Explore – Events
Out and about The latest news, views and events from bmi destinations including Naples, Chicago, Nice and Copenhagen
Bright sparks
Words: Emma Juhasz
WHETHER IT’S AMERICAN Independence day, Bonfi re Night or Elizabeth Hurley’s wedding, celebrations never feel the same without fi reworks. And that’s how Russia will be marking the end of its fi rst international military tattoo the Kremlin Zoria (www.kremlinzoria.ru), on 13-16 September with a display over Red Square, Moscow . Inspired by the Edinburgh Tattoo (held in August), the Zoria will include one of the world’s largest displays of pipes and drums, Cossack dancers, Italian fl ag wavers and Russian dancers.
More sparks will fl y at the International Firework Competition (www.hanover.de). Taking place at Hanover ‘s Grosser Garten on 8 September, it’s Britain’s turn to put on a display so expect plenty of bangs and sparkles as they try to beat earlier entries from Russia and Italy.
HOLY SMOKE!
The Big Bang takes on new meaning when you live under one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes. Mount Vesuvius lies on the Bay of Naples , and so locals have made sure they keep their insurance up by paying homage to their patron saint, San Gennaro. Since his martyrdom in 305AD he has kept Naples from harm and many believe had he only been born earlier he might also have saved the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum from being wiped out in 79AD.
Naples pays tribute to San Gennaro three times a year, including 19 September, when all the locals gather in the city cathedral. The festivities spill out onto the street and even as far away as Las Vegas , where the Italian-American community holds one of the most popular festivals outside Naples on 11-16 September (www.sangennarofeast.net).
CANAL PLUS
Not many of us have islands to give away freely, so it’s little surprise that the city of Venice continues to commemorate the day in 1489 that the Queen of Cyprus donated hers to La Serenissma (as the Republic of Venice is known). The Regata Storica (www.comune.venezia.it), on 2 September, starts with a historical procession of state boats steered by costumed oarsmen. Once the pomp and ceremony is over, the city’s gondoliers and other expert rowers take to the water to test their strength, skill and speed.
Best of British
The art world has changed hugely since the British Art Fair (www.britishartfair.co.uk) was founded 20 years ago. This London art show, 11-16 September, has played a major role in raising the profi le of contemporary British artists, such as Ray Richardson (above) and it’s still the place to discover the next David Hockney or Damien Hirst. If the 19th century’s more your thing, then visit Tate Britain’s (www.tate.org.uk) Sir John Everett Millais exhibition. It’s the fi rst show to span the great British Pre-Raphaelite painter’s entire career since 1898, and includes dramatic images such as Mariana.
…Messing about in boats
IF YOU FANCY a life on the ocean waves, there’s ample opportunity to take to the water this month. The French Riviera is where you’ll find the A-listers lounging on their luxury yachts, so a trip to the Cannes Boat Show (www.salonnautiquecannes.com), an hour from Nice , 2-17 September, should lend that extra bit of glamour if money’s no object, of course.
If you like things a bit more active, then the Jersey Regatta (www.jersey.com) in St Aubin’s Bay, 7-9 September, offers a full programme of racing, from dinghies to yachts. For those who’d rather watch, the iShares Cup (www.extreme40.com), organised by Ellen MacArthur’s company, OC Group, will reach Amsterdam on 14 -16 September and will pitch the best sailors against each other on high-octane catamarans
Also in the diary…
It’s time to set out your stall La Grande Braderie, a market anyone can join, is coming to Lille on 1-2 September (www.lilletourism.com). With over 200km of footpaths in the city you’re sure to fi nd a spot to pitch your wares. Back home, the Merchant City Festival (www.merchantcityfestival. com) is set to take over Glasgow on 20-23 September, with everything from live art to opera on hand to entertain you.
2200 …is the number of
print designs that Picasso
made over a 70-year career.
Until September 23 you can see
over 120 of the artist’s works,
including 65 prints, 15 drawings
and 10 illustrated books, at the
Dean Gallery,
Edinburgh
(www.nationalgalleries.org)
