Prague Regular Events
Almost every day, there is a saint’s day in the Czech Republic, and special days, festivals, and public holidays are widely acknowledged. We bring you a list of regular cultural events throughout the year. Hopefully, it will help you find the one reflecting your interests and make the experience of your stay in the Czech Republic even greater.
choirs.cz
*The timing of the different events may vary from year to year.
Regular Cultural Events Throughout the Czech Republic
Prague Winter Festival (January)
Prague Opera and ballet is world-famous, boasting some of the finest opera performances in some of the most stunning opera houses in Europe. The festival runs for five days from 02nd January to 07th January and features many opportunities for you to enjoy opera, ballet, and classical music performances in the Estates Theatre, The Prague State Opera, The National Theatre, and the famous Dvorak Hall of the Prague Rudolfinum. www.praguewinterfestival.com
Prague’s Ball Season (January-February)
Dancing the waltz is a skill every self-respecting Prague resident will admit to, the Ball Season being one of the year’s great highlights. Brightening the dark winter nights, it runs from the New Year to the eve of Lent, when partying stops. Balls galore take place in the finest venues in Prague – such as the Marble Hall of the Lucerna Palace – and are attended by people of all ages. The music is as varied as the themes: traditional, smart, naughtily themed balls, Policeman balls, leather balls. The list is practically endless. Take your pick, but research it well. It’s an experience not to be missed. www.lucerna.cz
Saint Valentine’s Day (14th February)
Prague is full of romance all year round, but to this day the city overflows with love. The flower kiosks brim with bright blooms. Candle-lit tables in quaint 19th-century cafes beckon the poetic soul. Cozy restaurants tempt lovers to enjoy a sensual dining experience in quiet, intimate surroundings. Antique stores and fine boutiques hold intriguing gifts for that special someone. Saint Valentine’s Day in dreamy, magical Prague is an unforgettable gift of love.
The St Matthew’s Fair (Matejska Pout in Czech, February-March)
The annual fair has been an early rite of Spring for generations of families and awaited outings for children and their parents. It dates back more than 400 years to a celebration that began at St. Matthew’s church in Prague in observance of the saint’s feast day, 24th February. Eventually, the fair moved to the Vystaviste grounds in Holešovice. In its current form, the fair offers about 130 rides and other attractions, from swing sets to bumper cars to shooting galleries. A longstanding favorite is the Loch Ness, a large carousel in the shape of the legendary monster with flashing red eyes and undulating seats. Hours: Tuesday-Friday 2-10 pm; weekends, national holidays, and school holidays, 10 am-10 pm. Admission price: Tuesday-Friday 10 Kc, weekends 25 Kc, children under 120 centimeters (4 feet) free (separate charges apply for individual rides and other attractions).
One World International Film Festival (March)
First held in 1999, this festival in Prague has rapidly become very famous. From its small beginnings with just 48 documentaries and 3,000 audience members, within four years, the festival grew to a field of 720 entries, from which 129 documentaries were shown to an audience of 18,200 in Prague alone, with even more festivals in 18 other cities. Prague’s Lucerna cinema is the main festival center, but the event can also be found in other nice venues.
www.jedensvet.cz
Febiofest (March)
This film festival was founded in 1993 by FEBIO, an independent film and TV company. During the hard transition period from communism to democracy and a market economy, FEBIO provided a working opportunity to almost all important Czech filmmakers. Starting as an enthusiastically organized, basically no-budget event for a couple of friends and film buffs, FEBIOFEST has grown during the past 14 years into the largest non-competitive film festival in the Czech Republic, featuring more than 500 movies. Many are movies with English subtitles. www.febiofest.cz
European Festival of Accordion Orchestras (March)
The Czech Accordion Association and the Concert and Travel Agency Club Tours Agentur Prague are organizing an International competition of accordion orchestras as a part of the European Accordion Festival in Prague. The festival will be held in the gorgeous hall of the Vinohrady National House and in further representative City halls. Accordion orchestras and friends from all over the world are welcome to this great international music show. Prague – our Golden City, invites you.
www.accordion.cz
Prague Easter Markets (March)
The Prague Easter Markets ate the Old Town Square, and Wenceslas Square ran to over 100 stalls. A wide selection of handcrafted goods is on show, including wooden toys, crystal glasses, candles, jewelry, metalware, intricate pieces of embroidery, puppets, and dolls in regional costume dresses. The most common feature is the brightly colored, hand-painted Easter eggs. Czech ladies, beautifully dressed in traditional costumes, will personalize the Easter eggs, painting your name on the eggs or a special message.
