ARKEN opens new extension, January, Copenhagen

In January 2008 ARKEN’s new extension is opening to the museum’s visitors. 1,600 m2 of new exhibition rooms are built in continuation of the present galleries where the Picasso and Chagall exhibitions among others were shown. This brings ARKEN’s total exhibition space to 5,000 m2, and finally allows the museum to present its permanent collection including works by Damien Hirst, Marc Quinn, Mona Hatoum, Jeppe Hein, Jeff Koons, Elmgreen & Dragset, Anders Brinch, Pet Bartl-Zuba and Andreas Golder. First exhibition on in 2008 is also “THE SKAGEN PAINTERS - In a New Light” (26 Jan – 1 June 2008).

Skovvej 100, DK-2635 Ishøj, www.arken.dk

The living glassworks, Holmegaard

Holmegaard Glasværk has opened its doors to a unique new tourist attraction – The Living Glassworks. A 15,000 m2 magical glass universe of fairytale experiences for all the family. Here, children of all ages have a unique opportunity to hands on activities and a peek behind the scenes of Holmegaard’s workshops.

Glasværksvej 54, Fensmark,4684 Holmegaard, Tel: (+45) 55 54 50 00 www.holmegaard.com

Candice Breitz, 8 January - 13 April, Louisiana Humlebæk

The first exhibition of the year 2008 is the last in the series LOUISIANA CONTEMPORARY. It features five works by the South African artist Candice Breitz (b. 1962 in Johannesburg) consisting of a video installation and four monumental photographs.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Gl. Strandvej 13 3050 Humlebæk
Tel: (+45) 49 19 0719 www.louisiana.dk

Salon style exhibition, 2 February - 30 December, Skagen

In a salon style exhibition, the artworks are hung close to each other and from floor to ceiling which makes it possible to present a large part of the Museum’s collection of paintings, thereby giving the audience the opportunity to see what Skagens Museum has acquired over the last 100 years. The 2008 Salon Style Exhibition has a chronological structure. This makes it possible to follow the development of the Skagen Painters and see which motifs the artists preferred to paint.

Skagens Museum, Brøndumsvej 4, 9990 Skagen, Tel: (+45) 98 44 64 44 www.skagensmuseum.dk

Royal Danish Playhouse, 16 February, Copenhagen

When the Royal Danish Playhouse is inaugurated in February 2008, all dramatic performances under the auspices of the Royal Danish Theatre will be performed here. The harbourside playhouse, which is designed by Danish architects Boje Lundgaard and Lene Tranberg, commands a prime location opposite the Opera. The Main Stage seats 750 theatregoers and its horseshoe-shaped galleries are inspired by northern Italian renaissance theatre. The secondary stage, seating 250, is named Portscenen (i.e. ‘The Gate Stage’), which reflects the fact that the large, gate-like doors in the northern wall can be opened to draw the stage out onto the quay. The theatre’s intimate Studio Stage seats an audience of up to approx. 100. The Royal Danish Playhouse totals 20,000 m2, which is just under half that of the Opera. The approximate total seating capacity is 1000.

Sankt Annæ Plads 36, DK-1250 København K., http://www.kglteater.dk/ 

Bakken/Dyrehavsbakken, 13 March to End-August 2008, Copenhagen

With approx. 100 fun rides and booths, 39 restaurants and other good eating places and a unique location in a great Deer park just north of Copenhagen, this charming amusement park offers entertainment and fun for the whole family.

Dyrehavevej 62, DK- 2930 Klampenborg, Tel: (+45) 3963 3544 www.bakken.dk

LEGOLAND, 15 March – 26 October, Billund

The original LEGOLAND park celebrates its 40th anniversary this year (this coincides with the LEGO brick’s 50th anniversary in 2008 too!). The celebrations in the park will take place throughout the year. Discover kid-powered rides, cool building challenges, a unique mix of interactive attractions, exhilarating coasters, and shows that pull the audience into the action.

