Europe has always been the centre of music and arts. Performing arts are held in high esteem and various European nations hold festivals to commemorate and honor the efforts of those involved in the process of film making. Major European film events are:

The Sofia Film Festival is held every year in March in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is one of the mega film events of Europe and brings international cinema to Bulgaria and introduces the world to Bulgarian cinema. The festival brings together film personalities, journalists and cinemagoers in an extravaganza that lasts three days. The event aims at promoting ties between local and international film makers. Awards are given in various categories.

An interesting film event called the Bollywood Film Festival is featured annually in Prague the Czech Republic capital. Czech audience is enamored by the colorful song dance interpretation of emotional stories of Indian movies. The event takes place in October and lasts for six days and films both modern and hits of yesteryears are featured in the event.

In March every year Creteil in France holds the Creteil International Women’s Film Festival where the works of women directors are screened. The festival was established in 1979 to encourage women directors who at that time were   finding it hard to get their films distributed. The event also focuses on new talent and 50 unreleased films compete for prestigious awards. The event is open for women directors from all over the world.

Horror films, thrillers and science fiction movies are watched and enjoyed by people the world over and in May –June, Rome honors these movies which made you sit on the edges of the seats in the Fanafestival. The movies are screened in the Nuovo Cinema Aquila and awards are distributed in various categories.

Comedy films are enjoyed by all and sundry and to recognize the talents of those involved in making comedy films, Comedy Cluj an International film festival is organized every year in October in Romania. Awards are given for the Best Feature Film and Public’s Choice.

The Rosklide Music Festival is one of the five major musical events of Europe. It takes place every summer in Rockslide, Denmark. It is a great outdoor event; colorful and entertaining. The event started in 1971 for hippies and now and is now a big extravaganza featuring every genre of music. There are color coded stages with Orange Stage being the center stage. More than 180 bands entertain music lovers for four days.

Iceland Airways Festival is held for five days starting from the third weekend of October in Reykjavik, Iceland. The Iceland Airways provides a platform for new music from Iceland and other countries and besides musicians, it is attended by many people from the music industry and journalists.

The Sonar Festival takes place in Barcelona Spain. This three day affair which takes place in the third week of June is divided into two categories; Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night. The Museum of Modern Art and The Center of Contemporary Culture serve as the venues for Sonar by Day. Sonar by Day is about DJs, Live concerts, multimedia art and modern cinema. Sonar by Night is when you get the real action. The big names in the world of electronic music both local and international enthrall the mammoth crowd gathered at the venue. The venue is situated away from the main city and is quite huge around 10,000 meters of open as well as covered space.

The annual Spring Music Festival is held in May in Gratz in Austria. This funfair of electronic art and music turns the peaceful town of Gratz into one big party. It is the biggest musical event in Gratz and besides some electrifying music to enchant the crowd; workshops for VJs are also held.

Another summer musical festival of Europe worth mentioning is the EXIT festival. It is held in Serbia. The aim of this musical gala was to provide entertainment to the youth who had suffered much due to the political turmoil. This event now draws huge crowds from all over Europe.

Three Most Interesting Film Festivals
Posted in European Festivals on 03. Sep, 2009
Film festivals are cinematic festivals held annually in many countries. It features different independent films that focus on a specific subject or genre. Three of the most interesting film festivals in the world are the New York International Independent & Video Festival (NYIIFVF), the Rome International Film Festival, and the Cannes Film Festival.

Apart from being interesting, the New York International Independent & Video Festival is also the largest film festival in the world. It was founded in 1993 and quickly gained recognition as the leader of film festivals in the film entertainment industry as well as in the independent festival track. Over the years during the month of July, the festival has hosted many music, arts, and film events in New York and Los Angeles.

Another interesting film festival in the world is the Rome International Film Festival, which works to feature filmmakers and films worldwide. The festival is managed by a non-profit organization with a mission of sharing the art of independent films. It usually takes place during the month of
September.

For more than 60 years, the Cannes Film Festival has been a standard in the industry of films. It is not only an interesting festival to participate in but also the most famous in the world. This festival often plays a significant role in defining cinematic arts and promoting new talents. It is held during the month of May every year.

