Fun Fall Festivals

By Anastasia Mills Healy

Fall is a perfect time to travel – the summer crowds have dissipated, the weather is fine and festivals celebrating everything from ice cream to opera are in full swing.

Ice cream lovers unite every year in the beautiful, small seaside town of Cefalù, on Sicily’s north coast, for the Sherbeth Festival , this year September 6 to 9. In 2011 more than 250,000 people consumed 55,000 pounds of gelato and sorbetto (sherbet). Grab your spoons!

As if the harbor of Dubrovnik weren’t gorgeous enough, October 5 to 7 it will be filled with sailboats during the Dubrovnik Regatta.

At the Shanghai International Arts Festival, October 18 to November 18, arts lovers can see Chinese opera masters interpreting Beijing opera classics; “La Traviata” performed by the Stuttgart Ballet; and young Italian vocalists performing with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra.

Leave it to the French to put on a wine festival with children’s events. The release of Beaujolais Nouveau occurs at the strike of midnight on the third Thursday in November and is fêted throughout France. The best-known of these celebrations is Les Sarmentelles, held in Beaujeu, the capital of Beaujolais, November 14-18 this year. While Junior is entertained with a train ride and magic show, Mom and Dad can kick up their heels to live music, eat in peace and taste, taste, taste.

Founded to create friendship among all populations of Cyprus, the Cyclamen Rally follows a route from the medieval castle in Limassol to the mountain village of Platres. Lovingly preserved classic cars hug the winding roads November 24-25 and drivers are encouraged to take their time and visit parts of the island that are less known to them.