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Calendar of Events

There are held many festivals, happenings, shows, flee markets, folklore celebrations, wine harvestings and other events in Prague.

Some interesting traditions are conected with the religious holidays and public holidays

We try to introduce all interesting events that annually repeat, so you can plan your Prague itinerary ahead.

Just find the month of your Prague visit and click "more info". You can check the direct websites of each event and get the dates, venues, detailed program for the current year.

You can visit the cultural events on your own, or with one of our proffesional guides.

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JANUARY

Prague winter festival - classic music, opera and ballet, Days of European film Festival

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JANUARY

Prague Winter Festival, classic music, opera and ballet performances organizer: IFB -International Festivals Bureau, nám. Míru 15, Praha 2, tel. 221 590 991
www.praguewinterfestival.com

January - February

Days of European film Festival of contemporary European films, especially from EU countries organizer: Festivalový sekretariát, c/o Rakouské kulturní fórum, Jungmannovo nám. 18, Praha 1, tel. 224 215 538

www.eurofilmfest.cz

PRAGUE - NEW YEARS EVE

Most Czech towns put on a great show on New Year’s Eve, and this is especially true in Prague. On the Old Town Square the New Year’s Eve show will start in the afternoon and reach a climax with a huge firework display to welcome in 2007. Fireworks are shot from Letna hill above the River Vlatava.

* Highly recomended event - New Year’s Eve romantic boat cruise through Prague*

Cruise into 2007! Celebrating on the boat - you can get the best views and unusual atmosphere. The boat will cruise Prague and you can sit in the heated boat-restaurant and admire the changing views and midnight fireworks or take the romantic pictures from the top deck.

The dinner cruise includes:
5 hour cruise (from 8:00 pm to 1:00 am)
Music: live Czech band will accompany the cruise! Welcome Drink - Becherovka (traditional Czech liquor made of 30 secret herbs and spices)
Lavish Dinner Buffet includes:
Tipical Czech New Year’s Eve dishes - "Chlebíčky" - richly topped open faced sandwiches.
Various salads, cold fish, coldcuts, cheeses, deviled eggs, roast chicken, Czech gulash, hot fish dishes, sausages, vegetables, potatoes, dumplings, rice, breads, desserts, fruit and more. Toast the New Year with a glass of champagne.
After midnight, the traditional Czech specialty is served: "Smoked meat with lentils"
(Czech people believe that eating lentils on January 1st will bring a richness and happines into the new year!)

Price per person: 3 000,- (about 107EUR, 142US)
Let us know in time, if we should book this event for you.

New Year’s Eve events:

* You can also take part in New Year’s Eve celebrations in the magnificent surroundings of the State Opera. Immediately Strauss’s opera ‘Die Fledermaus’ ends, the stage is turned into a dance floor with a swing orchestra to help you dance the night away.  www.opera.cz

Jazz favoured New Year`s night can be enjoyed at THE AGHARTA JAZZ CENTER www.agharta.cz
31 Sun. New Year`s Eve hip-jazz Blouwout! "U MALÉHO GLENA" MUSIC CLUB
* For the stylish dinner we especially recommend the restaurants with the river view:
Bellevue Restaurant - Stylish riverside dining with stunning view of Prague Castle. Old Town near the Charles Bridge
Restaurant Hergetova Cihelna - Lively and stylish riverside dining with stunning view of Charles Bridge. Cihelna 2b, Praha 1 – Malá Strana.

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FEBRUARY

Masopust - Carnival, Days of European film Festival, Slovak Theatre in Prague

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FEBRUARY

Masopust is the traditional Czech Shrovetide or Carnival celebration, and a Masopust festivals take place in Prague, Cesky Krumlov, and elsewhere in the Czech Republic during this pre-Lenten period. Masopust is Czech for “meat fast” or “farewell to meat.” It is a time for feasting and revelry– Prague's Bohemian Carnevale coincides with Masopust.

