January Algarve Events

Portuguese Meat of pig and bread

The rest of Europe may be settling back for a quiet few weeks to help get over the Christmas excesses but the Algarve region of Portugal is still busy at this time of year. The southern coast of Portugal is a long strip of beaches, holidays resorts and golf courses that attract visitors all year round and especially during January and February when its mild weather can provide a welcome break from the harsher winter days of the UK.

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Ibiza Celebrations

smoking grilled sardines

Colourful costumes, street parades, plenty of parties and of course great food and drink are the ingredients for most carnival events and things are not too different on Ibiza. For five days during February the main towns on the island seem to stop work and get down to the serious business of letting their hair down. If you can't quite imagine what goes on there, then think back to the best fancy dress party you ever went to and multiply it by a factor of ten. Everyone, whether part of an organised group in the parade or just watching from the pavements, is encouraged to dress as brightly, even as outrageously, as possible.

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Greek Carnival in Crete

A night shot of Retymno on Crete, Greece

We've already posted information about several of the big carnival events planned for the Canary Islands and the Balearics but Greece is another country that celebrates at this time of year.

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Gran Canaria Celebrations

Maspalomas in Gran Canaria.

The carnival season is an important time of the year in Gran Canaria and because the resort of Maspalomas and the capital Las Palmas are the two biggest towns on the island, it is not surprising that the most spectacular carnivals are held there. We will cover those events in more detail as they approach, but there are also other towns on the island that host their own programmes.

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Flamenco in Faro

young woman running at the top of a hill

Recently we reported on a series of Flamenco concerts taking place in the Canary Islands during February. Perhaps it's that time of year but there was also a brace of Flamenco concerts which took place in Faro on the Algarve at the 6th Flamenco Festival in early February.

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February Sports Bonanza on The Algarve

Skydiver falls through the air

If anyone doubted the importance to the Portuguese of sport and getting into the great outdoors, then a visit to the Algarve in Portugal during February will have put those doubts to rest. Of course the weather in the region is a crucial factor, with dry, mild conditions during the early part of the year permitting sporting events that could only take place during summer in the UK. Another factor is the attitude of the local communities towards sporting activities and events. Whether these be football tournaments, water sports events in the sea or motorsport competitions, there seems to be an endless stream of options for both spectating and taking part.

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Dance Music in Malta, Sharm and Cyprus

dj

Dance music fans have their favourite venues around Europe where the world's top DJs and dance music performers typically appear. These include of course Ibiza during the summer months but also, in the earlier part of the year, several other holiday resorts get their chance to promote dance music events featuring the stars.

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Classical Times on Tenerife

Tenerife capital city view from the distant

The events that are currently in full swing on Tenerife may not be everyone's cup of tea. The excitement and revelery of the annual carnival is the highlight of the year for many, but for others a selection of quieter more sedate events may be preferred.

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Chess, Opera, Jazz and Pop on Malta

chess piece on a chess board

When Malta puts on events, they are normally very ambitious. For such a small island you do wonder where they get all this desire to host big promotions. From music concerts and sporting events to international trade fairs and cultural celebrations, things are not done by halves in Malta.

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Celebrity Musicians in Tenerife

A sight upon the beach of San Andres

Due to there location, several thousand miles from the European mainland and the balance of resident and tourist population, the islands of the Canaries rarely benefit from visiting pop stars and celebrity performers. Premier music concerts featuring big stars are few and far between on the islands. In the past performers like Rod Stewart, Gloria Estefan and Elton John have all played on Tenerife. Even Michael Jackson included Tenerife in his "Dangerous" tour during 1993, when 45,000 people watched him on stage in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

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Celebrate San Sebastian in Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca; view over the rooftops; from the old city walls towars the cathedral La Seu; horizontal format

While many towns and cities across Spain are gearing up for their annual carnivals during February and March, the island of Mallorca steals a march on them with its Fiesta of San Sebastian during January.

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Carnival - The Big One

Photo Venice

We've been writing about the forthcoming carnival events in our various holiday destinations for quite a while now. The celebrations in the various resorts are spread over several weeks during February and March, with the majority of the larger events being held on the weekend of 13th and 14th of February.

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Arrecife Carnival on Lanzarote

View on the lagoon in Arrecife

When you fly to Lanzarote the aircraft will arrive at the island's main airport in Arrecife. The airport is conveniently situated midway along the east coast making transfers to most of the island's main tourist hotspots relatively short, in fact as the whole island is only around 35 miles long, transfer distances are rarely more than 20 miles.

