1. The Dorset County Show – September

The Dorset County Show held within the outskirts of Dorchester presents a glorification of Dorset’s celebrated and often romanticised relationship with the great outdoors.

Starting life in 1841, this two-day event held during the twilight of summer blends modernity with rural tradition to deliver agriculturally themed activities, events and competitions the whole family can enjoy.

Highlights include a collection of the nation’s finest famers showing off the spoils of their labour in much the same way as they would have over 170 years ago; as well as enough parades packed full of animals and machines to occupy the minds of even the busiest children.

Read more about The Dorset County Show at dorsetcountyshow.co.uk

2. The Great Dorset Steam Fair – August/September

Based on the exhibition of our national heritage, The Great Dorset Steam Fair provides a prism from which we can discover how our ancestors lived and worked during the dawn of the industrial age. Traditionally held at the village of Tarrant Hinton, this extravaganza covers 600 acres of showground and is now regarded as one of the finest of its kind anywhere in the world.

The fair’s scale and scope means its attractions are not solely limited to the steam engines that give the fair its name. Whether you are into food, music, animals, fairground rides or just soaking up the vibe of a vibrant atmosphere, there is something for all ages to behold at The Great Dorset Steam Fair.

Great Dorset Steam Fair by Timitrius

Read more about The Great Dorset Steam Fair at gdsf.co.uk

3. The Larmer Tree Festival – July

Founded in 1991 by James Sheppard, The Larmer Tree Festival has since grown from strength to strength, and is now considered to be among the leading family orientated festivals in the UK; winning the best family festival award at the UK Festival Awards in 2008. A five-day celebration of music and the arts; the festival is situated within the glorious Larmer Tree Gardens- leisure grounds built by Augustus Pitt Rivers during the Victorian age.

Famed for its varied and enticing line-ups incorporating the best of world music, headliners in recent years have included Sea Sick Steve and Irish living legend Van Morrison.

Read more about The Larmer Tree Festival at larmertreefestival.co.uk

4. Camp Bestival – July/August

Taking place at Lulworth Castle, Camp Bestival is run and organised by BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank, who also runs the Bestival festival in the Isle of Wight.

The fact that Camp Bestival won the UK Festival Award’s best family festival in the successive years of 2009 and 2010 after the Larmer Tree Festival, adds weight to the body of evidence proving Dorset is the king of events based on family fun. A point reinforced by the almost exhaustive list of things for children to do at last year’s event. Additionally, the variety of live acts that have performed in recent years also makes attractive reading for music fans.

Camp Bestival by mike george

Read more about Camp Bestival at campbestival.net

5. The Bournemouth Air Festival – August/September

Held over Bournemouth’s idyllic coastline, this air festival revels in showcasing some of the best aeronautical engineering and piloting ability from home and abroad, including the RAF’s world renowned Red Arrows.

However, perhaps the most eye-catching display the festival has to offer are the dusk displays. Here the planes light up the sky just as the sun begins to set.
In addition to the planes are several music venues and exhibition areas, including a Wave 105 sponsored stage at Boscombe Pier that often attracts a host of big names in the world of music.

Bournemouth Air Festival by Santosh Puthran

Read more about The Bournemouth Air Festival at bournemouthair.co.uk

6. Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival – September

Set against the backdrop of a beautifully quaint village, the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival provides a real taste -both literally and figuratively- of Dorset.
The festival is home to over 60 stalls allowing you to sample some of the finest cheeses in the world. If that is not enough to satisfy your taste buds, each cheese can be washed down with the aid of locally brewed ciders and ales that serve a refreshing change to the homogenised pints on sale found in the majority of pubs.

Entertainment is provided in the guise of live music, morris dancing and a Punch and Judy show to ensure that the Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival provides one of Dorset’s best and most popular shindigs.

Read more about Sturminster Newton Cheese Festival at cheesefestival.co.uk

7. Kingston Maurward firework display – November

Bonfire night annually provides a vast array of firework displays that jostle for people’s attention. But what sets Kingston Maurward’s display apart from the others is the setting, taking place within the English Heritage registered gardens of a large Georgian house country house.

The fireworks are set off above the garden’s beautiful lake, so that the reflective quality of the water magnifies their effect. The colour and spectacle that this creates instils a sense of awe children and adults alike that lasts long after the display has ended.

