Not to be missed in 2012
Published: December 16, 2011
The year 2012 is giving us more excuses than ever to hit the road. One of the events taking center stage of course is the 2012 London Olympic Games in July and August. Thinking of going? Tickets went on sale in the U.S. on Dec. 7 and are now available on the website of the only authorized ticket reseller, CoSport. Ticket prices vary, with entry to basketball and shooting events from $44 and diving competitions at $327 and up. Looking for an athlete to get behind? Why not a U.S. military member competing in the games? The Army World Class Athlete Program and the Air Force World Class Athlete Program are helping many hopefuls prepare for Olympic glory.
Following on the heels of the Olympics will be the Paralympic games in August and September, where our U.S. athletes will no doubt do us proud as well. These games are also in London.
Not so high on our radar, perhaps, is the UEFA European Football Championship unfolding in Poland and Ukraine June 8-July 1, although that will be big news throughout Europe. If you’re tempted to go east, it’s good news that Ukraine no longer demands visas of U.S. citizens on short tourist visits. Even if you’re not heading to any soccer matches, the broadcasts are sure to provide an animated backdrop to outdoor café visits on long summer evenings.
A host of smaller events take place throughout the year 2012 as well. Various countries set aside several months, if not an entire year, in honor of a famous person, event or phenomenon. The year has been designated Klimt Year 2012 in Austria; it’s the Year of Gastronomy in Belgium; and Sweden celebrates author and playwright August Strindberg. England will be taking note of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens; in Ireland, they’re remembering 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic; and Switzerland marks the Centenary of the Jungfrau Railway. It’s also the Year of Creative Scotland.
England marks 60 years of the queen's reign during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations June 2-5.
The Council of the European Union names two cities capitals of culture annually. Wearing this designation in 2012 are Guimarães, Portugal, and Maribor, Slovenia, so be on the lookout for special cultural events there.
The forces of nature are fickle, but NASA predicts the strongest northern lights activity in 50 years. These are best viewed in Arctic regions in the late autumn and early winter months. With that in mind, a voyage on Norway’s Hurtigruten might be just the call.
Events that happen every second year in even-numbered years include, in order of appearance, the light installations of Frankfurt’s Luminale April 15-20; the Patrouille des Glaciers, an international ski mountaineering race for military and civilian teams on a course between Zermatt or Arolla to Verbier, Switzerland, April 25-28; the Norwegian Military Tattoo in Oslo on May 9-13; the Zinneke parade in Belgium on May 19; Reykjavík’s Landsmót, a meet-up centered on the Icelandic horse, June 25-July 1; the Bordeaux Wine Festival on June 28-July 1; Coimbra, Portugal’s Festivities of the Holy Queen in July; Marostica, Italy’s human chess game Sept. 7-9; the Bienal de Flamenco in Seville, Spain, on Sept. 7-Oct. 6; and the Salone Internationale del Gusto, a huge wine-and-food event, in Turin, Italy, on Oct. 25-29.
Those seeking a little culture might want to check out the Marrakech Biennale of contemporary international culture Feb. 29-March 4 in Morocco; Newcastle, England’s AV Festival, celebrating art, technology, music and film, March 1-31; the Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art in Scotland April 20-May 7; theInternational Dance Festival Birmingham in England April 23-May 19; the Bucharest International Biennale for Contemporary Art May 25-July 22 in Romania; the London International Festival of Theatre June 11-July 8; or the Liverpool Biennial of visual arts in England Sept. 15-Nov. 25.
Every third year Ypres, Belgium, hosts a Cats Festival and Parade. The 43rd edition of this event will take place on May 13. If you want a ticket for a grandstand seat, note they go on sale starting Feb. 15.
With 2012 being a Leap Year, single ladies eager to tie the knot might want to be in Denmark on Feb. 24, when women may propose their hand in marriage. In the event of refusal, tradition dictates that compensation take the form of 12 pairs of gloves.
Other events to pencil into your travel calendar include Kassel, Germany’s dOCUMENTA, one of the world’s most important exhibitions of contemporary art. Coming around but once every five years, it’s on June 9-Sept. 16. And Venlo, Netherlands, hosts Floriade 2012, a World Horticultural Exposition organized every 10 years. Check that out April 5-Oct. 7.
It looks like 2012 is shaping up to be another great year to be based in Europe. What’s on your travel agenda for the months to come?