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Algarve's Surfing Crown

Surfer on Perfect Wave in the Barrel, Epic Tube

The southern coast of Portugal, better know as the Algarve region, is staking it's claim as one of Europe's top surfing locations. There are now numerous surf-friendly locations along the coast and a series of events for both amateurs and professionals.

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Gran Canaria Winter Solstice

zen stones

Tourists on Gran Canaria during December may have been lucky enough to witness one of the more unusual events on the island.

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December What's On For Tenerife

Tenerife national landmark: Auditorio de Tenerife - The Tenerife Opera House which is a symbol for the capitol of Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife on the Canary Islands.

There is no doubt that Christmas is the theme highest on the events list for December on Tenerife with concerts and carol services being held all over the island in the run up to the Christmas break.

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Unusual Events in Sharm

two people dancing tango on the street

The Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheikh is best known as a winter sun destination and a favourite location for Scuba divers, but other, more unusual, events also find their place there.

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Top Flight Football in Mallorca

Soccer players with ball and feet kicking on field

Football fans are always treated to a feast of action over the Christmas period when most of the top UK clubs have a series of games. In Europe too, the New Year also sees renewed interest in the game and football fans who travelled to the island of Mallorca during January had a chance to watch some of mainland Europe's top players.

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Race to Lanzarote

Pigeons over the sea

One of the more unusual sporting events on Lanzarote this year saw over 700 competitors setting off on the 23rd January from the African coast and racing the 100 miles or so to Lanzarote. The cash prize for the first one home was a healthy 6000 Euros, so competition was fierce with only the very fittest and fastest in with a chance of winning.

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October Culture in Larnaca

costa mesa april

Barely a day goes by in Larnaca without some kind of cultural, artistic or sporting event taking place, even during the quieter months of the holiday season. We have already reported on the classical music concerts being performed by the island's Symphony Orchestra and the visit by one of China's best-known international dance troupes, both were in early October.

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New Year Arts in Mallorca

View of Palma de Mallorca and mountains behind it

The sun is already shining on Mallorca and the island hasn't even got to its main event of the year yet. Just like all Spanish towns, Palma's biggest festive event took place, not on 25th December, but on 6th January.

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Celebrate National Day On Menorca

Menorca, port of Ciutadella with clear blue sky

If you travel to the island of Menorca during January for a quiet winter sun break and you may stumble across an unexpected national celebration.

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Music Marathon on Lanzarote

A group of elementary children racing across their school parking lot.

The holiday island of Lanzarote organised a group of marathons with a difference in October 2009, where musical accompaniment was the main feature of running events aimed at athletes of all abilities.

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December Events in Malta

Red seats in theater

The social calendar during December on the island of Malta has a familiar British ring to it and that's no surprise given Malta's history and its long associated with Britain.

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Mallorca Beyond New Year

Crowd in silhouette enjoying a large bonfire

The island of Mallorca and its capital Palma , like many places in Spain, prepare for a traditional Christmas and New Year that centres around four main events. Christmas Eve is important with concerts and Midnight Masses held in many churches, including the famous Seu Cathedral in Palma itself. Christmas Day is a time for relaxation and spending time with family. New Years Eve sees another excuse for celebration, with parties and fireworks displays illuminating the island's skies and then finally the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6th sees children receiving gifts in much the same way as UK children do on Christmas Day.

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Ibiza Kite Flying Day

colorful kite flying in the sky

A spectacular kite flying day took place in San Antonio, Ibiza on the 25th January 2009. This traditional event is part of the town's month-long fiesta programme and sees hundreds of kites, of all shapes and sizes, take to the air from the town's beaches.

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Jetski Festival in Ibiza

 Jetski racing on a blue water background

When the big nightclubs on Ibiza are approaching the end of their long season the island is gearing up for a ten day Jetski festival that will attract riders from all over Europe.

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End Of Year Events On Cyprus

view of Limassol, Cyprus

On Cyprus the event calendars for the resorts of Paphos and Larnaca are never quiet for long and looking back through the end of the year to January 2010 and beyond that seems to ring true. These holiday destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean always have plenty going on in terms of music concerts, theatre performances, local traditions and sporting events.

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December Culture in Larnaca and Paphos

The moon shining over Paphos, Cyprus

In Cyprus the towns of Larnaca and Paphos are favourites of both British tourists and ex-pats who have gone there to live and enjoy the milder climate. As you might expect the Christmas cultures of the towns are both a mix of Greek Cypriot traditions and those more modern derivatives that the mix of nationalities brings to the area.