Nordmarksvej 9, DK-7190 Billund, Tel: (+45) 7533 1333
www.legoland.dk

Aalborg Opera Festival, 15-30 March, Aalborg

In spite of Aalborg’s rather small size (about 150.000 inhabitants) the city is host to the only Opera Festival in Denmark. The festival takes place all over the city with music from several stages. Most of the performances take place indoors (viz. the Congress Centre) because of the rather low temperatures in Scandinavia, but you will also be able to meet the opera world and its music at cafés and churches.

Europa Plads 4, DK-9000 Aalborg, Tel: (+45) 9935 5566, www.aalborgoperafestival.dk

Night Film Festival, 28 March – 6 April 2008, Copenhagen

Annual international film event in Copenhagen serving as an important platform for domestic distributors promoting everything from Hollywood releases to cutting-edge films. Open for all. www.natfilm.dk/n/index.lasso

Tivoli Gardens, 17 April – 21 September 2008, Copenhagen

Denmark's most popular tourist attraction is simultaneously an institution, a bearer of tradition, a national symbol and a limited company. Not only is it one of the world's oldest amusement parks - the one that gave Walt Disney the idea for his Disneyland - it is also the 3rd most visited of its kind in Europe.

Vesterbrogade 3, Postboks 233, DK-1630 København V, Tel: (+45) 3315 1001  www.tivoli.dk

Copenhagen Carnival, 9-11 May 2008, Copenhagen

Join the fun and entertainment with live bands, parades, children's carnival and dancing in downtown Copenhagen -but mostly in Fælledparken. Latin rhythms, parades, costumes and entertainment. www.karneval.dk

SPOT Festival, 6-8 June, Aarhus

Spot Festival presents some of the best up-coming bands from across Denmark and Scandinavia. Dedicated to supporting established acts as well as emerging Scandinavian talent, visitors can expect a musical feast during this popular two-day event. Other events include debates and lectures about the Scandinavian music industry and the future for the new names.
www.spotfestival.dk

CODE 08, 15-18 May 2008, Copenhagen

Copenhagen International Furniture Fair showcasing the latest and best furniture design from Scandinavia. Trade only. www.furniturefair.dk

CPH Architecture & Design Days, 16-18 May, Copenhagen

For three intensive days, you will have the opportunity to experience new sides of Copenhagen architecture and design, as more than 30 different cultural institutions, companies and organisations offer guided tours, lectures and exhibitions. Copenhagen Architecture & Design Days will showcase the newest trends in Danish architecture and design. Visitors can purchase a CPH ADD badge that will admit them to all arrangements and events for only ten Euro. The final programme will be available approximately one month prior to the event

Wonderful Copenhagen, Gl. Kongevej 1, DK-1610 Copenhagen V., Tel: (+45) 3325 7400 www.cphadd.com

Carnival in Aalborg, 17-24 May, Aalborg

Each year, Aalborg - a middle-sized city in Northern Denmark - is the host of a surprisingly large carnival. The carnival parade is the largest in Northern Europe. About 100.000 people participate in the carnival every year, either as participants in the parade or as spectators along the route to catch a glance of this magnificent wave of people, colour and happiness. Every year the participants create their costumes according to a different theme. The theme for Carnival in Aalborg 2008 will be "Magic in the air”.

Hasserisgade 10, DK-9000 Aalborg, Tel: (+45) 9813 7211, www.karnevaliaalborg.dk

Copenhagen Marathon, 18 May, Copenhagen

Copenhagen Marathon is one of Europes oldest city marathons. The organizers expect 7,500 runners to line up this year. The same traffic free course as last year is used, where the best features from the previous years are maintained. The course is split into 3 laps, each consisting of approximately 14 km. The first and third laps are almost identical, ensuring runners to pass through the admirable streets of Copenhagen and past the city's major sites. Copenhagen Marathon participates in Marathon Denmark co-operation.

