Winter in Europe can be a beautiful thing! Here is a sampling of events on the docket as of Feb. 12, 2016. It’s wise to confirm details with organizers or local tourism boards before traveling.
Austria VIENNA: Ball season, upcoming balls include Johann Strauss Ball Feb. 13; Technoball Feb. 27.
ZELL AM SEE: balloonalps, hot air balloons above skies, through Feb. 13.
VIENNA: Masters of Dirt, freestyle motocross show, Feb. 19-21.
VIENNA: Accordion Festival, Feb. 20-March 20.
SALZBURG: Die Hohe Jagd & Fischerei, hunting and fishing fair, Messezentrum, Feb. 25-28.
GASTEIN: Snow Polo World Cup, Feb. 26-28.
VIENNA: New Sound Festival, 20 new musical acts on three stages, Ottakringer Brauerei, Feb. 27.
VIENNA: Easter market at Schoenbrunn Castle, March 9-29.
VIENNA: Art austria, Leopold Museum, March 10-13.
HALL IN TIROL: Easter Festival Tirol, festival of music, dance and drama, March 11-27.
GASTEIN: Snow Jazz, March 11-20.
VIENNA: Traditional Viennese Easter market, Freyung, March 11-28.
LANGENLOIS: Loisiarte, festival for chamber music and literature, March 17-20.
RAURIS: Sonnblickrennen, ski race from peaks of Hohe Tauern National Park, March 19.
VIENNA: Vienna Blues Spring, Reigen, March 20-April 30.
ISCHGL: Top of the Mountain Easter Concert, March 28.
NASSFELD: Full Metal Mountain, hard rock festival on the slopes, March 28-April 3.
GIGGIJOCH: Electric Mountain Festival, April 8-9.
Belgium BRUSSELS: Anima, Animated Film Festival, Flagey, through Feb. 14.
LIEGE: Festival de Liege, theatre, dance and musical events, through Feb. 21.
BRUSSELS: Brussels Book Fair, Tour & Taxis, Feb. 18-22.
MONS: International Romantic Film Festival, Feb. 19-26.
ANTWERP: Chocolate week, Feb. 19-27.
TOURNAI: Tournai Jazz Festival, Maison de la Culture, Feb. 25-27.
SOHIER: Weekend of Special Beers, Feb. 26-28.
BRUSSELS: Affordable Art Fair, Tour & Taxis, Feb. 26-29.
BRUSSELS: Public brewing session, Cantillon Brewery, March 5.
BRUSSELS: Museum Night Fever, museums open late hours, March 5.
MECHELEN: Eurantica, Brussels Fine Art Fair, Nekkerhal-Brussels North, March 5-13.
STAVELOT: Carnival of the Blanc Moussis, March 5-7; parade at 2 p.m. March 6.
ANDENNE: Carnival of the Bears, March 6.
LA ROCHE-EN-ARDENNE: carnival parade at 2 p.m. March 6.
BRUSSELS: Klara Festival, celebrates classical music, March 9-24.
LEUVEN: Leuven Jazz, Schouwburg and other venues, March 16-20.
TOURNAI: Brassicole de Tournai, beer festival, March 19-20.
Croatia ZAGREB: ZagrebDox, international documentary food festival, Cineplexx and Kapital Centre, Feb. 21-28.
PASMAN: Skraping international trekking race, running race atop sharp rocks, March 5.
Czech Republic PEC POD SNEZKOU: Winter Arena, winter music and extreme sports festival, through Feb. 13.
PRAGUE: Grand Restaurant Festival, through Feb. 29.
PRAGUE: Winter Run, Feb. 20; also in Olomouc, Feb. 27.
PRAGUE: St. Matthew’s Fair, Exhibition Grounds, Feb. 20-April 17.
PRAGUE: Let it Roll, indoor drum and base festival, Expo grounds, Feb. 26.
PRAGUE: One World Film Festival, international human rights film festival, March 7-16.
PRAGUE: Mercedes Benz Prague Fashion Week, Atelier A1, Strahov, March 16-23.
PRAGUE: Febio Fest, International Film Festival, Cinestar Andel, March 17-25.
PRAGUE: Sportisimo Half Marathon, April 2.
Denmark COPENHAGEN: Frost Festival, concerts in intimate venues, through Feb. 26.
COPENHAGEN: Winter Jazz, also countrywide, through Feb. 28.
COPENHAGEN: Copenhagen Dining Week, Feb. 14-21.