Masopust is a time for dressing up in costume and wearing masks. Masked character processions may go from house to house. Dance and song, feasting and drinking. The Czechs and Moravians enjoy using a variety of noisemakers on this holiday, and a favorite one is a wooden ratchet (řechtačka).
Masopust pictures
www.expats.cz - Masopust info
www.radio.cz - Masopust info

January - February

Days of European film Festival of contemporary European films, especially from EU countries organizer: Festivalovový sekretariát, c/o Rakouské kulturní fórum, Jungmannovo nám. 18, Praha 1, tel. 224 215 538
www.eurofilmfest.cz

Slovak Theatre in Prague, Festival of Slovak theatres, co-organizer: Divadlo Bez zábradlí, Národní 40, Praha 1, tel. 224 946 436, www.bezzabradli.cz
www.bezzabradli.cz

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MARCH

Staroměstský jarmark - Old Town fair, Febiofest, Opera, Musical Theatre Festival

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MARCH

Staroměstský jarmark - Old Town fair: Folk celebrations in the city center with an accompanying program in the afternoon, from Monday to Friday. Music and Old Pargue songs and cymbal will sound all days. For visitors, these markets means a precursor to Easter, as it appears on newsstands Easter assortment.
http://www.trhypraha.cz/prehled-akci

Febiofest, International festival of films, television programmes and video, organizer: Febio, Ruzová 13, Praha 1, tel. 221 101 111
www.febiofest.cz

Opera, Musical Theatre Festival, every 2nd year, organizer: JHD (Musical Theatre Society), K Vltave 18, Praha 4, tel. 606 633 905
www.divadlo.cz/jhd

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APRIL

Easter Fair, Easter Monday - pomlázka, One World, International film festival, Golden Prague TV festival

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APRIL

Easter Fair in the historic center of Prague is usually be held on first weekends of April. After a long winter to bring color and charm of the city's largest Christian festivals in a year. Easter lovers can enjoy the traditional approach to these celebrations and the interesting news. The most common sight is brightly coloured, hand-painted Easter eggs, which Czech ladies dressed in traditional costume may even personalise for you, by painting on a name or special message. The Prague Easter markets are not just about shopping though. The tastes and smells are equally enticing, with terribly unhealthy, but wonderfully tasty barbecued sausages and ice-cold Pilsner beer on sale. Several stalls also have large hams roasting on spits. Plus there is a variety of traditional Czech sweets to try, like 'Trdelnik', a hot sugary coated pastry. ... One of the wooden cabins at the Old Town Square runs workshops for children.
www.radio.cz
www.trhypraha.cz

Easter beating od women!? Easter Monday, the first Monday after the first full moon in April, is a holiday of joy and rejuvenation. Traditionally Czech boys and men braid willow branches (pomlázky) and adorn them with colorful ribbons. They then go caroling and visiting female friends whom they gently switch with their pomlázky. In return their female friends present them with colored eggs, chocolate, and other treats. The act of switching carries the symbolism of renewal and, in the past, the head of the household switched everyone, including livestock, for good luck.
radio Prague - info on Easter

One World, International film festival - documentary films on human rights, organizer: Clovek v tísní, spolecnost pri Ceské televizi, o. p. s., (People in need - Czech TV Foundation), Sokolská 18, Praha 2, tel. 226 200 434
www.oneworld.cz

Golden Prague - the international television festival, organizer: Ceská televize, Kavcí hory, Praha 4, tel./fax 241 763 980
www.czech-tv.cz/goldenprague

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MAY

Book World Prague, Khamoro - festival of gipsy culture, Prague Spring - International music festival, Prague food festival

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MAY

BOOK WORLD PRAGUE, International book trade fair; Prague Exhibition Grounds, organizer: Svaz cesk˘ch knihkupcu, Fügnerovo nám. 3, Praha 2, tel. 224 498 234
www.bookworld.cz

KHAMORO, International festival of GIPSY CULTURE , co-organizer: Studio Production SAGA, Blanická 4, Praha 2, tel. 222 518 554
www.khamoro.cz

PRAGUE SPRING, International music festival; Prague concert halls, churches and theatres, organizer: Prazské jaro, o. p. s., Hellichova 18, Praha 1, tel. 257 311 921
www.festival.cz

PRAGUE FOOD FESTIVAL is a three-day celebration of food, which is in the Czech Republic has a long tradition. Under the open sky will concentrate the best chefs and beverage producers in that country. Visitors can taste local and exotic delicacies from the most interesting restaurants in Maurer GRAND RESTAURANT. A rich accompanying program and a lot of news.
www.praguefoodfestival.com

