National Geographic Traveller UK 10.2019

Lights out

AFTER-DARK FESTIVALS

As autumn approaches, a new season is upon us in more ways than one. Across
the world, museums, galleries, theatres and clubs are starting to ling open their
doors ater hours to celebrate their cultural oferings and Europe is leading the
way. Head to NIT DE L’ART in Palma de Mallorca (21 September) and watch the
streets come alive with performance art and street theatre as the city’s best
venues usher you in until midnight. There’s an air of secrecy surrounding these
celebrations as organisers keep details well under wraps until the night itself.
Meanwhile, over in the French capital, the NUIT BLANCHE festival transforms
Paris (5 October) into an all-night celebration, with performers taking to stages
across the city from 7pm until 7am. This year, visitors can sign up for La Grande
Traversée — two night races across the city that give running revellers ater-dark
access to the likes of the Louvre, the Musée Guimet and the Centre Pompidou.
The party continues in Copenhagen, where KULTURNATTEN will illuminate the
Danish capital for one night only (11 October). More than 250 museums, theatres,
libraries, churches and parks will welcome night owls looking for an extra dose of
culture. Past events have included burlesque performances in the Frederiksberg
Library, Cold War fashion shows, silent meditations and much, much more.
illesbalears.travel en.paris.info kulturnatten.dk JOSEPHINE PRICE

FESTIVAL FEVER

four more to try

MUSIC

AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT,

NETHERLANDS

16-20 OCTOBER

The world’s biggest club festival of electronic

music attracts a whopping 370,000 people

and thousands of musicians for a packed

programme of events across the Dutch capital.

The ive-day festival also features a host of

conferences and screenings by day, but the fun

really starts when the sun goes down.

amsterdam-dance-event.nl

TECH

ILLUMINUS, BOSTON

19 OCTOBER

This is New England’s answer to Paris’s Nuit

Blanche — for one night only, the cityscape

becomes an immersive, artistic playground.

Expect a colourful array of smart, thought-

provoking installations dotted around the

Downtown Crossing area that celebrate

the historic city’s emerging tech sector.

illuminusboston.org

SPACE

NORTH PENNINES STARGAZING FESTIVAL

23 OCTOBER-3 NOVEMBER

Watch the skies twinkle in one of the

darkest swathes of mainland Britain. Pop-up

planetarium events mark the 50th anniversary

of the irst Moon landing and stargazing supper

clubs let you explore the skies with expert

photographers. northpennines.org.uk

LIGHTS

DIWALI, AMRITSAR

27-30 OCTOBER

It’s celebrated all over the world, but if you

can get to the northern Indian city of Amritsar,

the celebrations will dazzle. Tens of thousands

of Hindus and Sikhs will head to the Golden

Temple, which will be covered with lights and

its surrounding pool will be aglow with candles

and ceramic lanterns.

Some of the best artistic and cultural oferings happen ater

dark. Stay awake and soak up a late-night dose of culture

SMART TRAVELLER

October 2019 25