Guest Author - Sarah Shergill

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Times, dates, and locations of events are sometimes changed or even cancelled. Always remember to check with organizers and local authorities before booking tickets and making travel plans.

Bommel Festival
Ronse, Belgium
January (starts second Saturday of every January)
Epiphany celebrations including costumed characters.

Burning the Clavie
Burghead, Scotland
January (every year)
Burning barrel carried around the town.

Carnival of Rijeka
Rijeka, Croatia
January - February (every year)
Carnival parade meets Slavic folklore and mythology.

Chinese New Year
London, England
January (every year)
Lion’s Dances and performances in Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.

Christmas City
Turku, Finland
December - January (every year)
Celebrate Finnish Christmas including Declaration of Christmas Peace.

Cresta Run
St Moritz, Switzerland
December - February (every year)
Similar to bobsled tracks, but made of natural ice. Try it if you dare!

Epiphany
Bordonaro, Italy
January (every year)
After mass locals help themselves to the tasty Christmas tree decorations.

Epiphany
Piana degli Albanesi, Italy
January (every year)
Albanian Epiphany celebrations in the Byzantine tradition.

Festival of San Sebastiano
Mistretta, Italy
January (every year)
A procession in honor of the martyr San Sebastiano.

Hogmanay
Edinburgh, Scotland
December - January (every year)
Procession, fireworks, and partying at this huge New Year celebration.

Icehotel
Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
December - April (every year)
Hotel made of ice in Lapland, north of the Arctic Circle.

International Circus Festival
Monte Carlo, Monaco
January (every year)
Performers from around the world compare talents.

International Inferno Race
Mürren, Switzerland
January (every year)
The largest amateur skiing race in the world.

Mari Llwyd
Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
December - January (every year)
New year celebrations including a torch light walk.

Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo, Monaco
January (starts the fourth Thursday of every January)
Mountainous roads are the setting for this famous rally.

Monte Carlo Vintage Car Rally
Monte Carlo, Monaco
January - February (every year)
Vintage cars and lots of pomp.

New Year's Day Concert
Vienna, Austria
January (every year)
The Philharmonic Orchestra's in Golden Concert Hall.

Olympic Bobsleigh Run
La Plagne, France
November - February (every year)
Try out the Olympic track.

Prix de Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland
January - February (every year)
International competition for young dancers at the Palais de Beaulieu.

Putignano Carnival
Putignano, Italy
December - February (every year)
Parade of papier-mache floats.

Six Day Race
Berlin, Germany
January (every year)
Competition of the world’s fastest cyclists.

Snow Festival (Schneefestival)
Seefeld, Austria
January (final Saturday of every January)
Ice sculptures, music, dancing, food, and fireworks.

Snow Festival
Kiruna, Sweden
January - February (every year)
Snow sculpting, dog-sledding, reindeer, and northern lights.

Snowbombing
Les Arcs, France
January (every year)
The world's finest snowboarders, DJs, and partying.

Up Helly Aa
Lerwick, Scotland
January (final Tuesday of every January)
Fire festival, torchlit procession, fancy-dress parade, burning of a Viking ship.

World Snow Festival
Grindelwald, Switzerland
January (every year)
Competition of the world’s best ice sculptures.

Calendar of Events and Festivals in EuropeJanuary | February | March | April | May | June | JulyAugust | September | October | November | December