Again, the organisers of “Brno, the town in the center of Europe”, the largest event taking place in Brno, don’t give a fuck about publishing a proper English-language guide to the festival. So I picked up the most interesting events from the Czech schedule. Don’t forget to share the list with your friends and to attend at least one of these events!

Fireworks competition Ignis Brunensis

Fri 5/25 – Theatrum Pyroboli (CZ) @ Kraví hora park (not a part of the competition)

Sat 5/26 – Flash Barrandov SFX (CZ) @ Brno dam lake

Wed 5/30 – Pirotecnia Ricardo Caballer (Spain) @ Brno dam lake (“Přístaviště” stop at tram line #1, Bystrc quarter)

Sat 6/2 – Foti International Fireworks (Australia) @ Brno dam lake

Wed 6/6 – Panda Fireworks (China) @ Brno dam lake

Fri 6/8 – Flash Barrandov SFX (CZ) & Pyrovision (Austria) @ Špilberk castle (not a part of the competition)

The fireworks do take place regardless the weather. If you have a car, leave it at home and use trams and buses instead – as the shows at Brno dam lake are attended by 100,000s of people, huge traffic jams occur in Bystrc quarter. Also, if you have a cell phone with FM tuner, listen to 88,3 FM to enjoy the soundtrack.

Other events of “Brno, the town in the center of Europe”

Fri 5/25, 5 p.m. – A parade of historical bicycles @ Náměstí svobody sq. (leaving for Rašínova st., Údolní st. and Kraví hora hill at 8.30 p.m.)

Fri 5/25, 8 p.m. – Start of 100 km hike around Brno @ Mariánské údolí st. (Líšeň quarter)

Sat 5/26, 10 a.m. – A race of historical bicycles @ Lužánky park

Sun 5/27, 10 a.m. – A family day @ Tuřany airport (various games, presentation of the aircraft…)

Fri 6/1 – The night of churches (more info coming in a special post next week)

Sat 6/2, 1.30 p.m. – A race of mountain bikes near Štouračova st. (Bystrc quarter)

Sun 6/3, 10.00 a.m. – A presentation of giant sand statues @ Náměstí svobody sq.

Sun 6/3, 1.30 p.m. – A race of mountain bikes near Štouračova st. (Bystrc quarter)

Sun 6/3, 1.30 p.m. – The Battle of Midway reenacted with model ships and planes @ Brno dam lake (“Rakovecká zátoka” – just follow the crowd)

Sat 6/9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. – “The transport nostalgia” (a parade of historical trams and buses) @ Náměstí svobody sq.

Sat 6/9, 6 p.m. – The night of jugglers @ Downtown Brno

Sun 6/10, 11 a.m. – “The transport nostalgia” (a parade of historical trams and buses) @ Technical museum (105 Purkyňova st.)

Sun 6/10, 1 p.m. – A reenaction of a 17th century battle @ Špilberk castle

Sun 6/10, 3 p.m. – A concert of the early 20th century music (at least I guess so) @ Denis gardens

Sat 6/16 6 p.m. – A night of masks @ Náměstí svobody sq.

All these events are free of charge.

A funfair is operating daily at Přístavní st. near Brno dam lake.

You can order a hot air balloon flight over Brno on various dates thorough the two weeks. Check out balloonjam.cz or call 605 76 77 76 for more information.

(Photo on top by Sveter Sveter.)

Fireworks above Špilberk castle (source: ignisbrunensis.cz)

Hundreds of thousands of specators are going to enjoy the 2011 Ignis Brunensis fireworks festival. If you want to join them and witness the largest local event of 2011, follow three simple advices.

1. Check out the schedule

… and remember that the fireworks take place even during heavy rain.

Prelude at the Denis Gardens (i.e. Petrov cathedral)

Friday, 27 May / 10.30 p.m.

Theatrum Pyroboli, Czech Republic: Metamorphosis

(Best vieweable from main train station and Nové sady st.)

Exhibition at Brno dam lake

Saturday, 28 May / 10.30 p.m.
Flash Barrandov SFX Czech republic: Vitamins for Friends

(Take trams #1, #3 or #11 to get to the lake from the centre of Brno. For the best view, stand at the banks near the Santon hotel and quay, i.e. not further than one kilometer away.)

Competition at Brno dam lake

Wednesday, 1 June / 10.30 p.m.
Storm Artifices, France: Stormy concert

Saturday, 4 June / 10.30 p.m.
Fire Event Les Pyrotechniciens, Luxembourg: Luxembourg Meets Brno!