Venue: Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square.
Days of European Film (April)
It is a festival, which offers an opportunity to take a look at what is going on in the European film production and to do so in the best possible way – in cinemas, which have been building a reputation for themselves on a long-term basis by including high-quality films into their programs. In many countries, the situation is now similar to our situation; that is, American production predominates over national films or films of European origin, which consequently form a minority. However, the interest of the spectators in the Days of European Film clearly proves that the Czech spectators are really interested in watching European films, too. Thus, it is good that this festival provides them with an opportunity to do so.www.eurofilmfest.cz
Burning of Witches (Paleni Čarodějnic in Czech, 30th Aprill)
Paleni Carodejnic in Prague is the Czech version of Walpurgisnacht. It is a pre-Christian festival for warding off evil. Politically incorrect witch burning is now replaced by all-night bonfire parties on Kampa Island and in suburban backyards. This ancient folk festival is an amalgamation of Halloween and May Day which marks the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring. An effigy of a hag or witch (presumably symbolizing Winter or perhaps a historical reference to the Czech pastime of witch-hunting) is burnt on a pyre on top of hills across the country. The daring may even attempt to jump over the flame.
Prague International Marathon (May)
The running of 42.2 km in Prague has become the pinnacle of athletic achievement for many people all over the world. The track starts from Prague’s Old Town Square, and then the course winds through Prague to end back in the same location. While major international athletes are running the race, it is also open to amateurs, although the organizers set a 6-hour time limit. The whole race has 42 km (26 miles), but you can take the sort option at the 10km (6mil) race. You have to pay the registration fee of 300 to 600 CZK.
www.runczech.com
International Television Festival Golden Prague (May)
Since its inception in 1964, the International Television Festival Golden Prague, organized by Czech Television, has become the world’s most important television festival dedicated to music and dance on television. It ranks among the oldest and most renowned events of its kind. Today the ITF Golden Prague is a unique and prestigious showcase of TV production, presenting the world’s best music and dance programs of all musical genres. www.festivalgoldenprague.cz
Book World Prague (May)
This festival; founded in 1995 and held at the Prague Exhibition Grounds, is an important chance for the Czech literary scene to meet foreign writers and discuss current trends in poetry and fiction. Over 600 exhibitors from 26 countries annually attract more than 21,000 visitors during this event. www.bookworld.cz
Khamoro (May)
This Prague festival was first held in 1999 and brought the most vibrant gypsy sounds, rhythms, and culture from around Europe to the Czech capital. Each year there is a wealth of traditional music, classical music, gypsy jazz, films, theatre, literature, dance, painting, and photographs, as well as workshops. Venue: Lucerna big hall, Roxy Club, Globe Cafe, Jazz Club Reduta, FHS UK, Gallery Oliva, Little shop Romen, Polish Institute in Prague, Hungarian Cultural Institute.
www.khamoro.cz
Folk Song Festival (May)
The Czech concert and travel agency CTA Prague is organizing an International Folk Song Competition as a part of this festival. Conductors, choirs, and orchestras from all over the world are heartily invited to this international music show. Prague – our Golden City awaits you. www.choirs.cz
Janácek Music Festival (May)
This festival was first held in Luhacevice in 1993 and celebrated the life of Moravia’s most famous composer of 20th-century music, Janácek. The artistic Indian summer that Janácek underwent here, inspired by his young (married) lady friend, Kamila Stösslová, is legendary. It resulted in his last four operas and his best-known orchestral works, as well as more than 600 letters he wrote to her. A number of earlier evening concerts precede the main events, programming even more composers, styles, and genres.
