Europe is one word that people associate with great sights, historical sites, hiking trails and sports. Curiously, the rich festival culture of this wondrous continent is sometimes overlooked. ‘Europe’ means fun and glamorous festivals too. For many people, family is everything; whatever fun thing they do or fun memories they create must be with family. Well, here are 5 top European festivals you can visit with your family that will make even Vin Diesel envious:
Suma Flamenca, Madrid – For a moment, imagine a beautiful city immersed in the celebration of rich culture and tradition with enchanting performances in numerous round-the-clock locations. If you succeeded in painting that mental picture, you have been able to imagine something close to what the Suma Flamenca Madrid is. The festival is one that celebrates the Spanish Flamenco tradition.
Flamenco dancers and musicians perform at all possible venues— from high-profile theatres to neighbourhood showhouses. Everywhere you turn to in Madrid at this time is an atmosphere imbued with Flamenco passion. The importance of this festival is seen in the numerous Flamenco lovers that travel to Madrid for the sake of this festival. It will be appropriate to presume that in June, most Spain trains are probably carrying Suma Flamenca-bound passengers.
Carnival of Venice – Every February in Italy, it turns out all roads may not lead to Rome as the cliché goes. At this time, all roads lead to Venice for the Carnival of Venice. If you think this is an exaggeration, take a high speed train from Florence to Rome late in January, and we guarantee that if you take a poll of the passengers, a large number will agree to have plans to partake in the Carnival of Venice. The Carnival is the most flamboyant event of the year in Venice.
It features dancing, drinking, fireworks, and parades in colourful Venetian dresses with the renowned ‘Venetian Masks’. Legend has it that these masks originated to relegate differences based on social class and status to allow people to relate with each other indiscriminately during the course of the carnival. Being that this festival comes up just before the sober period of Lent, the city maximizes this opportunity to create such fun and gaiety, which imprint lasting memories. The Carnival of Venice is indeed a place to be.
Oktoberfest – The Oktoberfest which takes place in Munich, Germany late September to early October is a globally popular festival which needs no introduction for those familiar with festivals of world repute. The festival is themed on Bavarian culture and features various enticing aspects, including music, dance, sublime parades, food and beer.
Beer counts as a stand-alone, fundamental attraction to this festival. The Oktoberfest is one festival that deserves its hype as it constantly lives up to the expectations of locals and tourists alike. This accounts for the millions of attendees the festival garners every year.
St. Patrick’s Day – When something religious transits to the secular sphere, it retains its deep-rooted significance but replaces its sobriety with pomp and pageantry. Well, it’s not like sobriety is a cherished Irish value, so this probably explains why the day for celebrating the patron saint of Ireland has transcended religious confines and evolved to a festival that celebrates the Irish culture itself. March 17 is a day like no other in Ireland. Countless locations across the country will be flooded with green parades.
The streets are sure to be littered with different representations of Irish folklore like shamrock leaves and people dressed in leprechaun attires. Traditional Irish cuisine is also a key feature of the festival. Cabbage and beef are mouth-watering delicacies consumed at the festival. Not to forget, the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are not complete without a few (or not so few) beers. Or what is an Irish festival without provisions for partaking in the well-known Irish indulgence?
Golden Retriever Festival – If your family is big on dogs, this is the perfect festival for you! Every July in Tomich, Scotland, this festival becomes the centre of attraction. The Golden Retriever Festival is organized by the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland. It entails a training session for dogs and a parade of cute Golden Retriever dogs to determine the most beautiful of them.
This ‘golden’ pageantry is known as the ‘Championship Show’. More than the primary canine attraction, this festival also features picnics with Scottish delicacies and sightseeing in the serene Scottish countryside. A festival in the ancestral home of Golden Retriever is sure to be exquisite— just like the dog breed.
When next you want to go on a fun vacation with family, you don’t need to rack your brain so hard. These festivals are ideal places for the family to bond while being thoroughly entertained.
Article edit by Karl Brown