Vester Voldgade 1, DK-1552 København V., Tel: (+45) 3526 6900, www.copenhagenmarathon.com

Prestige or Paradise Museum architecture of the 21st century,
20 June-14 Sep, Louisiana Humlebæk

The exhibition will present 25 of the world’s ongoing or future museum projects, and the aim is to illustrate the most important tendencies emerging in museum architecture right now, and to mark out the paths the museums of the future will be taking over the next few decades. The whole story will be told by means of the exhibition design and models, samples of materials, photographs, films, animations and other visual media. www.louisiana.dk

Riverboat Jazz Festival, 25-29 June, Silkeborg

Each year in the end of June Silkeborg becomes New Orleans and the Gudenå river turns into the Mississippi. Around 70 Orchestras from Denmark and Europe give 150 concerts around the city and on the boats, cruising the beautiful Silkeborg-lakes.

Åhavevej 2a, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Tel: (+45) 8680 1617, www.riverboat.dk

Days of Tordenskjold, 27-28 June, Frederikshavn

Witness "Days of Tordenskold" - the year is 1717" in Frederikshavn (North Jutland) - a firework of continuous adventure. Experience historic groups from Denmark, Norway and Sweden units of three hundred men . "Days of Tordenskiold" offer a series of exciting events including interesting fencing demonstrations, a spectacular play especially written for the occasion, a one-hundred metre long banquet, Fashion Show featuring the latest trends of 1717 with some seventy performers, grand three-mastered training ships from Denmark and Norway some of which are carrying guns along with wooden vessels, authentic music from 1717 and authentic 1717 food served in the local pub "Den kække Kælling". The event takes place by the harbour and the authentic Powder Magazine helps communicate this vibrant story. The aim of the events is not a glorification of the war, on the contrary, it brings to life one of the many crucial incidents of the Great Northern War (1709-1720).

Kragholmen 2, DK-9900 Frederikshavn, Tel: (+45) 9842 3266, www.tordenskiold.dk

North Sea Beach Marathon, 29 June, West Jutland

Dubbed by some as the world's hardest fitness run, the North Sea Beach Marathon, can also be run in sections by those who can't face the full distance. The course runs from Vejers Beach in Ribe County, across the county border at Nymindegab to Hvide Sande Beach in Ringkjøbing County. Both the runners and the many spectators along the route represent countries from all over the world.
www.beachmarathon.com

Roskilde Festival, 3-6 July, Roskilde

The trademark of Roskilde Festival is, and continues to be, lots of unpredictability, progressiveness and experimentation, combined with a small amount of predictability and "polishedness". Roskilde Festival is innovative and presents young talents of today and tomorrow. As the audience states, a visit to the festival should always be an exiting and surprising experience. Not too many big and predictable names on the bill, but many surprises and new names. When you buy your ticket for Roskilde Festival, you are supporting a good cause. Each year, Roskilde Festival donates any profits from the festival to humanitarian and cultural purposes. Camping is free with a festival ticket Roskilde is located 35 km from Copenhagen (30 minutes by train).
Programme is available online.

Darupvej 19, DK-4000 Roskilde, Tel: (+45) 4636 6613, www.roskilde-festival.dk

Copenhagen Jazz Festival, 4-13 July, Copenhagen

Annual jazz festival boasting both Danish and world renowned artists and bands. The festival takes place both indoors in clubs and venues and not least outdoors where various scenic places such as parks and squares are transformed into jazz venues! This summer a floating stage will be moored at the quayside of the Copenhagen Harbour across the Danhostel City Hostel as well! Every year features a wealth of upcoming and established international and Danish bands and musicians. Copenhagen Jazz Festival is a participant in the JazzAround Denmark co-operation, www.jazzarounddenmark.com

Nytorv 3, DK-1450 København K., Tel: (+45) 3393 2013, www.jazzfestival.dk

World Santa Claus Congress, 21-23 July, Charlottenlund

More than 100 Santa’s from all over the world attend the Congress, which, takes place very year during the days around the 24 of July at Bakken, the world’s oldest amusement park.
Dyrehavsbakken, Dyrehavevej 62, 2930 Klampenborg, Tel: (+45) 39 63 35 44 www.bakken.dk

Cultural Harbour, 1-3 August, Copenhagen

The Cultural Harbour has become a yearly recurrent harbour festival. Cultural and leisure time activities are made available throughout the harbour for the citizens of Copenhagen, tourists and others who wish to participate in or get acquainted with the cultural life of Copenhagen The Cultural Harbour means four days of dance, music, theatre, artistry and a variety of sports events, in the harbour and as on the quay - all activities are for free!

