abbey of Gellone.  One of Europe's finest festivals for voice, organ and sacred music - Abbaye de Gellone.  St. Guilhem-le-Desert - France

July 1st to 3rd in Berlin
Berlin to Become the New Home of the Bread & Butter Fashion Tradeshow
- Starting in the summer of 2009, the fashion and creative metropolis Berlin will be serving up yet another fashion highlight as the international fashion tradeshow Bread & Butter returns to the city on the The most important show for urban and street wear will take place on the grounds of the former Tempelhof Airport. Berlin,  Germany

July 1st to 5th in Vienna
John Malkovich in The Infernal Comedy -  as Jack Unterweger. 
The Ronacher will be the scene of an unconventional musical theatre project when Hollywood star John Malkovich reads the murderer's fictitious autobiography (in English) in a performance that also features a soprano and a Baroque orchestra.  Vienna,  Austria

July 1st to August 30th in Brussels
Midis - Minimes Festival
- Like every year, the Midis - Minimes Festival offers you a concert of about 40 minutes every weekday in Brussels Minimes Church and the Conservatory.  Diversified festival with traditional music on Monday, old on Tuesday, 18th century music on Wednesday, contemporary music on Thursday and 19th century music on Friday.  Discover new repertoires, composers, artists, instruments.  At the same time, 3 cycles are devoted t instruments in general;  women's voices, the piano and some 'curiosities'  Belgium

July 2nd in Berlin
Turning the Subway into a Catwalk
- Once a year, Berlin's U-Bahn subway system becomes the meeting place for the innovations of the fashion scene. On July 2, young, independent fashion designers and labels will turn a traveling subway train into the city's most original catwalk, where their newest collections can be seen. The spectacular fashion show includes the themes of rock and roll, burlesque, gothic, punk, and urban street style.  Berlin,  Germany

July 2nd to 5th in Scotland
16th Annual Scottish Traditional Boat Festival
- In Portsoy Harbour in Aberdeenshire, celebrates all aspects of Scottish maritime heritage. Aberdeenshire,  Scotland

July 2nd - 6th in Berlin
Classic Open Air Berlin,
held annually al fresco at Gendarmenmarkt, the city's most beautiful square, features all-time favorites in operetta, opera, classical and contemporary music. In 2009, the program will include a Classics Spectacular, Opera Highlights, Rythms from South America, as well a an evening with Maximilian Schell presenting highlights from “Carmen”.  Berlin,  Germany

July 2nd to 26th in Spain
Almagro International Classical  Theatre Festival
- This year 's main venue is the town’s Corral de Comedias Theatre, the only stage which remains in use as it was nearly 400 years ago.  Over a month there are a series of theatre performances held at this venue and at others around the town: San Juan Hospital, the Municipal Theatre, the Dominican Cloister, the Fúcares Patio and the Wesel Patio, Las Bernardas Church and San Blas Church, the Patio Mayor and the old Renaissance University. The festival includes street theatre and children’s theatre, workshops, exhibitions, a craft fair and other activities.   For more information: check the official website of the Almagro International Classical Theatre Festival.

July 3rd to 5th in Switzerland
Swiss Harley Days
- Interlaken is set to welcome over 20,000 visitors and 5,000 motorbikers from all over the world with their Harley Davidson US cult machines! The fringe programme will fascinate not only motorbike fans: there will also be concerts, a traders’ mile, shows, exhibitions and a festival marquee. Saturday’s grand parade along Interlaken’s Höheweg will make this a bike happening to remember!  Interlaken,  Switzerland
Admission free!

July 3rd to 5th in England
Goodwood Festival of Speed
  - A world famous car event for racing aficionados, celebrating everything about car performance in
Chichester, West Sussex.  England

July 3rd through July 5th in Portugal
Jazz On A Summer Day
- Enjoy jazz concerts during Estoril Jazz and be seduced set amid the cosmopolitan backsplash of Estoril.  Top international musicians and groups, especially from North America, perform at this festival.  Estoril,  Portugal

July 3rd - July 12th in Germany
Rifleman’s Festival, Hannover
- Visitors to the largest rifleman’s festival in the world can expect a festival of superlatives. Electrifying, ultra-modern rides sit happily alongside their more traditional counterparts, and the place is packed with stalls, beer gardens and party marquees.  Hannover, Germany

July 3rd to 18th in Montreux
Montreux Jazz Festival
- Since it began in 1967 when it was a three-day event, the Montreux Jazz Festival has become a stupendous 16-day affair, headlined by jazz, blues, rock, world-music, rap, electro, pop and soul luminaries: Miles Davis, Maria Bethânia, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, David Sanborn, George Benson, Eric Clapton, Sting, Oscar Peterson, Roberta Flack, Dizzy Gillespie, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, B.B . King, Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Jamiroquai, Radiohead, Phil Collins, Alicia Keys, Santana, Black Eyed Peas, Muse, Joss Stone, among others. 

Festival founder Claude Nobs created an event, which was to become one of the most important festivals of all, with a unique and eclectic musical reputation. Every year, up to 220`000 visitors come to Montreux in order to attend the Festival concerts split in to three concerts halls. Some musical cruises and trains are also part of the program. The visitors can as well enjoy the numerous free performances: acoustic concerts, the Voice, The Guitar and the Piano Solo Competitions, the Workshops, etc. Not to be forgotten the Montreux Jazz Under The Sky which spreads all over the town of Montreux.  Switzerland

July 4th & 5th in Lucerne
Swiss Rowing Championships -
Lucerne,  Switzerland

July 4th to 26th in York
Henry VIII Exhibition at York Minster
-
York Minster is set to be the only location in the North East to display a touring exhibition from The British Library to mark the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne.  Henry VIII: Man and Monarch will be a major exhibition in residence at The British Library in London from 23rd April to 6th September 2009 and is will be guest-curated by historian and broadcaster Dr David Starkey.  Important and rarely displayed items from the Library’s Henry VIII collections will be on display, including maps and books from the King’s own library.  York,  England

July 5th to 19th in France
Les Traversees - Noirlac Musical Encounters -
The Noirlac Abbey in the Berry area will be hosting "Les Traversées", a music festival placing the emphasis on encounters between artists, aesthetics, places and epochs. The opening concert will bring together 100 musicians to celebrate the centenary of the acquisition of this exceptional site by the Cher General Council. On 14, 15 and 16 July, a night-time show will combine the recital of a short story by Edgar Poe, musical creations, and visual animations in the abbey. Also on the programme: a "perfume concert", a kind of dialogue between sounds and fragrances, ancient and contemporary music, instruments of yesteryear and of today, and an evening with Mozart...  Abbaye de Noirlac,  France

July 7th and 9th at 8:00 p.m. in Los Angeles
Classical Tuesdays and Classical Thursdays - The Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2009 Hollywood Bowl Season opens
with all - Prokofiev concert, featuring Oscar-winning film Peter and the Wolf, Bowl debut of Ukrainian Conductor Kirill Karabits, and fireworks - First Week Lineup Includes Performances by Pianist Vladimir Feltsman in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, and Joshua Bell in Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1.  Los Angeles,   California

July 7th to 12th in London
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
- The world's largest horticultural show takes place once a year within the famed gardens at Henry VIII’s Palace, Hampton Court.  Including displays from over 150 specialist nurseries, the exhibits are beautiful, complex works of living art, filled with rare blooms and water features.  This year Gardening’s best gets down to earth, with a range of smaller displays designed to help you make the most of your garden.

