Reed Travel Features
NEW YORK -- Travelers to Great Britain in search of interesting
events have a variety of festivals and other celebrations from
which to choose.
A rundown of events in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
follows. (For events in Scotland, see the story on page E20.)
* The city of Gloucester, in the Cotswolds, is marking its
1,900th anniversary with reenactments and exhibitions highlighting
its Roman beginnings.
* Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrate their 50th
wedding anniversary this year, and in their honor, on July 5,
Windsor Great Park will stage the Royal Pageant of the Horse,
billed as the largest equestrian event ever held in Britain.
* The 50th Aldeburgh Festival of Music and the Arts takes place
June 6 through 22.
Highlights include the premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's opera
"The Country of the Blind," based on a short story by H. G. Wells,
and the complete "Church Parables" of Benjamin Britten.
* The musical heritage of Wales will be in the spotlight at the
International Musical Eis-teddfod in Llangollen, Wales, July 8
through 13.
The BBC Philharmonic, the Halle Choir and soprano Montserrat
Caballe are among those scheduled to perform.
* Hatfield House, 21 miles north of London, is the home of the
Marquess of Salisbury and the venue for the Festival of
Gardening.
The festival, being held June 21 and 22, will feature more than
30 of the country's top growers, lecturers, demonstrations,
wildlife and environmental information as well as acres of formal
and informal gardens.
* The City of London Festival 1997 kicks off on June 19 and runs
through July 10.
Concerts, opera, street theater, recitals, jazz, architectural
and garden walks, dramatic readings and workshops will fill the
streets of Britain's capital city.
* The 1,400th anniversary of the arrival of St. Augustine in
Canterbury, England, will be marked this year with a series of
concerts, lectures and other events from May through October.
The Canterbury Festival also takes place Oct. 11 through 25 and
features classical concerts, recitals, folk music and blues.
* The Leeds Summer Heritage Festival presents a series of
concerts in churches, chapels and other interesting settings.
The event is held from June 21 through July 5.
* The Sheffield Children's Festival entertains youngsters with
professional artists and a variety of special events. The festival
takes place June 28 through July 19.
* Marching bands and jazz and folk musicians are on tap at the
Rotherham Jazz & Folk Festival Sept. 5 through 8.
* The Royal National Eisted-dfod of Wales is held from Aug. 2
through 9 in Bala, Wales.
The festival features competitions for folk dancers, choirs,
poets, musicians and other artists.
* The Cardiff Singer of the World Competition will be held at
St. David's Hall in Wales' capital June 15 through 21.
* Now in its 35th year, the Belfast Festival at Queen's College
presents international and local performers.
The three weeks of jazz, classical and popular music, theater,
ballet, comedy and film will take place in Northern Ireland's
capital Nov. 10 through 29.
For more information, contact the British Tourist Authority at
(212) 986-2266 or (800) 462-2748; fax (212) 986-1188.