SPECIAL EVENTS
February
Venice Carnival, Venice, Italy
The Carnival of Venice is the most important and magnificent of Venetian celebrations, a much appreciated cocktail of tradition, spectacle, history and transgression set in a unique city, a festival that attracts thousands of people each year to the city from around the world.
www.venicecarnival.com
Kotor Carnival, Kotor, Montenegro
Every year in February, during the season of carnivals, there is a carnival in famous Promenade of Kotor, which gathers hundreds of local residents and guests in masks. Apart from the traditional procession down the city streets and squares, the main “culprit” for all last year problems – the Carnival, is burnt in the Promenade. Especially for this occasion, the owners of small boats redecorate the boats, contributing in that way to this interesting happening. The event ends with traditional evening masked ball in the hotel "Fjord", where the most successful carnival masks are awarded.
www.kotorkarneval.com
April
Biograd Challenge 2007, Biograd, Croatia
Herceg Novi April Theater Festival, Herceg Novi, Montenegro
Since 1995, HAPS (“Hercegnovske aprilske pozorisne svecanosti” – “Herceg Novi April Theater Festival”) has been held every year from April 1 to April 15. Ensembles of young and amateur theater players from Montenegro and Serbia participate in the HAPS. HAPS does not have a competition character, but represents an opportunity to present a part of theatrical accomplishments of young and new tendencies in that field. Assembly of Herceg Novi Municipality, Herceg fest and Herceg Novi theatre, are the organizers of the festival.
May
Internautica, Portorož, Slovenia
Portorož Internautica may not have the appeal of the world's largest boat shows, such as those of Miami, Genoa, Paris or Hanover, where trends for the next season are set by the most famous boat and nautical equipment makers. Yet, manufacturers are keen to participate in what may be the largest boat show on the Adriatic, despite its somewhat "tourist" orientation.
www.internautica.net
Microsoft NT conference, Portorož, Slovenia
Ankara Music Festival, Ankara, Turkey
In the capital city, Ankara, the International Ankara Music Festival is held every year in April-May by Sevda Cenap And Foundation. The Festival, which is a member of the European Festivals Union and of which the 16th was held in 1999, has hosted over 8000 famous artists up until today.
www.ankarafestival.com
Marmaris Yacht Charter Show, Marmaris, Turkey
Over the years, the event grew to encompass more activities, including a fun race around Marmaris Bay, a Spring Regatta and a Trade Show with numerous local and national exhibitors. From sleek classic sailing yachts to traditionally-designed Turkish vessels and from high-tech cruisers to megayachts, the Marmaris Yacht Festival has been a showcase for them all and is today an internationally-recognised yachting event attracting as many as 30 yacht charter agents and twice as many yachts.
June
Dubrovnik International Film Festival, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik International Film Festival will swing into action from 4th - 8th, October this year in the stunning old city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Normally positioned at the end of May and four days after Cannes, this year in October, DIFF will be bigger, better and more fun than ever before and we will be screening features, documentaries and short films, most of them Croatian premieres, from 25 countries, over 5 fun-filled days and nights.
www.dubrovnikiff.org
Hellenic Festival, Athens, Greece
The Hellenic Festival takes place in Athens’ Herodes Atticus theatre and offers a large range of performances: modern and ancient theatre, ballet, opera, jazz and classical music, dances, symphonic music and great singers and many other special events. The festival takes place from June 2 to September 28.
www.greekfestival.gr
International Jazz & Blues Festival, Athens, Greece
The International Jazz and Blues Festival takes place in Athens, in June, is welcomed by the theatre of Lycabettus. Lycabettus also welcomes every year many other events such as music, dances and theatrical performances from the national and international scene.