8. Bournemouth Christmas Festival – December

Situated in the town’s square, the Bournemouth Christmas Festival offers plenty in the shape seasonal cheer and spirit. Taking its inspiration from traditional German ‘Weihnachtsmarkt’ markets the festival that stretches from mid-November to early January and features delicious German cuisine at its heart. New to this year’s festival is an Alpine chalet style bar that serves a selection of the highest quality German beers and mulled wines.

In addition to food from Germany and the rest of the world, the Bournemouth Christmas Festival offers visitors the chance to buy gifts for themselves and others from a selection of world-class vendors.

Read more about Bournemouth Christmas Festival at
bournemouthchristmasmarkets.com

9. Weymouth Kite Festival – May

There is nothing quite as equally surreal and joyous as seeing a giant penguin or a twelve foot octopus take to the sky, and the Weymouth Kite Festival offers both these things and more in abundance.

Taking place on the May Bank Holiday Weekend every year, the festival takes advantage of Weymouth’s sea breeze to show off a weird and wonderful range of kites that bring delight to the masses of revellers that descend on the seaside town to witness the spectacle.

10. The Dorset Knob Throwing Competition – May

This one may raise a few eyebrows, but the “Dorset Knob Throwing Competition”, situated in the village of Cattistock, is about as Dorset-esque as it gets. For those that don’t know, a Dorset Knob is a hard and dry savoury biscuit made by the Moores Biscuits company.

Besides the throwing competition, Dorset Knobs are used in a variety of competitions including knob darts and knob eating. The Frome Valley Food Festival runs also runs in conjunction with the competition and features a range of locally produced food including meats, cheeses and pies to sample.

Read more about The Dorset Knob Throwing Competition at
dorsetknobthrowing.com

If you have been to any of these events or wish to suggest an experience the list missed, please do so in the comments section below.

Dorset patron and Festival veteran Gavin Harvey pulls on his own experiences to share his opinion on the 10 annual events in Dorset not be missed.

The post 10 Annual Not-To-Be-Missed Events in Dorset appeared first on Europe Explored.

If you are traveling to Europe in early spring, consider the incredible city of Venice in Italy. The Carnival of Venice is linked to Easter, so the date changes every year. The festival lasts for about 2 weeks. The carnival is known for it’s amazing costumes and beautiful masks. Exciting events include, gondola parades, gala balls and concerts. Venice is truly a feast for the eyes, with its intricate web of canals, gondolas gliding slowly across the water and centuries old palaces. There are numerous restaurants to choose from, with seating outside along the canals.

Carnival of Venice, Italy by heatherbroster

In March if you are traveling to Europe you might want to include the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. St Patrick is the patron Saint of Ireland. This is a religious and cultural festival. If you want to see the parade it is held on March 17th, but there are many other events, such as a boat race, music and dancing and of course green beer flowing in the pubs! The festival is now a 4 day event and is held every year.

If you like excitement, Pamplona, Spain is the place to be during July 6-14 for the festival of San Fermin, otherwise known as the Running of the bulls. This may be something you would prefer to watch, rather than participate in. Injuries and deaths do occur! Two excellent viewing areas to choose from would be Plaza Consistorial or Estafeta Street.

San Fermin, Pamplona, Spain by Abir Anwar

An exciting and historic city to visit is Edinburgh, Scotland, with its magnificent castle perched on a hill overlooking the city. August is an excellent time to visit Edinburgh because most of the year Edinburgh can be cold, wet and windy. In August, you have the added excitement of the 3 week long Edinburgh festival, which is a festival of the performing arts, including, music, dance, theater and opera from around the world.

Okoberfest is held for 16 days in Munich, Germany. It usually opens in late September and is known as the world’s largest keg party! The festival has costume parades and rides for all the family. The festival is held in the center of Munich, and there are traditional foods, such as, wurstl (sausages) and brezn (pretzels). Just to get an idea of the size of the festival there are roughly 6.5 million visitors. Events are held in large tents, the most popular being the Hippodron, where many of the classic Oktoberfest bands play their traditional music.

Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany by Gutsul

December in Europe is home to amazing Christmas markets. These Christmas markets started in Germany, France and Austria. The oldest Christmas market started in Dresden, Germany in 1434. The Dresden Christmas market has over 250 stalls and attracts 2 million visitors a year. There are similar markets in Munich, Cologne and Nuremberg. Visitors can enjoy, Christmas carols, Christmas tree lighting, delicious treats such as mulled wine, spicy gingerbread and roasted chestnuts. This is an opportunity to buy delightful hand made gifts for friends and family.