July 7th to 14th in Spain
The Running of the Bulls
- The city of Pamplona is world famous thanks to its San Fermín fiestas. Thousands of people come every year to experience the risk and excitement of the popular running of the bulls, immortalized by Ernest Hemingway in his novel Fiesta. For nine days, Pamplona residents and visitors alike, dressed typically in red and white, get carried away by the continuous festive spirit that invades the streets. Every morning during the fiestas there is a parade of “giants and big-heads” through the centre of the city, for the little ones to enjoy. The festive programme also includes open-air celebrations, concerts, dance exhibitions and, of course, bullfights. They tend to be lively events, as organized groups of bullfighting fans pack the stands. San Fermín finishes 14th July at midnight, when the crowds make their way to the Town Hall Square and, with candles alight, sing “Pobre de mí”, to bid farewell to the fiesta until the following year. Pamplona, Spain

July 7th to 12th in Switzerland
New Orleans of the Alps - Davos Sounds Good -
For six whole days, Davos is transformed into the New Orleans of the Alps. At the «Davos Sounds
Good» Jazz-Festival, 14 jazz bands from all over Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA will perform some 80 concerts in squares, streets, restaurants,  mountain restaurants and hotels, in more unusual venues such as churches, a building site and a barbecue spot, as well as during a hike or a train ride. Two brand new highlights this year will be offered: a “Jazz-Dinner dansant” on July 8th, an elegant dinner with dancing to jazz sounds in between the different menues. With the jazz band and organ hymns and spirituals will be played on Friday morning in the Church of St. Theodul in Davos Dorf and on Saturday afternoon in the Old Church Monstein.  Relaxed holiday atmosphere, happy people and a great jazz music: these are the hallmarks of the "Davos Sounds Good".  Davos,  Switzerland

July 8th to 11th in Portugal
International Showjumping Competition
- Horse fans cannot afford to miss the International Showjumping Competition .  This top-class competition is being held in Portugal for the second time and  takes place at the Manuel Possolo Hippodrome, a venue that is now almost 70 years old and has recently been improved and equipped with excellent technical facilities, testifying to the longstanding equestrian traditions to be found in the cosmopolitan town of Cascais.

July 9th to 11th in Berlin
Fireworks Spectacular: Drum Roll, Please!
  - The world's largest festival of music and fireworks, the PYROMUSIKALE, will be held on the grounds of the former Tempelhof Airport. Eight gigantic fireworks displays coordinated with the live music of a symphony orchestra as well as appearances by big name stars will guarantee the best in entertainment. On top of that, the world's largest fire image will be put together to achieve an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.  Berlin,  Germany

July 9th to 18th in London
Somerset House Summer Series
- A firm favourite on London's outdoor music calendar, the Somerset House Summer Series is renowned for bringing top acts into a unique London setting.  Since they first began in 2001, the open air music concerts at Somerset House have played host to many memorable performances from the likes of Royksopp, Goldfrapp and Basement Jaxx. This year the line up is just as strong, and the eclectic mix of performers such as Bat for Lashes, Grace Jones and The Enemy.

July 10th to 12th in Wales
Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival
- Highlights food from around Wales, France, Germany and Italy, along professionals demonstrating seasonal recipes. Enjoy the walkabout street and bandstand entertainment as you relax with a drink and world-class cuisine. Cardiff,  Wales

July 10th to 12th in Lucerne
International Rowing Regatta -
World Cup Final - Lucerne,  Switzerland

July 10th to September 20th
New Radicals: From Sickert to Freud 
- exhibition of early 20th century British masterpieces from L.S. Lowry to Stanley Spencer. Liverpool,  England

July 11th from 6pm to 1am in Dresden
Museum Summer Night
- Dresden's museums open for backstage tours, special visits, music, show and food.  Germany

July 11th to 25th in Scotland
Classic Malts Cruise
-  The annual Classic Malts' Cruise attracts sailors from around the word to the famous scenery and distilleries of Scotland's West  Coast.

July 11th to August 31st in Scotland
Zig Zag. The Paths of Robert Burns
(Dumfries) -  For the first time ever, some of the 36,000 objects from Scotland's national collection of treasures associated with Robert Burns, will be brought together in a major touring exhibition,  Scotland

July 13th to 16th in Galway
The Galway Arts Festival
- The Galway Arts Festival is a spectacle of dance, visual arts and performers in the very heart of the Galway City in the West of Ireland

July 16th to 19th in Bern
Gurten Festival -
The Gurten Festival is a famous, peaceful musical happening which takes place on Bern's home mountain, the Gurten.  35,000 visitors made the pilgrimage to the mountain in summer 2007.  The 4 day open-air music festival is aimed at a broad public, and is legendary for its great atmosphere whatever the weather.  Bern, Switzerland

July 16th – August 2nd in Berlin
Classical Music in Berlin's Castles and Historic Buildings
- For those looking for romantic evenings, this combination of historic and often intimate settings and selected classical music, has become a permanent fixture in Berlin’s cultural calendar. Venues include Köpenick and Glienicke castles.  Berlin,  Germany

Opening July 17th in York
Do time in The Gaol at York Castle Museum -
An exciting new gallery at York Castle Museum will allow visitors to do time the old fashioned way in a brand new interpretation of the Museum’s famous cells.  The Castle Museum was once a prison home to hundreds of felons ranging from murderers to those in debt.  Visitors will learn about the building’s fascinating history, see and feel the cramped conditions the inmates were kept in and hear about the characters that were kept there – such as the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin.   York,  England

July 17th to 19th in Frankfurt
Frankfurt’s Christopher Street Day Parade
is the oldest in Germany and is held annually since 1979   Frankfurt,  Germany

July 17th to 24th in Switzerland
The 5th Sculpture Symposium
- During a one week period, invited artists will create a sculpture on a given theme. At the 5th Sculpture Symposium, participants will get their inspiration in a philosophy of language sense, using "Language as an Enemy of Imagination" from Pascal Mercier’s novel “Perlmann's Silence”. The   theme, namely that thinking in sentences always represents a reduction in possibilities, may certainly be familiar to the artists, as the transfer of objectivity in sculpture is already a form of channeling and interpretation and thus a reduction of reality. It will be exciting to see how the sculptors interpret this  not exactly straightforward theme.   Davos,  Switzerland

