Festivals
in English Speaking Countries sound dull but aren't - if you pick the
right place. Forget the average county show, the festivals listed here
are superb, fascinating events that will keep you talking for weeks. And
you'll be able to understand every word - with the possible exception
of Scotland and French Canada!
Maps:
USA
| Canada | UK
| Ireland | South
Africa | Australia
| New Zealand
Dates
are sometimes unconfirmed and occasionally
unreliable, so check before booking.
TBC [A] = to be confirmed [announced]
2008
Festival dates and information:
Feb | March | April
| May | June | July
| August | Sept | Oct
| Nov | Dec
January
2008
| 30
Dec - 1 January [Same days every year] 2008 |
SCOTLAND,
Edinburgh Hogmanay - a truly wild and
wooly underwear occasion, with a torchlight procession, a Fire Festival,
fireworks, concerts and much insobriety, in a city dark yet strangely
light...Edinburgh
Travel | Edinburgh
Photos |
30
Dec - 1 January
[Same days every year] 2008 |
ENGLAND,
London
[New Year's Eve Fireworks]
New Year's Day Parade
- at 12 noon.
Sadly the best part of the parade is the non-English marching bands
and floats! London
Guide | London
Photos |
1
January 2008
[Same day every year] |
USA,
Los
Angeles, California
Rose Parade - in Pasadena,
an immense, floaty, flowery spectacle of floats and bands. LA
Travel |
1
January 2008
[Same day every year] |
USA,
Philadelphia
Mummers
Parade, Pennsylvania
- the biggest, wildest event of the year, incredible outfits and lots
of comedy. If the weather's bad the event moves to the following Saturday.
From 9am. USA
Travel |
| January and much of February |
SOUTH
AFRICA, Cape Town Minstrel Carnival -
a brilliant collection of parades and parties harking back to slave days, with singing, dancing and
competitions. Cape
Town Pictures and Information |
6
January 2008
[Same day every year] |
USA,
New
York City Three
Kings Day Parade - a colourful Latin-influenced parade of Nativity
animals, costumed people and kids.
NYC
Travel | New
York Pictures |
| 5
- 26 January 2008 |
AUSTRALIA,
Sydney Sydney Festival - the biggest
cultural event in the country, covering all the arts from drama to
music, in fine international style though sadly lacking a lunatic
Fringe. Sydney
Travel | Sydney
Photos |
| 8
Jan - 3 February |
USA,
Fort Worth, Texas Southwestern
Stock Show and Rodeo. Texas
Travel |
| 18
- 20 January 2008 |
USA,
Miami, Florida Art
Deco Weekend
- in
the Miami Beach Historic Art Deco District with 1920's-30's style
music and parades. A colourful blast from the past. Miami
Travel |
| 26
January - 10 Feb, weekends mainly 2008 |
CANADA,
Montreal La Fete des Neiges [Snow Festival]
- dominated by a monstrous and labyrinthine snow castle, ice sculpting,
dog sledding and more icy fun. Canada
Travel | Canada
Pictures |
February
2008
1
- 17 February '08
Jan 30-Feb 15 '09
Jan 29-Feb 14 '10
|
CANADA,
Quebec City Winter Carnival - a vigorous
10 day celebration of parades, themed parties, ice sculptures and
- bien sur - winter sports of every description in a stunning Francophile
city. Canada
Travel | Canada
Photos |
| 1
- 17 February '08weekends mainly |
CANADA,
Ottawa Winterlude Festival - parades,
dances, snow races, ice sculptures, sleigh rides and more, and especially
skating, BUT MAINLY WEEKENDS. Canada
Travel | Canada
Pictures |
| 25
Jan - 5 February 2008 |
USA,
Galveston, Texas Mardi Gras - live
bands, parades, balls and costumes. Texas
Travel |
|
5 February 2008 |
USA,
New Orleans, Louisiana Mardis Gras
- locals start celebrating up to 2 weeks before, dressed bizarrely,
intent on mayhem and well oiled good times. An outrageous must-see.
New
Orleans Travel |
| 9
February - 1 March Parade & Party 1st March 2008 |
AUSTRALIA,
Sydney
Sydney Mardi Gras
- a huge and world famous celebration of gaiety in all artistic spheres,
with a stunning parade, shows and parties. The parade is on the last
day, as is the amazing final party [that needs booking well ahead].