Monica Sing has been living in India for the last 23 years. She is currently planning on a backpacking holiday across Europe. Apart from traveling, she also teaches yoga to guests at The Paul, a leading hotel in Bangalore.  You can contact her on natasha.dogre(at)gmail.com to know more.

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Glastonbury festival in the UK

I thought it would be best if I started off with the Glastonbury festival in the UK. This festival is not based on one particular genre but is built around a couple of different genres and therefore if you are a person looking for spending some quality time in the English countryside in late June, this would be an excellent place to hang out. It would be right to say that Glasto is nothing less that legendary and that it is a must for all music lovers. The festival is very famous for different themes which are segmented and there won’t be a single moment you would be musically isolated. Probably it is the biggest music festival in the planet and there are thousands of people who are attracted to these grounds seeking to enjoy a variety of genres. You may have heard about the most recent headliners which included Beyonce and Jay-Z.  However the whole festival as a whole could be pre-dominantly considered as rock event.

Glastonbury festival, UK by Edward Simpson

Sonar festival in Spain

The next most mention worthy music festival in my opinion would be Sonar in Spain. The items are mainly and most commonly electronic and there are always some spicy differences to mix it all up and give a diversified output. The festival is held in mid-June and it is held in one of Europe’s finest cities. The festival runs in two modes as Sonar by night and Sonar by day. The latter contains upcoming and new artists and the night is best if you want to see some of the most amazing top DJ’s and electronic bands in the world. If you are a hardcore fan of electronic then you could rave pretty much nonstop starting on Thursday till Sunday morning. There are also a lot of amazingly free events and parties and it would certainly be easy on your pockets.

Iceland Airwaves festival

In late October/ November there is a festival called Iceland Airwaves that promotes a lot of upcoming bands and also a lot of native bands in Iceland. If you go through the history of this festival, it was pretty interesting because the first airwaves festival was said to have been held on an airplane hangar as far back as in 1999 and from then it has grown and expended into a huge event.

Other popular festivals

Among the other popular festivals are the Parks and Leeds and Reading festival, Exit festival in Serbia, Benicassim in Spain, Sziget Festival in Hungary, Roskilde in Denmark, Open’er in Poland and last but not least the Tomorrowland in Belgium.

Sziget Festival, Hungary by Paul Williams

These festivals are undoubtedly the top in Europe and I would not advice any music lover to miss them unless you are really otherwise occupied.

About the author:

Melissa Welsh is a freelance writer who enjoys the challenges of creativity and attention to detail. At the moment she is writing some interesting articles about flights to Male Maldives.

The post The top 10 amazing music festivals in Europe that you should not miss appeared first on Europe Explored.

Hence, the annual commemoration of Mardi gras is no exception, as it presents everything from feasts to parades! Literally meaning ‘Fat Tuesday’ in English, Mardi gras is known so since it takes place on the Tuesday that falls shortly prior to Ash Wednesday (the Wednesday that marks the onset of the Lent period, where Christians of all denominations observe sessions of fasting for the following 40 days i.e. till Easter Sunday). Since Lent emphasizes on religious virtues, a grand carnival is organized a day before for one and all!

Mardi gras (Carnival), Marseille, France by Say-Mars-Say-Yeah

Apart from the fun and games, what’s most interesting about this colourful carnival is its diversified history that led to its origin! The story goes –

• That a festival resembling the new-generation Mardi gras was organized every year somewhere during mid-February by the ancient Romans during the second century AD (before the settlement of Catholicism in Europe).

• Once Christianity was established, church priests decided that integrating this particular festival in synchronization to the religious agenda would deem suitable for all individuals, providing a means of enjoyment prior to observing Lent.

So, here we are! Ever since then Mardi gras is dedicatedly celebrated to cheer up the lives of many a person! If you closely observe the flamboyant parades that generally take place in most leading French cities during this season, some traits are common, such as –

• Flaunting a fattened ox in due course of the processions to signify delightfully succulent meaty treats!

• The three primary colours denoting a ‘mascot’ for Mardi gras: purple (for justice), green (for faith) and gold (for power). The finest of outfits and accessories donned by performers, especially masks are seen to be crafted with these three shades!