www.janackuvmaj.cz
Mozart’s Prague (May)
The Czech concert and travel agency CTA Prague is organizing an International choir and instrumental ensemble competition as a part of this festival. Concerts of participating choirs as a part of the festival will take place in chosen churches and halls of the Czech capital. Conductors, choirs, and orchestras from around the world are heartily invited to this international music show. Prague – our Golden City awaits you. www.choirs.cz
Harley Davidson Rally at Dzban Reservoir (May or June)
The annual Harley Davidson Rally at Dzban ReservoirHuge motorbikes rumble through the streets. A burly, bearded, leather-jacketed crowd is gathering – it’s the Harley Davidson Rally – the holiday for wannabe Hell’s Angels or just your average motorcycle lover! Try out this season’s latest models, trade war stories of last year’s road trips, and, perhaps, dust off the maps for next summer’s road adventure! www.hogpraha.cz
Fringe Festival Praha (May-June)
It is an annual marathon of theatre, dance, comedy, music, and film from around the globe. All shows are in English, Czech or are non-verbal and are programmed so that you can see up to 6 shows a day and over 30 performances over the eight days of Fringe Festival Praha. Shows take place from the afternoon to late evening; most last for an hour or so, with time between to zip from venue to venue and grab a bite to eat. www.praguefringe.com
World Festival of Puppet Art (May-June)
First held in 1996, the World Festival of Puppet Art brings the finest international puppeteers to the Czech Republic’s capital. Prague is itself well-known for being the home of such string-pulling enterprises. Visitors come from all over the world, and past prize-winners have included companies from the Far East, South America, and Europe.
www.puppetart.com
Prague Spring International Music Festival (12th May – 04th June)
The Prague Spring International Music Festival is a permanent showcase for outstanding performing artists, symphony orchestras, and chamber music ensembles worldwide. In that year, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. The project was initiated by Rafael Kubelík, chief conductor of the orchestra at the time. Since 1952, the festival has opened on 12th May—the anniversary of the death of Bedřich Smetana—with his cycle of symphonic poems Má Vlast (My Country), and it closes with Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. www.festival.cz
Dance Prague (May-June)
In June, don’t miss the international festival of contemporary dance and movement theatre. Tanec Praha has been the city’s major dance festival since its foundation in 1989. An exciting development in 2001 was the assumption of the renovated Ponec Theatre as the festival’s main venue, as well as the extension of events to other cities like Brno, Hradec Králové, and Olomouc.
www.tanecpraha.cz
Prague Writers Festival (June)
The Festival is one of Europe’s leading cultural events through its unique mix of world-class authors, international media coverage, and live broadcasts on the internet. The Festival is co-sponsored by the City of Prague and the Guardian, which presents the Festival through its book pages: www.guardian.co.uk/books. The Festival dates from Keats House, London, 1980, when with “Index on Censorship” through the Helsinki Accords, we brought vital authors from Central and Eastern Europe to the attention of the public.
www.pwf.cz
Musica Sacra Praga (June)
The Czech concert and travel agency CTA Prague is organizing the International Choir Competition as a part of the “Musica Sacra Praga “festival of sacred music. Competition is held for children’s, youth, male, female and mixed choirs. Choirs are eligible to join the festival either as non-competitive choirs participating in all performances of the festival, or as competitive choirs. Concerts of participating choirs as a part of the festival will take place in chosen churches of the capital. Dear choir conductors and choir friends from all over the world, let us invite you to this international music show. Prague – our Golden City awaits you!
www.choirs.cz
Festival Mitte Europa (June)
The idea of organizing the German-Czech Festival Mitte Europa − Bavaria • Bohemia • Saxony dates back to the year 1990. It owes its existence to the fall of the Berlin Wall as well as to the personal biographies of the festival’s initiators. Having both emigrated from the GDR in 1976, the Thomaschkes, German concert and opera singer Thomas Thomaschke and Prague art historian Dr. Ivana Thomaschke-Vondráková, conceived a plan, together with their friends, to actively promote the meeting and cooperation of individuals from the border areas of a divided Germany and what was then still Czechoslovakia.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_Mitte_Europa
United Islands of Prague (June)
There are various venues across the city throughout June. Expect beer stands and concerts at Vltava riverfront.
www.unitedislands.cz
International Festival of Czech and Moravian Brass Bands (June)
Participants of the festival are youth, amateur, and professional orchestras.
www.krajanka.eu
Skupova Plzen – Puppetry Festival (June)
first took place from 26 – 29 January 1967 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the death of the ‘father’ of well-known Czech puppet duo Spejbl and Hurvínek, Josef Skupa. Its chief initiators were MUDr. “It was intended – and seen – as the city of Pilsen’s debt to a Pilsener of many years, which made the capital of West Bohemia famous throughout the world in the cultural sphere just like beer in the consumer world and the Škoda engineering works in the industrial sphere.” M. Česal.
