Autumn and Winter Festivals

Film fests, music, exhibitions and a ton of other weird and wonderful events are taking place across Europe this autumn and winter.

1. Romaeuropa Festival (Late Sept – Early Dec) – Rome
   

   Autumn and winter sees Rome get even more dedicated to the arts as venues across the city host a variety of music, dance and theatre events. Since its inception in 1980 Romaeuropa has grown in size and quality to the point where it is one of the most anticipated arts festivals in the world.

2. Oktoberfest 2011 (17 Sept – 3 Oct) – Munich
   

   Once the first barrel has been tapped on the 17th September, the tents are flung open and the Oktoberfest fun begins for another year. There are parades, rides and plenty of live music but ultimately most Oktoberfest patrons are there for one reason only and that reason is cold, frothy and served in tankards. Cheers!

3. Barcelona International Record Fair (7-9 Oct) – Barcelona
   

   There are fewer experiences more enjoyably geeky than thumbing through stashes of records. A three day event devoted to poring over rare vinyl’s, white labels and limited pressings, expect a fun, if potentially expensive, weekend.

4. Relentless Freeze Festival (28-29 Oct) – London
   

   London and extreme snow sports may not seem the most likely combination but the Freeze Festival has somehow bought together Battersea Power Station, lots of artificial snow and lots of top bands for this two day event. There’ll be competitive snowboarding and skiing plus music from the likes of Groove Armada, The Streets and The Joy Formidable.

5. Pitchfork Music Festival (28-29 Oct) – Paris
   

   Indie bible Pitchfork brings its American festival to the City of Lights for the first time. A fantastically diverse line-up that includes electronic pioneer Aphex Twin, Brit sensations Wild Beasts and acoustic troubadour Bon Iver, plus newer acts and many more still to be announced.

6. Seville European Film Festival (4-11 Nov) – Seville
   

   Spain becomes a hotbed for cinema over the winter months with film festivals popping up across the country. Seville’s contribution is the SEFF, celebrating European fiction and documentaries it’s a festival that’s growing in stature year on year.

7. Choco-Late (11-13 Nov) – Bruges
   

   If three days in Bruges dedicated to chocolate seemed like the stuff of dreams then dream no more as the Choco-Late Festival rolls into Bruges this November. Faces will be stuffed, bellies will be filled and dentists will be rubbing their hands together with glee.

8. Bass Culture 2011 (25 Nov) – London
   

   There’s going to be one almighty party when this celebration of bass music hits the Alexandra Palace. With over thirty acts due to appear over the night, covering everything from dubstep, hip-hop, drum and bass and electro, Bass Culture will be topped off by headliners Chase & Status.

9. Burning The Clocks (21 Dec) – Brighton
   

   So a quick train ride from London will get you to Brighton and, one of the country’s most interesting and unusual festivals, Burning The Clocks. Described as an ‘antidote to the excesses of the commercial Christmas’ people gather with home made lanterns to carry through the streets of Brighton before burning them on the beach. A family friendly and eye-catching experience.

10. Walrus Dip (26 Dec) - Cefn Sidan beach, Carmarthenshire
    

    An hour and a half from Cardiff you’ll find the beautiful Cefn Sidan beach and on Boxing Day each year you’ll find it full of loons in fancy dress. Hundreds take to the shore in weird and wonderful costumes for a particularly chilly swim.