Page 68 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

64 5 MORE ARTS FESTIVALS TO RIVAL THE EDINBURGH FRINGE

FESTIVALS AND PARTIES FESTIVALS AND PARTIES

Dancers performing at Palais des Papes during the Avignon Festival
Avignon Magnificent interior of the Mariinskiy Theatre, St Petersburg
White Nights
Festival Literary discussion taking place inside the Teatro Heredia, Cartagena Festival
Hay Festival
NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION Avignon is 55 miles -JMMF Cartagena NEED TO KNOW
(90 km) northwest of Marseille
LOCATION St Petersburg lies
and 370 miles (600 km) 1BSJT on the Gulf of Finland, 235 miles
southeast of Paris 4USBTCPVSH
NEED TO KNOW (380 km) from Helsinki in Finland
WHEN The festival takes '3"/$& 48*5;&3-"/% and 300 miles (700 km) from the 3644*"
place over three weeks in July LOCATION Cartagena is a large capital, Moscow '*/-"/%
#BZ PG -ZPO $BSJCCFBO
VISITORS PER YEAR #JTDBZ *5"-: seaport on the northern coast of 4FB WHEN The festival runs 45 1&5&34#63(
Around 100,000 #PSEFBVY Colombia, 410 miles (660 km) $"35"(&/" from May to July )FMTJOLJ
DAYTIME "7*(/0/ .BSTFJMMF northwest of the capital, Bogotá 7&/&;6&-" VISITORS PER YEAR .PTDPX
.FEFMMÓO
TEMPERATURE WHEN The four-day festival takes Around 1 million
.FEJUFSSBOFBO
77°F (25°C) in July 41"*/ 4FB place over last weekend in January #PHPUÈ 10-"/%
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES VLSBJOF
VISITORS PER YEAR $0-0.#* " 59–68°F (15–20°C), May–July
Around 28,000 $BMJ
Founded in 1947 by respected theater director DAYTIME
Jean Vilar, the Festival d’Avignon is an enormous TEMPERATURE &$6"%03 #3";*- A three-month international cultural event, the
70°F (21°C) in January
celebration of the arts and the oldest extant White Nights Festival is a series of classical ballet,
festival in France. With its handsome medieval opera, and music performances staged during a
architecture and massive ramparts, the pretty town An offshoot of the famous literary event held in season when the sun hardly sets. The festival draws
of Avignon provides a unique setting for the event, the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye, the colorful Hay high-profile Russian performers and international
which represents all aspects of culture, from theater Festival Cartagena takes place in a colonial walled guest stars: expect renowned conductors and
and ballet to the latest in dance, music, cinema, city in Colombia overlooking the Caribbean. Poets, soloists at The Stars of the White Nights Festival,
and opera. The floodlit courtyard of the historic authors, journalists, and screenwriters from all the event’s opening celebration, held at the famous
Palais des Papes, one of the most important over the world meet with stars of Hispanic- Mariinskiy Theatre and new Mariinskiy Concert Hall.
Gothic buildings in Europe, plays host to many American literature in this UNESCO-protected city Watch out for other star appearances at Palace
productions during the three-week period, to take part in talks and give readings. Venues Square, where Paul McCartney and the Rolling
though there are plenty of other venues around range from theaters to bars and street corners. Don’t Stones have done turns, and the spectacular
town, including the charming cobbled streets. miss the excellent creative-writing workshops or fireworks at the popular closing Scarlet Sails party.
the daily official festival newspaper. A side festival,
Hay Festivalito, is aimed at children and teenagers.
Practical Information Practical Information
Getting There and Around There are regular flights from Paris to Aéroport Getting There and Around Most major airlines fly direct from European
Avignon-Caumont, located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Avignon. Taxis and Practical Information cities to St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport; travelers from elsewhere may have
buses run regularly from here to the center. There are also TGV trains to Getting There and Around All major Colombian carriers fly to Rafael Núñez to change planes in Moscow. The airport is 11 miles (17 km) south of the
Avignon from Paris, Marseille, and Arles. Avignon itself has an extensive Airport, 2 miles (3 km) from the city center. A bus, taxi, or colectivo (shared city center, and buses and taxis make the journey regularly. Once in the
bus network, with reduced-price tickets on some lines during the festival. taxi) will take you into and around Cartagena, which is best explored on foot. city, you can get around by bus, trolleybus, or tram.
Website www.festival-avignon.com Website www.hayfestival.com Website www.mariinsky.ru/en

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