History Buff edition ()
Spring is coming and it is time to start celebrating warmer and sunnier weather. Go outside and learn something at each of these events. All across Europe, there are historical reenactments, medieval festivals, national independence celebrations and traditional holidays.
GERMANY
May Day | Celebrations and Demonstrations Across Germany | May 1
May Day as a concept dates back to the Iron Age. Germany combines ideas from Valentine’s Day, the American Labor Day, and Halloween, into one huge holiday. It is meant to welcome Spring weather and ward away evil spirits.
29th Freienfels Knight Games | Weinbachs- Freienfels | May 9-12
Pentecost Festival: Travel back to 1631 | Rothenburg | May 17-20
Tolkien Days | Geldern | May 24-26
Bernau Hussite Festival | Bernau | May 30- June 2
The Big Meeting: Fantasy Festival | Aach am Bodensee | Aug. 9-11
Museum Embankment Festival | Frankfurt | Aug. 23-25
Beethoven Festival | Bonn | Sept. 5 to Oct. 3
BELGIUM
Procession of the Holy Blood | Bruges | May 24
Ommegang Pageant of Brussels | Brussels | July 3 and 5
The Battle of Waterloo Reenactment | Braine-l’Alleud | June 18
Why not attend a reenactment of one of the most famous battles in history? Watch as Napoleon and his over 90,000 troops fall to the Duke of Wellington.
Beselare Witch Parade | Beselare | July TBD
Festival of Wallonia: Celebration of Belgian independence | Namor | Sept. 12-16
IRELAND and THE U.K.
St. Patrick’s Day | Cities across Ireland | Mar. 17
Gloucester History Festival Spring Weekend | Gloucester| Apr. 12-14
Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre | Glastonbury | Apr. 27-28
Highland Games | All over Scotland | May-Sept.
Southwick Revival “Spirit of D-Day” | Southwick | June 8-9
Chalke Valley History Festival | Broad Chalke| June 24-30
What began as a small festival in 2011, has grown to host over 25,000 visitors across 70 acres every year. This festival entertains you with reenactments, discussions, workshops, live music, debates and more.
TANKFEST 2024 | Bovington | June 28-30
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Irish Traditional Music Festival) | Wexford | Aug. 4-11
The Yorkshire Wartime Experience | Yorkshire | Aug. 9-11
Puck Fair: Ireland’s Oldest Festival | Killorglin | Aug. 10-12
National Ploughing Championships | Screggan | Sept. 17-19
Up Helly Aa: Viking Tradition Festival | Shetland | Jan. 28, 2025
SWEDEN
National Day | Stockholm | June 6
Midsommer Day | Cities across Sweden | June 24
Stockholm Early Music Festival – A Classic Fest | Stockholm | June 4-9
This is a festival for history and music lovers alike. As one of the most popular music festivals in Sweden, it features musicians from all over the world performing music from the Baroque, medieval and Renaissance eras. Put on your classiest attire and prepare to enjoy delicious Swedish fare between performances.
Medieval Week | Visby | Aug. 4-11
AUSTRIA
Summer Solstice - Fire Festival: Since 1604 | Wachau and Nibelungengau | June 22 and 29
Mozart Week | Salzburg | Jan 2025
CZECHIA
Royal Silvering of Kutná Hora | Kutná Hora | June TBD
Five-Petalled Rose Celebrations | Cesky Krumlov | June 21-23
Summer Shakespeare Festival | Prague | June-Sept.
ITALY
Explosion of the Cart | Florence | Mar. 31
Easter Procession/Procession Of Mysteries: 24-hour procession | Sicily | Mar. 29
The Procession of the Snake Catchers | Cocullo | May 2
Game of the Bridge Festival | Pisa | June 29
Festa della Madonna Bruna | Matera | July 2
Quintana of Ascoli Piceno | Ascoli Piceno | July-Aug.
POLAND
Jewish Cultural Festival | Krakow | June 23-30
SWITZERLAND
Swiss National Day | Across Switzerland | Aug.1
Fête de l’Escalade: Celebration of Geneva’s victory against Savoyard | Geneva | Dec. TBD