COPENHAGEN: Lego World, Bella Center, Feb. 18-21.
COPENHAGEN: Jewish Film Festival, Cinemateket, Feb. 23-28.
ODENSE: World Toelt, Icelandic horse show, Arena Fyn, Feb. 26-27.
COPENHAGEN: Chocolate Festival, Carlsberg Tap 1, Feb. 27-28.
COPENHAGEN: Aalborg Opera Festival, March 3-13.
COPENHAGEN: Liquorice Festival, Weber Grill Academy, March 5-6.
COPENHAGEN: Copenhagen Bike Show, Lokomotivværkstedet, March 11-13.
COPENHAGEN: Bakken Amusement Park opens for summer season, March 17.
England LONDON: The Telegraph Outdoor Adventure and Travel Show, Excel, through Feb. 14.
LONDON: The MCN London Motorcycle Show, ExCel, through Feb. 14.
SCARBOROUGH SPA: Coastival, music, arts and street performances, through Feb. 14.
CAMBRIDGE: e-Luminate, festival of light and illuminations, through Feb. 17.
LONDON: VAULT Festival, entertainment and shows in vaulted chambers beneath Waterloo, through March 6.
LONDON: Orchid Festival, Kew Gardens, through March 6.
BLACKPOOL: Showzam, festival of circus and performance, Feb. 13-20.
LONDON: Chinese New Year, West End, Feb. 14.
YORK: Viking Festival, Jorvik Viking Centre, Feb. 15-21.
HAWES: Dark Skies Festival, Dales Countryside Museum and other venues, Feb. 15-21.
DERBY: CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival, Roundhouse, Feb. 17-20.
LONDON: The London Classic Auto Show, Excel, Feb. 18-21.
WAKEFIELD: Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb, Wakefield Visitor Centre, Feb. 19.
BROADSTAIRS: Broadstairs Blues Bash, blues festival, Feb. 19-21.
LONDON: London Fashion Weekend, Saatchi Gallery, Feb. 25-28.
BATH: Bath Literature Festival, Feb. 26-March 6.
NORTHUMBERLAND: Endurance Life Coastal Trail Series, run along scenic coastal landscape, Feb. 27.
LONDON: London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival, Camden Centre, March 2-4.
AMBLESIDE: Children’s Literature Festival, celebrates Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday, Wray Castle, March 4-6.
LONDON: Maslenitsa Russian Festival, March 7-12.
BIRMINGHAM: Crufts, world’s largest dog show, The NEC, March 10-13.
LONDON: St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Trafalgar Square; March 13.
OXFORD: Oxford Literary Festival, April 2-10.
CAMBRIDGE: Cambridge Literary Festival, April 5-14.
Finland HELSINKI: International Boat Show, Expo and Convention Centre, through Feb. 21.
HELSINKI: Restaurant Day, food carnival with pop-up restaurants, Feb. 21.
HELSINKI: Baila Baila’s International Salsa Festival, Feb. 25-27.
HELSINKI: Handicraft Fair, Old Harbor, March 5-6.
HELSINKI: Season, film festival, Bio Rex and Maxim, March 31-April 3.
France CLERMONT-FERRAND: International Short Film Festival, through Feb. 13.
PARIS: Taste of Paris, gourmet festival, Grand Palais, through Feb. 14.
PARIS: art3F Paris, contemporary art fair, Porte de Versailles, through Feb. 14.
PARIS: winter sales, through Feb. 16.
PARIS: Sons d’Hiver, jazz and world music fest, through Feb. 21.
MOREZ: Transjurassienne, cross country ski race, Feb. 13-14.
NICE: Carnival, this year’s theme is “King of Media,” Feb. 13-28.
MENTON: Lemon Festival, Feb. 13-March 2.
VILLEFRANCHE SUR MER: naval flower battles, Porte de la Sante, Feb. 15.
MANDELIEU-LA NAPOULE: Mimosa festival, Feb. 17-24.
PARIS: International Agricultural Show, Porte de Versailles, Feb. 27-March 6.
PARIS: Half marathon, March 6.
PARIS: Sugar, fair for pastry and decoration, Porte de Versailles, March 11-13.
PARIS: Vertical Race at the Eiffel Tower, March 17.
PARIS: Mondial du Tourisme, holiday fair, Porte de Versailles, March 17-20.
PARIS: Schneider Electric Paris Marathon, April 4.
