Spring is in the air and it’s the perfect time to plan your trip to a European destination where fun and festivities await. But where to go? Well, if you’re looking for spring festivals then you have a huge choice of destinations. Here are five of the best spring festivals you will find across Europe.
more red tulips © by jetheriot
1. Nice Festival
The Nice Festival is one of the oldest in the world, with a history stretching back to the end of the 13th century. Head to the city during February and you’ll be able to enjoy a few weeks of festivities where thousands of dancers flock onto the streets and there is music, parades and lots of fun. The festival is based on different themes each year, and make sure you don’t miss the Battle of Flowers.
2. Venice Festival
Head to Venice for this 10-day festival in the lead up to Ash Wednesday and you will see the city in a completely different light. The people of Venice come out in force onto the streets, all dressed up in costumes, masks and wigs, and the atmosphere completely changes. St Mark’s Square is a good place to see the main events, and don’t miss out on the numerous shows and performances held throughout the festivities.
3. Fallas de Valencia, Spain
Millions of people visit Valencia each year to enjoy these festivities, making it one of the biggest festivals in Spain. It dates back many centuries when the lamps were ceremoniously burnt because they were not required as the length of the days increased with the end of winter. Now paper mache figures are created and displayed all over the city, and they are then burnt on the final night of the festival on St Joseph’s Day. Expect lots of firecrackers and some impressive firework displays.
4. Queen’s Day, Amsterdam
Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Amsterdam to celebrate the Queen’s birthday in April in a festival known locally as Koninginnedag. The first thing you will notice is that everything is orange. Orange food, clothes, drinks, banners – everything. There is plenty of partying and celebrating, making this an excellent time to visit the city.
5. Strong Beer Festival, Germany
The name says it all for this festival in Munich. It takes place in March for about two weeks, and as you can imagine, it involves lots and lots of beer. Known as Starkbierzeit in Germany, this is where the strongest beers are produced by breweries and huge parties are held in the beer halls across the city. Apparently the origin of the festival dates back to the 17th century when monks brewed a strong beer to help them through their period of fasting for Lent.
Enjoy Springtime in Europe
These festivals are some of the best that you will find anywhere across Europe during the spring. Spring is a time to celebrate the end of winter and the return of warm weather, and the above is just a selection of what is on offer across the continent. So get looking for some hotel deals in your chosen destination and enjoy welcoming in the spring in style.