Top Three April Festivals in Europe
Posted in Chinese Festivals, European Festivals, Festivals in April on 20. Apr, 2009
    Europe is not a place especially known for large scale festivals in April, apart from public celebrations of the Holy Week and the Crucifixion leading to Easter. There are plenty of national events in some countriesthough. Among them are:The Gloucestershire Cheltenham International Jazz Festival in EnglandThe La Feria de Abril in SpainThe Amsterdam Orange Festival in Holland
Most of such events are very traditional and conventional, although visitors from all around the world are welcomed at the larger scale ones. The Gloucestershire Cheltenham International Jazz Festival, held annually around 28 April to 4 May in Cotswold location, is UK’s top jazz festival. The La Feria de Abril in Spain is another annual festival. It is held in Seville. This festival is among the largest in the country and the best in Seville. It offers traditional dress parades, dancing and lively day and night parties throughout the final week of April and the first week of May. The Amsterdam Orange Festival in Holland is one of the most unique festivals in Europe. It is shaped for the fans of the color Orange, beer and dope. Among the scores of other events in the country, it’s  a very large festival spanning almost a week with a massive street and canal-boat dance party.

3 Most Famous Blueberry Festivals in Europe and America
Posted in American Festivals, European Festivals, General Info about Festivals on 04. Apr, 2009
Blueberry festivals are very rare, but they can also be very popular when they come around. There are a number of such large-scale festivals in Europe and America, although none seem to have a consistency in dates at this time. Three of the most famous blueberry festivals around the continents would include:The Annual Blueberry Festival in Kentucky (America)The National Blueberry Festival in Michigan (America)The Scandinavian Blueberry Festival in Norway (Europe)
Two of the above three are from America, but that doesn’t imply that such festivals are not in favor in Europe. In fact, blueberry festivals are among the most important in the UK. The Annual Blueberry Festival in Kentucky is one of the most famous in US. It is held annually at Edmonton, Kentucky in June. The National Blueberry Festival in Michigan is a national-level blueberry festival as the name suggests. It is held in South Haven in Michigan, a place locally known as the ‘Blueberry Capitol of the World’. The Scandinavian Blueberry Festival is one of the most renowned in Europe. It is held annually in Norway towards the end of August. This blueberry festival is quite new and low-profiled, but its presence in the online world is extensive nonetheless.

3 Most Famous BBQ Festivals in North America
Posted in American Festivals, European Festivals, General Info about Festivals on 04. Apr, 2009
BBQ festivals are quite famous in the Americas and Europe and subtly popular in most Asian and African countries at private BBQ parties. America in particular, has hundreds of these BBQ festivals and parties all year round. Most of them are held on a state-to-state basis attracting to the state populations. Some will agree that the top three most famous BBQ festivals will include:The Smokin’ In The Wiregrass – Tri-State BBQ FestivalThe National Capital BBQ Battle
    The Gulf Coast Rhythm & BBQ Festival
As we can see, all three happen to be in the US, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect that such festivals do not take place in Canada. It is simply that they are less famous there. The Smokin’ In The Wiregrass – Tri-State BBQ Festival is an extremely huge BBQ festival involving thousands from three different states, the main being Alabama. The National Capital BBQ Battle on the other hand is a festival that attracts people from within and outside the country. It is considered an international tourist attraction.  The Gulf Coast Rhythm & BBQ Fest is probably the most famous in the state of Florida, which is already known for parties and active nightlife. Tickets for the above three can usually be  found online on various related websites.

The Top 5 Balloon Festivals in America and Europe
Posted in American Festivals, European Festivals on 03. Apr, 2009
Balloon festivals are quite frequent around America and Europe This includes famous hot-air balloon festivals as well. Thousands of people normally attend such festivals. The colorful display of beautiful and majestic balloons are special attractions. Five of the most famous around America and Europe are:The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
•    The Balloon Festival of Warren County in New Jersey
•    The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in the UK
•    The Montgolfiades de Dole in France
•    The Warsteiner Internationale Montgolfiade in Germany

Most balloon festivals take place during the summer and autumn when the weather is just right. True to form, most of the above festivals take place around that same time. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is possibly the most famous in the world. Thousands of people come out for the balloons and races. Similarly, the Montgolfiades de Dole in France and the Warsteiner Internationale Montgolfiade in Germany are equally famous among international travelers and participants. The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in the UK is also very highly rated by the media. It is known for being the largest on the continent. The Balloon Festival of Warren County in New Jersey is low-profiled in comparison, yet it is among the top of these festivals.