July 17th to 25th in Lucerne
Blue Balls Festival -
Lucerne,  Switzerland

July 17th to  August 23rd in Brussels
Bruxelles les Bains
- Behind this event lies the concept of a city beach, complete with a little Brussels sauce.  Lined up along the canal are over a kilometer of beaches, water sports and straw huts serving up speciality food and drinks from all over the world.  Bruxelles les Bains is also about lots of sport, music and activities for kids.  For Bruxelles les Bains is the perfect spot for relaxing, taking it easy and above all, enjoying the summer holidays.  Belgium

July 17th to  September 12th in London
BBC Proms, London
- Represents a massive showcase of live music and performances at the Royal Albert Hall, including a string of 76 concerts with world class orchestral music and solo performances in the heart of London.  England

July 18th in Switzerland
Pipefest Basel 2009 -
The Pipefest Parade starts at 11am in the city centre.  The precise route will be finalized with the relevant authorities.  After the parade, a tribute to the chieftain with massed pipes and drums and harmony bands is planned.  The location will be confirmed in due course.  Subsequent to this event, participants may visit Tattoo Street or one of the numerous restaurants, relax and enjoy the local drinks and food.  A special performance of the Basel Tattoo will begin at 5pm and will be exclusively for participants and friends of Basel Pipefest 2009.  Tickets and accommodation packages will soon be available for your stay in Basel.  The post parade party begins at 8pm and will last until early hours of the morning.  Basel,  Switzerland

July 18th & 19th in England
Royal International Air Tattoo
- This year’s event takes place at RAF Fairford. It’s the biggest military air show in the world with over 300 aircraft taking to the skies in an extraordinary display of aerobatics.  Watch fast jets, giant transporters and historic aircraft from all over the world fly in a dizzying celebration of aviation over Gloucestershire. You’ll also be able to get up close to aircraft on the ground and meet the crews who fly these amazing machines. There’ll also be flight simulators, fast cars and a funfair for the kids.  Fairford,  England

July 18th & 19th in London
Lovebox Weekender
- From its humble inception seven years ago Lovebox has quickly realised itself as a London institution; a festival and arguably the UK’s best and most innovative urban showpiece.  For one weekend every July, Lovebox dominates town with 3 days of un-rivaled parties, performance and participation with Victoria Park as the hub of activity.  London,  England

July 22nd to October 4th in Berlin
Berlin's Bauhaus
- Ninety years have gone by since the founding of the State Bauhaus. This anniversary will be jointly acknowledged by the three great German Bauhaus institutes - the Bauhaus Archive / Museum of Design Berlin, the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation, and the Foundation of Weimar Classics. The centerpiece will be the major Bauhaus exhibition in Berlin's Martin Gropius Bau.  Berlin,  Germany

July 24th in Italy
A Gala Evening with the famous tenor, Placido Domingo,
in the magic atmosphere of the Arena di Verona.  The evening programme plans a performance of the last act of Otello,  Cyrano de Berac and Carmen.  The cast includes very well known names, who will sing with the Maestro from Madrid.  In Verona,  Italy

July 24th to August 2nd in France
The 11th celebration of Lorraine Mondial Air Balloons, the greatest international hot air balloon gathering in the world, will take place in the heart of Europe, in Lorraine (France), on Chambley Air Base (Meurthe-et-Moselle) .  This year special topic is "Aux Portes des Etoiles " .  Hundreds of hot air balloons take off twice daily, shows and animations (in particular A Space Journey: aeronautics, aerospace, astronomy) on the ground and in the air. Discover a large aeronautical "city" (740 acres) which will also host the World Glider Aerobatic Championship during 10 aeronautical festive days.   Lorraine,  France

July 24th to September 1st in London
The London Eye -
This Summer, the London Eye, is bringing to life other iconic locations from around the world.  Each week the London Eye landscape will reflect a different location with onsite performers such as Bollywood dancers representing Mumbai, traditional French mime artists evoking Paris and Carnival drummers and dancers bringing Brazil to life.    London,  England

July 25th & 26th in Scotland
The Gathering 2009
- Be a part of history; join clan members from around the world to witness Scotland's largest ever Highland Games in the inspiring Holyrood Park. Marvel at the athletes battling to win the 2009 World Highland Games Heavy Events, enjoy the skills of the pipers and Highland dancers and the stamina of the hill runners. Sample contemporary Scotland with live music, top-quality arts and crafts, and the best local food and drink.  Edinburgh,  Scotland

July to August in England
14th Leeds Shakespeare Festival
- Two of Shakespeare’s most popular plays will be performed in the idyllic setting of Leeds, the only English city outside London with its own repertory theatre, opera house and ballet companies. England

July 25th to August 2nd in Denmark
Come Out and Play 
- Everyone will come "out" to play when Copenhagen hosts the 2009 World Outgames.  A total of 8,000 athletes from 100 countries are expected to compete - about one-quarter of them from the United States and Canada - in 38 sporting events from aerobics and badminton to water polo and wrestling. Copenhagen,  Denmark

July 29th, August 5th & 12th in Switzerland
The summer concerts of the Kunstgesellschaft Klosters (Klosters Arts Society)
are a tradition reaching back almost 40 years: the series of concerts has been held every summer since 1971.  This year, classical music is once again trumps in the first two summer concerts in the Protestant church on Klosters Platz.  The third date belongs to folk music. The first concert will be staged on 29 July with a performance by the Niziol Quartett. On 5 August, the Zug Chamber Soloists appear in Klosters. The ensemble is composed of professional musicians who, in addition to their work in large orchestras or as tutors at music colleges, also nurture a common passion: chamber music. The series of summer concerts will be rounded off on 12 August by the Hanneli-Musig formation. They will dip into a great wealth of around 10,000 folk music melodies from the 19th and 20th centuries, taken from all parts of Switzerland. The seven musicians are well known throughout Switzerland for their concert and radio appearances.  Davos, Klosters,  Switzerland

Events in August 2009

August 1st in Switzerland
Swiss National Day
- Interlaken celebrates Swiss National Day with a kaleidoscope of colour! The whole family will enjoy the grand folklore procession, the children’s lantern parade, the many concerts and the fabulous firework display as a finale.  Switzerland

August 1st to 8th in Wales
National Eisteddfod
 - The largest and oldest celebration of Welsh culture dating from 1176, invites visitors to meet bards dressed in druidical robes and green-clad elves dancing to trumpeters. Wales

During August in Northern Ireland
Fish Festival & Gourmet Seafood Trail
- The largest seafood festival in Northern Ireland, it takes place in the four fishing villages of Kilkeel, Annalong, Ardglass and Portavogie. The finest and freshest seafood is landed daily in the ports and can be enjoyed in the restaurants participating in the Gourmet Seafood Trail.  Northern Ireland

