WORLDBEAT
- EUROPE
Hot Spots for the Jet Set
BELGIUM
BRUGES
The Canalside Festival or Reiegest in Bruges
just sounds so darn appealing to the historian in you.
The city transforms their series of canals into a living
history museum. In a festival atmosphere, re-enactors
portray famous scenes from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance,
and the Baroque period. All the historic hoopla takes
place August 14–22. www.comitevoorinitiatief.be
CROATIA
DUBROVNIK
Imagine if musicians, performers, and artists were
to take over an entire city. What kind of place would
we live in? That’s the idea behind the 60th Dubrovnik
Summer Festival, a cultural event that literally
hands the keys of the city over to the artists. Enjoy
performances at 14 beautiful locations throughout Dubrovnik.
Composers, soloists, orchestras, solo artists, ensembles,
opera, ballet, and dance troupes entertain crowds from
July 10–August 25. www.dubrovnik-festival.hr
CZECH REPUBLIC
PRAGUE
If you need a break from all the wonderful sites
and are tired of spending your evenings guzzling pivo,
why not spend the evening with every gay’s favorite
Material Girl? Madonna kicks off the European
stretch of her Sticky and Sweet Tour in July,
but graces the stage in the Czech Republic on August
13. Tickets are relatively cheaper than you’ll
find at home, costing about $150 for the best seats
(other countries’ prices can cost double that).
All the candy-coated goodness explodes on the stage
of the Chodov Natural Amphitheatre. www.madonna.com
ENGLAND
LONDON
Summer is the time of year for barbeques, pool
parties, and…horror films? London becomes a haven
for horror lovers everywhere this summer as the Brits
scare up a good time at Film4 Frightfest. The
Empire Cinema in Leicester Square will play host from
August 27–31 screening an array of movies that
will surely scare the bejesus out of you! www.frightfest.co.uk
MANCHESTER
Manchester knows how to celebrate its thriving
gay culture at 2009’s Manchester Pride.
Join thousands for days and nights filled with sports,
films, debates, arts, music, and dance parties. The
real action takes place over the Bank Holiday weekend,
when throngs of people gather for the parade, huge markets,
and of course special musical performances. This year’s
headliner is the smash-hit artist Little Boots. Celebrate
without guilt because the money raised will help the
lesbian and gay foundations of Manchester. The ten-day
queer fest takes place August 21–31. www.manchesterpride.com
FINLAND
HELSINKI
The Helsinki Festival pulls out all the
stops this year from August 13–30. Showcasing the
best in Finnish and international performing and creative
arts, international artists, and ensembles fill the
streets and performance spaces. Classical and contemporary
music, dance, theatre, cinema, performance, and art
exhibitions all help celebrate 40 years of Finnish culture.
Even if you have yet to add the major players in Finnish
music to your personal playlist, bask in the excitement
and admiration that the Nordic people have for their
stars and culture. www.helsinkifestival.fi
FRANCE
PARIS
Summer in the City. Since 2002 the city
of Paris has set up beaches along the river Seine. The
Pompidou Expressway is shut down, and the area is literally
given over to the people. You can enjoy various outdoor
activities as well as a floating pool right in the center
of the city. As visitors topped four million in 2007,
money from the city continues to expand the project
that fills the summer months of July and August. www.pps.org
GERMANY
BERLIN
Things are sure to heat up in Berlin this summer
with the return of the Tanz im August: Berlin International
Dance Festival. The festival grooves into town August
14–30. It will feature a wide-array of programs
including workshops and contemporary dance shows featuring
worldwide talent that often challenges the audience’s
understanding of dance and movement. www.tanzimaugust.de
FRANKFURT
Sacrifice some shoe leather and show your support
for those living with HIV and AIDS in the city of Frankfurt.
This year’s Lauf für nehr Zeit 5,000-meter
jaunt takes place September 13. Individuals and groups
of runners, joggers, and walkers complete a 3.2-mile
circuit through the city and raise money for an assortment
of charities. The race starts and finishes at Opernplatz,
and allows participants to see the city from a whole
new perspective. www.lauf-fuer-mehr-zeit.de
HAMBURG
Film Fest Hamburg is Germany’s premier
northern film festival. The star-studded action takes
place September 24–October 3. The jam-packed screenings,
the lavish after-parties, and fan fever outside of theaters
are testament to Hamburg’s love of the cinema.
If your German is a bit rusty, simply be a part of the
crowds that wait to witness Germany’s big name
celebrities glam it up on the red carpet. www.filmfest-hamburg.de
HUNGARY
BUDAPEST
Even Bacchus would be impressed with all the wine guzzling
and merriment that can be found at the 18th Budapest
International Wine Festival. The wine exhibition
and fair both take place from September 9–13, the
peak of Hungary’s wine season. Get to know Hungary
through conversations and trainings from the country’s
best wine producers. After a full day of tasting, if
you opt not to use a spittoon, you may get to know the
people of Budapest really well! www.aborfesztival.hu
ICELAND
REYKJAVIK
Can you keep up with ancestors of the Vikings?
