European Festivals – The Best Way to Experience European Culture Without Breaking the Bank
Introduction
There are few things in life that are as thrilling as being able to experience a foreign culture. And there are even fewer ways to do that than by attending an international festival. Of course, festivals can be expensive – especially those taking place in major European cities like London or Paris. But this doesn’t mean you need to break the bank just because you want to get your groove on at a music festival (or any other type of festival for that matter). Here’s how:
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held in Munich, Germany that runs from mid-September until the first weekend in October. It is the world’s largest fair and attracts over 6 million people each year.
The history of Oktoberfest dates back to 1810 when Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen on October 12th at Schloss Ehrenbreitstein castle in Koblenz (a city on the Rhine River).
In celebration of their marriage, they held a horse race where locals competed with their own horses. The winning horsemen were awarded wine barrels full of beer by King Maximilian I Joseph von Bayern who had just taken over leadership after Napoleon left town following his defeat at Wagram on July 5th 1809 (about 14 months before this party took place).
San Fermin Festival
The San Fermin Festival is held in Pamplona, Spain and is a festival of running with bulls. The event takes place every year from July 6 to 14. It’s named after Saint Fermin, the patron saint of Navarre.
The festival begins when runners gather at 8am in front of the city’s bullring where they will be launched out onto their eight-day run by a rocket-powered cannon called “Chupinazo.” After this, each day consists of six bulls being released into the streets at 8:00 am sharp! These bulls are let loose on an open course through narrow streets lined with cheering crowds (and terrified runners).
The Venice Carnival
Venice Carnival is one of the most famous festivals in Europe, and it’s held every year from February to March. The celebration commemorates St Mark, who was born in Venice and became its patron saint.
The Venice Carnival has been going on for hundreds of years! It began as a way for people to celebrate after Lent ended–a time when Catholics were supposed to be fasting. During those 40 days, you couldn’t eat meat or dairy products like butter or cheese, so when the celebrations were over it was only natural that everyone would want something sweet (and maybe even greasy).
Street Performers in Interlaken, Switzerland
Interlaken, Switzerland
Interlaken is a town in the Swiss Alps that’s known for its street performers. The performers are often dressed in traditional Swiss costumes and can be seen playing music or singing songs for passersby.
La Tomatina in Buol, Spain
La Tomatina is a tomato fight festival that takes place every year on the last Wednesday of August in Buol, Spain. It is a celebration of the end of the harvest season and attracts around 20,000 people every year.
Carnival de Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is a celebration that takes place every year, during the Catholic tradition of Lent. It lasts for a week and culminates in the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The main day of this festival is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, when people don’t eat meat and instead consume seafood or beans. The streets are filled with people wearing colorful costumes as they dance along to live music playing on loudspeakers throughout town. The costumes vary from year to year but can include anything from traditional African designs to elaborate animal costumes made out of recycled materials like plastic bottles or newspapers!
Venice Carnevale, Italy
If you’re looking to experience the culture of Europe in a way that’s both fun and affordable, look no further than Venice Carnevale. Held every year in February, this festival celebrates the history of Venice by bringing together music, dancing and parades through the city.
It’s one of those events where you can dress up in your best costume–or even just wear whatever you want! The main goal is just to have fun with everyone else who comes out for it.
There are many great festivals across Europe to enjoy without breaking the bank.
Festivals are a great way to experience the culture of a region, but they can be expensive. Luckily, there are ways to save money and still have an amazing time at your favorite festival. Here are some of our favorite festivals that won’t break the bank:
- The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of Europe’s most popular arts festivals. It takes place over three weeks in August each year and features comedy acts from around the world as well as theater productions in dozens of languages! You’ll find everything from stand-up comedians performing on street corners to full-length plays at major theaters such as The Traverse Theatre or Assembly Rooms (I highly recommend seeing “The House That Jack Built”). This year’s theme is “fearless.” If you’re looking for something different than what you see every day at home, try attending one of these performances–you won’t regret it!
- Another great option is Eurovision Song Contest which takes place every year in May/June across multiple countries throughout Europe including Belgium, Denmark France Germany Iceland Italy Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal San Marino Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden United Kingdom Ukraine
Conclusion
There are many great festivals across Europe to enjoy without breaking the bank. You can experience world-class music, food, and culture without spending a fortune. The best part is that you don’t have to travel far from home to find these events–many take place right here in America!