Sydney
Guide | Sydney
Pictures |
|
10 February TBC |
USA,
New York City Chinese New Year - Chinatown
Parade and Festival, with floats, bands, dragon dancers, musicians,
acrobats etc etc. Parade 1-3pm, 3pm- Bayard Street performances. New
York Travel | New
York Photos |
| 17
February 2008 |
USA,
Daytona Beach, Florida Daytona
500
- big, noisy cars going round and round. Florida
Travel |
March
2008
| 1
March [start] '08 |
USA,
Anchorage,
Alaska Iditarod
Dog Sled Race - 1131
miles from Anchorage to Nome in doggy style...it's the white stuff.
The start is the best bit. Alaska
Travel |
| 29
Feb - 9 March '08 |
USA,
Daytona, Florida Bike
Week -
Daytona Beach, the biggest bike fest of all with events of all kinds.
2 wheels god, four wheels baaad. Florida
Travel |
| 3
- 22 March '08 |
USA,
Houston, Texas Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo, the
world's biggest animal and cowboy event, but also includes laser shows
and music. Texas
Travel |
| 29
Feb - 16 March 2008 |
AUSTRALIA
Adelaide Festival and Fringe - the country's
primo arts festival mixes it with the unruly fringe. A huge, colourful
event - Edinburgh in the sun. 1 month every 2 years [even numbers].
Adelaide
Pictures and Information |
| 13
- 17 March 2008 |
IRELAND,
Dublin St Patrick's Day - a wild, green
four days, ending in a huge parade, fireworks, dance and the mother
of all hangovers. Ireland
Travel |
| 17
March 2008
[same day every year] |
USA
St Patrick's Day Parade -
especially good in Chicago, Boston, New York and San Fransisco. Aaargh,
everything is green! USA
Travel |
April
2008
| 11
- 20 April 2008 |
CANADA,
Whistler, British Columbia Telus World Ski and
Snowboard Festival - snow and music combined! Canada
Guide | Canada
Photos |
| 18
- 27 April 2008 |
USA,
San Antonio, Texas Fiesta San Antonio. Over
150 different events ranging from masked balls to the Pooch Parade;
the biggest party in Texas! Texas
Travel |
25
April - 4 May
2008 |
USA,
New Orleans, Lousiana New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival - forget Mardi Gras
if you just want to relax and enjoy some of the best live music in
the country. New
Orleans Travel |
| 29
April - 5 May '08 |
ENGLAND,
Gloucestershire Cheltenham International Jazz
Festival - the UK's top jazz fest in a lovely rural Cotswold
location. UK
Travel |
May
2008
| 2
- 9 May 2008 |
CANADA,
Ottawa, Hull
Tulip Festival -
a five day city-wide street party for all ages surrounded by 100,000's
of tulips. Quebec
Travel |
| 20
- 24 May 2008 |
ENGLAND,
London
Chelsea
Flower Show - 11 acres of the UK's best flowers and gardens
event, with plenty of original, wacky ideas. London
Photos |
24
- 30 May [Practice]
31 May- 7 June [Racing] 2008 |
ENGLAND, Isle
of Man TT Races. The ultimate event for bikers. Watch racers
on 37 miles of narrow, winding, stone walled roads travelling at way
over 150mph, then get out there yourself. Death is no stranger to
this event. UK
Sports |
31
May
[Same days every year]
2008 |
ENGLAND,
Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling in
Brockworth, near Gloucester - dozens of mad men fling themselves down
a precipitous hill attempting to catch huge rounds of cheese. It's
illegal and bones get broken but a remarkable sight in this nanny
state. England
Guide |
June
2008
| 5
- 8 June 2008 |
USA,
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Blues Festival. Six
stages and admission free!
Chicago
Travel |
| 6-8
June 2008 |
USA,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Red
Earth Native American Cultural Festival. Over
100 tribes pow-wow and celebrate their heritage with song and dance.
USA
Travel |
21
June
[Same days every year] |
ENGLAND,
Wiltshire Stonehenge
Summer Solstice -
midsummer night ritual with all sorts of druids, hippies and new age
wackos. Fascinating, especially if the weather is OK! Stonehenge
Pictures And Information |
23
June - 6 July
2008
|
ENGLAND,
London Wimbledon Tennis Tournament -
the most prestigious tennis event in the world. UK
Sports |
25
- 29 June and
2 - 6 July 2008 |
USA,
Washington DC Smithsonian
Folklife Festival - Smithsonian
Institute, National Mall. Music, song, dance, crafts, cooking, storytelling,
discussions. Washington
Travel |
| 26
June - 6 July '08 |
CANADA,
Montreal International Jazz Festival. Free
outdoor Megashows as well as indoor perfomances. Montreal
Travel | Canada
Photos |
27
June - 5 July
2008
|
NEW
ZEALAND, Queenstown
Lindauer Winter Festival - 10
days of silly outdoor competitions, serious indoor culture, parties,
parades and fireworks in a winterful environment. New
Zealand Travel | New
Zealand Photos |
| 27
- 29 June 2008 |
ENGLAND,
Glastonbury Glastonbury Music Festival
- the biggest and best in Europe, with all sorts of wacky, new age
happenings, but VERY difficult to get tickets. South
England Photos |
27
June - 23 August
2008 |
USA,
Santa Fe, New Mexico Santa
Fe Opera
- a brilliant series of shows in a superb new opera house. USA
Travel | SW
USA Photos |
July
2008
| 4
July every year |
USA
Independence Day - major celebration
of the stars and stripes, especially good in Washington DC, New York
City and Boston [Harborfest]. USA
Travel | New
York Photos |
| 4
- 13 July '08 |
CANADA
Calgary Stampede in Alberta - a 10 day
world-class rodeo riot, a wild yet comradely festival enjoyed by the
whole of 'Cowtown'. Events include Chuck Wagon racing, rodeos, a spectacular
parade, country music performances and free pancake breakfasts!