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JUNE

Prague Spring - clasical music festival, Shakespeare Summer Festivities, World Festival of Puppet Art, Prague Writers Festival, Musica Ecumenica, Festpol - Festival of Police orchestras, Dance Prague - International festival of contemporary dance, International Festival of Czech and Moravian Brass Bands,

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JUNE

PRAGUE SPRING, International music festival; Prague concert halls, churches and theatres, organizer: Prazské jaro, o. p. s., Hellichova 18, Praha 1, tel. 257 311 921
www.festival.cz

SHAKESPEARE SUMMER FESTIVITIES, Festival of the most famous plays of William Shakespeare; Burgrave of Prague Castle, organizer: Agentura Shok, s. r. o., Anenské nám. 2, Praha 1, tel. 222 220 183
www.shakespeare.cz

WORLD FESTIVAL OF PUPPET ART, organizer: Mezinárodní institut loutkárského umení, Karlova 12, Praha 1, tel./fax 222 220 913
www.puppetart.com

PRAGUE WRITERS FESTIVAL, International meeting of writers, organizer: Festival spisovatelu Praha, Kremencova 7, Praha 1, tel. 224 931 053
www.pwf.cz

MUSICA ECUMENICA, organizer: Music Art Prague, Praha 2, Moravská 30, tel. 222 516 056
www.top-music.cz

FESTPOL - Festival of Police orchestras and choirs (every 2nd year), organizer: BTI, nám. Míru 15, Praha 2, tel. 222 514 018
www.bohemiaticket.cz

DANCE PRAGUE - international festival of contemporary dance art and motion theatre, organizer: Tanec Praha, o. s., Husitská 24a, Praha 3, tel. 224 817 886
www.tanecpha.cz

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CZECH AND MORAVIAN BRASS BANDS, Prague Exhibition Grounds, organizer: Umelecká agentura Briva, Machatého 689, Praha 5, tel. 251 810 014
www.krajanka.sf.cz

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JULY

Shakespeare Summer Festivities - theatre festival,Prague Proms - music festival, Cyril and Metodius Day, Jan Hus day,Prague Folklore Days

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JULY

THE CELEBRATION OF PRAGUE - this festival is showing the beauty of Prague and skills of the local people. It includes these topics: Music, art, design, architecture, history, science, for children.
www.oslavyprahy.cz
Program engl.

SHAKESPEARE SUMMER FESTIVITIES - Festival of the most famous plays of William Shakespeare; Burgrave of Prague Castle, organizer: Agentura Shok, s. r. o., Anenské nám. 2, Praha 1, tel. 222 220 183
www.shakespeare.cz

SUMMER OLD MUSIC FESTIVITIES - organizer: Collegium Marianum, Melantrichova 19, Praha 1, tel. 224 229 462
www.tynska.cuni.cz

PRAGUE PROMS The Prague Proms annual music festival is a series of classical concerts organised by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra at their Prague home, the Municipal House. Concerts take place in the stunning Smetana Hall, the largest auditorium within Municipal House and introduce domestic and foreign guest artists, soloists, conductors and ensembles.
www.pragueproms.cz

CYRIL AND METODIUS DAY - 5.7. is public holiday in memory of the Slavic Christianity Prophets - Cyril and Metodius. Prague sightseeing & entertainment operate as normal. Shops have limited opening times.
wikipedia.org

JAN HUS DAY - 6.7. is public holiday in memory of Jan Hus burning at the stake (1415). Prague sightseeing & entertainment operate as normal. Shops have limited opening times
wikipedia.org

PRAGUE FOLKLORE DAYS - The 5th International Meeting of Folklore Ensembles takes place over several days on an outdoor stage at the Old Town Square. Amateur folklore ensembles from many countries come to present the folklore of their own regions and countries. On the Saturday afternoon there is also a parade through the Old Town.
www.praguefestival.cz

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AUGUST

Lávka River Stage festival, Prague Horn, Young Prague - International music festival, International String Quartets Festival - festival in honour of Antonín Dvorák, International Organ Festival, Festival of Italian operas, Aniversary of the Soviet Invasion after the Prague Spring 21.8.