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Countdown to Gran Canaria Marathon

Las Palmas in Gran Canaria

The Gran Canaria International Marathon took place on the 24th January 2010. Local council and tourism authorities saw the potential of hosting an international marathon race after witnessing what they called the "magnetic" effect of similar races in other Spanish cities. They quoted the success of cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Saragossa and Palma de Mallorca as some of those that have put on marathon races and attracted huge crowds in addition to the runners themselves. For Gran Canaria the obvious choice was to make the most of the island's mild winter weather and entice runners to take part in one of the only European marathons to be held during January.

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February Carnival in Crete

Harbor of Rethymnon at night

The Spanish islands of Mallorca, Menorca and the Canaries are not the only places to hold their carnivals in the early part of the year. The town of Rethymno in Crete also stages a spectacular carnival programme that runs throughout the whole of February.

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Music Festival in Tenerife

Auditorio in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

During January Tenerife hosts the Festival de Musica de Canarias, a celebration of classical music that first started in 1985.

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Sport 2010 on Lanzarote

Mountains of fire,Timanfaya National Park in Lanzarote Island

Some of the big sporting events in Lanzarote during 2010 have been announced and are already attracting entries from competitors.

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Rally Cars on Tenerife

Red rally car in a race

November saw Tenerife showing off its motor racing heritage with roads full of rally cars as various events for modern and historic vehicles make use of the island's spectacular road network.

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Photography Exhibitions on Tenerife

 Teresitas beach of Tenerife island, Canarias

The island of Tenerife offers photogenic landscapes all year round, but once the busy beaches of the summer take on a quieter Autumn feel the island reveals a slightly different side to the many photographers who attempt to capture the beauty of the island through their lenses. A special exhibition is taking place in Tenerife at the moment to showcase the works of hundreds of photographers. FotoNoviembre, as it names suggests, started during early November, runs through the whole month and on to 10th January.

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Christmas Spectaculars in Orlando

Abstract defocused colorful bokeh of lights

The famous Disney Parks near Orlando in Florida are a lure to children and their parents at all times of the year, but at Christmas they take on an added attraction as the magic of the festive season provides a reason for the parks to put on extra special events.

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Menorca During November

 Three Churches on the Bay

We have just read an article that questioned whether Menorca effectively "died" during November, meaning did everything shut down following the end of the summer season. The conclusion was a resounding "no", with there being plenty to interest visitors on this beautiful island during Autumn. Of course there are fewer people on Menorca once the main summer season slows down, in fact the people count may drop to as low as 30 per cent of the summer peak, but that just means more space and a more relaxing environment for everyone.

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Christmas Events on Malta

christmas market

There are all kinds of festive events on the calendar for Malta in the run up to Christmas.

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Fleet Departs Gran Canaria on Atlantic Voyage

Yacht sailing in the ocean with island and blue sky

Sunny weather and a fresh breeze treated competitors and spectators to a spectacular start of the 2009 ARC Sailing event in Gran Canaria.

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Madeira Food Focus

Breast of Chicken with Morels Baby Leeks and Madeira Cream

The month of November on the island of Madeira is certainly one when food seems to take the centre stage.

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Malta Marathon Challenge

Trail runner climbing a steep rock in his path

The Challenge, or to give it its full name the Malta International Challenge Marathon, took place again in November for the 19th time. The format of this popular running event is very different to that of your typical London or New York marathons. In this race the distance to be covered was split into three more manageable pieces and tackled over consecutive days. It gave runners more chance to see different parts of this remarkable island whilst at the same time making the challenge of running a marathon slightly more accessible.

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Tenerife Youth Culture Week

Portrait of cute 5 years old boy painting on white background

The normally quiet town of La Oratova on Tenerife opened its doors to the La Semana de Juventud y Cultura or Youth and Culture Week that concluded on 23rd October.

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Forthcoming Events on Tenerife

Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz at dusk. Canary Islands Spain

Whilst many European holiday resorts go through a quite spell before the start of the festive holiday period in mid December, Tenerife still has plenty of activities and events to interest visitors during November and early December.

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Plan your New Year Party in Sharm

the coast of sharm el sheikh in Egypt

If you are looking for a high energy New Year party followed by some peaceful relaxation in the sun away from the cold, wet weather that is currently shrouding the UK, then Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt may be just the ticket.

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Mallorca's Seasonal Shift

Cathedral La Seu in Palma de Mallorca, Spain behind the sea. On the left side the spanish kings palace Palau de l'Almundia and in the foreground a bar/restaurant with unrecognizable people drinking

As a holiday island that relies on tourism for much of its commercial activity, the authorities in Mallorca have a responsibility to their business community to provide a continuing stream of events and attractions that help bring visitors to the island all year round. Mallorca has slowly developed a tried and tested seasonal shift that sees the springtime favouring the activities of cyclists and athletes, who come to the island for warm weather training. Then the long summer panders to the millions of sun and beach lovers who enjoy the island's many perfect resorts. Autumn sees a switch to sailing and also culture that brings art and music festivals to the island. At the end of the year Christmas provides a perfect bridge to the golfing season that takes over in the New Year.