Hit the pavement with people from all over Iceland at
the Reykjavik Marathon. The city is perfect for
runners of all backgrounds. With some of the world’s
cleanest air, beautiful summer temperatures, and some
jaw-dropping scenery, the marathon is world-class. While
the Icelanders’ competitive spirit is in full swing
August 22, the cultural festival that follows shows
just how welcoming the people really are. Enjoy a full
night of entertainment, arts, food, and even a midnight
fireworks show. www.marathon.is
IRELAND
DUBLIN
This event may be more terrifying than fun if you
have even the slightest case of pupaphobia, but for
those who don’t have an irrational fear of puppets,
the International Puppet Festival is a celebration
of cultural and art. Established in 1991, the festival
brings together the best puppetry artists. Watch performances
that range from the use of classic marionettes to puppets
made from people’s body parts…no nothing raunchy,
this is after all a festival the whole family can take
delight in attending. All the Neighborhood of Make Believe
fun takes place September 10–18. www.puppetfest.ie
ITALY
ROME
While most summer nights in Rome begin with a full
meal and end with a long passagiata around the city,
La Notte Bianca has the whole city, and then
some, out until dawn. On the night of September 15,
museums, shops, and restaurants keep their doors open
and street performances welcome the new day. While the
excessive late night boozing on the streets of Rome
can lead to chaos, there’s much beauty in the camaraderie
and excitement that the city exudes during this night.
When the sun begins to rise, claim your spot on the
usually closed Capitoline Hill, where you can watch
the orange glow illuminate the ancient city. Ché
bella notte. www.lanottebianca.it
NETHERLANDS
AMSTERDAM
The apex of Amsterdam’s gay pride week is
the Canal Parade, the only pride parade that
decorates fabulous boats instead of over-the-top truck
floats. Watch as gorgeous Dutch boys and girls celebrate
on 75 decorated boats. The event starts at 2 P.M. and
sails through the Prinsengracht and Amstel rivers. The
parade is on August 1, but gay pride events keep the
energy up throughout the week. www.amsterdamgaypride.nl
After a long day at the parade, the
celebration continues with the most famous night of
fun in Europe, the White Party. Revelers dress in all
white, and world-renowned DJs keep the party pumping
till the wee hours of the morning. www.whiteparty.eu
NORWAY
OSLO
Gay Norwegians must be waiting anxiously for the
Mr. Gay Europe final contestants to arrive on
August 19. Oslo plays host to the Olympics of gay pageants
from August 19–23. Get ready for some fierce competition
as Mr. Gay country winners fight for the title of Mr.
Gay Europe. Leaving the backstage drama behind, this
is about European Pride and unity and a celebration
of just plain old gorgeous men! www.mrgayeurope.net
SCOTLAND
EDINBURGH
The Royal Mile erupts with the sounds of New Orleans
July 31–August 9, with the Edinburgh International
Jazz and Blues Festival. This is an exciting year
for the festival as it prepares for its largest event
ever. As the longest-running jazz festival in the UK
you can expect massive outdoor shows, as well as intimate
gigs and impromptu jam sessions. The beautiful summer
weather is perfect for outdoor concerts and don’t
miss the huge, highlight jazz event where 20,000 spectators
join musicians in the Princess Street Gardens. www.edinburghjazzfestival.co.uk
The cultural festivities kick into high
gear late this summer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
This internationally revered artfest hopes to give open
access to all performers, no matter what their craft.
Watch dance, all kinds of music, portrait painting,
street traders, guerilla theatre, and outdoor performances.
Creativity fills the nooks and crannies of the city
August 7–31. www.edfringe.com
SPAIN
MADRID
Strap on those Jimmy Choos, this is after all one
of the hottest fashion weeks in the world. The Madrid
International Fashion Week (SIMM) is legendary for
making its mark on women’s fashion. Models take
to the catwalk, showcasing every kind of women’s
fashion from undergarments to haute couture. This is
no easy fashion show to snag a front row seat, as world-famous
designers show off their new lines and fashionistas
fill the best chairs. July 16–18. www.simm.ifema.es
SWEDEN
STOCKHOLM
With excitement still emanating from last year’s
Euro Pride, this year’s Stockholm Pride
expects to pull out all the stops. The celebration takes
place July 27–August 2. The scores of events and
things to do include Pride Park, where all the performances
will take place, the Pride House, where discussions
and workshops will happen, and of course Pride Parade
2009, this year’s is Stockholm’s largest ever.
www.stockholmpride.org
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