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AUGUST

LÁVKA RIVER STAGE - opera, ballet, theatre in the lagoon under The Charles Bridge.The aim of the festival is to bring classical ballet, modern theatre and operatic singing nearer to the people.
www.lavkariverstage.cz

PRAGUE HORN, international festival, organizer: Cornissimo Prague and Horn Music Agency Prague, tel. 602 284 342, 608 332 830
www.praguehorn.cz

YOUNG PRAGUE, International music festival, organizer: Hudební festival Mladá Praha, P.O.Box 73, 182 00 Praha 8
www.mladapraha.cz

INTERNATIONAL STRING QUARTETS FESTIVAL, festival in honour of Antonín Dvorák, poradatel: Music Art Prague, Praha 2, Moravská 30, tel. 222 516 056
www.top-music.cz

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL, concerts of Czech and European organists in St James Basilica, organizer: Svatojakubské Audite Organum, Nádrazní 19, Praha 5, tel. 257 317 269
www.auditeorganum.cz

FESTIVAL OF ITALIAN OPERAS, Traditional festival of Verdi operas; State Opera Prague, organizer: Státní opera Praha, Wilsonova 4, Praha 2, tel. 224 229 898
www.opera.cz

21.8. ANIVERSARY OF THE SOVIET INVASION AFTER THE PRAGUE SPRING - The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the communist era. The Soviets decided to stop the changes. On the night of 20–21 August 1968 Warsaw Pact troops and tanks entered the country. Local popular opposition was expressed in numerous spontaneous acts of nonviolent resistance. On 19 January 1969, student Jan Palach set himself on fire in Prague's Wenceslas Square.
wikipedia.org

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SEPTEMBER

International Organ Festival, Festival of Italian operas, Saint Wenceslas Festivities, Vejvoda`s Zbraslav - brass bands, Prague Autumn - music festival, Strings of Autumn - music festival,

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SEPTEMBER

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN FESTIVAL - concerts of Czech and European organists in St James Basilica, organizer: Svatojakubské Audite Organum, Nádrazní 19, Praha 5, tel. 257 317 269
www.auditeorganum.cz

FESTIVAL OF ITALIAN OPERAS - Traditional festival of Verdi operas; State Opera Prague, organizer: Státní opera Praha, Wilsonova 4, Praha 2, tel. 224 229 898
www.opera.cz

SAINT WENCESLAS FESTIVITIES - Festival of sacral music of ecumenical orientation, organizer: Spolecnost pro duchovní hudbu, Kolejní 4, Praha 6, tel. 220 181 710
www.sdh.cz

VEJVODA`S ZBRASLAV - international festival of small brass bands, organizer: OR-FEA, Tesnov 9, Praha 1, tel. 224 814 458
www.orfea.cz

PRAGUE AUTUMN - International music festival; Prague concert halls and churches, organizer: MHF Prazský podzim, Príbenická 20, Praha 3, tel. 222 540 484
www.pragueautumn.cz

STRINGS OF AUTUMN - international music festival, organizer: MHF Struny podzimu, o. s., Palackého 1/740, Praha 1, tel. 224 946 508
www.strunypodzimu.cz

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OCTOBER

Prague Autumn - music festival, Strings of Autumn - music festival, International Jazz Festival, International Student Orchestras Festival, Prague German-Language Theatre Festival

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OCTOBER

PRAGUE AUTUMN, International music festival; Prague concert halls and churches, organizer: MHF Prazský podzim, Príbenická 20, Praha 3, tel. 222 540 484
www.pragueautumn.cz

STRINGS OF AUTUMN, international music festival, organizer: MHF Struny podzimu, o. s., Palackého 1/740, Praha 1, tel. 224 946 508
www.strunypodzimu.cz

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL organizer: Pragokoncert Bohemia, a. s., U Bulhara 3, Praha 1, tel. 224 235 267, 224 234 602
www.pragokoncert.com
www.jazzfestivalpraha.cz

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORCHESTRAS FESTIVAL, organizer: Prazský studentský orchestr, U Krbu 4, Praha 10, tel. 274 770 248
www.praguestudentorchestra.cz

PRAGUE GERMAN-LANGUAGE THEATRE FESTIVAL, Festival of theatre ensembles from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, organizer: Sdruzení pro prípravu a provedení festivalu, Karlovo nám. 28, Praha 2, tel. 222 232 303
www.theater.cz