Canada
Travel
| Canada
Photos |
| 14
- 27 July '08 |
IRELAND,
Galway Galway Arts Festival - Ireland's
biggest arts jamboree, with all kinds of entertainment, street, theatre,
music, kid's, exhibitiions, concerts... Ireland
Travel |
| 18
- 27 July '08 |
USA,
Cheyenne, Wyoming Cheyenne
Frontier Days
- wild west festivities of every kind at the world's largest rodeo.
USA
Travel |
17
- 26 July '08
17
- 26 July '09 |
CANADA,
Edmonton Klondike Days - 10 days of concerts,
racing pigs, racing bath tubs, racing rafts and probably racing prices,
though the pancakes are free. Canada
Travel |
| 25
- 27 July '08 |
ENGLAND,
Charlton Park, Wiltshire WOMAD -
[World of Music Arts and Dance] impressive world music festival, with
70 artists from 30 countries on 7 stages. Family friendly. |
| 26
July - 10 August '08 |
USA,
Abingdon Virginia
Highlands Festival. USA
Travel |
| 27
July - 3 August '08 |
CANADA,
Montreal Pride - a huge performing arts
festival, gay, but not exclusively so. Free concerts, shows, parties
conferences and more. Montreal
Travel | Canada
Pictures |
| 31
July - 3 Aug '08 |
ENGLAND,
Cambridge Cambridge
Folk Festival - the real deal for the folks who like the music.
'A festival with a prestigious reputation for quality music in intimate
surroundings.' England
Travel Guide |
August
2008
| 31 July
- 9 August '08 |
CANADA,
Saskatoon International Fringe Festival
- lively mixed theatre offerings. Canada
Travel |
8
- 10 August Jazz '08
1 - 3 August Folk |
USA,
Newport, Rhode Island, Newport
Folk Festival and Jazz Festival. USA
Travel |
| 1
- 3 August 2008 |
IRELAND,
Waterford Waterford Spraoi Street Festival -
3 days of free music, street theatre, parade and fireworks in the
biggest street party. Ireland
Travel |
| 4
- 10 August 2008 |
USA,
Sturgis, South Dakota Sturgis Rally and Races
- Hog Heaven as tens of thousands of big bikers make a terrible, colourfully
obese noise. USA
Travel |
8
- 31 Aug [International]
3 - 25 Aug [Fringe]
2008 |
SCOTLAND Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe
Festival in Scotland - over a thousand shows of all kinds,
ranging from opera to stand-up comedy, from near porn to mere corn.
A monster art attack in a spectacular city. Not to be missed. Festival Photos | Edinburgh
Guide | International
Festival | Festival Fringe |
| 8
- 17 August 2008 |
IRELAND,
Kilkenny Kilkenny Arts Festival - music,
thatre, dance, exhibitions set in superb surroundings. Ireland
Travel |
| 10
- 12 August 2008 |
IRELAND
Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry. A large and loony street
fair with plenty of singing, dancing and horse shows, and all overseen
by King Puck - a goat. Ireland
Guide |
| 10
- 19 August 2008 |
CANADA,
Edmonton Edmonton Fringe Festival - wacky
theatre of all kinds from over 1,000 performers in the city's historic
heart. Alberta
Travel | Canada
Pictures |
| 22
- 26 August 2008 |
IRELAND,
Tralee Rose of Tralee International Festival
- a massive party celebrating romance! Ireland
Travel |
| 17
- 24 August '08 |
IRELAND
Fleadh Ceoil - a huge celebration of
Irish music, dance and arts, with over 10,000 musicians roaming and
playing all over the place. Hosted by a different town every year;
2006 in Tullamore in County Offalyl. Ireland
Guide |
| 24
- 25 August '08 |
ENGLAND,
London Notting Hill Carnival - fiesta
with music, dance, and parade by London's Caribbean community; sponsored
by London Pickpocket Support Group. UK
Travel |
| 25
Aug - 1 Sept [Labor Day] '08 |
USA,
Nevada
The Burning Man in the Black Rock desert near Reno - a week
of unique, liberal, communal artistic madness, culminating in the
torching of structures. Good organisation will be required [almost
nothing is for sale there], but this could be a genuinely life changing
experience. Pictures
and Information |
|
28 August - 31 Sept '08 |
USA,
Chicago, Illinois, Chicago Jazz Festival -
a free event on the picturesque shore of Lake Michigan. USA
Guide |
September
2008
| 6
September '08 [1st Saturday in Sept] |
SCOTLAND,
Braemar Highland Games
- traditionally odd Scottish sporting events and massed pipers
in a scenic setting. Scotland
Travel |
| 29 August
- 1 Sept '08 |
USA,
Seattle, Washinton State, Bumbershoot
-
over 2,000 artists, many world famous, perform art of every kind from
top flight rock to comedy, drama and poetry to bizarre sculptures.
