2020 Events In Europe

As 2019 comes to a close it’s time to start thinking of all the fun 2020 will bring. From the Eurovision song contest to the Amsterdam Chocolate Festival, the Cologne Carnival to Mardi Gras, there’s a plethora of events in Europe ready and waiting for you to enjoy! Hop on one of our ferries to Europe in the new year to  experience these events for yourself!

Eurovision Song Contest

2020 sees The Netherlands host the Eurovision Song Contest after Duncan Laurence won this year with his hit ‘Arcade.’ It will be held on Saturday 16^th May in Rotterdam at the arena which holds 15,000 people. For those who miss out on tickets, there will also be a Eurovision Village with live performances, special events and a public viewing of the show from the arena. Expect grand stage shows, unique songs and a carnival atmosphere.

Bordeaux Wine Festival

Make 2020 the year of sampling fine wines and what better place to do that than one of the most famous wine regions in the world, Bordeaux? Held every two years in June, the four-day wine festival includes a 2 km wine road with tastings of over 80 wines on offer. Stroll from the banks of the River Garonne to the 18^th century buildings in the heart of the city, while sipping some of the finest wines in the world. Enjoy live music, light shows and delicious cuisine too.

Cologne Carnival

Cologne Carnival kicks off every 11^th November at 11:11 and lasts several months but the last five days of the carnival in February is when the fun really starts. Streets, pubs and public squares overflow with celebrations and revellers raise a glass with the greeting of Alaaf! The carnival ends with a parade through the city centre on Rose Monday. The 6km route has over 70 decorated floats and flowers, sweets and other small gifts are thrown to the crowd en route!

Amsterdam Chocolate Festival

For those of you with a sweet tooth, you’ll love the Amsterdam Chocolate Festival in February. Over 700 different flavours of chocolate will be available to taste and discover more about, including the origins and history of cocoa production. Chocolatiers from around the globe will gather in the Dutch capital to share their expertise and love of the sweet treat!

Flanders Festival Ghent

September and October see a multitude of musicians gather and perform across multiple venues in Flanders. Over 1500 international artists perform across a diverse and creative range of styles of classical and world music. Over 180 concerts take place across the region along with interactive performances, workshops and a grand opening event.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday is a huge event in France, with many towns and cities celebrating with parades, masked balls and street performances. Rich foods are eaten before the fasting of Lent and traditional dishes include crêpes, waffles, and beignets. Head to some of the biggest parades in Dunkirk, Annecy and Nice.

Berlin Culture Festival & Carnival

Thousands of artists participate in this four-day street festival in June which celebrates Berlin culture in the form of a carnival and parade through the streets of the German capital. Enjoy the music, dancing and atmosphere of this brilliant carnival and explore the rich history of the city while you’re there.
_______________________________________________________________________

DFDS run four routes to Europe, including Dover – France, Newhaven – Dieppe and Newcastle – Amsterdam. Find out more here.