Most of Denmark’s most extravagant festivals and special events are held at a convenient time- in the summer months, when the weather’s good and there are lots of tourists around. Among the main festivals of the country are the delightful Aalborg Carnival (May 21), a spring festival celebrated with much exuberance and colourful processions through the streets; the Viking Festival (June and July, with theatrical performances of Viking sagas, followed by traditional feasts); and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Other events include the Roskilde Festival (Europe’s largest rock music festival); the Copenhagen Summer Festival (July and August) and the Tønder Festival, a folk festival held in late August.

The oldest and largest celebration in the country, however, is the magnificent Fire Festival Regatta held at Silkeborg in early August. An event, which includes a fun fair, thousands of lit candles along the lake, and nightly cruises, the Fire Festival Regatta’s main highlight, is the spectacular fireworks display on the last night of the festival.