www.skupovaplzen.cz
The Smetana´s Litomysl International Opera Festival (June – July)
This unique event (founded in 1949) is the second oldest music festival in the Czech Republic, after the Prague Spring Festival. It is also the largest open-air festival of classical music held in this country. Smetana’s Litomysl takes place each year over two consecutive long weekends at the end of June and the beginning of July. The center of festival activities is Litomysl castle, a national cultural landmark. It was in the brewery adjoining the castle that the founder of Czech national music, Bedrich Smetana, was born in 1824.
https://smetanovalitomysl.cz/
Concentus Moraviae Festival (June-July)
During the eight years of its existence, the Concentus Moraviae Festival has built a position as one of the most important festivals in the Czech Republic. It remains a unique musical event for the South Moravian and Vysočina Regions. Now the second-largest classical music festival in our country after Prague Spring, it is unique above all in the extraordinary emphasis placed on the quality and inventiveness of its programming, planned around a different original theme each year. Also contributing to its exceptionality is the fact that the festival concerts, offering first-class performances, are held exclusively in smaller cities and towns of the Czech Republic.
www.concentus-moraviae.cz
Summer Shakespeare Festival (June-September)
The Summer Shakespeare Festival – the oldest and biggest open-air theatre festival in the Czech Republic – was at the beginning of the 90s originally initiated by President VÁCLAV HAVEL. Although the productions are not performed in their original language, many foreign spectators continue to flock to see the performances. This is primarily because of the strong acting performances, the famous plays themselves, and the atmosphere of the ancient castles as a scenic backdrop of the productions.
www.shakespeare.cz
Folklore Festivals (June-December)
Folk traditions in the Czech Republic are alive and kicking. And what’s more, this is not only true of so-called Skansen and museums but also among everyday people. Proof of this is the tens of folk festivals and traditional celebrations which take place and the popularity of these events among Czech and foreign audiences. Music, dance, food, and local handicrafts reveal much more about the spirit of a region than even the best travel guide.
A most colorful ball of the year
At this event, you can leave your evening dress in elegantly understated shades at home! At the 11th National Costume Ball held by the Folk Association of the Czech Republic (www.fos.cz) in Žďár nad Sázavou, you will only blend in bedecked in folk costume. Every year the theme is a different region, and this year (2. 2. 2008), it will be the turn of the Opava and Těšín areas of Silesia. Two ‘cimbál’ players, around ten ensembles, and several brass band groups will travel to the festival from the region.
Ride of the Kings – A Once in a Lifetime Experience
Few would want to miss such a grand show. Boys on horses draped in ribbons ride through the village, calling out the light-hearted verse in honor of the ‘king.’ He is hidden in their midst and remains silent. A rose held tightly between his lips prevents him from speaking; an old woman’s costume and a richly decorated white horse underline his important position in the entourage. But he is just a boy, usually aged no more than 10–12 years old, and he will be king just once in his lifetime, and the same rule applies to his entourage. In earlier times, these were boys who had been called up into the army, though today, they are just ordinary 18-year-olds. The Ride of the Kings (23.–25. 5. 2008), which takes place on a Sunday, is the climax of a three-day event in Vlčnov in South Moravia (www.jizdakralu.cz) which begins on the Friday with a competition to find the best performer of a Slovácko dance called the ‘verbuňk’. The Saturday sees audiences invited to performances of traditional ‘cimbál’ music.
60 Years of Folklore in Strážnice
The folk festival in Strážnice (www.nulk.cz) has gained a unique reputation among folk events. It took place for the first time in 1946, and from a national event, it has grown into an international affair with tens of ensembles converging on the town. The last weekend in June (26.–29. 6. 2008) sees the amphitheater in the chateau park, the vineyards, and the open-air museum echo to the sound of music, dance, and relaxing entertainment. Strážnice brings folk to audiences in its traditional form as well as in various other incarnations and styles. If you are into trying dances from around the world and singing and dancing to folk music, then this is the place for you! A traditional part of the program is a competition to find the best performer of a Slovácko dance called ‘verbuňk,’ which is judged by the audiences themselves. This male dance was the first and as yet the only nonmaterial piece of culture from the Czech Republic to be recognized by UNESCO.
Folk in Prague?
Folk belongs in the unspoiled countryside and open-air museums, not in the city. ‘But why not give the city a chance?’ asked the organizers of the first Prague Fair in 2004… and it was a success. Despite being a relative newcomer to the scene, the festival (www.fos.cz) is one of the most popular, and the performing ensembles are some of the most colorful in the country. Visitor potential is huge: The main stage at the Ovocný Trh attracts passing tourists as well as Prague locals, and the festival, with its handicrafts and culinary specialties, is an unexpected bit of spice for both. Folk will return to Prague for the fifth time between the 26th and 31st August 2008.