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Lanzarote Christmas

Nativity scene from figurine crib like an old Jerusalem village

For many the Christmas period presents the perfect opportunity to take a short break and get away for a little rest and relaxation. For some a cosy chalet in snow covered mountains is the ideal break while others yearn for some warm sunshine. Being only a short flight from the UK, Lanzarote offers the combination of convenience and value for British tourists seeking some warmer weather.

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Dijous Bo on Mallorca

 Spanish chorizo

The normally quiet town of Inca, lying 17 miles north east of Palma on the island of Mallorca, suddenly became the centre of attention during November. The Autumn fairs of Inca are traditional events that go back many years and attract huge crowds over the 4 weekends which started on 24th October.

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WOMAD Festival in Gran Canaria

Panoramic view Maspalomas beach. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Spain

The Canaries version of the WOMAD Festival took place from 12th to 15th November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

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Festival Mediterranea on Gozo

Ggantija Temple Remains in Gozo

The small island of Gozo, which sits off the North Western corner of Malta, hosted its annual Festival Mediterranea at the end of October and beginning of November.

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New Years Eve on the Algarve

celebration of the new year, firework over the sea

New Years Eve celebrations seem to be getting bigger and bigger every year. London now stages a major public fireworks display, centred on the London Eye on the Thames, while TV news broadcasts always show the New Year being welcomed in different parts of the world. These reports usually show fireworks displays in Edinburgh, Paris, Sydney, Copacabana beach, Hong Kong and or the million or so revelers who converge on Times Square in New York. The New York celebrations are interesting as they first started in 1904 to commemorate the opening of the New York Times' new offices, when 200,000 people came to enjoy an all-day party put on by the newspaper. It is now estimated that 1 billion people worldwide watch the Times Square celebrations.

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The Algarve During November and December

Souvenirs handmade

If many resorts, even winter sun destinations, seem very quite during November and December, then those looking for a little more activity may be interested in a visit to Portugal's Algarve region. Although the weather there may not quite be able to compete with the Canary Islands or the resorts of Egypt and Gambia for reliable warm sunny days, it certainly will not be as cold or as wet as the UK during those months.

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Christmas Fairs and Markets

Christmas gingerbread handmade

December is now upon us and Christmas celebrations are starting to begin in earnest with many countries seeing traditional Christmas fairs and markets springing up in their towns and villages.

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Christmas on The Algarve

 A well light metal christmas tree in the main town square of Oporto.

Imagine the traditional Christmas scene and snowy forests or icy lakes may spring to mind. Well the festive season on Portugal's Algarve coast is highly unlikely to feature either of those, benefitting as it does from mild, dry weather right through the months of November, December and January. Of course you may be unlucky enough to catch a stray band of rain or be subjected to one of the onshore Atlantic breezes but largely the weather will be mild and sunny.

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Disney World Marathon Week

Active family - mom with kids running on green meadow

Plan ahead now if you have Disney's World Marathon Weekend in mind for January. The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will be the stage for a 4 day running festival planned to take place between 7th and 10th January 2010. Taking alongside the running events is a health and fitness expo or exhibition. With an accent on family fun, the marathon weekend runs start on Friday with a short 5 kilometer race for all the family.

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Planning for 2010 in Gran Canaria

blooming trees on field in spring

Tourists heading for Gran Canaria early in 2010 will be interested to know about some of the important dates on the events calendar for the island.

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Choir Competition and Festival on Malta

old town of Valleta in the island of Malta

Choir festivals and competitions are a feature of the social calendar for a number of holiday destinations around Europe. This year it started on the 29th October with Malta's 4th International Choir Competition and Festival taking place using various locations around the island. Malta is fortunate to have an expansive choice of concert venues, with there being 365 churches on the island.

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Funchal International Cinema Festival

Funchal view from sea

Mention International Film Festivals and places like Cannes, Berlin, Edinburgh and Moscow spring to mind. But there are many other festivals celebrating the work of filmmakers and the island of Madeira hosts its own event which has slowly been growing in stature since it first started four years ago.

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Roman History in Tunisia

ancient roman mosaic of circles, squares and interlocking chain links

For anyone interested in ancient history and the legacy left by over five hundred years of Roman civilization, Tunisia has some remarkable offerings.

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Tenerife Tattoo Fest

 A man making temporary henna tattoo

One of the more esoteric events on Tenerife this Autumn was the Tenerife Tattoo Fest, which took place for the second time this year on the 7th and 8th November.