Germany DORTMUND: Jagd und Hund, hunting expo, Messe, through Feb. 14.
MUNICH: f.re.e, public travel and tourism fair, Messe, through Feb. 14.
BERLIN: Berlinale, international film festival, through Feb. 21.
MANNHEIM: Winterlichter, illuminations in Luisenpark, through Feb. 21.
HAMBURG: Nitro Circus Live, motocross stunt show, Barclaycard Arena, Feb. 16; also in Cologne, Lanxess Arena, Feb. 17.
KARLSRUHE: art KARLSRUHE, art fair, Feb. 18-21.
MUNICH: Finest Spirits Festival, whiskey and spirits fair, Muenchner MVG Museum, Feb. 19-21.
BOCHUM: Historical Indoor Market, Jahrhunderthalle, Feb. 21, 27-28, March 5-6.
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN: Banff Mountain Film Festival, Kongresshaus, Feb. 22.
NUREMBERG: Meine Freizeit, public travel and tourism fair, Messe, Feb. 24-28.
ELTVILLE AM RHEIN: Rheingau Gourmet & Wine Festival, Feb. 25-March 13.
MUNICH: Braukunst Live, craft beer fair, Muenchner MVG Museum, Feb. 26-28.
MUNICH: Starkbierfest, Paulaner am Nockherberg, strong beer celebrations, Feb. 26-March 13.
BAD DUERKHEIM: (W)Einkaufsnacht, illuminations and wine in city streets, from 7 p.m., Feb. 27.
FRANKFURT: Winterworld, techno festival, Messe, Feb. 27.
TUEBINGEN: Irish Spring, festival of Irish Folk Music, Soziokulturelles Zentrum Sudhaus, Feb. 29.
DORTMUND: Motorraeder Dortmund, motorcycle trade fair, Westfalenhallen, March 3-6.
HEIDELBERG: Banff Mountain Film Festival, Musik und Singschule, March 5.
BAD DUERKHEIM: Weinbergnacht, evening vineyard hiking and culinary specialties, March 4-5.
NEUSTADT A. D. WEINSTASSE: Petit Salon du Chocolat, chocolate tasting fair, Saalbau, March 4-5.
WUERZBURG: Fruehjahrsvolksfest, spring fun fair, Marktplatz and Talavera, March 5-20.
HEIDELBERG: Sommertagszug, parade to bid farewell to winter, starts 3 p.m., March 6.
BERLIN: ITB Berlin, international travel fair, March 9-13.
WUERZBURG: Flamenco Festival, Mainfranken Theater, March 9-20.
FRANKFURT: Lufthansa Half Marathon, Commerzbank-Arena, March 13.
FRANKFURT: Luminale, illuminations transform city, March 13-18.
HANNOVER: CeBIT, world’s largest trade fair for digital IT and telecommunications, March 14-18.
KARLSRUHE: RendezVino, wine fair, Messe, March 17-20.
GOETTINGEN: Harlem Globetrotters, March 17; also perform in Bamberg March 18; Munich March 19; Goeppingen March 20; Berlin March 21; Bremerhaven March 22; Bielefeld March 23; Frankfurt March 24.
REGENSBURG: Tattoo Oster Weekend, tattoo convention, Airport Obertraubling, March 27-28.
BERLIN: Vattenfall Berlin Half Marathon, April 13.
Hungary BUDAPEST: Mangalica Festival, culinary festival celebrates pork products, Szabadsag Ter, through Feb. 14.
SIOFOK: Lake Balaton Supermarathon, 195 km run can be split up into various distances, March 17-20.
Ireland KILLARNEY: The Gathering, festival of traditional music and dance, INEC, Feb. 17-21.
DUBLIN: Dublin International Film Festival, Feb. 18-28.
DUBLIN: Dine in Dublin, promotions in restaurants and food pavilions, Feb. 22-28.
DOOLIN: Russell Memorial Weekend Festival, traditional music festival, Feb. 25-29.
LETTERKENNEY: The Race, 260 km endurance event includes kayaking, cycling, mountain and trail running, March 4-6.
DUBLIN: St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, March 17-20.
DINGLE: Dingle International Film Festival, March 17-20.
HOWTH: Dublin Bay Prawn Festival, March 18-20.
DUBLIN: Easter Rising Centenary Celebrations, Dublin Castle and other locations, March 26-27.
Italy TURIN: Automotoretro, auto show, Lingotto Fiere, through Feb. 14.
