Notable April Events

Historic Garden Week, Virginia

April 8: Numerous cities around the world celebrate Easter in grand style, particularly in predominantly Catholic countries. In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, two weeks of festivities climax with the “Firing of the Judases,” when giant effigies of various unpopular historical personalities, public figures and Judas himself are summarily exploded in a hail of firecrackers. Florence, Italy, also celebrates with pyrotechnics, shooting the sacred dove-shaped Colombina rocket out the front doors of the Duomo into the piazza, igniting the Carro, a giant, fireworks-laden wooden cart. Antigua, Guatemala — a gorgeous colonial city any day of the year — is at its loveliest on Easter, when the streets are carpeted with intricate designs made from flower petals and colored sawdust.

April 11-15: Jazz musicians from around the world converge on Christchurch for the annual New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival. Canceled in 2011 because of the earthquake, the festival this year promises to be particularly memorable, with performances by James Morrison, Klaus Doldinger and local singer/songwriter Annie Crummer.

April 14: Inhabitants of the Greek island of Chios ensure that Greek Orthodox Easter arrives with a bang. Each year during Rouketopolemos, rival parishes in the otherwise idyllic town of Vrontados engage in a “rocket war,” firing some 60,000 rockets at each other’s churches. Priests attempt to hold services during the noisy barrage, but the most spectacular (and safest) views are to be had from the hill overlooking town.

April 15: Soak up some small-town California charm along with world-class guacamole at the Fallbrook Avocado Festival, an easy drive from Harper-recommended hotels in La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe and Laguna Beach. In addition to strolling among the 300-some food, craft and art vendors, festival attendees can enjoy cooking demonstrations, performances and quirky competitions such as the “Avocado 500,” a race of model cars constructed primarily from this surprisingly versatile fruit.

April 19-22: Held in the soaring National Building Museum, the 30th annual Smithsonian Craft Show assembles a juried collection of some of America’s finest handiwork, ranging from textiles, leather and jewelry to woodwork, ceramics and glass. All proceeds benefit the Smithsonian.

April 21-28: The rolling, vineyard-clad countryside of Virginia bursts with spring flowers during the annual Historic Garden Week. Arguably America’s most underappreciated wine region, Virginia’s Albemarle County is home to two Harper-recommended resorts, Jefferson’s Monticello Estate and several world-class wineries. The finest gardens in this county open their gates to the public on April 22 and 23.

April 23 – May 3: One of Asia’s great culinary destinations, Singapore brings together an array of Michelin-starred chefs for the annual World Gourmet Summit. In addition to various industry workshops, top restaurants in the city host master classes and wine dinners available to any gastronome.

April 26 – May 1: In Paris’s Place de la Bastille, where the infamous prison once stood, more than 500 artists display their works during the Grand Marché d’Art Contemporain. Here, collectors can purchase cutting-edge artworks directly from the artists, with no galleries marking up the prices.

April 28: Denizens of Munich stay up late for the Long Night of Music, when more than 400 concerts, cabarets and dance performances take place in 120 venues around this charming city. One €15 ticket allows access to all the events, as well as a shuttle bus running among key locations. Berliners get in on the fun with their own Long Night of Opera and Theater, encompassing some 150 performances in 56 venues, including a program of children’s theater productions. As in Munich, one ticket of €15 permits entry into all the plays, operas and cabarets.