MUST LOVE FESTIVALS

The annual Gibraltar Music Festival is set in the picturesque Victoria Stadium on the Rock of Gibraltar, this year they boast the exclusive British festival performance of ‘Sex On Fire’ rock heroes Kings Of Leon, alongside the insanely influential and multi-multi-multi-million selling pop legends, Duran Duran.

Other acts confirmed for the bill so far include Paloma Faith, Madness ,The Kaiser Chief,.Tom Odell, Rae Morris, The Feeling, Lawson, Third World, Reach, Strange Brew, Tim Garcia featuring Afterhours and Paddy Taylor.

Calentita is the “national” dish of Gibraltar, means “warm” and, according to some sources, appeared in the sixteenth century. It is of a pot pie mixed chickpea flour with water, salt and black pepper, roasted in the oven, within a greased bowl with olive oil, and served hot. In the twenty-first century, is also the name of a food festival that takes place every year. This is a street party and food festival, a colourful celebration of Gibraltar’s multicultural society reflected in the food, where you are invited to sample tastes from the melting pot of all their communities.

The Hanse Sail in Rostock is the largest maritime festival in Mecklenburg (Germany) and one of the largest in Europe.

About 250 traditional sailing ships of all types and sizes from a vast variety of countries visit the coast off the city of Rostock every year during the second weekend of August. Today, the Hanse Sail forms part of the joint Baltic Sail, which takes place in several countries bordering the Baltic Sea during July and August. Every year about 1 million visitors visit the Hanse Sail. Even though it is accompanied by other cultural events, the ships remain the center of the festival. Besides watching ships, it is also possible to sail on them or enter them while they are anchored. There are also sea planes and a helicopter parallel to the festival....

Hundreds of Rothenburg’s townsfolk are members of historical reenactment groups, reviving a bygone age or re-establishing a traditional profession. Thousands of yards of fabric are worked to reproduce the original fashions of the day, old equipment is brought out of retirement or reproduced in loving details. Preserving and revitalizing the past – this is the motto of the Imperial City Festival. On Friday evening there is a grand torch-light procession by the various historical groups to the Market Square. With thundering cannons and a glittering display from the brand firework spectacular in the Tauber Valley, the town sinks into darkness on Saturday night, only to continue the light-hearted festivities next morning, celebrating history as never before…

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The Rüdesheimer wine festival has a unique atmosphere in the Rüdesheim, Germany. Cheerful winemakers get together with guests to show the gastronomic highlights of the region accompanied with live music, from noon until late, giving the right rhythm for young and old. Events include the Coronation of the Rüdesheimer wine queen.

For more information, visit http://www.ruedesheimer-weinfest.de

The Oldenburg International Film Festival covers since 1994 the international movie scene in all of its aspects. This open minded approach leads to an inspiring mix of great premieres, surprising discoveries and original independent productions. Off beat innovation and ideas against the grain are the trademarks of the festival.

Staro Riga festival of lights is an annual traditional festival. The event usually lasts 4-5 days, and its timing coincides with the Latvian Independence anniversary celebrations.

Staro Rīga Festival allows locals and visitors to view unique light art objects. Just a few nights on the streets, in parks, squares and on specially illuminated façades can be viewed in different techniques-generated art objects and light shows encouraging to see the famous city of Riga in a new light.

All event objects a free and accessible to all age groups.

For more information visit http://www.staroriga.lv/013/en/

This festival offers a music, cinematic, theatrical, and visual art events programme that promotes an understanding of the processes behind contemporary culture across the world. The festival is unique and offers to a wide range of viewers creative expressions by excellent and highly-recognised artists. It is a celebration of art in the city throughout the whole month, which reaches its culmination in the open-air opera performances that take place at Pils Parks (Castle Park). It is visited not only by Latvians but also by art lovers from all around the world.

Experience the New Year’s Festival in Dublin as the city comes alive over 3 day’s for fun filled New Year’s festivities. Bringing together some of the country’s best talents, NYF Dublin offers you  a host of free and family friendly activities and events guaranteed to entertain. Enjoy live gigs across the city at the NYF Music Trail. Watch how they bring the city streetscapes to life with cutting-edge 3D animations, discover the city at the Spoken Word Festival or follow the NYF Arts Trail or Dublin Discover Trail. Get active on Resolution Day by joining the New Year’s Day Fun Run from Dublin Castle, or take part in free exercise classes in Dublin city parks and fitness clubs.

Welcome to the world famous celebration of Halloween , the largest in Europe. Experience creepy GhostBus tours, night-time markets, thrills and spills galore, with a week-long hive of devilish activities that everyone will adore. Ghoulish fun, ghastly frolics and thrilling events, all leading up to the main extravagant suspense. Key highlights of this festival include the world famous spooktacular carnival parade and the spine-chilling fireworks cascade.

For more updates about this year’s festival visit http://campaign.derrycity.gov.uk

The Temple Bar TradFest has gained a reputation as the one of the biggest and best traditional Irish music and culture festivals in Ireland. The festival takes place over 5 days and 5 nights with over 200 events. The festival has been recognised for its contribution to Irish traditional music and culture with several awards including Best Traditional Music Festival in the 2008 and 2009 Festival Awards. Numerous iconic venues are used to host concerts featuring talented and beloved musicians from Ireland.

Our festival started out in 2006 as a small niche traditional music festival, a first for Dublin. We wanted to create something special – a festival showcasing the cream of both Irish and international trad and folk artists while also providing a...