At the end of August in Portugal
Castro Marim returns to the Middle Ages,
in a highly rigorous historical recreation.  During four days and nights, the Castle of Castro Marim once again plays host to kings and queens, knights in shining armor, jesters, buffoons, noblemen and ladies, as the entire Court make a procession before the admiring gazes of many visitors that travel to the event every year. Jousting tournaments, on foot and on horseback, street theatre performances, banquets accompanied by medieval music and a handicrafts and merchandise fair, complement the entertainment activities of these Medieval Days, enabling us to relive the magic and mystery of times gone by.  Castro Marim,  Portugal

August 2nd to October 11th in Weimar
"Franz Ehrlich: resistance of a Bauhaus student - concentration camp and beyond"
showing the life of this famous Bauhaus artist with a focus on his persecution and incarceration in the concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar under the Nazi regime. The exhibition in the Neues Museum is one of a series of events commemorating the Bauhaus anniversary year in 2009.  Weimar,  Germany

August 5th to 9th in Santa Barbara
Old Spanish Days Fiesta
- Since 1924, Old Spanish Days Fiesta has been Santa Barbara's signature event and draws tens of thousands of visitors to the area for the five day, city wide celebration featuring food, drink, music, dance rodeo and more  Santa Barbara,  California

August 6th to 8th in Bern
Buskers Festival Bern
- Here's something to rouse the Bernese bear from its summer slumbers: "Buskers" will titivate your senses and put some spring into your step! A 3-day busker festival and cultural happening for children, young people and adults of all ages.  Bern,  Switzerland

August 6th in Helsinki
Summer Music Programme Offers Rare Delights In Helsinki -
 The highlight of this summer rock concerts in Helsinki will no doubt be the appearance by Madonna. Her “Sticky & Sweet” tour will attract 80,000 fans to Jätkäsaari on 6 August. Another major event will be the comeback tour of Faith No More after 11 years of silence. The band will perform in Kaisaniemi Park on 24 June. Kaisaniemi Park will also be the venue for the Tuska Festival on 26 to 28 June. Fans of heavy metal will be treated to concerts by two international super-bands. Metallica will perform at Hartwall Arena on 14 and 15 June, while AC/DC arrive two days later on 17 June to perform at the Olympic Stadium.   Helsinki,  Finland

August 7th to 9th in Hamburg
Christopher Street Day Parade
- The annual Christopher Street Day Parade concludes Hamburg’s 3-day Gay Pride event.   Hamburg,  Germany

August 7th - 9th in Berlin
Berlin International Beer Festival
- Like Beer? During the 13th annual Berlin International Beer Festival, Karl-Marx-Allee will again turn into the world's longest beer garden and bar. On a stretch of over one mile, 190 breweries from 72 countries will draft some 1,700 brands of the world's finest beers   Berlin,  Germany 

August 7th to 9th in Scotland
Ayr Flower Show
- Held a stone's throw from Burns' cottage in the glorious surroundings of the Rozelle Estate, Ayr Flower Show is a three day celebration of gardening and outdoor living as well as a great reason – as if one were needed - to visit the South West.  Ayr,  Scotland

August 7th to 9th in Wales
Brecon Jazz Festival
 - A world-famous jazz event, features more than 90 concerts in the picturesque market town of Brecon. Wales

August 8th through 23rd in Dresden
The World of Chamber Music in and around Dresden - The Moritzburg Festival.
 Every year in August more than 25 soloists from all over the world come to Moritzburg to concentrate on chamber music works which are performed in various concerts. The unique concept of the Moritzburg Festival combines concerts in the baroque Moritzburg Castle, the protestant church of Moritzburg, the Proschwitz Wine Estate, the Dresden Frauenkirche and the Volkswagen "Die Gläserne Manufaktur" (The Transparent Factory) in Dresden.  The 17th annual Moritzburg Festival this year will take the audience back to the Baroque period. The Festival will present several of Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterpieces, e.g. “The Art of Fugue” and the “Goldberg-Variations”, as well as Joseph Haydn’s great work “Seven Last Words of Christ”.   Dresden,  Germany

August 8th to 23rd in Moritzburg
Moritzburg Festival
- The Castle Moritzburg just outside of Dresden will come alive once again in 2009 with the wonderful sounds of Jan Vogler and his roster of international musicians. For two weeks, soloists from all over the world will present works of chamber music in Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory, the Moritzburg Palace, the Frauenkirche and the Evangelical Church in Moritzburg.  Germany

Second weekend in August in Switzerland
Since its inception at the end of the nineteenth century, the Saignelégier Horse Show had as its objective the recognition and promotion of a native breed of horse: the Franches-Montagnes. Initially held with an important cattle market, the festivities have evolved largely into a horse show.  This evolution is also due to a certain change of role for these horses:  formerly used in farming, they have now become one of the principle tourist attractions in a region dedicated to fine horsemanship. 

The horse show has become the main attraction: the presentation of some 400 to 500 horses before a strict jury on Saturday morning, the contests on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, and the bright and colorful grand procession at Saignelegier never fail to attract thousands of interested spectators as well as genuine horse lovers. Trotting events, straight racing, wagon races, and events featuring fourhorse spans and bareback riding are all part of a program designed to provide a variety of top equestrian events. For some years now, there has been a Roman chariot race, which gives the proceedings a note of distinction by reminding spectators of the combined strength and courage of man and horse.  Saignelegier,  Switzerland

August 12th to 19th in Lucerne
Lucerne Festival im Sommer -
Lucerne,  Switzerland

August 13th to 16th in Belfast
Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge -
See the mighty Tall Ship sail into Belfast for the Atlantic Challenge Grand Finale. There’s a lot to be said for the elegant trail left in the wake of a fleet of Tall Ships as they glide across the water. And if you fancy witnessing the spectacular dizzy heights and intricate detail of these magnificent vessels, then a trip to Belfast for the Grand Finale is an absolute must-do. Taking place over four days, around 20 ships will make their way into port, having crossed the mighty Atlantic Ocean from Halifax in Canada and concluding a journey that has seen them travel over 7,000 nautical miles. But the Grand Finale is not all about the ships, there will be plenty of activities quayside, including music, street theatre and fun and games for all the family. So get your deck shoes ready and prepare to join in the craic.  Belfast,  Northern Ireland

August 13th to 17th on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man Adventure Week
- teams of specialist instructors will be on hand in the Isle of Man as their Adventure Week, an outdoor based festival for the whole family, tries to inspire everyone's inner daredevil. Visitors will have the opportunity to try out different adventurous activities, including sea kayaking, coasteering, rock climbing, diving and sailing, gaining top tips from world-class guest instructors and being inspired by guest speakers. The weekend includes live music and evening entertainment during the Festival weekend.  Isle of Man,  England

