top 5
Summer Festivals to Travel for
Festival season is upon us, when cities across the northern half of the globe heat up with celebrations of food, drink and song. We’ve selected five international festivals worth travelling for:
Taste of Chicago
June 27–July 6, 2008
What began as a small part of Chicago’s Fourth of July festivities back in 1980 has grown into the biggest food-themed gathering in the world. Each year, 6 million visitors descend on Grant Park, between Lake Michigan and Chicago’s famed Loop district, to sample the culinary treats of over 70 food vendors – from gourmet creations and diverse ethnic fare to greasy spoon staples like Chicago-style pizza, hot dogs and ribs. Also on offer are performances by the Grant Park Orchestra, as well as major music acts like John Mayer and James Taylor. Natch, there are plenty of cooking demos by top local chefs – last year’s roster included Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef, Art Smith – not to mention the massive Independence Eve fireworks displays on July 3. Admission is free, while food and drink purchases are made with meal tickets, sold in strips of 12 for $8. To fully savour the festival (without bursting), each vendor offers “taste” portions for two or three tickets a pop.
The Edinburgh Festival
August 3–31, 2008
Edinburgh, Scotland, plays host to a number of separate festivals in August, collectively (though unofficially) referred to as the Edinburgh Festival. Major draws include the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), featuring mainstream dance, opera, theatre and classical music performances; the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an international showcase of military drum and bagpipe music; the Edinburgh International Book Festival; and, last but not least, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, originally an alternative to the EIF but now by far the world’s largest arts celebration, where fringe theatre, comedy, music and dance acts pull in over 1.5 million people. Admission fees vary, though many events are free.
Great British Beer Festival
August 5–9, 2008
If real ale is what you’re after, you’d do well to join the queue at London’s Earls Court this August for what the promoter Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) touts as the Biggest Pub in the World. Over 350,000 pints will be imbibed during the five-day fest, which features about 450 British and 200 foreign ale and lager brewers. The best brew houses – from major labels to microbreweries – will receive CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain award. Be sure to try the numerous traditional British apple ciders and pear ciders, or perries, on tap. Live music, pub game competitions and a wide selection of food and beer tastings with master brewers are just some of the other highlights. Admission fees range from £3 to £8 (about $6 to $16).
Foire Saint-Germain
May 23–July 6, 2008
Each summer, this low-key Parisian festival restores the gentrified 6e arrondissement to its former glory as a hub of artistic and literary creativity. Centred since 1978 around Place Saint-Sulpice in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood, the festival pays tribute to its origins in the 12th century with a medieval fair (May 23–25), followed by an antique market (June 5–16), poetry fair (June 19–22), rare book fair (June 25–30) and, finally, a pottery fair (July 3–6). There are also over 100 shows and exhibits, including theatre, poetry readings and concerts, as well as special activities and events for children. Most events are free.
Holland Festival
May 31–June 22
Amsterdam goes artsy each June, when it stages Holland’s – and one of Europe’s – largest performing arts festival. The Holland Festival features a wide selection of Dutch and international theatre, music, opera and modern dance, as well as a growing number of film and multimedia productions. This year’s highlights include a Chinese opera trilogy, a German adaptation of the plays of Molière, dance theatre by American choreographer William Forsythe and a musical production by classical Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov.
(Giancarlo La Giorgia is a Montreal-based freelance journalist and author of the non-fiction bestseller Canadian War Heroes: Ten Profiles in Courage.)
Getting there
Air Canada has an extensive network of flights around the world. Go see it! Plus, take advantage of our deals on hotel rooms and car rentals.
TOP PHOTO: CITY OF CHICAGO
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL: TONY MARSH
GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL: CAMRA
FOIRE SAINT-GERMAIN: KERMARREC AURELIEN / ISTOCKPHOTO
HOLLAND FESTIVAL: TAN SHAOYUAN
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