VERONA: Verona in Love, romantic celebrations throughout city, through Feb. 14.
GENOVA: Arte Genova, shows modern and contemporary art, through Feb. 15.
AGRIGENTO: Almond Blossom Festival, through Feb. 14 and 19-21.
FLORENCE: Chocolate Fair, Piazza della Repubblica, through Feb. 21.
MILAN: Bit, travel and tourism fair, FieraMilano, Feb. 13.
MILAN: Salon du Chocolat, The Mall, Porta Nuova Varasine, Feb. 13-15.
MODENA: Modenantiquaria, antiques expo, Modena Fiere, Feb. 13-21.
VERONA: Romeo & Juliet Half Marathon, Feb. 14.
VIAREGGIO: Carnival celebrations, includes grand processions of floats and costumed participants, Feb. 14, 21, 28 and March 5.
FLORENCE: Calcio Storico Fiorentino: the match of the siege, re-enactment of football game that took place in 1530, Piazza di Santa Croce, Feb. 17.
VICENZA: Hunting and Fishing fair, Fiere, Feb. 20-21.
KRONPLATZ: Red Bull Kronplatz Cross, relay ski race, Feb. 26-27.
TREVISO: Treviso Marathon, March 6.
VERBANIA: Lago Maggiore Half Marathon, March 6.
MILAN: Identita Golose Milano, gourmet fair, Convention Center, March 6-8.
FLORENCE: Taste, food festival, Stazione Leopolda, March 12-14.
MILAN: Affordable Art Fair, Superstudio Piu, March 17-20.
MILAN: Milano Auto Classico, classic car show, Fiera Milano Rho, March 18-20.
FLORENCE: The Feast of the Annunciation and the Florentine New Year, includes historical parade, March 25.
FLORENCE: Explosion of the Cart, Easter celebration, March 27.
TORRITA DI SIENA: European Blues Challenge, City Hall, April 8-9.
ROME: Rome Marathon, April 10.
Luxembourg DIEKIRCH: Eurocross, long distance race, Feb. 21.
CITY: Lux City Film Festival, la Cinematheque, Cine Utopia and Utopolis Kirchberg, Feb. 25-March 6.
PETANGE: Carnival parade, March 6.
REMICH: Carnival parade, March 6.
CITY: Bric a Brac Fair, Hall 7, Luxexpo, March 12-13.
CITY: Emaischen, Easter Monday festival, day for purchase of clay bird whistles, Palace of the Grand Dukes, March 28.
Malta VALLETTA: Vodaphone Malta Marathon, Feb. 28.
MELLIEHA: Xterra Malta, triathlon, April 3.
Netherlands ROTTERDAM: Art Rotterdam, through Feb. 14.
THE HAGUE: Cadance, festival for modern dance, through Feb. 15.
AMSTERDAM: Wonderland Festival, electronic music fest, Amsterdam Studios, Feb. 13.
DELFT: De Koninck Delft Blues Festival, Feb. 13-14.
THE HAGUE: Half marathon, March 6.
MAASTRICHT: TEFAF Maastricht, art and antiques fair, Exhibition and Congress Center, March 11-20.
AMSTERDAM: HISWA Amsterdam Boat Show, March 16-20.
EINDHOVEN: Ice Horse, horse show of Icelandic ponies, IJssportcentrum, March 19.
THE HAGUE: Movies that Matter, highlights documentary films, Filmhuis Den Haag, March 20-28.
LISSE: Keukenkof Gardens open, March 24-May 16.
Norway KRISTIANSUND: Opera Festival, through Feb. 19.
ROROS: Rorosmartnan, market and cultural events, Feb. 16-20.
OSLO: IBU Championsips Biathlon, Holmenkollen, March 3-13.
TRONDHEIM: Kosmorama, International Film Festival, March 8-13.
BERGEN: Borealis, festival for experimental music, March 9-13.
VOSS: Vossa Jazz, jazz festival, March 18-20.
RENA: Birkenbeinerrennet, 54 km cross country ski race crossing two mountains, March 19.
OSLO: Inferno Metal Festival, March 23-26.
Portugal PORTO: Fantasporto, international film festival for fantasy and science fiction, Feb. 26-March 5.
LISBON: Lisbon Half Marathon, March 20.
OBIDOS: Holy Week celebrations, March 23-27.
BRAGA: Holy Week celebrations, March 24-27.