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Lanzarote Sports November

surfing wave

There were two International sporting events that featured on the events calendar of the island of Lanzarote during November.

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Lanzarote Sports November

surfing wave

There were two International sporting events that featured on the events calendar of the island of Lanzarote during November.

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Fuerteventura Kite Festival

flying the kite

Colourful skies were promised at the annual Fuerteventura Kite Festival in November this year.

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Disney World Marathon Week

Paris, September 2007, women marathon of 6,5 km around Tour Eiffel

Plan ahead now if you have Disney's World Marathon Weekend in mind for January. The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will be the stage for a 4 day running festival planned to take place between 7th and 10th January 2010. Taking alongside the running events is a health and fitness expo or exhibition. With an accent on family fun, the marathon weekend runs start on Friday with a short 5 kilometer race for all the family.

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Cyprus Thunderball

TALLINN, ESTONIA - JUNE 16, 2008: An orange Lotus Exige S front view

Hold onto your hats during early November in Cyprus for a car verses boat challenge.

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Oktoberfest in Florida

mugs of dark strong beer on bavarian beer festival

You don't have to go to Germany to enjoy the traditional German Oktoberfest celebrations. The state of Florida is just one of many in the United States that is hosting its own versions of the traditional beer festival.

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Ibiza Clubs Round Off 2009 Season

disco relax

The world famous club scene on Ibiza approached the big closing party season in late September.

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Cheese, Rock and Art Celebrations

closeup of guitarists hand during a live performance

Gran Canaria in October is much the same as Gran Canaria in September and November. The usual warm Autumn weather, lots of tourists arriving on the island for a late summer break and plenty of things going on. However the first weekend of October this year did seem to have an unusual combination of events on the calendar.

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Leonard Cohen in Palma

Singer Leonard Cohen performs onstage at Kilmainham Royal Hospital June 14th, 2008 in Dublin, Ireland.

Almost 20 years after his last performance on the island, Leonard Cohen returned to Mallorca to give a concert at the Palma Arena.

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Autumn Festivals on Kefalonia

The harbour at Fiskardo on the greek island of Kefalonia

As the summer parties and cultural festivals came to an end, the island of Kefalonia continued to entertain its visitors with several artistic celebrations.

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Cycle Tour of Ibiza in October

people series: high speed run cyclist on cycle

With professional cyclists competing in the 21 stage Tour of Spain, or Vuelta a Espana, the island of Ibiza was putting together final preparations for its own, smaller scale, event.

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Events on the Algarve During Autumn

show jumping.girl riding horse and jumping

There may be a smaller selection of events taking place on the Algarve during Autumn, but there's still a choice that should satisfy anyone on holiday there during that period.

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Algarve Historic Motoring Festival

MANTUA, ITALY - SEPT. 18: A 1959 Giulietta Spider parades at a veteran cars event Gran Premio Nuvolari in honor of famous Italian car champion Tazio Nuvolari on September 18, 2009 in Mantua, Italy.

Vintage car events seem to be ever more popular these days and the Historic Motoring Festival on the Algarve during October is one example.

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Alcudia Fair in October

Alcudia on the island Majorca in spain

During the summer months the resort of Alcudia on the northern coast of Mallorca transforms into a buzzing beach location, fringed with a huge selection of luxury hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes and one of the best sandy beaches on the island. Once the peak months of the summer are gone, everything starts to move at a slightly slower pace, although the resort doesn't quite return to the peaceful, quiet rural zone it once was before tourism discovered it.

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Tenerife Symphony Orchestra Starts New Season

beautiful violinist on a grunge background

A new season of concerts by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra starts in November.

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September Events in Cyprus

large festival fireworks on a black background

September is a wonderful month to spend some time in Cyprus and this year was no different. The very hot days of the high summer are gone and milder weather, together with a wide selection of cultural events, make the island a pleasant place to spend a week or two.

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Autumn events on Madeira

trumpet player

For anyone visiting the island of Madeira during the middle of October, the town of Ribeira Brava provides the chance to experience some traditional local music and culture.

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Port de Soller Festival on Mallorca

close up of grand piano keys

Music and the island of Mallorca seem to be very closely linked and the pretty port of Soller hosted its own series of concerts during September and October this year.

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Music in Rhodes - A Classical Festival

BUDAPEST - SEPTEMBER 10: Opening concert of the Budapest

The holiday scene in Rhodes may be slightly quieter during September and a music festival follows the trend.

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Tenerife Gomera Rock festival

cheering at concert

The smaller island of Gomera, off the coast of Tenerife hosted its first Gomera Rock festival in August this year.