Due to the rise in popularity of Mardi gras in France, this festival slowly gained recognition in the American state of Louisiana too – primarily in its city of New Orleans. How exactly Mardi gras was introduced to America is not exactly known, for there were arrays of different tales in reference to it. Some say that in 1699, a French explorer named Sieur d’Iberville set up camp 60 miles south of New Orleans and introduced Mardi gras to its local natives. More folklore narrates that a bunch of students who had returned from Paris to Louisiana in 1827 paraded around the streets clad in costumes of purple, green and gold, and hence won the hearts of neighbouring residents, who then began to follow suit.

Needless to say, no matter how, when, why and where Mardi gras originated, the fact that it’s a festival enjoyed by all is enough to consider to keep its tradition going on for generations to come!

Author’s Bio

Megan Tyler  is a journalist and a veteran content writer. She has experience in copywriting and journalism. Presently she is exploring and writing on various subjects but at the moment appended with  Holiday in Namibia.

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Uitmarkt

Let’s all go to the Uitmarkt for free music, dance and films. This popular cultural attraction, in which theatres open their doors to the public to herald the arrival of the cultural season, takes place in late August. Artistic and musical performances range from classical ballet to hip hop; literary performances and film screenings are held in different parts of the city, including Leidseplein, Museumplein and Nieuwmarkt.

Grachtenfestival

Amsterdam’s famous canals are celebrated once a year at the Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival). This classical musical event is held during ten days in August, with musical events in venues near the canals, on canal boats, along the IJ Lake and in Amsterdam Noord. For a breathtaking sightseeing experience head to the festival to enjoy the canals at their finest. As one of the most visited events throughout the year, hotels fill up fast so book your hotel in Amsterdam well in advance.

Grachtenfestival, Amsterdam, The Netherlands by loufrances

Open Garden Days

In June some of the most beautiful privately owned homes open their doors to the public for garden viewing. Behind many canal houses in Amsterdam, are secret gardens large enough to contain a garden bungalow for residents. Most gardens adjoin their neighbors’ creating a block long park. This is a “can’t miss” for garden lovers and a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle on the city streets.

Queen’s Day Festival

Koninginnedag, a Dutch national holiday, is held annually on or around April 30th and celebrates the Queen’s Birthday. This party festival is known throughout Holland as the “second New Year”. Dress up in orange and walk in any direction in Amsterdam to find food, drink, music and fun.

Queen’s Day Festival, Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Sean Rowe

Amsterdam Roots Festival

For seven days in June the grounds of Oosterpark are transformed into a giant open air concert with over 50,000 visitors grooving to global and non-western music.

Holland Festival

As the oldest and largest performing arts festival in Netherlands, the Holland Festival attracts theatre, orchestra, opera and modern dance acts from around the world. Every June events including multimedia, visual arts, film, architecture and musical performances and exhibitions are held in most of the city’s famous theatres and public spaces.

ITs Festival Amsterdam

Every June for the past 22 years the students of The International Theatre School showcase their talents in front of live audiences, which includes artistic directors, casting agencies and the media for a chance to launch their careers. Performances are held in different theatres and public squares across the city.

Gay Pride Amsterdam

Gay pride attracts thousands of participants with its colourful boat celebrations along the Prinsengracht canal and the Amstel River. The party is not limited to the streets, clubs overflow and boats turn floating discos.

Gay Pride Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Alessio Milan

Sensation Innerspace

Quite possibly the world’s largest electro dance party comes to the Amsterdam ArenA in July. This high spirited, high voltage experience is part Cirque de Soleil, part Ibiza.

Imagine

Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival: Every April for 12 days film lovers are treated to a line-up of science fiction, fantasy, and horror movies courtesy of Kriterion. In total over 70 films are screened, including a children’s programme, with discussions, retrospectives and a “Night of Terror” for horror fans.

Link in text:
https://www.hotel.info/en/amsterdam/hotels-125711/

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Glastonbury: UK

Whilst festivals such as Reading/Leeds and T in the Park have mounted serious claims to being the UK’s ultimate festival, the history which precedes Glastonbury and its huge attendance still lands it as the number one UK festival. Known for bringing in the biggest headliners, (some of them much unexpected) there is always an eclectic mix of music and performances on display. Rumours for the 2013 headliners include veterans Fleetwood Mac and The Rolling Stones. Tickets are known to sell out as quickly as you can blink, so it is worth monitoring the site to find out when tickets go on sale. You should also pack some wellingtons or heavy duty footwear as it is known to be a victim to torrential rain.