Islands Brygge 5, DK-2300 København S., Tel: (+45) 3366 3850, www.kulturhavn.dk

Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix, 2-3 August, Copenhagen

 Race at the center of Copenhagen with classic cars participating in a thrilling race around the major park of the Copenhageners, Fælledparken. The Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix is one of Europe's two largest and most interesting street races (the other one is the historic grand prix in Monaco in mid-May) showcasing some of the best historic motor racing machinery the world has seen. www.chgp.dk

Copenhagen Summer dance, 4-10 August, Copenhagen

Open air dance performance in the spectacular courtyard of the Copenhagen Police Head Quarters. Arranged by ’Nyt Dansk Danseteater’. www.danishdance.com

Fashion week, 6-10 August, Copenhagen

Every February and August, Copenhagen is host to Northern Europe's largest fashion event, Copenhagen Fashion Week, Northern Europe’s largest fashion fair in Øksnehallen and the Bella Center. Trade only. http://www.ciff.dk/english

Copenhagen Pride 11 –16 August Copenhagen

Then Annual Gay Pride Parade, known in Copenhagen as 'Copenhagen Pride', gathers thousands of spectators lining the parade route, as around a thousand gays and lesbians strut their stuff through the capital, jamming the traffic with floats, rainbow flags 'dykes on bikes, screaming queens and leather guys'.
In the days leading up to the Saturday grand parade, there are events and acitvities centered around 'Pride Town' on the City Hall Square.
www.copenhagenpride.dk

Flower Festival, 13-16 August, Odense

Flowers, flowers everywhere! See, feel and smell the more than 180.000 flowers, plants and vegetables arranged in various beautiful fanciful tableaux and arrangements, according to a specific theme that changes every year. The Flower festival has 100.000 visitors every year.

Flakhaven 2, DK-5000 Odense C., Tel: (+45) 6618 8850, www.blomsterfestival.dk

The Malmö Festival, August, Malmö

Few festivals are as popular and well attended as the Malmö Festival, with more than 1,5 million visitors over eight great days. Every year the festival starts with the popular and mad crayfish party at Stortorget – quite an experience! Over the next days more than 250 live music performances and concerts will take place, along with several cultural events, a food festival, an amusement park, handicrafts and much more…. All events are free of charge.

Stortoget, SE-205 80 Malmö, Tel: (+46) 4034 1271, www.malmofestivalen.se

Copenhagen Cooking, 22-31 August, Copenhagen

Enjoy a luxury food exhibition and gourmet dining at a fraction of the price you’d normally expect to pay. Just roll up your sleeves and put the napkin on your lap to appreciate the culinary experiences on offer when the city gets ready for Copenhagen Cooking.
Copenhagen Cooking is a tribute to the Nordic kitchen and food traditions with special focus placed on the excellent local products. The festival was launched in 2005 and has been a tremendous success so far.
www.copenhagencooking.dk

European Medieval Festival, 29-30 August, Horsens

More than 100.000 musicians, knights, pilgrims, monks and visitors participate in the coming European Medieval Festival in Horsens. Tournaments with knights from different countries, shows and parades. For two days the entire city of Horsens is transformed into a village from the 15th century. The citizens, or more than 5.000 persons, dress up in the correct attire of the period as craftsmen, farmers, vendors etc. and line the streets with their stands, selling all kinds of authentic goods and foods.

Søndergade 26, DK-8700 Horsens, Tel: (+45) 7560 2120, www.middelalderfestival.dk

Aarhus Festival Week, 29 Aug – 7 Sep, Aarhus

This is a festival of major importance to all of Scandinavia, involving all of Aarhus. Several shows, theatre performances, concerts, opera, ballet, music, sport and much more all day long for all ages. Several performances are free. Program available in August. This year's theme: Dance!