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Dance and Celebrate on Ibiza

traditional folk dance costumes with castanets

The night clubs are well known but dancing of a different type took centre stage on Ibiza during August.

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Kypria Festival on Cyprus

beautiful violin music in sunset

September saw the promotion of the Kypria Festival, with events in all the major towns of Cyprus during the month.

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Crete During September

fresh box of sardines

Visitors to Crete during September will not only have the fabulous autumn weather to enjoy. A selection of cultural events continues throughout the month.

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Pick up a Bargain in Tenerife This Week

Colored clothes hanging on in an open market

Exposaldo 09, an annual retail sale, took place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife this year. The event took place in the International Fair and Congress Centre which is located on the coast in the centre of Santa Cruz close to the Tenerife Auditorium and the Parque Maritimo, an outdoor swimming and leisure complex. The Fair and Congress Centre, which opened in 1996, is an impressive architectural building which was designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Calatrava also designed the spectacular auditorium nearby which features an amazing arching wing that hangs over the top of the structure. In June the auditorium put on a mix of events including jazz, ballet, classical and dance productions. In July, The Pretenders performed a concert and later in the year, in December, the hit musical Mama Mia comes to town.

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Tenerife Turns to Motorsport

beautiful sports cars on speed

The slowing down of the holiday season and the quieter roads are exactly what motorsports fans on Tenerife have been waiting for.

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Events in Lanzarote during August and September

timanfaya-national-park-island-lanzarotte-spain

The main holiday season may be starting to wind down in some mainland European resorts, but the Canary Islands have a year-round season to enjoy.

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Mallorca Surf Action 2009

A surfer riding a wave as another surfer paddles over the wave

The beachfront area in Palma, Mallorca played host to an exciting surf event at the end of August.

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World Oceans Day

coral reef scene - red sea

Sunday 8th June was World Oceans Day, A United Nations initiative to honour the world's oceans, celebrate the marine life and bring greater awareness of the role oceans have in daily life. Conservation and environmental issues are also part of the day and it brings a focus for groups to participate in beach cleanups, educational events, competitions and other activities based around the oceans. In Sharm el Sheikh , groups in the area were keen to participate in the initiative and work to protect the Red Sea environment that brings thousands of people to this Egyptian resort every day

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Honey and Wine Festivals on Kos

Join in the celebrations at the Honey Festival in Kos

The island of Kos celebrates a series of cultural events during the summer, with many having their roots in the ancient past that defines this island. Local produce is also important to this island and several events profile the traditional products of local farmers and producers. These include the fish and wine festivals during early August in the port of Mastichari and the Ouzo Festival in Kefalos. Also during August is an evening of traditional Greek dancing in the harbour area of Kefalos and a celebration of dance and traditional music at the harbour in Kardamena.

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Greeks Islands Proving Popular

The Ancient Temple of Apollo, Rhodes City, Greece

In a move that appears to be bucking the trend experienced in other parts of Europe, the Greek Islands are seeing improved tourist figures for the first four months of the year.

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August Wine Events in Kefalonia

Fishing Boat at Kefalonia

Visitors to the Greek island of Kefalonia during August have the choice of a number of traditional local events during their stay, with wine featuring prominently.

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Summer Nights in Polis near Paphos

Town of Polis, 20 miles North of Paphos, Cyprus

The town of Polis lies 20miles north of Paphos in the north west of Cyprus. It is a popular town with visitors to the island and the local community provides an interesting selection of artistic and cultural events for tourists to enjoy during there stay in the area.

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August for Music in Orlando

Orlando, Florida at night

Visitors flying into Sanford Airport ahead of their annual holiday in Florida can look forward to a full events programme in August and music fans are particularly lucky.

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Concerts and Ballet in Cyprus

Ampitheatre In Cyprus

Art and Culture lovers are well catered for in Cyprus with plenty of events being promoted all over the island to showcase music, dance, theatre and other forms. Typically the major towns of Limassol and Nicosia are home to most of the promotions with venues like the Municipal Theatre, the Medieval Castle and the Athletics Stadium, all in Limassol, being ideally suited for different sized events. The big summer concert this year at the stadium in Limassol features American rock musician Alice Cooper who comes to the island as the last date on the first European leg of his "Theater Of Death" tour. Cooper then moves onto the States and Australia in August and September, before coming to the UK in November and December.

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Bike Meet in Faro during July

Algarve Coast Line

Over four days in July the Moto Club Faro holds its annual Bike Meet on the Concentration Showground right next to Faro airport.