Strakonice and the Bagpipes
The name Švanda dudák will probably mean nothing to foreign visitors, but all Czech schoolchildren know very well that this celebrated musician hailed from Strakonice. The town has such a strong bagpipe tradition that since 1967 it has hosted an International Bagpipe Festival (www.dudackyfestival.cz). The 18th festival (21.–24. 8. 2008) will see this peculiar instrument played in the courtyard of Strakonice Castle, in the castle gardens, and in a church. It will also feature the now traditional bagpipe parade through the town and evening performances.
Children and folk
International Festival of Junior Folk Song and Dance Ensembles
In 1992 the Czech Republic celebrated what would have been the 400th birthday of Comenius, sometimes called the ‘teacher of nations’. At this time the idea was to establish an international festival of junior folk song and dance ensembles (11.–14. 9. 2008). And what better place to hold the event than the town of Luhačovice, one of the leading centers of culture in Moravia, which lies in a particular area of a folk tradition called the Luhačovické zálesí. The interest among children in folklore can be seen from the numbers participating in the national Zpěváček event. Every year up to 6,000 singers below the age of 15 take part, performing folk songs. Only 50 of these actually take part in the final before a panel of judges in Velké Losiny (9.–11. 5. 2008).
Detailed information on major folk events in the Czech Republic is available from the Folk Association of the Czech Republic: www.fos.cz.
Karlovy Vary Film Festival (July)
The Karlovy Vary IFF is the most important international film festival of Category A in Central and Eastern Europe and the only festival of Category A in the Czech Republic. The concept of the Karlovy Vary IFF is based on the advantageous geopolitical location of the Czech Republic on the border between Eastern and Western Europe. The Karlovy Vary IFF presents annually, for the first time in the Czech Republic, more than 200 new films from the whole world. The festival is open to the public and is visited by thousands of young people.
www.kviff.com
Mystic Skate Cup (July)
This skate event in Prague was first held in 1994 and showcased East European skateboarding talent. Expect to see vert and street skaters from around the globe competing in this historical city at the purpose-built skate facility in Stvanice. Like many big skateboarding events, the organizers realize that a good party is as much part of the fun as the skating itself. There are plenty of DJs and live bands for entertainment, and the end of the weekend is marked by the Mystic Party.
www.mysticsk8cup.cz
Rock for People (July)
During the past 12 years, Rock for People has become one of the biggest and most popular outdoor music festivals in the Czech Republic. Artists from all around the world meet on three or four stages in three days of great fun and festival atmosphere. For the past 12 years, Rock for People took place in the small town of Cesky Brod. But what used to be a small regional festival has turned into one of the most prestigious and attractive events of the year. As the original festival site was out of its capacity, in 2008, it was decided to move the festival into a larger venue. The former military airfield by Hradec Kralove offers great comfort and festival atmosphere for the fans, same as for the performing artists. www.rockforpeople.com
Retro Prague (July)
An annual reunion of car fans. Previous years proved that car history and oldtimers enjoy a great public interest. A unique exposition in the previous years showed the craftsmanship and technologies of the historical car makers. Thanks to untiring work and willingness to present the results of the oldtimers owners’ job to the general public, it was possible to admire more than a hundred oldtimers during the last RETRO PRAGUE years. The general sponsor of the event is AUTO ŠTANGL company.
Prague Proms (July-August)
During this annual summer festival, you can meet at the concerts organized by The Czech National Symphony Orchestra. In its menu, the program planning usually follows the tradition of genre diversity, the colorfulness of which can address all of the music lovers among residents and visitors. Introducing a range of domestic and foreign guest artists, soloists, conductors, and ensembles, the organizers invite you to Smetana Hall of Municipal House in Prague, the home hall of CNSO, where you can also enjoy the terraced auditorium. www.pragueproms.cz
Brno Grand Prix (August)
The Brno circuit is one of the secret treasures of the Grand Prix season. Although it has hosted racing since the 1930s, relatively few fans have enjoyed the experience of its beautiful setting and fast, smooth track. The Moto GP is one of the fastest, most thrilling sports in the world. The bikes reach speeds of up to 310 kph, and the races are extremely competitive.
www.brnograndprix.com
Ceský Krumlov International Music Festival (August)
Český Krumlov is one of the most prominent monument zones in Central Europe, thanks to its magnificent architecture. Undoubtedly, this festival is the largest amongst the many summer music festivals in the idyllic area of southern Bohemia around Ceský Krumlov. The festival was first held in 1992 as one of the most visible results of the Velvet Revolution and took place in the impressive Ceský Krumlov castle and other venues in this Bohemian town.
