2007 Summer Festivals

Summer Festivals, Concerts And Parties Worth Checking Out!

APRIL
15	Feria de Abri – Seville, Spain Spend your weekend in the Los Remedios district where you’ll enjoy flamenco dancing and the most prestigious bullfights while you eat and drink Seville’s finest cuisine. — Spanish Spree – 13 Days
23	Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration – London, UK Go to the Globe and celebrate the life and works of Shakespeare. - London & Paris – 8 Days - Great Britian – 10 Days — London & Rome – 18 Days
MAY
2	Dos de Mayo – Madrid, Spain This holiday commemorates Madrid’s rebellion against Napoleon’s occupation of Spain. To attend, go to the Plaza de Mayo for and enjoy the neighborhood event full of drinking, food and music. - Spanish Spree – 13 Days - Mediterranean Highlights – 14 Days
12	National Cycling Day – Amsterdam As if there wasn’t enough bicycling through the year in Amsterdam, this is the day that celebrates the activity. Hop on a bike and join in the fun! - Amsterdam To Barcelona – 12 Days - European Encounter – 18 Days
16-27	Cannes Film Festival – France Rub shoulders with celebrities and film aficionados, and get a glimpse of the years hottest independent and international films at the Cannes Film Festival. - London & Paris – 8 Days - Mediterranean Highlights – 14 Days
Mid May	International Music Festival – Vienna, Austria The highlight of Vienna’s concert calendar, during this festival you’ll hear world class orchestras and top conductors play Beethoven, Mozart and more as they were meant to be played. — Eastern Road – 14 Days
May 11 – June 3	Prague Spring International Music Festival – Czech Republic This music festival dates back to World War II. If orchestras are your thing, be - Berlin & Prague – 8 Days - Eastern Road – 14 Days
JUNE
15-17	Distillery Blues Festival – Toronto, Canada “Meet me where they play the Blues.” The 3rd annual 3 day event takes place in the historic distillery district of Toronto and is a MUST for blues lovers from around the world. - North by North East – 12 Days - Grand Northern – 24 Days
16	Bloomsday – Dublin, Ireland Celebrate James Joyce’s Ulysees as every aspect of the city duplicates the sights, sounds and tastes replicates that of the novel. In addition, ceremonies are held at the James Joyce Tower and Museum. - Southern Ireland – 9 Days - Great Britain and Southern Ireland – 17 Days
22-24	Glastonbury Festival – UK The largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world, where you’ll dance, sing and make plenty of new friends. - London & Paris – 8 Days - Great Britian – 10 Days — London & Rome – 18 Days
22 – July 1	Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival – Toronto, Canada Jazz lovers, check this one outÖ the full lineup will be announced April 24th. North by North East – 12 Days Grand Northern – 24 Days
All Month	Holland Festival – Amsterdam Throughout June, this month long art festival highlights new developments in theature, dance, opera, pop music, photography and film. - Amsterdam To Barcelona – 12 Days - European Encounter – 18 Days
Mid-June	Sonar – Barcelona, Spain This 3 day international festival exhibits electronic music, multimedia art and contemporary urban art through a mix of exhibitions, concerts and DJ’s blasting music all night long. - Amsterdam To Barcelona – 12 Days - Spanish Spree – 13 Days
Mid-June	Christopher Street Day Parade – Berlin Often referred to as the Love Parade’s competitor. The celebration starts near Kurfurstendamn and goes all the way to Tiergarten. - Berlin & Prague – 8 Days “Berlin to Budapest 12 Days":/tours/100-berlin-to-budapest
Mid-June	Athens and Epidaurus Festival – Athens, Greece Watch national and international artists perform ancient and modern plays in ancient venues including Odeon of Herodes Atticus. - Spotlight on Greece – 5 Days - Golden Fleece – 10 Days — Road to Athens – 17 Days
June – August	Cornetto Free Music Festival – Rome, Italy Visit Piazza San Giovanni, and the Villa Borghese for a huge free concert series that takes place in Rome with various dates throughout the summer. - Italian Espresso – 8 Days - Tuscany – 9 Days — Simply Italy – 13 Days
JULY
4	Independence Day – USA Participate in the local festivities across the nation as America celebrates its independence with fireworks, bar-b-ques and music festivals. — Best of USA – 13 Days
4 – 15	Toronto Fringe Festival – Toronto, Canada Come out to Canada during Toronto’s biggest theater festival! Full of plays, skits, improv and gamesÖ you’re sure to have fun. - North by North East – 12 Days - Grand Northern – 24 Days
5-8	Love Parade- Berlin, Germany We’ve all heard of this one, and this year it’s back in full swing! Celebrate freedom, love and music in its best form at this amazing weekend event. - Berlin & Prague – 8 Days - Berlin to Budapest- 12 Days
7-8	Oxegen Festival- Dublin, Ireland One of Europe’s premier summer music festivals, Oxegen is a weekend of rock music with over 100 acts on 5 different stages. - Southern Ireland – 9 Days - Great Britain and Southern Ireland – 17 Days
7-14	San Fermines “Running of the Bulls”- Pamplona, Spain The largest fiesta in Spain begins with the running of the bulls race in Pamplona. For those brave enough to run, the race begins at 8 am! - Amsterdam To Barcelona – 12 Days - Spanish Spree – 13 Days