Park Allé 2, DK-8000 Århus C., Tel: (+45) 8940 9191, www.aarhusfestuge.dk

Per Kirkeby Retrospective, 29 Aug -4 Jan, Louisiana Humlebæk

Up to the artist’s 70th birthday Louisiana is opening the biggest and most comprehensive exhibition so far of Per Kirkeby’s works. It will be a retrospective exhibition that gathers up the strands and offers the visitor an encounter with all the genres through which the artist has moved. www.louisiana.dk

Golden days (Historical festival), 6-28 September, Copenhagen

The Golden Days festival 2008 focuses on the roaring 20ies and the crisis decade of the 30ies with a long list of activities both indoors and outdoors, which will shed light on a period in the history of Copenhagen whose contributions to architecture, visual art and design today still are considered more modern than ever.. Silent movies, revues and jazz music are some of the means which will put the spotlight on these two decades which were much more than just ‘an interwar period’ – it was a decisive period with a blooming cultural life, in which vital inventions and proliferations saw the light of day.

Nørregade 6, DK–1165 København K, Tel: (+45) 35 42 14 32 www.goldendays.dk

European Beer Festival, 12-14 September, Copenhagen

The festival will take place in some of the - by then - cleared premises of the old Carlsberg breweries as the company will be moving its industrial beer production to Jutland. During the festival you will have the opportunity to visit some of the special Carlsberg premises such as the beer cellars and the horse stables, and during the week leading up to the festival, a number of beer related activities can be experienced in Copenhagen. www.beerfestival.dk

European Glass Context, 14 Sep – 19 Oct, Bornholm

The island of Bornholm will be hosting Europe's biggest combined event on the subject of studio glass, with the participation of several hundred leading glass artists from 28 European countries. www.glass08.com

Manga, 10 Oct - 9 Feb 2009, Louisiana Humlebæk

It was with the famous Japanese painter Hokusai’s loose portrait sketches – mangas – that the concept came to the West. Manga is a distinctive Japanese cartoon-like phenomenon that goes back historically 200 years and which today has international cult status with millions of comic books sold every month and innumerable film versions. Over the past 25 years it has left deep marks on Japanese contemporary art. www.louisiana.dk

Night of Culture, Mid-October, Copenhagen/Esbjerg/Aalborg/Aarhus

More than 700 cultural offers all over the city will be available to the public from 6pm to 12 pm. Last year 60.000 curious and adventurous pass holders took advantage of the unique opportunity to experience an exciting evening of cultural exploration and to visit some of the buildings and institutions which are normally not open to the public. Approximately 300 venues are ready to welcome you. Access is obtained with a Night of Culture badge which gives free admission to events and free public transport within Greater Copenhagen.

Gammel Kongevej 1, DK-1610 København V., Tel: (+45) 3325 7400, www.kulturnatten.dk

Christmas in “Den Gamle By”, Nov/Dec, Aarhus

The open air museum of The Old Town is made up of 75 different period houses. During the Christmas period the streets will be decorated beautifully, and 11 of the houses will be housing 30 different Christmas exhibitions. It all adds up to an exciting atmosphere with a true Christmas feeling. Christmas market every weekend in December where the houses come alive with period-dressed personnel.

Viborgvej 2, DK-8000 Aarhus, Tel: (+45) 8612 3188, www.dengamleby.dk

Christmas in Tivoli, Mid-Nov/End-Dec, Copenhagen

Christmas in Tivoli presents all the delights of Christmases past and present. Stroll through the miniature villages with shops full of gifts and goodies. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants. 20-odd rides are open as well as many games and shooting galleries. In the large tent at the centre of Tivoli you'll find the charming village of 'Nissekøbing', a winter wonderland of hundreds of mechanical pixies (in Danish 'nisser').

Vesterbrogade 3, DK-1630 København V., www.tivoli.dk

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