In high spirits
NICK DALTON looks at top summer events across the Alps
GRAHAM Nash of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash playing outside a mountain hut? For free? Yes, this is the new face of summer in the Alps with a world of festivals bringing together music, food, drink and local traditions.
Nash opens Sounds Of The Dolomites on June 30, a two-month collection of rock, classical, jazz and world music amid Italy’s most stunning scenery. He and his small band play a lunchtime concert outside Rifugio Micheluzzi, known for its exquisite food, high in stunning Val di Fassa. You can book a guided mountain hike (free with your local tourist card) for the near 2,000ft climb or for a small fee do it the easy way on e-bike.
This is just one of the summer festivals to enjoy during a holiday from Lakes & Mountains with TUI in dozens of Alpine destinations across Europe. In neighbouring Slovenia, Bohinj Wild Flower Festival (May 25-June 10) is a celebration of the wildflowers that fill this area – and a whole lot more, including food. There are botanical tours with a culinary accent as well as the market, complete with open kitchen and local products.
This beautiful lakeside spot is perfect for a relaxed holiday and the festival also features entertainment such as dance workshops and concerts.
Montreux Jazz Festival in the swish Swiss lakeside town is very different. It is far from simply jazz though – David Bowie and Prince have played it and Elton John has signed up for 2019 – this summer’s bill (June 29-July 14) will be announced next month. There is plenty for free – including the Music In The Park.
In Austria, the end of August and beginning of September are full of the sounds of cowbells as cattle head down after a summer in the Alpine meadows. Farmers lead the cows, in carnival headgear of flowers, ribbons and mirrors, for the Almabtrieb Festival. The resorts of Achensee, Alpbach, Mayrhofen, Söll and St. Anton are a riot of colour – not to mention music, dancing and schnapps.
On Italy’s Lake Garda, Bardolino is surrounded by vineyards and Chiaretto Wine Festival (June 1-3) celebrates the local rosé wine and spring. The lakeside becomes a riot of pink with a parade, dragon boats and tastings – last year 22,000 glasses of wine were sold.
Try the Swiss Food Festival in Zermatt (various days, July and August), where a whole bundle of top-rated chefs create a stir – breakfast served on the Matterhorn Express gondola, even an evening cheese fondue in the gondola, as well as special meals in hotels and restaurants.
If it is something different you are after the Bandiera Del Lago Bisse Races has a carnival atmosphere as stand-up rowers race gondola-like fishing boats on Lake Garda (various Saturdays from June 9, final August 4 at Cassone di Malcesine) or the World Bodypainting Festival at Klagenfurt am Wörthersee in the southern Austrian lake district (July 12-14).
And then there is Knödelfest, a celebration of dumplings in Austria’s St Johann in Tirol (September 22).
INFORMATION: Lakes & Mountains with TUI (020 3636 1618/tui.co.uk) offers holidays from £486pp (two sharing) for seven nights, B&B, at Hotel Bardolino, Bardolino, departing May 30, including flights from Birmingham.