14	Bastille Day- Paris, France Partake in fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, parties, dances and a military parade on the Champs Elysee as France celebrates the day that the Bastille was stormed marketing the end of the French Monarchy in 1789. - London & Paris – 8 Days - Mediterranean Highlights – 14 Days
20 – 29	Beaches International Jazz Festival – Toronto,Canada Nothing warms the jazz heart more than the recent Toronto Star poll that ranked the Beaches International Jazz Festival the number one music festival in the city. - North by North East – 12 Days - Grand Northern – 24 Days
Late July	The Festa Del Redentore- Venice, Italy The floating fiesta and firework display that marks the end of the Venice’s plague 1576. - Italian Espresso – 8 Days - Simply Italy – 13 Days — Road to Rome – 13 Days
Late July	Tour de France – Paris, France The worlds most visible and televised bicycle race. Cheer on your favorites as they ride through the Massif Central, the Swiss Alps and the Champs Elysee. - London & Paris – 8 Days - European Discovery – 14 Days
late July	Stockholm Jazz Festival- Stockholm, Sweden Jazz lovers from around the world gather at this international jazz festival. — Russia and Scandinavia – 22 Days Scandinavia – 21 Days
AUGUST
3 – 5	Lollapalooza – Chicago, Illinois 3 days, 9 stages, 130 bands what more could you ask for? Past Headliners include Perry Harrel, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kanye West, Gnarls Barkley - Northern Escape – 13 Days - Grand Northern – 23 Days
4	Street Scene- San Diego, Ca Spend your time in Southern California going to one of the biggest festivals around. With burlesque shows, techno circuses and headliners like Kanye West, Social Distortion and Snoop Dogg, there is something for everyone’s liking. - Western Highlights – 8 Days - Wild Western – 13 Days
4 – 5	Virgin Festival – Baltimore, Maryland Headliners: The Police, Smashing Pumpkins and the Beastie BoysÖ stay tuned for the full lineup of this sure-to-be amazing 2 day event! — Eastern Discovery – 12 Days
10 – 12	Toronto’s Festival of Beer – Toronto, Canada This 3 day Festival is a celebration of Canada’s rich brewing history, hosted by experts of the brewing craft from around the country. Featuring more than 200 brands of beer on-site, this is Canada’s premier celebration of the golden beverage, complete with real southern BBQ, live entertainment, grilling demonstrations by TV personalities and of course BEER. Meet new people, try new brews and raise a glass to toast this Toronto tradition – summer days don’t come any better than this! - North by North East – 12 Days - Grand Northern – 24 Days
15- Sept 4	Edinburgh International Festival- Edinburgh The best of music, opera, dance and theater. Edinburgh Military Tattoo – 4 Days
August	Zurich Street Parade- Zurich, Switzerland Join in more than half a million people celebrating love, peace, freedom and tolerance in this massive, rave/ dance party that fills the streets of Zurich for 24 hours in August. - European Discovery – 14 Days - European Experience – 22 Days — European Panorama – 30 Days
August	Amsterdam Pride Parade- Netherlands Join in a crowd of 15,000 people as they celebrate in Europe’s most gay- friendly city. Street discos, a film festival and a boat parade are just some of the activities you’ll find yourself enjoying during Amsterdam Pride. - Amsterdam To Barcelona – 12 Days - European Discovery – 14 Days — European Contrast – 31 Days
12-18	Festa Major de Gracia- Barcelona, Spain A popular party in which the streets are decorated, bands are playing and young crowds fill the streets. - Amsterdam To Barcelona – 12 Days - Spanish Spree – 13 Days
Late August	Rock en Seine- Paris, France What’s better than a 2 day rock festival along the river? Each summer crowds of approximate 50 thousand people gather near the Boulogne for Rock en Seine, a 2 day concert with major headlining bands. - London & Paris – 8 Days - European Discovery – 14 Days
SEPTEMBER
6 – 15	Toronto International Film Festival – Toronto, Canada Film and art enthusiasts wont want to miss the 32nd annual Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 6-15, 2007. - North by North East – 12 Days - Grand Northern – 24 Days
14-16	Austin City Limits- Austin, TX 3 days, 8 stages, 130 bands- enough said. Past lineups at this not-to-be-missed concert include John Mayer, The Shins and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. — Southern Adventure – 13 Days
Late September	Oktoberfest- Munich, Germany If you are in Europe during this time of year, you’ll want to participate in Oktoberfest. Join in as local breweries sponsor huge tents that can hold up to 6,000 people each, with music, beer and festivities that last from the middle of September to the middle of October. - Oktoberfest Munich – 6 Days - Eastern Road – 14 Days - European Discovery – 14 Days - European Highlights – 16 Days
OCTOBER
27	Voodoo Music Festival- New Orleans, USA Come to City Park, New Orleans for an all out music festival that supports one of America’s favorite cities. — Southern Adventure – 13 Days

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I travelled on the European Contrasts tour in May 2006 with my boyfriend. We had 5 couples on our tour. We all had a great time and did not have any hassles being that we were couples.

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