Mud at Glastonbury festival, UK by Joanne and Matt

Benicàssim: Spain

One distinct advantage of attending a music festival in Spain in the summer is the opportunity to watch some of your favourite bands in near perfect conditions. Whilst Spain does get very hot in the summer the festivals close proximity to the coast provides strong breezes to alleviate the intensity of the heat. It has continued to gain popularity over the past few years and people from all over Europe travel to attend the festival. It takes place in a town on the outskirts of Valencia and most people tend to fly in, but a road trip through Europe and over the Pyrenees mountains is also an option for those who want to visit other places en route. Most recent notable acts include The Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Kings of Leon, Sigor Ros and Bob Dylan.

Benicàssim Festival, Spain by Renzo Giusti

Outlook Festival: Croatia

Croatia has become a popular European destination mainly due to its great summer climate and the fact it has its own domestic currency which makes local products cheaper for European travellers. Outlook festival has become one of the biggest dance festivals in the world and is renowned for having a diverse range of dance music represented across its stages. It is located in Pula, Croatia which rests on the southwest of the country. There are a number of beaches near the area which makes it a popular festival choice.

Before you begin your journey overseas it is worth investing in a prepaid travel card. Unlike cash you get the benefit of extra security and the ability to monitor your finances online and plan your holiday budget.

About the author: Adam Porteous writing on behalf of ICE. Click here for more information on their prepaid travel cards and travel money offers.

The post Exploring European festivals appeared first on Europe Explored.

Tenerife’s capital city hosts the popular Carnival every February, with a different main theme picked year-on-year. Recent themes have included horror movies, pirates, Hollywood musicals, and magic. The variety of themes ensures a new and unique experience at every visit, with the planning period for the weekend’s main festivities far-reaching.

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain by Prefeitura de Olinda / License: Creative Commons

Floats and dance routines are planned months in advance; this is by no means an improvised mess – Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a celebration which would more accurately be described as organised chaos and genuine excitement for the exotic exuberance such a celebration brings. The official Carnival contains meticulously planned flair and routine, while the street Carnival is based around the everyday revelers joining in with their own celebrations and costumes. The streets are awash with colour as homemade costumes come out to join the festivities in whichever way they seem fit.

While the Carnival is widely viewed as a weekend event, there are in fact many events on the days building up to the weekend as well as in the days after. The party in fact continues up to the beginning of Lent – with Shrove Tuesday marking the official end of the Carnival, with a sardine-themed day following on Ash Wednesday – an experience which has to be seen to be believed!

The party atmosphere explodes onto the streets in a flash of colour and music, drawing visitors from the world over. Inhibitions are let go as revelers celebrate over many days. Whether you want to visit the officially organised events or go wild at the street carnival, the party continues long into every night and resumes the next morning with renewed enthusiasm.

The Carnival Queen is the undisputed star of the entire event, with the prestigious honour handed out to the most beautiful of the year’s contestants on the Wednesday before Carnival weekend. She becomes the icon of the year’s festival, representing the island and all Carnival related activities. Voting and campaigning for the position of Carnival Queen begins well in advance of the festivities, with the contestants usually acquiring sponsorship from large corporations in order to promote their candidacy. Dresses can weigh on average up to 200lb and stand at over 20ft tall, making them extremely difficult to wear and expensive to make. The coronation is broadcast for the entire country to enjoy live, with a panel of judges and a text vote determining the winner.

For those who want to experience the Carnival atmosphere but do not wish to make the arduous journey to Brazil, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife provides the perfect alternative. Once you experience the non-stop partying the locals of Santa Cruz provide with open arms for tourists, you might just find yourself a regular visitor.

Fernando Navas is a native to the Canary Islands and always returns home for Carnival.  He recommends experiencing the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at least once and searching for cheap holidays to Tenerife to provides the perfect party opportunity.

The post The Carnival Of Santa Cruz De Tenerife Brings South American Flair To Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.

The first event kicked off in 1994, and since then the festival has become globally known for its groundbreaking international line ups and club nights. The festival attracts a wide range of artists, including Orbital, Chemical Brothers, Kraftwerk, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Bjork, Pet Shop Boys and the Scissor Sisters.  Sonar is focused on modern and relevant music, world class venues and amazing atmosphere.  Fira Gran Via is one of the best clubs, a massive state-of-the-art exhibition centre in the centre of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. Here the venue is split into three different areas, Sonar Park, Sonar Pub and Sonar Club. Safe to say that if you like electronic music, and you like raving, you’re gonna have a good time.