August 13th to 30th in Helsinki
Top names at the Helsinki Festival
- The Helsinki Festival from 13 to 30 August once again offers a wide range of events at the end of the summer. Among the highlights this year is a performance by the renowned Philharmonia Orchestra from London conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen at Finlandia Hall on 21 and 22 August. The festival’s legendary Huvila venue will treats audiences to a stellar line up of world music’s leading stars, top Finnish performers, and the first appearance by the top American alternative rock band Wilco in Finland. The sixth Flow Festival will be held at the historic Suvilahti power plant from 14 to 16 August, offering a wide range of international and Finnish urban rhythm music. The Helsinki Festival culminates with the popular Night of the Arts on 21 August. Helsinki,  Finland

August 14th to 23rd in Brussels
The Brussels Summer Festival
promises two weekends and a full week of rock, hip hop, classical music, itinerant theatre and all the museum offers one can wish for in the cultural quarter of the Capital.  Brussels,  Belgium

August 14th to September 6th in Scotland
Edinburgh International Festival 2009
- Edinburgh,  Scotland

August 15th to 23rd in Amsterdam
The Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival)
is an annual music festival based on performances of (classical) music at remarkable venues in Amsterdam. The remarkable venues are characterized by extraordinary or monumental architecture and cultural-historical value. The audience gets to enjoy both big names and talented young musicians.  Amsterdam,   The Netherlands

August 15th –  31st in Berlin
Dance in August Celebrates Its Twentieth Anniversary
- Tanz im August (Dance in August), Germany's largest festival for international dance and performance art, will celebrate its twentieth anniversary from August 15 to 31, 2009. On ten different stages, the stars of contemporary dance, promising choreographers, and newly discovered companies will display their skills. In addition to the performances, there will be lectures, discussions, films, and parties.   Berlin,  Germany

August 15th to September 20th in Liverpool
The 2008 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition
at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral - Liverpool, England

August 21st to 23rd in Germany
Luther Festival, Eisenach
- For the Luther Festival in Eisenach, an entire quarter of the town is transformed into a series of scenes from the late Middle Ages with lots of loving attention to detail. Craftsmen, spectators in historical costume, traveling players and entertainers recreate the fascinating atmosphere of a medieval market. Luther's life story is staged at original open-air venues. Luther Festival is an enchanting and moving medieval experience.  Eisenach,  Germany

August 21st to 30th in Copenhagen
Copenhagen Cooking - Nordic Cuisine
- There are extraordinary culinary experiences waiting for you when Copenhagen opens its doors to the Nordic food festival,  Whether you are a connoisseur, favour country cooking or like a little bit of everything take a bite of culinary Copenhagen and the Nordic region.   Copenhagen Cooking is a people's festival with something for every taste.  During the festival's 10 days, a wealth of temptation is on offer around the city.   Copenhagen,  Denmark

August 23rd & 30th in Lucerne
Horse Racing -
Lucerne,  Switzerland

August 26th to 28th in Denmark
Back In Time
- The town of Horsens in Denmark's Jutland region hosts the annual European Medieval Festival (Middelalderfestival). Now in its 15th season, the festival recreates northern Europe circa 1350 to 1526 with art, music, crafts and food. There are processions, performances and even a tournament where knights show off their combat skills.   Horsens,  Denmark

August 26th to September 6th in Germany
Wine Village, Stuttgart
- The Wine Village in Stuttgart is one of the largest and most beautiful wine festivals in Germany. More than 250 wines from the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg are sold in more than 120 lovingly decorated vine bowers on Marktplatz and Schillerplatz around the old Palace. Stuttgart,  Germany

August 28th to 30th in Frankfurt
The banks of the River Main in Frankfurt’s museum district host one of Europe’s largest open-air cultural festivals, the Museum Embankment Festival,  In addition to reductions at the museums you can enjoy numerous arts and crafts stalls, variety theater, international cuisine, special exhibitions and live music. Frankfurt,  Germany

August 29th & 30th in Switzerland
Schaferfest, festival for herdmen and sheep
- The last weekend in August is shepherds' weekend at Belalp. The stars of the event are about 2,000 sheep, which are ceremoniously being led down from their summer pastures around the Aletsch glacier. It's a captivating sight in breathtaking surroundings, attracting many visitors from near and far. They gather with the locals to join in the traditional celebration.  Belalp, Switzerland

August 29th & 30th in Dresden
Open house day of vineyards
- All vineyards along the Saxon wine street are inviting their guests.  Dresden,  Germany

August 29th to 31st in Frankfurt
The Museum Embankment Festival
in Frankfurt is one of the top events in Frankfurt's festival calendar. Concentrated around the Eiserner Steg footbridge, the festivities stretch for five miles on both side of the River Main. Ten museums on the "Schaumainkai" museum embankment hold special events and one-off exhibitions, while visitors are also treated to a packed program of cultural events, with everything from stage productions and performances to cabaret and live music. It's also well worth catching the spectacular dragon boat race.   Frankfurt,  Germany

August 29th - September 6th in Berlin
Jewish Cultural Days
- In its 23rd year, the annual Jewish Cultural Days will again present artists from Israel and Germany with their diverse program of music, theater, movies, readings, and celebrations. Since 1986, the festival has been a leading platform for Jewish artists and Jewish culture in Germany. Events take place at the Rykestrasse Synagogue, Rykestrasse 53,   Berlin,  Germany

August 31st in Wales
The World Bog Snorkelling Championship -
The unusual event held annually in UK's smallest town - Llanwrtyd Wells in Mid Wales, involves contestants battling through a peat bog using a mask and snorkel. Wales

Events in September 2009

During September in County Kerry
Midelton Food and Drink Festival
- A mouth-watering line up of food exhibitions and tastings. Food culture combined with a truly remarkable array of entertainment. County Kerry

Opening in September in London
New Darwin Centre Takes Shape
- The Natural History Museum in London is making room for a 8-story high cocoon which will house the new Darwin Centre.  It's slated to open in September, but is already creating a buzz.  The centre will house an extensive collection of insect and plant species as well as interactive science displays.  It will also serve as a state-of-the-art facility for the world's top researchers.  London,  England

First week of September in Portugal
Witness the Flower Festival in Campo Maior,
and see a town decorated with paper and colour.   The streets are adorned with flowers and paper in brightly coloured compositions (the festival is normally held in the first week of September by consensus of the residents). Campo Maior,  Portugal

During September in Austria
The Cattle Parade
- In the Tirolean village Jerzens on the second Saturday of September an interesting event will take place once again: after two and a half months the cows come home from the alpine pastures. The cow bells ring and all the locals plus the guests are celebrating the return of the animals. The cattle parade is one of the most beautiful celebrations in the Alps and at the same time an unmistakable sign that winter will be coming soon …   There are strict rules on the alpine pastures. And therefore it’s exactly prescribed which cow has to wear which head decoration (called Proscht). Toni Schöpf, dairyman of the Jerzener Tanzalm Alpine Pasture, knows all the animals very well and therefore at the end of the season he’s the unbiased person, who decorates the cows for the cattle parade. For example he selects the Stoßproscht decoration for the most impressive cow. The Milchproscht decoration is given to the cow which produced the most milk and there is also a Proscht for the most beautiful grey cow and one for the most beautiful brown cow. Because the second places are also awarded, eight cows finally lead the herd down to the valley.  Jerzens,  Austria

