Star Wars News
3 September
[1st Saturday in Sept.] SCOTLAND, the Braemar Gathering [Highland Games] - traditionally odd Scottish sporting events and massed pipers in a scenic setting in Scotland.
4 September
1st Sunday in September, annually ITALY, Venice, Regata Storica - in a 510 year-old tradition, a vast fleet of gondolas and other historic craft headed by the ornate Doge's barge, all loaded with Venetians in brilliant medieval costumes parade and race around the canals of this spectacular city.
8 - 11 September ENGLAND, Isle of Wight, Bestival - a 3-day boutique music festival and party set at Robin Hill Country Park, known for its annual fancy dress competition, so make sure to dress correspondingly. It is kids-friendly, too.
17 Sept - 3 October GERMANY, Munich Oktoberfest mainly about downing vast quantities of beer and bratwurst, then behaving badly with your neighbours, but set in a gorgeous city. Key requirements: 1] Love beer 2] Love sausages 3] Love raucous singing 4] Love drunk Germans.
22 - 25 September TBC SPAIN, Festes de la Mercé, Barcelona - Barcelona's biggest annual festival to celebrate the city's patron saint, the Virgin de la Merce with over 500 activities including a parade of the giants [wooden figures operated by humans], Castellers [the human towers] and fireworks for 4 days around 24th September [a public holiday].
22 - 25 September IRELAND, Galway International Oyster Festival - with fun events of all sorts.
7 - 15 October
HUNGARY Budapest Autumn Festival - all sorts of arts, music, drama, dance, exhibitions, poetry and kid's stuff in interesting
21 October - 5 November IRELAND, Wexford Opera Festival - a small but perfectly formed and positively regarded event in a brand new Opera House on a new date.
28 Oct - 1 Nov
FRANCE, Paris, Salon du Chocolat - every aspect of the brown wonder-drug is explored at this lengthy celebration in Paris' Port de Versailles
5 November
[same day every year]
Carnival procession on Saturday before 5 Nov. ENGLAND, Devon, Ottery St. Mary Tar Barrels - huge flaming barrels are carried around this little rural town. The procession and fireworks are on the Saturday before the 5th of November.
7 November
ENGLAND, London to Brighton Veteran Car Run [LBVCR] - the world's longest running motoring event. Ancient car lovers will need to find a comfortable viewing location for this London [Hyde Park] to Brighton [Madeira Drive] event for hundreds of pre-1905 vehicles; it starts at dawn and motors will begin to fart across the finish line from about 10 am.
21 November
[same date every year] ITALY, Venice, La Salute - a religious festival at the beautiful Basilica Santa Maria della Salute. Venice Pictures
Late Nov - 23 Dec
every year GERMANY, nationwide, Christmas Markets. This chilly winter country has a history of wonderfully warm, colourful and fattening Christmas markets set in spectacular locations. Some of Germany's best are: Esslingen [medieval costumes and carols]; Wurzburg [snow probable]; Berncastel-Kues [arguably the prettiest]; Hamelin [Pied Piper's home so kid friendly!]; Heidelberg [lots of kid's stuff]; Lubeck [UNESCO World Heritage Site]; Regensburg [superbly lit and romantic]; Rothenburg [medieval Disneyland]....
December
All December DENMARK, Copenhagen Tivoli Gardens - special events for Christmas celebrations.
8 - 21 December FINLAND, Helsinki St Thomas Christmas Market - including the Lucia parade on the 13th, crafts, special foods etc...mainly at Esplanade Park.
8 - 11 December FRANCE, Lyon, Fete des Lumieres - a 4 day spectacularly radiant Festival of Lights, features 80 light projects and draws 4 million people annually. The whole of city illuminates itself with candles and lights everywhere along with Christmas decorations.
29 Dec - 1 January
[Same days every year] SCOTLAND Edinburgh's Hogmanay - one of world's best New year Celebrations, a truly wild and wooly underwear occasion, with a torchlight procession, a Fire Festival, fireworks, concerts and much insobriety, in a city dark yet strangely light... Edinburgh Guide,
31 December AUSTRIA Kaiserball at Hofburg Congress Center in Vienna- a stunning, glamorous, lively winter Ball at the magnificent Hofburg Palace, every year.