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NOVEMBER

International Student Orchestras Festival, Prague German-Language Theatre Festival

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORCHESTRAS FESTIVAL, organizer: Prazský studentský orchestr, U Krbu 4, Praha 10, tel. 274 770 248
www.praguestudentorchestra.cz

PRAGUE GERMAN-LANGUAGE THEATRE FESTIVAL, Festival of theatre ensembles from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, organizer: Sdruzení pro prípravu a provedení festivalu, Karlovo nám. 28, Praha 2, tel. 222 232 303
www.theater.cz

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DECEMBER

International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music, Bohuslav Martinu Festival, Prague Christmas - festival of Christmas carols, Christmas DAY 24.12.

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DECEMBER

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS MUSIC, with Petr Eben`s Prize , organizer: OR-FEA, Tesnov 9, Praha 1, tel. 224 814 458
www.orfea.cz

BOHUSLAV MARTINU FESTIVAL, organizer: Nadace Bohuslava Martinu, nám. Kinských 3, Praha 5, tel. 257 313 104
www.martinu.cz

PRAGUE CHRISTMAS, International festival of Christmas carols, customs and advent and Christmas music; Národní dum na Vinohradech, organizer: Club Tours Agentur, Na Hájku 367, Praha 8, tel. 284 826 608
www.clubta.cz

PRAGUE CHRISTMAS EVENTS
While reading this, you can listen to the Czech christmas songs. Especially famous are: Nesem vám noviny, Tichá noc, My tři králové.

www.radio.cz/cz/html/vanoce_sbor_rp.html

CHRISTMAS MARKETS
in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square are usually held from 2nd December to 1st January. The largest Christmas trees in the country is the Old Town Square and at the Prague Castle, where Christmas carols and songs are sung. Boxes for charity purposes are usually placed under these trees.

FOLK CUSTOMS AND NATIVITY SCENES
Exhibition in the Old Town presents folk Christmas, customs, nativity scenes from various materials, Christmas ornaments and trees.
www.orfea.cz

Exhibition in the Prague Castle shows historical nativity scenes. On display: about 30 nativity scenes, the works of Czech woodcarvers including unique items (church baroque nativity scene, etc.).
www.orfea.cz

5.12. DAY OD ST. NICHOLAS
The evening before St. Nicholas Day, December 5, St. Nicholas strolls around the city, accompanied by an Angel and a Devil, visiting children and handing out presents. First, he asks the children whether they have been good and if not, they must promise they will be better next year. The good children get some chocolates, but the ones get only a coal!:-) This tradition became very popular and the character of St. Nicholas, dressed in a long coat with a crosier in his hand, is now always accompanied by a devil and an angel, representing the antimony of good and evil.
The St. Nicholas tradition is based on the legend of St. Nicholas, a bishop who lived in the 4th century in Asia Minor and was renowned for his religious life and charity. His name was brought to New Amsterodam (New York) and changed into the Santa Claus. In Central Europe, there is no association of this St. Nicholas with the Western character of Santa Claus (like in England, USA, Sweden or elsewhere). In Czech brings presents at Christmas the baby Jesus - "Jezisek".

CHRISTMAS EVE - THE SPECIAL MOMENT
Christmas trees are usually decorated on Christmas Eve, December 24, or earlier in some families. Nativity scenes are arranged, Christmas presents are wrapped and preparations for Christmas dinner are made. The Czech traditional Christmas dinner consists of fish soup, breaded fried carp fillets and potato salad. The trees are taken down on the day of the Magi or the following Sunday. Christmas is a family holiday where no one should stay home alone. That’s why the entire family usually meets at the Christmas dinner table and if someone lives alone, they are invited over by friends or neighbors.
The festive dinner (Dec 24th) is followed by the special moment which children look forward to all year long - unwrapping the presents from under the tree that were left by baby Jesus. To get the presents they wished for, many children write letters to baby Jesus before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, baby Jesus enters each home (thought the opened window - not a chimney!) and leaves presents under the tree. He lights the candles and lights on it and then disappears without being seen just before the Christmas bell rings. Christmas carols are usually sung under the lit Christmas tree. At midnight, people usually go to church for J. J. Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass.

PRAGUE - NEW YEARS EVE
You can find the new year information under the January info article (up in thisweb page).

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