Between Mid-September & Mid-October in Bonn
The International Bonn Beethoven Festival
- The Bonn Beethoven Festival has its origins in the three-day music festival staged to celebrate the unveiling of the Beethoven memorial in 1845. With around fifty concerts by international artists over a two to four week period between mid September and mid October each year, the Bonn Beethoven Festival has become a major musical event in Bonn and the surrounding region.  Bonn,  Germany

September 3rd to 13th in Amsterdam
Dutch Theatre Festival -
Theatre Festival of the Netherlands and Flanders, marks the end of the old and the beginning of the new theatre season. Besides a jury selection, the festival offers an in-depth programme, a Flemish selection and the Amsterdam Fringe Festival.  The Netherlands

September 3rd to September 19th in Berlin
Musikfest Berlin 09
; location: Philharmonic Hall Berliner Festspiele  - Stiftung Berliner Philharmoniker - Berlin,  Germany

September 4th to 6th in County Down
Hillsborough Oyster Festival
- Set in the pretty village in Co Down, the festival attracts 12,000 visitors from around the globe, and is host to the World Oyster Eating Championships, among other equally as fun events  County Down,  Ireland

September 4th to October 3rd in Bonn
Beethoven Festival
- Every year in autumn, the Beethoven Festival Bonn attracts the attention of music lovers from all over the world. More than 60 concerts of international orchestras, ensembles and prominent soloists are performed at more than 20 venues in Bonn and the region: the Beethoven Hall, the house of birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, old castles and fortresses along the river Rhine.   Bonn,  Germany

September 5th in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Symphony presents "Beethoven:  To Life"
with superstar pianist Lang Lang, who has dazzled audiences worldwide with his stunning artistry.  This will be a concert for the ages, as Lang Lang will perform not one, but two of Beethoven's beloved piano concertos with Maestro Nir Kabaretti and the Santa Barbara Symphony at The Granada.  Santa Barbara,  California

September 5th to December 23rd in York
‘Seeing Red: The Influence of Turkey Red Dye on Quiltmaking’
. - At the Quilt Museum and Gallery,  York,  England

September 9th to November 8th in Portugal
Experimentadesign 2009
- Dedicated to design, architecture and contemporary culture, ExperimentaDesign invades Lisbon between September and November, every two years. The event is an international event that presents activities in a wide array of areas including ambient design, architecture, visual arts, cinema, graphic design, industrial design, photography, multimedia, music and video. Lisbon,  Portugal

September 10th in Brussels
Vendanges @ Brussels Louise
- In Paris the “Vendanges” is THE society event of the year, on September 10 Brussels Louise organizes its own first “Vendanges”event. The principle is simple: the luxury boutiques of the Louise area animate their area with lots of champagne and special treats, all donations and proceeds will be given to a charitable foundation. The Association of Luxury shops in the Louise area, Brussels Louise, are confident that this event will not only become an important society event, but will provide a much needed boost for the economy.  Brussels,   Belgium

September 10th through 13th in Clarenbridge
Clarenbridge Oyster Festival
A celebration of the start of the oyster season with the world famous Clarenbridge oysters. Now in it’s 54th year. Clarenbridge,  Ireland

September 11th to 15th and September 18th to 21st in Bad Duerkheim
The Wurstmarkt Fair and Wine Festival
has a very long history. It is one of the largest, most traditional festivals in Germany. Despite its name, it is the world’s largest wine festival. You can enjoy over 150 different wines in over 50 different places. Bad Duerkheim,  Germany

September 12th to December 6th in Holland
Holland Art Cities:
A cultural extravaganza showcasing more art & culture per square mile than any other country on earth.  Kunsthal Rotterdam:  New Horizons - The Hague School and Modern Dutch Landscapes. 
In 2009 and 2010, the four largest cities in Holland are taking part in a large-scale art and cultural event called ‘Holland Art Cities .’ The top ten museums in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht joined forces to put together an unprecedented art spectacle; the resulting exhibits showcase a great variety of scale, range and theme.   Holland

September 16th - 18th in Berlin
Popkomm 2009
- Europe’s largest international fair for popular music and entertainment, last year (2008) attracted some 14,000 visitors and 843 exhibitors from around the world, for three days and four nights of doing business and partying. Focusing on the three sectors of trade show, conference, and festival, Popkomm creates synergies between the music market and music related branches. A large program of public events in Berlin’s clubs and concert venues will feature bands and DJs from Europe and beyond. Berlin,  Germany

September 18th to 20th in California
Solvang, the “Danish Capital of America”, celebrates its 73rd annual Danish Days with plentiful folk dancing, parades and entertainment. Authentic restaurants and bakeries feature tasty cuisine, including aebleskiver (pastry ball) and medisterpǿlse (Danish sausage). Solvang,  California

September 19th in Switzerland
Return of the Sheep
- The customary return of the sheep on the Saturday prior to the Swiss Federal Day of Prayer, is the most important event in a shepherd's year.  The preceding week, the sheep are all assembled in one place.  On Friday, the large herd of 600 to 700 animals is brought either to the 'Farich' near Mary of the Snow Chapel on Bettmeralp (during odd numbered years), or to the Alpine Museum at Riederalp (during even numbered years).  Then follows a swinging shepherds' evening, complete with a hearty dinner and popular music to honor the return of the sheep.  Bettmeralp,  Switzerland

September 19th in Santa Barbara
Head to East Beach
for a day of family-friendly entertainment at the annual Sandcastle Festival, featuring sandcastle building competitions, live music, kids’ activities, food, drink and more. Santa Barbara,  California

September 19th & 20th near Geneva
Russin Grape Harvest Fextival -
Celebration of vine and wine in this charming village in Geneva's countryside, with wine-tasting, music, ball and parades - Geneva,  Switzerland

September 19th to October 4th in Munich
Oktoberfest, Munich
- Held on the Wies’n fairground in Munich, the world-famous Oktoberfest will be opened with the traditional words "O'zapft is" (the barrel is tapped). Each year, the Oktoberfest attracts about seven million visitors from all over the world. Experience the Germany of traditional music and costumes, pretzels, and an inexhaustible supply of the finest beer in the world.   Munich,  Germany

September 23rd to 27th in Orleans
Festival de Loire d'Orleans - Grand gathering of traditional French and foreign river boats.
The schedule includes demonstrations and shows on the water, night-time events and dances, Loire crafts and produce, conferences, debates and exhibitions... Orleans,  France