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Festival Time in Crete

Beach on the outskirts of Crete

July and August are busy months in Crete as towns and villages all over the island celebrate with different types of festivals. For visitors to Crete the local festivals present an ideal opportunity to experience some local culture and learn a little about the history and traditions of the island.

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Summer Festival Rocks into life in Crete

Panoramic View of Chania harbour, Crete

The annual summer festival in Chania, Crete showcases all kinds of traditional Cretan theatre and music, but international bands will rock the festival into life on 11th July, when rock band Scorpians headline an outdoor concert in the town.

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Larnaca Festival during July

Marana in Larnaca

July and August is the time when many towns in Cyprus hold their annuals cultural festivals.Paphos in the west of the island is currently hosting a festival of ancient Greek theatre with numerous performances of famous Greek plays being performed in the outdoor amphitheatre in the town. In Larnaca the festival is more varied but also includes performances of ancient Greek Theatre.

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Corfu Part 1

Corfu Old Town

Set aside your bias about Corfu strictly being a mass market package holiday destination because in reality, this beloved Greek island has many beautiful beaches and cultural attractions for all kinds of holidaymakers in search a of a memorable getaway.

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Lanzarote Festival in Arrecife

A View of Arrecife City

Visitors to the island of Lanzarote next weekend will have the opportunity to sample the Festival of Arrecife, a series of musical events taking place at different venues around the city on Friday and Saturday.

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Aspendos Festival at Antalya

Aspendos Amphitheatre Antayla Turkey

Details have been released for the 16th Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival that takes in the spectacular 2000 year old amphitheatre near Antalya,Turkey. The fabric of the amphitheatre is amazing well preserved and its location alongside the ancient town together with an amazing capacity to hold 12,000 people make any occasions here very special.

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Canaries Jazz Festival

Aerial view of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Starting on the 3rd of July 2009, the 18th Canaries Jazz Festival kicks off with performances on Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Acts from all over the world are playing during the week long festival and on the second day concerts are taking place on 4 different islands in the group.

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Zante Clean Up on World Environment Day

Sunset in Zante

The first United Nations World Environment Day (WED) happened in 1972 and over the following 37 years the initiative has been gaining traction as a vehicle to generate awareness of environmental issues. Thomas Cook was one company that supported the initiative with action events all over Europe and in Egypt. A sustainable tourism fashion show fashion show was held in Italy and a coastal walk was organised on the Coast del Sol to raise money for a local charity. In Paphos on Cyprus, Gran Canaria and Zakynthos Thomas Cook staff took part in beach clean up initiatives. The company sees WED as a good opportunity to educate both staff and guests about the environmental impact of travel and the means of making leisure travel a sustainable option.

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Algarve hosts Festival med in June

Loule Signposted

Festival MED takes places in the cosmopolitan town of Loule between 24th and 28th June 2009. This will be the sixth time the MED has been organised and it has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most highly-regarded World Music festivals. Seventeen acts have been confirmed for the festival this year including Stewart Copeland, former drummer from The Police, and Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club. Two main stages and three smaller stages will be home to the acts in a celebration of world music that also includes other attractions. Events supplementing the music include theatre and street entertainment, exhibitions of art together with gastronomy and handicrafts exhibitions.

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Medieval Festival Planned for Rhodes

Saint John Knight's Castle in Rhodes

The Greek island of Rhodes certainly has plenty of history to call upon when it comes to creating festival events and a recent Medieval Festival that started in 2005 is repeated this year at the end of June.

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Expansion of Tram network in Tenerife

Roundabout in Tenerife

Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife, got its second tramline route this weekend when operator Tranvia opened an additional link to its network in the city. The new line supplements the existing line by adding a route between the areas of Tincer and La Cuesta. On the opening day the company organised all kinds of events to celebrate the occasion and for the first two days of operation was offering free journeys for all passengers. The existing line runs for a distance of around 8 miles between La Laguna to Santa Cruz and the new line adds a further 2.5 miles of line between Tincer and La Cuesta.

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Blue Skies over Portimao

Jet Manouvering Against a Blue Sky

Situated on the Algarve coast between Lagos and Faro, the town of Portimao is no stranger to high adrenalin sports events. Kitesurfing, motorcycling and powerboat racing have all used the location on the southern coast of Portugal for professional calibre competitions.

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Chamber Music Concerts near Paphos

Paphos Medieval Castle

The International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus first started in 2001 and the 9th incarnation of the concert series kicked off this week in the Pasydy Auditorium in Nicosia and the Royal Manor House of Kouklia, close to Paphos. The series of concerts has gained international recognition for the quality of its performances and anyone on holiday in the area who appreciates classical music could take advantage by attending any of the eight concerts.