Scotland ABERDEEN: Spectra Festival of Light, Union Terrace Garden, through Feb. 14.
FIFE: Fife Jazz Festival, through Feb. 14.
FORT WILLIAM: Fort William Mountain Festival, Feb. 17-21.
GLASGOW: Glasgow Film Festival, Feb. 17-28.
INVERNESS: Inverness Music Festival, Feb. 27-March 9.
GLASGOW: The Great Scottish Beer Celebration, Barras Art and Design Centre, March 10-12.
GLASGOW: Aye Write Book Festival, Mitchell Library, March 10-20.
GLASGOW: International Comedy Festival, March 10-27.
ABERDEEN: Aberdeen Jazz Festival, March 16-20.
EDINBURGH: Edinburgh International Science Festival, March 26-April 10.
EDINBURGH: Old Town Street Food Festival, The Three Sisters Bar, March 27.
Slovakia TATRANSKA LOMNICA: Snow Dogs, dogsled rides and festivities, Feb. 20-21.
Slovenia LJUBLJANA: Ljubljana International Documentary Film Festival, March 10-17.
Spain PAMPLONA: Point of View, Navarre International Festival of Documentary Cinema, through Feb. 14.
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE: Carnival celebrations, through Feb. 14.
CADIZ: Carnival parade, Feb. 14.
BARCELONA: eDreams Half Marathon, Feb. 15.
JEREZ: Jerez Festival, celebrates flamenco, Feb. 19-March 5.
SEVILLE: City Marathon, Feb. 21.
MADRID: Arco Contemporary Art Fair, Feb. 24-28.
BARCELONA: Barcelona Beer Festival, Maritime Museum, March 4-6.
SANTANDER: International Half Marathon, March 6.
BARCELONA: Zurich Barcelona Marathon, March 13.
VALENCIA: San Jose Fallas celebrations, March 15-19.
ELCHE: Palm Sunday Procession, March 20.
COUNTRYWIDE: Semana Santa, Easter week processions, March 20-26.
MULA: Night of the Drums, March 22.
MADRID: Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, April 24.
Sweden GOTHENBURG: Gothenburg Boat Show, Maessan, through Feb. 14.
STOCKHOLM: Stockholm International Antiques Fair, Feb. 18-21.
UMEA: Umefolk, folk festival gathering, Feb. 25-28.
STOCKHOLM: Sonar International Festival of Advanced Music, avant-garde electronic dance music, Nobelberget, Feb. 26-27.
GOTHENBURG: The Passion for Food Festival, Eriksbergshallen, Feb. 26-28.
DALARNA: Vasaloppet, world’s longest cross-country ski race, Feb. 29.
GOTHENBURG: Gothenburg Horse Show, March 24-28.
STOCKHOLM: Liquorice Festival, Globe Arena, April 23-24.
Switzerland ZURICH: Zurich carnival, through Feb. 14.
INTERLAKEN: Ice Magic, skating rinks connected by runways, through Feb. 27.
ST. MORITZ: White Turf, horse races on snow, Feb. 14 and 21.
BASEL: Morgenstreich, carnival celebrations, Feb. 15.
ZURICH: Swiss Moto, motorcycle exhibition, Messe, Feb. 18-21.
ZURICH: Salsa festival, Kongresshaus, Feb. 26-28.
BASEL: BScene, club festival, March 4-5.
SAAS-FEE: Glacier Bike Downhill, March 12.
ST. MORITZ: Engadin Ski Marathon and Half Marathon, March 13.
AROSA: Alpine Hot Air Balloon Week, March 13-18.
MORGINS: Rock the Pistes, music festival on the slopes of Portes du Soleil, March 13-19.
ST. MORITZ: Music Summit, club music festival, March 16-20.
BASEL: Blues Festival Basel, Volkshaus, April 5-10.
SAAS-FEE: Allalin Races, amateur ski races on glacier, April 8-9.
ZURICH: Expovina Primavera, spring wine festival, PULS 5, Geissereihalle, March 31-April 7.
Wales LLANDUDNO: Cambrian Rally, race of MGs through Snowdonia, Feb. 13.
RHYL: Ten Mile Run, Feb. 21.
CRICKHOWELL: Walking Festival, Feb. 27-March 6.
BANGOR: New Music Festival, features contemporary music, March 1-6.
GWYNEDD: Sci-fi Weekender, sci-fi and fantasy festival, March 17-20.
