Festivals & events
Europe hums with activity in all seasons. Here are some events on the docket as of Jan.10, 2013.
Austria
NASSFELD: Schlag das Ass-Nassfield trophy, cross-country skiing along a 25.6-km route, billed as “the world’s longest ski race,” Jan. 11-12.
FILZMOOS: International Hot Air Balloon Week, Jan. 12-19; Night of the Balloons, balloons alight and synchronized to music, Jan. 13.
KITZBÜHEL: Snow Arena Polo World Cup, Jan. 17-20.
VIENNA: Resonances Festival, concerts from Middle Ages to Baroque era, Vienna Konzerthaus, tickets required, Jan. 19-27.
VIENNA: Ball Season, upcoming balls include Pharmacists Ball in the Imperial Palace Jan. 19; The Vienna Philharmonic Ball in the Musikverein Jan. 24 and Hunters Ball in the Imperial Palace Jan. 28.
KITZBÜHEL: Hahnenkamm Races, includes men’s Super-G, slalom and downhill competitions, Jan. 25-27.
SALZBURG: Mozart Week, classical music festival, Jan. 24-Feb. 3.
INNSBRUCK: Billabong Air & Style, snowboarding competition, Feb. 1-2.
Belgium
www.visitbelgium.com and www.opt.be.
BRUSSELS: Winter sales, through Jan. 31.
BRUSSELS: European Motor Show, expo of light commercial and recreational vehicles and motorcycles, tickets required, Jan. 11-20.
LIÈGE: Festival of Liège, highlights theater, dance and music, Jan. 18-Feb. 9.
BRUSSELS: BRAFA, Brussels Fine Arts and Antiques Fair, Tour & Taxis, tickets required, Jan. 19-27.
LIÈGE: Les Transardentes, winter festival celebrates electronic music, tickets required, Jan. 26.
BRUSSELS: TrucTroc, art exchange in which anything of value can be exchanged with the artist, BOZAR Palais des Beaux Arts, Feb. 1-3.
SPA: Whisky Live, tastings and workshops, Feb. 1-3.
SANKT-VITH: Sled dog races, Feb. 2-3.
Croatia
ZAGREB: European Figure Skating Championships, Jan. 21-27.
DUBROVNIK: Feast of St. Blasius, folk and religious celebration, Feb. 2-3.
Czech Republic
PRAGUE: Christmas markets, Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square, through Jan. 13.
PRAGUE: Opera 2013, Festival of Music Theatre at the National Theater, through Feb. 3.
PRAGUE: Restaurant Festival, local produce and traditional dishes at exceptional prices, Jan. 15-Feb. 28.
PRAGUE: Short Film Festival, Svetozor Cinema, Jan. 17-20.
Denmark
COPENHAGEN: Tourism Fair, Bella Center, Jan. 18-20.
SILKEBORG: Mid Jutland Folk Music Festival, Jan. 21-27.
SKAGEN: Winter Swimming Festival, Jan. 26-29.
COPENHAGEN: Fashion Festival, with shows, parties and concerts, various sites, Jan. 30-Feb. 3.
AALBORG: Northern Winter Beat Festival, 30 concerts in three days, tickets required, Jan. 24-26.
England
LONDON: International Mime Festival, visual theater including puppets, slapstick and mime at the Barbican, Southbank Centre, and other venues, Jan. 10-27.
WHITTLESEA: Straw Bear Festival, old tradition in which man in bear costume dances in public places, Jan. 12.
LONDON: London Boat Show, Excel, Jan. 12-20.
LONDON: London Art Fair, Business Design Center, Islington, tickets required, Jan. 16-20.
LONDON: The Outdoors Show, The Active Travel Show and The London Bike Show, one ticket allows entry to all shows, Jan. 17-20.
MANCHESTER: National Winter Ales Festival, Sheridan Suite, tickets required, Jan. 23-26.
LONDON: Loco London, festival of funny films, Southbank and other venues, Jan. 24-27.
PETERBOROUGH: Tudor Living History Day, part of Katharine of Aragon Festival celebrations, cathedral, Jan. 26.
France
PARIS: Winter sales, through Feb. 12.
PARIS: New Art Fair, contemporary art fair, Espace Cardin, Jan. 11-13.
LES CARROZ: Golfiades, hot air balloon meet, Jan. 27-Feb. 9.
PARIS: Carnival, parade starts at 2 p.m. from place Gambetta, Feb. 10.
Germany
BAD RAPPENAU: Glühweinmarkt, open-air drinking of mulled wine, Jan. 11-13, 18-20 and 25-27.
STUTTGART: The Holiday Exhibition, vacation planning ideas, display of campers and recreational vehicles, tickets required, Stuttgart Messe, Jan. 12-20.
BERLIN: Fashion Week, Jan. 15-20.
BERLIN: JapanFestival Berlin 2013, tickets required, Urania, Jan. 19-20.