The Emmy Destinn Music Festival (August – September)
The outstanding Czech soprano Emmy Destinn was among the world’s most famous singers. She enjoyed success on leading opera stages, such as the Berlin Court Opera, Covent Garden in London, Paris, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, above all in operas by Puccini, Wagner, Verdi, Richard Strauss, and Smetana. In 1990, on the 60th anniversary of Emmy Destinn’s death in Ceske Budejovice, a commemorative bust of her was unveiled in front of the South Bohemian Theather, and the 1st Emmy Destinn Music Festival was held. The Emmy Destinn Music Festival in Ceske Budejovice takes place each year at the end of August and the beginning of September and includes the Emmy Destinn International Singing Competition.
www.czech-festivals.cz
Verdi Festival (August-September)
The Czech State Opera celebrates the life and works of Verdi with an annual 3-weekend-of-summer season devoted solely to the giant of 19th-century Italian opera. A man knew not only for his musical ability but also for his strong will and political convictions, Verdi, the composer of 26 operas, is loved like any no-other composer.
Young Prague (August – September)
The civil association YOUNG PRAGUE – THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL has made it its aim to help promising young artists who are starting their careers in classical music – such as instrumentalists, singers, chamber groups, conductors as well as composers. Thanks to the constant sponsorship of the companies Panasonic, Kirin Beer, Toyota, Shiseido, Yamasha, System Yamato, and some others from the Czech Republic and Japan, it has already been possible to hold the festival ten times. Over 320 young musicians from most European countries, the USA, Peru, India, Mexico, China, Korea, and Japan, performed in 90 concerts.
www.mladapraha.cz
International Organ Festival (August-September)
Concerts of Czech and European organists in St James Basilica in Prague.
www.auditeorganum.cz
Festival of New Wine – Burtchak and Beaujolais (Aug. 15 – Nov. 30)
Festival of new wine – Burtchak and BeaujolaisFrance’s traditional new wine festival, put on by the vintners of Beaujolais, coincides with the Czech Republic’s new wine celebration for the Moravian Burcak. Joyful and heady, Burcak gives a kick to your village holiday! It takes six months for Burcak to turn into a noble wine that will delight the experts with its exquisite bouquet. But now, while it’s still a young wine, it’s like a plowboy who doesn’t yet know his own strength – energetic and bubbling over with the fullness of life.
Saint Wenceslas Festivities (September)
An annual festival devoted to sacred music performed in some of Prague’s numerous and amazing churches coincides with the festivities of St Wenceslas, the Czechs’ patron saint, whose feast day falls on 28th September. Sacred works of the Christian tradition are programmed alongside Orthodox Christian and Jewish music, performed in a variety of churches and venues around Prague. The programme also every year features works by both Czech composers and those composers who have notable anniversaries.
https://portal.sdh.cz/
Erotica & Sex Exhibition (September)
Annually at the Smichov National House, Prague 5. The sexual openness and tolerance of the Czechs is well known in Europe, but perhaps, this annual exhibition at the Smichov National House may shock the foreign visitor! This event is fast becoming a favorite attraction for many visitors. It’s hard to describe all the events and activities presented here – you really have to see this for yourself!
Brno International Music Festival – Moravian Autumn (September-October)
The Brno International Music Festival has been held at the end of September and the beginning of October each year since 1966. The festival is a member of the European Festivals Association (since 1993) and the European Conferences of Promoters of New Music, as well as a founding member of the Czech Association of Music Festivals. The festival’s themes commemorate important composer anniversaries, and it also highlights significant contemporary musical trends. Each year it features around thirty symphonic and chamber music concerts, as well as vocal and instrumental recitals, opera and ballet productions, and even various new forms of stage performance.
www.czech-festivals.cz
The Strings of Autumn Festival (September-December)
The first unified concert series in the modern history of the Prague Castle was held in 1996. Strings of Autumn offers a colorful palette of music reflected by modern musical life. Therefore the programming consists not only of classical music – in both modern and ‘authentic’ interpretations – but also of jazz, world music, and crossover projects that bridge the gaps between genres as they are traditionally conceived. Three programming series – CROSSOVER, INSPIRATIONS, and LUMINARIES – have become characteristic of Strings of Autumn, as have discoveries both of artists and of concert sites previously unknown to the Czech audience.