September 24th - 27th in Berlin -
Art Forum Berlin – Int’l Fair for Contemporary Art
- One of the cultural highlights each fall is Art Forum Berlin, Europe’s most influential and bold event celebrating contemporary art. The fourteenth Art Forum Berlin, international trade fair for contemporary art, will take place at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds from September 24 – 27, 2009. Organized by Messe Berlin GmbH in cooperation with an international art gallery advisory board, the event is one of the most innovative, world-class art shows, showcasing a comprehensive overview of the most decisive trends and movements in the international art scene.    Berlin,  Germany

September 24th through 27th in Galway
The Galway International Oyster Festival
- A world class festival featuring the Guinness world oyster opening championship and celebrating the famous Galway Bay oysters. Great food, fun and music.  County Galway

September 26th & 27th at Vully
Vintner's Festival
- Praz - Prior to the grape harvest, there is a celebration.  Visit the wine festival at Vully on the sunny side of Lake Murten.  From the town of Murten there are regular boat rides and shuttle busses to the Vully and back.  Saturday from 16:00 hours.  Vully,  Switzerland

September 26th in Copenhagen
Bull's Eye in Copenhagen
- In the old harbour district of Nyhavn, the World's 16 best archers will compete for World Cup medals when this year's Archery World Cup Final is to be held in Copenhagen on 26 September 2009. The International Archery Federation, FITA, is looking forward to a spectacular event.  HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark guests the finals.  All 16 archers who attend the World Cup Final are among the very best, including Olympic champions.

 It is the official opening for sports at the Olympic Congress, which takes place in Copenhagen from 1 October. HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark will attend the archery event in Nyhavn. 

The World Cup Finals is to be held in the centre of Copenhagen (Nyhavn) on 26 September from 10:00 to 17:00. It is free for the public (admission for the grand stands).   The event is organised by Wonderful Copenhagen in co-operation with the Danish and the International Archery Federations.

Events in October 2009


During October in California
New "epicure.sb"  Annual Foodie Festival Debuts in October -
Experience Santa Barbara’s diverse epicurean offerings during “epicure.sb: a month to savor Santa Barbara”, featuring regional cuisine, libations and culture. The promotion builds off of existing annual foodie-friendly events including the Harbor & Seafood Festival, California Lemon Festival, California Avocado Festival and Celebration of Harvest. Special midweek menus, educational seminars, mixology demos, farmers’ market tours, cooking classes, micro-brew tastings, wine maker dinners and much more will fill the month up with tasty opportunities to sip and savor the uniquely local flavors of Santa Barbara County. Co-presented by the SBCVB&FC and Santa Barbara Downtown Organization - 
 Santa Barbara,  California

During October in County Cork
Kinsale Food Festival
- A fabulous festival which celebrates everything that Ireland’s gourmet capital has to offer. Takes place in Acton’s and Trident Hotels and Good Food Circle restaurants around the town - County Cork, Ireland

During October in Brussels
Biennale Art Nouveau
- Brussels is definitely the capital of Art Nouveau which is why the “Biennale Art Nouveau” in October, now on its 5th edition, is an event cherished by the connoisseurs!  Every weekend of October mansions, private houses, schools and shops, all fine examples of this popular art form, will be opened to visitors for guided tours.  Brussels,  Belgium

October 1st in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum presents Jessica Findley: Aeolian Ride
, a special outdoor collaborative event that has been performed in cities across the world. Inspired by a love for bikes, city cruising, critical mass, costumes, silliness and things that inflate, Aeolian Ride is a free, mass participatory bicycling performance piece with a sense of humor. Santa Barbara,  California

October 2nd through November 15th in Berlin
Black Flamingo:  Burlesque Show at the Wintergarten
- , the curtain will once again go up every night for six weeks in the legendary Wintergarten Berlin. The burlesque show "Black Flamingo" will run through November 15 at the city's famous music hall on Potsdamer Straße. With the plot set in the Roaring Twenties, the action includes burlesque performers, clowns, artists, and musicians from London, Paris, and New York.  Berlin,  Germany

October 3rd in Berlin
German Unification Day
- In celebration of the reunification of Germany, a large celebration is held each October 3 on the streets surrounding the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Music fills the air with special stages set up featuring everything from classical to rock.  Berlin,  Germany

October 13th - 25th in Berlin
Festival of Lights
- For two weeks each October, Berlin turns into a sparkling metropolis with a firework of illuminations during the Festival of Lights. The city’s most recognized historical sights and locations will be highlighted by colorful lights, projections, and fireworks, giving Berlin a magical appearance. Complementing the festival are numerous cultural events, all focusing on the topic of “light”. Special “lightseeing tours” are offered by bus, boat, or bicycle, and on the first Saturday of the festival many of the illuminated buildings host special events until midnight, during the “Night of open doors”.  Berlin,  Germany

October 23rd to March 14th, 2010 in Liverpool
The Rise of Women Artists
– Tracking the historical changes influencing women artists from painting to ceramics at The Walker – Liverpool,  England

October 29th to  November 8th
Salzburg International Jazz Festival
- Every year in late autumn the city of Salzburg becomes a mecca for jazz fans of all age groups. In addition to the top stars appearing at Salzburg's highly acclaimed Jazz Festival managed by Johannes Kunz, "Jazz in the Old City" features mostly local groups performing on the squares and in the restaurants of the historic city center for free admission.  Salzburg's Jazz Festival is one of Europe's most elegant jazz festivals. Since its formation in 1996, it has attracted international stars and Austrian jazz performers to Salzburg. The artists appearing before enthusiastic audiences at exclusive concerts and intimate jazz sessions include legendary stars, newcomers as well as insider tips.  Salzburg,  Austria

Events in November 2009

During November in County Kerry
Listowel Food Fair
- One of the country’s biggest food festivals, Listowel celebrates the best of gourmet food in Kerry

First Week of November in Portugal
National Horse Fair in Golega 
- The National Horse Fair of Golegã is one of the largest events of its kind in Portugal. Equestrians and fans from around Europe are expected to watch the competitions and take part in parades and food events. This is one of the country's most typical fairs. It attracts thousands of people to the various events featuring the magnificent Lusitanian thoroughbred horse. Golega,  Portugal

First Tuesday every November in Melbourne
Melbourne Cup
- Australians across the nation stop to celebrate this major annual horse racing event. Whether you are at the track, at a pub in the middle of the outback or lunching at one of the many restaurants throughout the country, Melbourne cup is an event that everyone gets involved in.  Melbourne,  Australia

November 5th - 8th in Berlin
JazzFest Berlin
-
The series of festivals in Berlin traditionally draws to a close with JazzFest Berlin which will be held for the 50th time November 5-8, 2009. The program is devoted to creative artists who have elevated this jazz festival to the high level that it has reached today. Big bands and large-format ensembles, American and international jazz stars will be performing during the four-day concert marathon. (Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Quasimodo, and other sites.  Berlin,  Germany