FREINSHEIM: Red wine volksmarch, Jan. 25-27, torchlight walk Jan. 25 at 6 p.m.
NEUBERG: Donauschwimmen, Europe’s biggest winter swimming event, advance registration required, Jan. 26.
BERLIN: Transmediale, festival of art and the creative application of digital media, Jan. 29-Feb. 3.
DRESDEN: SemperOpera Ball, thousands celebrate outside city’s opera house, Feb. 1.
BREMEN: Carnival, Germany’s largest samba carnival, Feb. 1-2.
BREMEN: Classic motor show, vintage car exhibition, ÖVB-Arena, Feb. 1-3.
SCHWÄBISCH HALL: Hallia Venezia, Venetian style carnival celebration, Feb. 3.
HEIDELBERG: Vampire Ball, tickets required, Feb. 9.
Ireland
BUNRATTY: Shannonside Winter Music Weekend, folk and bluegrass, Jan. 17-20.
GALWAY: Music to Your Ears, country music weekend, Jan. 18-20.
DUBLIN: Tradfest, celebration of traditional Irish music and culture in Temple Bar area of city, Jan. 22-27.
Italy
BOLOGNA: International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Jan. 25-28.
MADONNA DEL CAMPIGLIO: Winter Marathon, classic autos race through passes in the Dolomites, Jan. 24-27.
AOSTA: Sant’Orso Fair, traditional crafts and woodcarvers market, Jan. 30-31.
MILAN: Food and Wine Festival, tickets required, Feb. 9-11.
MADONNA DEL CAMPIGLIO: Habsburg Carnival, characters wear costumes inspired by the Imperial Court of Vienna in the 19th century, Feb. 10-15.
FLORENCE: Chocolate Fair, Piazza della Repubblica, Feb. 10-19.
Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURG CITY: Tourism Fair, Luxexpo, Jan. 18-20.
DIEKIRCH: Eurocross, international cross-country running competition, Jan. 27.
Monaco
MONTE CARLO: International Circus Festival, Jan. 17-27.
Netherlands
AMSTERDAM: Light Festival, through Jan. 20.
AMSTERDAM: Amsterdam 24H, businesses, hotels and restaurants remain open to public 24 hours, Jan. 13-14.
AMSTERDAM: Choir Days, over 100 international choirs perform at the Paradiso, tickets required, Jan. 13-14.
AMSTERDAM: Realisme, dedicated to figurative art, Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, Jan. 17-20.
AMSTERDAM: Jumping Amsterdam, equestrian event at RAI, Jan. 17-20.
AMSTERDAM: Amsterdam Fashion Week, open to public, Jan. 18-27.
ROTTERDAM: Flamenco Biennial also takes place in Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, tickets required, Jan. 19-Feb. 3.
AMSTERDAM: Impro Amsterdam, International Improvisation Theater Festival, Jan. 22-26.
ROTTERDAM: International Film Festival Rotterdam, Jan. 25-Feb. 3.
Norway
TROMSO: International Film Festival, Jan. 14-20.
TROMSO: Northern Lights Festival, celebrates jazz and classical music, Jan. 25-Feb. 2.
GEILO: Ice Music Festival, all instruments are made of ice, Jan. 24-27.
LONGYEARBYEN: Polar Jazz, world’s nothernmost music festival, Jan. 31-Feb. 3.
Scotland
BURGHEAD: Burning of the Clavie, fire festival, Jan. 11.
DUMFRIES: Big Burns Supper, celebrates Robert Burns Day, Jan. 25-27.
AVIEMORE: Sled Dog Rally, Siberian huskies race in Great Britain’s largest sled dog racing event, Jan. 26-27.
LERWICK: Up Helly Aa, fire festival, Jan. 29.
Spain
VALLADOLID: International Winter Motorcycle Rally, Jan. 10-13.
ARAGON: Pirena, sled-dog racing challenge across the Pyrenees, Jan. 19-Feb. 2.
SANTIPONCE: Italica International Cross-Country, foot race among the ruins of a Roman city outside Seville, Jan. 20.
Sweden
LUND: International jazz party, 10 bands on six stages, AF-Boreng, tickets required, Jan. 19.
GOTHENBURG: International Film Festival, Scandinavia’s leading film fest, Jan. 25-Feb. 4.
JOKKMOKK: Sami winter festival and historical market, Feb. 7-9.
Switzerland
BASEL: CSI Basel 2013, Grand Prix of horse show-jumping, Jan. 10-13.
BELALP: Witches’ Descent, race of costumed witches, Jan. 12-19.
BASEL: Museum Night, Jan. 18.
WENGEN: Ski World Cup, Jan. 18-20.
GRINDELWALD: World Snow Festival, snow sculptures, Jan. 21-26.
BASEL: Vogel Gryff, procession of mythical figures floating on the Rhine River in Kleinbasel, Jan. 26.