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Annual Kataklysmos Fair in Larnaca

Seaside in Larnaca Cyprus

The annual Kataklysmos Fair starts on 5th June in Larnaca, Cyprus with a performance of Greek dancing and music on the seafront stage, followed by a fireworks display. The word "kataklysmos" means flood and the celebration is unique to Cyprus, coinciding with the Greek Pentacost. The celebrations are thought to link back the birth of Aphrodite who emerged from the waves and turned the ground around her into a sea of flowers. The flood is celebrated as something that cleanses mankind and enables new life, and is a event marked in a similar manner in many cultures around the world.

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Kart Racing in Sharm el Sheikh

Sea and Beach of Sharm el Sheikh

Ghibli Raceway is an international standard karting race track that hosts professional race events as well as being open to the general public. The track is located close to Naema Bay in Sharm el Sheikh, between the Three Corners Resort and the larger hotels like the Hotel Intercontinental and the Al Hyatt Regency on the seafront.

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Fast Cars in Gran Canaria

Mountains and Sunset in Gran Canaria

The islands are no strangers to motorsport events as the larger Rally Islas Canarias takes place earlier in the year and usually attracts large crowds. As a nation the Spanish are great fans of all motor sports. Fernando Alonso is their top Formula One driver while Jorge Lorenzo, who was born in Palma de Mallorca, is a top Moto GP rider.

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Agatha Christie Week in Tenerife

Puerto de La Cruz in Tenerife

Theatre productions, film showings, conferences, even a tea dance; these are just some of the events that form part of a special Agatha Christie week in Tenerife starting on 5th June 2009.

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Larnaca - Cyprus - Part 1

Larnaca Marina

With an abundance of ancient ruins, rich cultural traditions and panoramic beaches, Larnaca is an irresistable holiday destination. Holidaying in Larnaca means never having to choose between a beach vacation and a cultural experience because Larnaca is blessed with both: truly magnificent beaches and some of the ancient world's most riveting historical sites.

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Bodrum - Turkey - Part 1

Bodrum Marina

The imposing crusader Castle of St Peter sits atop this Turkish city while yachts quietly hum in the ancient harbor below which spans not one but two crescent shaped bays. Bodrum has long been a tourist magnet for its heady mix of east and west. But there are still unspoilt parts of this Mediterranean jewel just waiting to be discovered.

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Rhodes and Marmaris Sail Together

Regatta between Rhodes and Marmaris

The regatta that took place in June last year consisted of a series of 5 races and included one race over the direct route from Marmaris to Rhodes that took the winning boat just under 3 hours. Sailing is an important part of the economy for Marmaris with several marinas in the area and the main port being one of the busiest along this part of the Turkish coast.

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New promotional video from Tenerife

Mount Teide in Tenerife

The Tenerife Tourist Board has just released a stunning new promotional video for the island that features time-lapse photography to great effect. The video, which is one of a series covering the Canaries, showcases many of the economic, traditional and natural features of the island. Initially focusing on the bustling urban areas the video moves to the countryside in the second half and illustrates the amazing natural beauty of the island.

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Plans Announced for Canaries Celebration Day

Beach

A varied mix of over forty events are planned across the seven islands, featuring cultural performances of music, film and theatre, sporting competitions and traditional celebrations.

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Tenerife Gears up for Musical Summer

Rod Stewart in Concert

The Rod Stewart concert, on the 16th May, is expected to be the biggest of the 3 main rock and pop events to come to Tenerife over the summer and the organisers have chosen to put on the outdoor concert at the Golf Costa Adeje resort in order to cater for the demand expected. This is easily the biggest concert to come to the island since Sir Elton John played to 20,000 people there in January 2008.

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Veterans to See Red in Crete

Red Arrows

On May 23rd this year the skies over the Port of Hania (Chania) in Crete will roar to sound of fast jets as the RAF Red Arrows come to town to put on their flying display to help mark the 68th anniversary of the Battle of Crete that took place in 1941.

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Street Skating comes to Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria Beach

The streets and squares of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria are preparing to welcome the world's best freestyle skaters as the first round of the 2009 World Cup Series for the sport comes to the island in the middle of May.

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Larnaca Prepares for Summer Season

Summer Festival in Larnaca

The town of Larnanca in Cyprus is famous for all kinds of reasons. It has a large modern airport, is a popular destination for holidaymakers from all over Europe and also hosts a large Summer festival that features all kinds of music, dance and theatrical events. Many international performers are booked for this year's festivities.

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Celebrate the New Vintage in Andalucia

Wine in Andalucia

For wine regions around the world the harvesting of a new vintage is the most important period of the year and many, including the Spanish region of Andalucia, celebrate with a range of traditional festivals.

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