July 2008
14 Jun - 14 sep (3 months)
Expo Zaragoza
Zaragoza, Spain
95 countries have confirmed their participation in Expo Zaragoza 2008, and rising. With a Eurail or InterRail Pass valid in Spain you get 12% discount on the entrance fee!
Website Expo Zaragoza 2008
July various dates (annual)
Ommegang Pageant
Brussels, Belgium
Brussels' Grand Palace gets invaded by 3000 spectators (including the royal family) for the Ommegang, a procession of nobles in period costume as well as craftsmen and soldiers. To view the pageant book in advance with the tourist office. Try the town Mechelen if the one in Brussels is sold out. The event takes place during the first tuesday and thursday of july.
1 July
Istanbul International Jazz Festival
Turkey, Istanbul
The International Istanbul Jazz Festival presents a remarkable variety of music from big names in jazz at venues all over the city.
2 July
Palio di Siena
Sienna, Italy
For the Siennese, the Palio horse-race around the Piazza del Campo is a matter of life and death.
First friday of July
Festa de Colete Encarnado
Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal
Portugal's answer to the running of the bulls, where the macho and the mad dodge bulls les loose on the streets. During the daily Portuguese-style bullfights, the bull is wrestled, but not killed, which is more impressive and less gruesome than the Spanish version.
3 - 6 July (annual)
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde, Denmark
The largest North European music festival. A non-profit organisation. The profits are donated directly to humanitarian and cultural purposes.
www.roskilde-festival.dk.
4 - 6 July (annual)
Wife Carrying World Championships
Market Square, Sonkajärvi, Finland
The annual Wife Carrying World Championships in Sonkajärvi is expected to attract more spectators, media and piggy-backing couples than ever before.
4-13 July (annual)
Copenhagen Jazz Festival
Copenhagen, Denmark
The festival takes place both indoors in clubs and venues and not least outdoors where various scenic places such as parks and squares are transformed into jazz venues. This summer a floating stage will be moored at the quayside of the Copenhagen Harbour.
Website
4 - 19 July
Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux, Switzerland
The best-known music festival in Switzerland, held annually on the shorts of lake Geneva.
6 - 14 July (annual)
Sanfermin Fiestas
Pamplona, Spain
The Sanfermin fiestas are celebrated every year. It's a non-stop party from the opening rocket on the 6th until the 14th at midnight. The famous running of the bulls takes place each morning.
Website
8-10 July (annual)
Rockwave Festival
Athens, Greece
The capital's premier rock concert brings in headliners such as Tiwsted Sister, Pearl Jam, Guns 'n Roses and Franz Ferdinant to keep 50.000-plus visitors entertained for three days of live music.
Website
10 July - 10 Aug (annual)
ImPuls Tanz
Vienna, Austria
Dancing, or something that looks vaguely like it, is nonstop during this month-long celebration or rhythmic movement in Vienna. World famous choreographers and dance companies perform all over the city, and there are courses and workshops if you want to get in on the action yourself.
11 - 13 July (annual)
International Steam Festival
Vejle, Denmark
Every year at the International Steam Festival, the town of Vejle focuses on steam vessels in various guises: for passenger sailing, towing and ice breaking.
12 - 19 July
Aarhus International Jazz Festival
Aarhus, Denmark
Small and bigger jazz bands will play indoors in clubs and venues and outdoors on squares.
Aarhus is Denmark's second largest city.
Website
13 July (annual)
Petite Troménie
Le Nemeton, Locronan, France
The Petite Troménie in Locronan is one of the oldest pardons (religious days) in Brittany. Pilgrims in costume, carrying gold brocaded, silk banners and singing Breton songs.
14 - 15 July (annual)
Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival
Théâtre de Verdure, Brussels, Belgium
The open-air Théâtre de Verdure, one of the loveliest and greenest places in Brussels, hosts the free annual Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival.
July (annual)
Viva AfroBrasil
Schlossplatz, Stuttgart, Germany
Europe's most traditional Brasil open air with music, dance and celebration.
Website
16 July (annual)
Maritime Pilgrimage in Honour of the Virgin of the Song
San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
The beautiful town of San Pedro del Pinatar, located in the southern region of Murcia, stages an unusual maritime procession in
honour of the patron saint of sailors, the Virgen del Carmen.
25 July-7 Sep
Yehudi Menuhin Festival
Gstaad, Switzerland
Yehudi Menuhin founded this festival in 1956 to bring chamber music to the swanky Swiss Alps resort of Gstaad. Well, it seemed like reason to enough at the time. The event has grown and the concerts are held in the chruches and surrounding villages. World-renowned solists also perform.
Website
26 July - 31 Aug (annual)
Salzburg Festival
Salzburg, Austria
The Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele) is a prominent festival of music and drama. It is held each summer (for 5 weeks starting in late July) within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
28 July - 6
Interceltic Festival
Lorient, France
Annual showcase of the Celtic arts, featuring performers from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Asturias, G alicia, Isle of Man and Brittany.
28-30 Aug (annual)
Medieval Days
Sighiscora, Romania
This festival takes place in during the last three days of July and you can discover the way people used to live ages ago. People dress in traditional costumes and stage music and theatrical performances.