Denmark - Annual Events
January
New Year Concerts are performed in major cities by the Zealand, Århus, Odense, Aalborg and West Jutland symphony orchestras.
February and March
Night Film Festival - During 10 days in the month of March more than 100 international films are shown in their original language. www.natfilm.dk
April
Queen Margrethe's Birthday - Celebrated on April 16th at Amalienborg, the royal residencial castle, in Copenhagen. On this occasion the royal guards are in full ceremonial dress and the queen wave to the crowds from the palace balcony at noon.
May
Carnival - Event held in some of the big cities in Denmark. Carnival is not a Danish tradition, but the first one held in 1982 was a great success, which called for Carnival to enter the list of the annual events.
June
Riverboat Jazz Festival - Festival held in Silkeborg in Jutland. Some 50 bands entertain in the city or on river boats: www.riverboat.dk
Midsummer Eve (23rd) - In Danish is known as Sankt Hans Eve and is celebrated with bonfires all around Denmark.
Skagen Festival - Four last days of the month of June. Skagen is the most northern point of Denmark on the tip of the peninsular, known for its church half buried in sand. This festival features folk and world music performed by Danish and international artists.
www.skagenfestival.dk
Frederikssund Viking Festival - Two week event featuring 'Vikings' in open-air drama, followed by a banquet with Viking food and entertainment. The festival is held in Frederikssund, north-west of Copenhagen.
www.vikingespil.dk
July
Roskilde Festival - Probably one of the biggest music festival in Europe, is held in Roskilde (about 30 min drive south-west of Copenhagen). The festival itself lasts 4 days, but the almost 100.000 people camping in the assigned areas, generally put down their tents the week before, extending the duration of this festival to a full week.
Artists come from all over the world, from the very famous to the quite new. The festival is generally sold out. Sales start the year before, in December. The money raised is donated in charity.
www.roskildefestival.com
Copenhagen Jazz Festival - The biggest entertainment event of the year in the capital. From the first Friday in July you can enjoy 10 days of jazz, blues and fusion music with 500 indoor and outdoor concerts.
www.jazzfestival.dk
Viking Moot - Two days of Viking-style market with crafts, food and equestrian events held in Århus in Jutland.
August
Hamlet Summer Plays - Theatre performances of Shakespeare's Hamlet take place at Kronborg Slot (castle) in Helsingør, on the north of the island of Zealand (Sjælland).
Copenhagen Pride Parade - The festive gay pride parade marches with Carnival-like attires through the center of the capital.
www.copenhagen-pride.dk
Tønder Festival - A very big folk festival with lots of indoor performance. Tønder is in the southern part of Jutland, not far from the border with Germany.
Århus Festival Week - A 10-day festival which claims to be Denmark's largest annual multicultural festival. During the festival you can enjoy music performances, theatre, ballet modern dance, opera, films and sports events both indoor and outdoor.
www.aarhusfestuge.dk
Golden Days in Copenhagen - A two weeks event in the capital celebrating art, poetry, theatre battle and concerts focusing on Denmark's 'Golden Age' (1800-1850)
www.goldendays.dk
October
Kulturnat (A night of culture ) - Held all over the country once a year as a fun run-up to the Danish schools' autumn holidays in October. This is one night where the city opens its doors to art and culture after normal closing hours and also to places not normally accessible for the public. You can get into ministries, courthouses, the stock exchange and the queens guards quarters to mention a few. Approximately 300 venues are ready to welcome you from 6 pm to midnight.
A Night of Culture badge (kulturpas) gives free admission to events and free public transport within Greater Copenhagen. Free entrance for children under 11.
Price per badge including a programme for the night: DKK 75 (10 Euro).
The badge and program are available at the participating museums, libraries and at S-train stations.
Ask for an English program, which has a selection from the Danish program of events not determined by language. For more information in English about this event, or to buy the tickets online click here.
December
Christmas Fairs - Held all over the country. The fair in Århus' old town is a particularly charming one and so is the fair of Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.
