The Seenachtfest on the shores of Lake Constance includes many fun activities and ends with a glorious display of fireworks. The event takes place Ag. (iStock)
Of all the countless special places to be on a sunny summer’s day, it’s hard to beat a location on the shores of a clean and swimmable lake. And where there’s a city or town set in an enviable waterside location, it’s a pretty safe bet that a fest or party worth attending figures into its annual calendar of events. Here are a few events to check out this weekend and the weeks to come:
Echternach, Luxembourg: In a natural green amphitheater surrounded by hills, the e-Lake festival offers three days of electronic music across two stages. From Aug. 8-10, an anticipated 20,000 music fans will revel to the sounds of up-and-coming and established artists and music spun by DJs. Saturday’s program traditionally features an international lineup; on Sunday, performers from Luxembourg take to the stage.
While entry to the festival itself is free, anticipate parking fees (10 euros per vehicle). The only camping available is offsite. The festival kicks off at 6 p.m. on Aug. 8 and closes late on Sunday evening Aug. 10. The venue’s exact address for navigational purposes is Centre récréatif d’Echternach, Rue Grégoire Schouppe, L-6479 Echternach. Online: e-lake.lu
Konstanz, Germany: Germany’s largest city on the shores of Lake Constance, or the Bodensee as it’s known locally, hosts one of its biggest bashes of the summer on Aug. 9. The Seenachtfest offers a two-mile promenade packed with action brought on by dancers, acrobats, water-skiers, musicians and vendors selling souvenirs and tasty fare. The evening’s crowning glory is a display of fireworks that reflects from the water to stunning effect. There’s a good reason to make the trip this year— organizers state this is probably the last year the fest will be staged at such a scale and with the fireworks.
The Lake Night Festival gets underway from 3 p.m. Adult admission costs 23.90 euros; entry for youth ages six – 13 goes for 4 euros; children five and under enter free. Online: seenachtfest.de
Zurich, Switzerland: One of Europe’s most important financial centers and a powerhouse in terms of cultural offerings has an additional claim to fame: it plays host to what’s billed as the world’s largest techno party. Each year in August, hundreds of thousands of electronic and techno music fans make the pilgrimage to the shores of Lake Zurich, eager to be part of the Street Parade. On Aug. 9, party people will come together once again to take in the sounds of house, drum’ n’ bass, dubstep, trance, techno and genres which defy easy labels. The beating heart of the fest is made up of the so-called Love Mobiles, decked-out trucks that serve as mobile stages for artists and DJs. The 30 Love Mobiles are complemented by an additional eight static stages. The festival kicks off at 1 p.m. and goes until midnight, at which point many revelers will make their way to clubs where they will dance until the dawn. Entry to the street parade is free. Online: streetparade.com
Limone del Garda, Italy: Each year on the eve of the Italian national holiday known as Ferragosto, the town of Limone sul Garde basks in a sunny glow. On Aug. 14, Yellow Night transforms the promenade on the shores of Lake Garda into an all-ages party zone featuring concerts, shows, plenty of food and drink stands and a fireworks display. The fun begins at 8 p.m.; entry is free. Online: tinyurl.com/mrxn2fz6
Faak am See, Austria: The Austrian state of Carinthia, inched up to Italy and Slovenia and known for its lakes and mountains, makes a breathtaking backdrop to one of Europe’s largest gatherings of Harley-Davidson fans. From Sept. 2-7, the lake known as Faaker See will be considerably less than tranquil as hundreds of thousands of bikers and enthusiasts of the Harley label come together for riding through the scenic highways of the eastern Alps by day and partying by night. A highlight of the week’s activities is the Harley parade, scheduled to kick off at noon on Aug. 6. The route passes along the Faaker See, through the city of Villach and around another lake, the Ossiacher See, before returning to its home base lake. Event participants can choose to camp or take advantage of motels that cater to a riding clientele. Online: bikeweek.at/en
Bardolino, Italy: As the summer slowly fades away, it’s time to taste the wines, and for sampling those made from grapes grown on the hills surrounding Lake Garda, the Festa dell’Uva e del Vino is an optimal event for doing so. From Oct. 2-6, an estimated 100,000 visitors will turn out for regional foods, live music, and sampling the area’s acclaim red wines. Open cellars, concerts and crafts stands round out the offerings. Fireworks set to music go off at 10 p.m. Oct. 6. Online: tinyurl.com/4cyu5ktb