International Izmir Festival, Ephesus, Turkey
The International Izmir Festival held annually is organised by the Izmir Culture, Art and Education Foundation. The 16th year of the festival was celebrated in the year 2000, which was held in historical places such as the Amphitheatre at Ephesus, the Celcius Library and the House of the Virgin Mary and, as it is the case every year, world-famous artists and groups in the branches of orchestra concerts, chamber music, ballet, theatre, jazz and pop participated in the event.
www.iksev.org
Mediterranean music festival, Budva, Montenegro
Mediterranean music festival is the leading domestic, light music festival held next to the ancient walls of Budva, late in June every year. The purpose of the festival is to affirm Mediterranean melodies, offering tens of new hits, widely sang and remembered, every year. A three-day long light-music festival gives young people an opportunity for affirmation. During recent years, the festival has been gaining an international character with more and more guests coming from neighboring, and other countries from the Mediterranean region. The Festival is based on the already tested programme conception, which, apart from the Mediterranean and pop music contest, also includes the participation of domestic and foreign artists, as well as the presentation of haute couture of worldly famous designers. Some of the guests of the Festival were Toto Cotugno, Al Bano, Spagna, Goran Bregovic, Zdravko Colic, Bajaga etc.
July
Melodije morja in sonca, Portorož, Slovenia
www.festivalmms.si
Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Dubrovnik, Croatia
www.dubrovnik-festival.hr
Histria Festival, Pula, Croatia
The International Summer Histria Festival is annual festival of music, opera, ballet and theatre performances. Pula’s spectacular Roman Amphitheatre located in the heart of Historic Pula provides a stunning venue for many of the performances alongside many other great open-air locations. This prestigious festival welcomes artists and performers from all over the world.
www.histriafestival.com
Epidaurus Festival, Epidaurus, Greece
The ancient theatre of Epidaurus welcomes a festival of Classical drama performances every summer during the months of July and August. It is one of Greece’s top events which attract thousands of visitors every year.
August
Venice Film Festival, Venice, Italy
The 63rd edition of the Venice Film Festival ran August 30 to September 9, 2006. The Festival is articulated according to the estabilished outline: the Venezia 63 section presents the films competing for the Golden Lion, some of the most important works of the year screen Out of Competition, while the Orizzonti section provides a picture of new trends in cinema. The international short film competition Corto Cortissimo is also in the line-up of the festival.
http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/
September
Izola boat show, Izola, Slovenia
The IZOLA BOAT SHOW is the central Slovenian showcase for nautics. Each year, the scope of its offer expands with regard to the number of boats in water and number of exhibitors, as well as in the number of visitors which, last year, exceeded 10,000.
www.izolaboatshow.com
Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Antalya, Turkey
Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival is the first national film festival organized in Turkey for 42 consecutive years; this prestigious national event has celebrated and supported the Turkish Film industry through its film competition and annual Golden Orange Award Ceremony.
www.iksev.org
Regatta Storica, Vennice, Italy
This regatta, which takes place on the first Sunday in September each year, dates back to the 13th century. The race features fast boats with two oars (gondolini), and a procession of historical boats containing people in costume also passes through the city. If you want a good view you should get there at dawn, because the fans of this race get there early and are passionate enough about the festivities to provide an additional attraction to tourists.
October
Golden Drum, Portorož, Slovenia
Twelve years have passed since the modest idea that many saw as bold and overreaching was born. Since then the Golden Drum International Advertising Festival has grown into not only a European manifestation but into an important event noticed throughout the world. From Trieste to Vladivostok, from Helsinki to Tel Aviv, the Golden Drum is the biggest, the most important and the most noticed advertising overview and event of the year.
www.goldendrum.com
Barcolana, Trieste, Italy
The Barcolana is a regatta for everyone. From mega-yachts to small sailing boats, from professional yachtsmen and women to the passionate amateur, the regatta is a celebration of the sea and full of competitive spirit. Some of those taking part in the race sail boats which boast the latest marine technology, with ever-larger sails to defy Trieste’s dead calm and canting keels to fight against the Bora, Trieste’s famous wind. Whatever the weather, the event is always eagerly awaited on the annual date of the second Sunday of October.
www.barcolana.it
November
The Film festival of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
The International Thessaloniki Film Festival has become the Balkans' primary showcase for the work of new and emerging filmmakers, as well as the leading film festival in the region. The event features the International Section, the panorama of Greek films, the Independence Days program, the Balkan Survey, and numerous retrospectives and tributes to leading figures in the world of film.
www.filmfestival.gr
December
Minosa Festival, Herceg Novi, Montenegro
For four decades, traditional festival of mimosa has been organized in Herceg Novi from the end of December till early March every year. Tourist representatives of this town and a group of journalists founded this festival in honour of the first winter flower – mimosa – the herald of spring. The Mimosa festival starts in carnival atmosphere, and ends with public trial to the carnival at the main City Square.