Sonar festival, Barcelona, Spain by Musictechnologygroup

Formed in 2002, Sonar has held over 24 events across the globe, in several formats in many different locations and cities   Barcelona is the main spot for Sonar Festival, due to its thriving music scene and warm weather, making it the perfect location for a dance music festival.  As well as Barcelona, you can catch Sonar parties in Lisbon, Hamburg, Tokyo, London, Rome, Sao Paulo, Burnos Aires and Washington DC.  The event keeps on getting larger every year, with 2013 looking to be the most exciting yet.  The line-up for the 2013 event will be advertised over the coming months.  Keep an eye out to see first who’s playing where and when.

Travelling to Sonar

Travelling to Sonar is simple. The venues are just a ten minute car ride from La Rambla.  Getting to Sonar after dark can be done by regular bus service from the city centre, organised by the festival promoters. Sonar Bus departs from Placa de les Drassanes and shuttles are scheduled Friday and Saturday from 8:30pm to 8am.

This multi cultural city has an amazing vibe about it, tick every box for music enthusiasts and travellers looking for warm weather and big parties.

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A cultural hub

As well as being home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Vieux Lyon, Croix-Rousse and Presqu’île it is also the birthplace of cinema and plays host to many arts festivals throughout the year. This includes the world famous Biennial Dance Festival and this year, is a particularly special year, as it is celebrating its 15th anniversary.

The Biennale Festival

As lively and bustling as you would expect, Lyon is home to 470,000 people and hosts a number of festivals, cultural events and sporting affairs throughout the year.

Photo by dancetechtv

Lyon’s Biennale Festival features over 50 choreographic works in 30 different venues throughout the city as draws in thousands of visitors to the city each time it visits. For three weeks in September, visitors can enjoy an opportunity to see their favourite up and coming acts in a series of one off performances and recent works.

Biennial acts as a training facility for public art, and is aimed at a broad and diverse audience, from those who are new to dance, to connoisseurs.

A celebration of dance

But clarity of intention aside, the biennial is one of the most ambitious and important dance festivals in the world, and its largeness of scale and intention is splendid to see at a time of ever-shrinking financing for the arts.

The festival has showcased some of European dance’s most famous pieces such as Les Ballets C de la B’s “Aphasiadisiac” and Angelin Preljocaj’s “Snow White”. Set to music by Mahler, costumes for the performance were designed for none-other than Jean-Paul Gautier himself.

“Les Petites Pièces de Berlin,” choreographed by Dominique Bagouet and first performed at the biennial in 1988, went on to become one of the best-loved dance performances of the year, consistently selling out in auditoriums all over the world.

Celebrity spotting

Dance lovers staying at hotels in Lyon can also look forward to a little bit of celeb spotting.

The festival has attracted many famous faces in its 15 years, with the likes of French choreographer Dominique Hervieu who is the creative director and leads the way for the parade which marks the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival.

Last but not least be sure to reserve your hotel in plenty of time, as Lyon gets very busy around this time of year. Tickets sell out quickly too, so book them as soon as you can.

What are your favourite forms of dance?

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-lyon

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Scottish Games, Sychrov, The Czech Republic by Jaromír Zajíček

Traditional Scottish Games at Sychrov Castle are among the largest Scottish Games in Europe and are held under the auspices of Her Excellency Sian Macleod, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Czech Republic.

Really a rich program can be seen in two stages – primary and secondary, Games are hosted in a neo-Gothic castle Sychrov and its beautiful park. It is located about an hour driving from Prague.

Busy Scottish Games Programme includes

• Traditional and non-traditional Scottish and Irish music performed by famous Czech and foreign artists
• Demonstration and teaching of Scottish dances
• 2nd Whisky Festival – tasting scotch whiskey (single malt and blended)
• Classic Scottish Weightlifting competitions
• Children’s competitions throughout the day
• Theatre performance for children
• The show of the British veteran cars (Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Aston Martin, etc.)
• Historical camps with regular demonstrations and lectures
• Fencing
• Trained birds of prey demonstrations
• Market stalls with traditional and modern Scottish jewelery, kilts (skirts), music and small souvenirs

The basic admission fee is 400,- Czech Crowns (around €16), children up to 15 years for free. For further information about Scottish Games at Sychrov Castle can be found on the official website.

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