November 6th to 15th in Lucerne
Lucerne Blues Festival -
Lucerne,  Switzerland

November 16th to 22nd in Lucerne
Lucerne Festival at the Piano -
Lucerne,  Switzerland

Christmas Markets in Cologne

November 24th to December 23rd in Cologne
Christmas Market at the Cologne Cathedral -
The Christmas market at the Cologne Cathedral was voted as the most beautiful in Europe by the trade press. In 160 lovingly designed pavilions you can find sophisticated handcrafts as well as regional and “typically kölsch“ products. The highlight each year is the collectable cup, which is available at the beverage stalls. Cologne,  Germany

November 24th to December 23rd in Cologne
Angels' Christmas Market at Neumarkt Square
- In the heart of the Cathedral city you can find one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany. Centrally located, between the most popular shopping streets in Cologne, we carry you into the kingdom of angels. Let yourself be enchanted. Cologne,  Germany

November 24th to December 23rd in Cologne -
Heinzelmannchen Christmas Market in the Old Town
- In the middle of the historic and idyllic Cologne Old Town stands this rustic Christmas market. According to the famous Cologne legend, this was also the home of the ”Heinzelmännchen”, who were said to be particularly good craftspeople. Therefore, at this Christmas market you can find a particularly large number of handcraft stalls, where goods are still produced in the traditional way .  Cologne,  Germany

November 24th to December 23rd in Cologne
Christmas Market at the Cologne Cathedral -
The Christmas market at the Cologne Cathedral was voted as the most beautiful in Europe by the trade press. In 160 lovingly designed pavilions you can find sophisticated handcrafts as well as regional and “typically kölsch“ products. The highlight each year is the collectable cup, which is available at the beverage stalls. Cologne,  Germany

November 24th to December 23rd in Cologne
Angels' Christmas Market at Neumarkt Square
- In the heart of the Cathedral city you can find one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany. Centrally located, between the most popular shopping streets in Cologne, we carry you into the kingdom of angels. Let yourself be enchanted. Cologne,  Germany

November 27th to December 13th
The Salzburg Advent Singing in the Great Festival Hall
- Year after year nearly 200 participants on stage and behind the scenes of the Large Festival Hall make sure that Salzburg Advent Singing lives up to its outstanding reputation: an intimate, unforgettable event that has become a fixture on Salzburg's pre-Christmas program. Approximately 36,000 visitors from Austria and abroad travel to Salzburg during the Advent season to experience the world-famous event firsthand.  Salzburg,  Austria

November 27th to December 22nd in Cologne
Christmas Markets
- The floating Christmas market on the Rhine in Cologne presents an alternative to the traditional markets: on board the "MS Wappen von Köln", you can browse for gifts and enjoy panoramic views of the old town in winter as you sip a mug of glühwein in complete comfort. Exciting events held on this and other ships include dinner shows, culinary Christmas tours to suit all tastes and a fantastic New Year's Eve party.  Cologne,  Germany

November 28th to December 29th in Bern
Christmas Markets - The streets and alleys are aglow with the warm light escaping from living rooms. Little Christmas trees decorate the facades of the houses, adding to the romantic mood. The Old Town houses, dating from the 15th to 17th centuries, provide a fantastic and unique backdrop for the distinctive Bern Christmas Market. Münsterplatz is devoted mainly to arts and crafts. Traditional market fare can be found 10 minutes away on Waisenhausplatz.  You'll find special candles, gifts and handmade souvenirs. Glühwein will help to warm you up again, and there are plenty of stalls offering snacks and nourishment. A visit to one of the legendary restaurants in the Old Town - either the 350-year-old Klötzlikeller or the Kornhauskeller - turns a visit to this magical market into something really special.  Bern,   Switzerland

Events in December 2009


CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN ALSACE REGION

Through December in Alsace
"Traditional Christmas markets" in 35 cities and smaller towns throughout the region. The festive outdoor markets offer Christmas trees and decorations, seasonal preserves and sweets, as well as decorative objects for nativity scenes, local crafts, toys and gifts. The oldest Christmas market, held for 431 years, is in Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace (November 25 to December 31). Other notable markets are in the medieval towns of Kaysersberg (Late November to December 23), Colmar (November 24 to December), Riquewihr (December) and Selestat (December). France

During December in Berlin
Christmas Fairs and WinterMagic
- The Yuletide season offers a wide variety of events and celebrations for visitors and Berliners. Beginning at the end of November, Berlin is home to about 60 Christmas markets, including Germany's largest fair in Spandau's Old Town, the historic market at Gendarmenmarkt square, and the nostalgic fair at the Opernpalais Unter den Linden. Holiday concerts, ranging from classical to vaudeville, enhance the spirit, while countless winter activities, such a tobogganing and ice skating make for unique urban winter experiences.  Berlin,  Germany

December 5th in Lucerne
Nicholas Procession -
Lucerne,  Switzerland

December 6th in Switzerland
When night falls, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of Fribourg, rides a donkey through the streets of the old city, leading a procession towards the platform erected under the portico of the cathedral. From this tribune, the student playing the role of the saint, addresses the large crowd assembled in the square.  Fribourg,  Switzerland

December 31st in Berlin
New Year’s Eve at the Brandenburg Gate
 - New Year's celebrations prove extra special in recent years when up to one million Berliners and visitors gather at Brandenburg Gate to call in the New Year and witness a dramatic fireworks display. The party stretches along the Straße des 17. Juni all the way to the Victory Column, and features show stages, DJ towers, dance floors, a Ferris wheel, and delicacies from all over the world. An international stage program with live acts, famous rock and pop bands, and DJs will guarantee uninterrupted entertainment until the wee hours of the morning. New Year’s Eve Party at the Brandenburg Gate. December 31, 2009  Berlin,  Germany

Events in January 2010

 

Events in February 2010

 

Events in March 2010

March 29th, 2010 to May 22nd, 2010 in Amsterdam
The Amsterdam Kleinkunst Festival
is the annual highlight of the cabaret season in the Netherlands. Since its founding in 1988, the festival has focused on stimulating the future, honoring the past and crowning quality.  The Netherlands

 Events in April 2010

 

Events in May 2010

First Saturday in May in Bonn
Fireworks on the Rhine
- When 2,000 red Bengal lights bathe the famous sights of the Rhine and the riverside promenades between Bonn and Linz in a festive glow on the first Saturday in May, the illusion of the "Rhine in Flames" is created.  On land or on board one of the 60 cruise boats, the spectacular firework event in Linz, Remagen, Bad Honnef and Bonn captivates tens of thousands of people every year. The Rhine is transformed by a frenzy of fireworks, and there is also a kaleidoscopic programme of entertainment and other events. Come along and experience the spectacle for yourself!   Bonn,  Germany

Events in June 2010

 

Events in July 2010

 

Events in August 2010

 

Events in September 2010

 

Events in October 2010

 

Events in November 2010

 

Events in December 2010

 

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