USA
Travel |
| 5
- 28 September '08 |
USA,
California Los
Angeles County Fair -
the largest fair in the USA features everything from pig racing to
rodeos and big name bands. LA
Travel |
| 13
September '08 |
USA,
Hawaii Aloha
Festival Floral Parade
- a hugely colourful and smelly occasion in Oahu starts a series of
events all over the islands. Hawaii
Travel |
Pictures |
| 25-28 Sept,
1-5 Oct '08 |
NEW
ZEALAND, Nelson
Montana World of Wearable Art Awards
- a unique, bizarre and fascinating occasion for both artists and
fashionists. NZ
Travel | NZ
Pictures |
| 25
- 28 September '08 |
IRELAND,
Galway International Oyster Festival
- with fun events of all sorts. Ireland
Travel |
| 26
- 28 September '08 |
USA,
San Francisco, California San Francisco Blues
Festival. San
Fransisco Travel |
| 24-28 '08 |
SOUTH
AFRICA Hermanus Whale Festival
- Hermanus [Western Cape] various events but much of the time will
be spent lounging on cliffs watching as whales cruise by. Cape
Pictures |
| 28
September '08 |
USA,
San Francisco, California Folsom St Fair
- wacky S & M, leather fair. San
Fransisco Travel |
October
2008
| 3
- 12 October '08 |
USA,
Albuquerque, New Mexico
International Balloon Festival
-
a lot of hot air about. New
Mexico Travel |
| 12
October '08 |
USA,
Florida
Miami Carnival - a huge citywide rave, with much Latin influence, especially
dancing. The last Sunday in Calle Ocho culminating in a parade to
the Orange Bowl is the highlight of the week. Miami
Travel |
16
Oct - 2 Nov 2008
booking from May '08 |
IRELAND,
Wexford Wexford Opera Festival - a small
but perfectly formed and highly regarded event in a new opera house
and a new month. Ireland
Guide |
31 October - 9 Nov '08
[from 4th Fri of every Oct. but not Mon/Tu/Wed] |
USA,
Las Vegas
Professional Bull Riders Finals -
the 45 toughest hombres in the west ride the baddest bulls in one
of the world's most colourful cities. Las
Vegas Travel | Las
Vegas Pictures | SW
USA Photos |
|
31 October |
USA,
New York City
Village Halloween Parade -
a colourful and spooky occasion with over 20,000 scary monsters on
the prowl among the bands, puppets and assorted weirdos. From 7pm
New
York Travel |
November
2008
| 2
November [1st Sunday every year] |
USA,
New York City
New
York Marathon - the biggest in the world. NYC
Travel | NYC
Photos |
5
November
[same day every year] |
ENGLAND,
Devon
Ottery
St. Mary Tar Barrels - huge flaming barrels are carried
around this little rural town. Devon Travel |
| 27
November 2008 |
USA,
New
York City Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
- specialising in monster helium baloon figures. 9am-noon.NY
Guide | NY
Photos |
December
2008
| 1
- 23 December '08 |
USA,
Seattle, Christmas Ship Festival - not
only a fleet of brightly lit boats, but they play carols as they cruise.
USA
Travel |
30
Dec - 1 Jan
[Same days every year] |
SCOTLAND
Edinburgh Hogmanay - a truly wild and
wooly underwear occasion, with a torchlight procession, a Fire Festival,
fireworks, concerts and much insobriety, in a city dark yet strangely
light... Edinburgh
Travel |
Pictures |
World
Festivals information © bugbog.com
|