www.strunypodzimu.cz
EuroArt Prague (September-June)
A not-for-profit contemporary arts organization dedicated to promoting the performance and appreciation of chamber music in Prague and neighboring communities in the Czech Republic. Monthly, from September to June, the guests of Festival EuroArt Praha are invited to perform in the famous Prague Martinů Hall at the Liechtenstein Palace in Malá Strana.
www.euroart.cz
Festival Alternativa (November-December)
Festival Alternativa – one of the largest display of alternative and experimental music in central Europe.
www.unijazz.cz
Prague International Jazz Festival (October)
This annual festival belongs among the oldest jazz festivals in Europe. A few names from the festival’s history: Mr. ACKER BILK & HIS PARAMOUNT JAZZ BAND (1964 & 1982), DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA (1968), COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA & OSCAR PETERSON & BIG JOE TURNER (1974), BENNY GOODMAN (1976), DIDIER LOCKWOOD (1984), STÉPHANNE GRAPPELLI QUARTET (1988), B.B.KING (1990), CHICK COREA ELEKTRIC BAND (1991), DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET (1996), TONY BENNET & RALPH SHARON TRIO (1997), NEW YORK VOICES (1998), MAL WALDRON, ALBERT MANGELSDORFF (2001), RHODA SCOTT (2006) and other.
www.jazzfestivalpraha.cz
Four Days Festival (October)
Festival presents contemporary innovative theatre projects, unique site-specific projects, exhibitions, projections, and concerts. Every year the festival presents ca twenty groups from all over the world. The festival’s particularity is to enliven Prague architecture objects through theatre and presentation of international projects co-produced by Four Days.
www.ctyridny.cz
Halloween (31st October)
Halloween in Prague. If you are interested in an unusual, slightly terrifying Halloween holiday, Old Prague is the place. Its mysterious, winding alleys are full of ghosts and macabre legends. Jack-o-Lanterns and gruesome monsters grin from every shop window, and phantoms are welcomed in every nightclub and disco.
Anniversary of the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz (30th November – 04th December)
Once a year, thousands of members of Military History clubs from all over Europe gather at a small Moravian town called Slavkov to reenact the bloodiest battle of the 19th century – the Battle of Austerlitz. This year you have an exclusive opportunity to visit Slavkov and witness the 201st Jubilee of the battle. We will return to that fateful day 201 years ago to see the French once more achieve victory over the Russian and Austrian troops – this time, however, without spilling a drop of blood! After this stirring performance, there will be plenty of beer flowing for the pleasure of the victors, the vanquished, and the visitors.
www.austerlitz.org/cz/
St Nicholas’s Eve (05th December)
In the run-up to Christmas, you can catch the original Santa Claus himself as he wanders the streets of Prague, dispensing material justice to children and drinking beer on his Saint’s day. Jolly old Saint Nicholas is accompanied by an angel and a devil on his wanderings under the Christmas trees and fireworks of Charles Bridge. The trio represents the three spiritual mechanisms of confession (Nicholas), punishment (the Devil), and reward (the Angel). The Devil metes out coal to the miscreants and rascals of the previous year, while the angel gives (goodie) goodies to the well-behaved. The saint takes to the streets on the eve of his Saint’s day, which falls on 06th December every year. The day before is known as ‘little Christmas’ locally.
Festival of Advent and Christmas Music (December)
Our Golden City looks especially romantic and particularly friendly during the time of Advent and Christmas. Maintaining the rich advent tradition is very popular in Prague. All amateur choirs take part in this competition. Open Air concert performances by registered ensembles will be held in the Old Town Square, enhancing the seasonal magic of the Prague Christmas Fair. The festival takes place under the auspices of the City of Prague and of the Union of Czech Choirs.
www.choirs.cz
Christmas and New Year (December)
The Christmas and New Year season closes the year quietly for most of the Czech Republic, but Prague is crowded with tourists during the holiday season. The Prague Christmas markets run from 1st December 2007 to 01st January 2008 on the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Other markets take place at the Havelské tržiště, on Náměstí Republiky and Náměstí Míru, at the Holešovice Exhibition Grounds, and elsewhere in Prague.
