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Europe’s Best
Festivals
As summer draws closer, so does
another festival season. And while the
UK can undoubtedly offer some of the
season’s best music events, it can’t
always promise balmy climes, clear blue
skies andmud-free fields.We’ve taken
a look across Europe and discovered
some fantastic festivals where
(hopefully) no wellies are required.
SONAR – FLY TO BARCELONA,
14-16 JUNE
Few cities in the world can party
like Barcelona and few festivals can
compare to Sonar. Bringing together
DJs, musicians and revellers from
across Europe and beyond, this
cosmopolitan celebration centres
on the city’s Raval district by day,
before heading to the town outskirts
for a selection of night-time soirees.
Confirmed acts for this year include
Fatboy Slim, Friendly Fires and girl
of the moment Lana Del Rey. And,
once the party is over, you can enjoy
the sights, shops and beaches of this
spectacular seaside city that has it all.
We fly to Barcelona fromGatwick, Luton,
Stansted, Southend, Bristol, Liverpool,
Newcastle and Belfast International
from£44.99*.
ROSKILDE – FLY TO COPENHAGEN,
5-8 JULY
As it takes a fallow year, thosemissing
the charms of Glastonbury should
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*Prices oneway per person based on 2 people travelling on the same booking. Price correct as at 27March 2012. For travel from1May to 27October 2012.Additional credit card&baggage fees apply. See easyJet.com for details
The Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend is
fast approaching and while London
will no doubt be the focal point of
celebrations marking the Queen’s
60-year reign, those looking for
something a little bit different should
head for Gibraltar. Sitting right at
the bottomof Spain, at the entrance
to the Mediterranean and just a
hop, skip and jump fromMorocco,
this fiercely patriotic British Overseas
Territory is dappled with sunshine and
sprinkled with pomp and ceremony.
Her Majesty will be honoured
throughout June in a wide range of
celebrations, including street parties,
the lighting of a beacon, an international
regatta and a very special birthday
parade. And, while you’re there,
don’t forget to pay a visit to the
Gibraltar’s Jubilee Celebrations
much-loved Barbary apes. As
the only wild primates in Europe,
Winston Churchill brought new
troops of the critters to The Rock
duringWorldWar II after learning of
the famous legend, claiming that if
these monkeys ever leave Gibraltar,
then British Rule will cease!
We fly to Gibraltar fromGatwick and
Liverpool from£59.49*.
seek salvation within its Scandinavian
counterpart, Roskilde, the largest music
festival in northern Europe. Set up by
hippies in the early 1970s, this
not-for-profit humanitarian festival
brings some of music’s biggest acts
to the Danish countryside. Headliners
this year includeThe Cure, Bruce
Springsteen and the E Street Band, and
possibly Iceland’s finest export, Björk.
The festival’s campsite is at the very
heart of its experience, covering an
impressive 80 hectares and featuring
separate areas for guests to cook, party
and even store luggage.Those keen to
return to Roskilde can take part in the
Naked Run.This annual race around the
campsite awards the first nudemale
and female past the finishing post with
tickets for next year’s event.
We fly to Copenhagen fromGatwick,
Stansted andManchester from£34.49*.
STOP MAKING SENSE – FLY TO
SPLIT, 2-6 AUGUST
Set against the backdrop of the stunning
Adriatic coast in the pretty town of Tisno,
StopMaking Sense (pictured) offers a
fabulous combination of sun, sea and
celebration. Curated bymusic-loving
promoters, including secretsundaze,
Dalston Superstore and ElectricMinds,
and featuring DJ sets from the likes of
Move D, Lil’ Louis and Hannah Holland,
this five-day fiesta is not to bemissed.
Promising to bemusic festival and
summer getaway rolled into one, other
highlights of this unique and intimate
affair include daily boat parties, a private
beach complete with its own tiki bar and
an after hours, open-air nightclub where
you can dance till the small hours under
the Croatian stars.
We fly to Split fromGatwick, Stansted
and Bristol from£51.49*.