Wednesday, 8 June / 10.30 p.m.
Vaccalluzzo, Italy: Human Moods

Exhibition at Špilberk castle

Friday, 10 June / 10.30 p.m.
Flash Barrandov, SFX Czech republic: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances

2. Bring a radio, use public transport

Each of the fireworks has a soundtrack, so tune 88.3 FM at your cell phone or pocket radio to listen while watching.

There will be dozens of extra trams and buses transporting people to the fireworks at Brno dam lake and then back downtown, so it is quicker to get around by public transport than by a car. Also, it’s quite complicated, if not impossible, to park a car near the Brno dam lake during the fireworks display.

It is also wise to get to the venue one or two hours before the fireworks start. You can have some beer and sausage, listen to live music etc.

Remember that Brno dam lake is not very far from Brno – if you find it hard after the fireworks to get to a bus, you can walk back downtown in a hour and a half or so through Komín, Žabovřesky and Veveří quarters (all safe).

3. Don’t miss other events

The fireworks festival is only a part of what is called “The days of Brno, the city in the center of Europe”, which is a totally stupid phrase, but it actually means some great fun.

A vintage tram Caroline riding through the streets of Brno (source: Dezidor @ Flickr)

On Friday, May 27, there is the Night of Churches, which means that churches in and around Brno will be open until midnight and you can explore many places that are usually closed for public. (Wait for another Brno Now post for more info.)

From May 27 to May 29, you can join the Hot air balloon jam (not for the faint-hearted).

If you like old buses, tramways etc., don’t miss the Transport nostalgia festival on June 11 and 12. You can see some really old vehicles riding right in the centre of Brno – and even get aboard some of them.

Check out the official website for more events.

Fireworks… again (photo by Zdenek Softic)

There are more events yet to be announced – but let’s take a look at the list of what we already know is going to happen in Brno in 2011.

(Hint: nothing special beside the fireworks festival and Grand Prix. Actually, is that something special anymore?)

January 25 – Thirteen people, including the Rector of the University of Technology, Karel Rais, will be awarded by the Prize of the town of Brno.

Some time in January or February – The beautiful functionalist building of café ERA should be finally reopened for public, after months of delay.

February 28 – The last day people can complain about the draft of the new urban plan (Czech only).

March 2-9 – Film festival Cinema Mundi will present less known films from all around the world.

March 3 – Uber-popular dance show Lords of the Dance will take place in the Exhibition centre.

March 18 – German techno band Scooter will ask the question “How Much Is the Fish?” in the Exhibition centre.

March 29 – Bobby McFerrin will perform at Jazz Fest Brno.

April-May – Bonjour Brno, the festival of French culture.

May 27 – Start of the international fireworks festival Ignis Brunensis (usually lasts for two weeks).

June 4 – Launch of Autosalon, the international exhibition of cars and automotive industry.

June 17 – A race of WTCC - Fia World Touring Car Championship at the Brno Circuit.

July – The month of author reading. This time it will cover contemporary Polish literature.

July 8 – Superbike race at the Brno Circuit.

August – The Guitar festival.

August 14 – Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix. The biggest event of the year. As usual.

October 7-21 – Moravian autumn, a festival of classical music.

December – Tugendhat villa will finally be restored. It will reopen in 2012.

I will try to update the list whenever anyone anounces anything interesting. But will they?

Špilberk castle (photo by Artep ^_^)

From 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., they can try shooting from bows, crossbows, sling-shots, air rifles and airsoft guns in the moat of Špilberk castle.

At 6:00 p.m. a “lampion parade” is departing from hotel International to Špilberk castle. (Bring your own lampion.) There will also be a small fireworks show.

During the afternoon, there is free entrance to the casemate of Špilberk castle and to its watchtower.

Photo by Lukáš Lalinský

• Do not miss Flickr, with dozens of pictures from different photographers.
• You can enjoy hundreds of snapshots at Czech image-sharing website Rajče.
• Shopping mall Olympia has a small galery of the fireworks that took place there.
• Online newspaper iDnes has more – and better – pictures from the same event.
• Website Brno Report has a large archive with photos from Ignis Brunesis 2010 as well as other interesting events.

Fireworks above the exhibition ground (photo by Zdenek Softic)

Brno is getting ready for the biggest event of 2010, fireworks festival Ignis Brunensis. You can check out the schedule in an older article, so let’s talk about details now:

• All the firework shows start at 10:30 p.m. There is no entry fee, of course. Just arrive and enjoy.
• Bring a radio or a cell phone with FM receiver and tune up frequency 88.3 FM – radio Kiss Hády broadcasts an official soundtrack, synchronised to the fireworks (mostly the best-known pieces of classical music, some songs by Led Zeppelin, Queen etc.).
• It has rained during most firework shows I have attended (I have not missed the festival since 2001). Bring a raincoat and remember that only a total apocalypse can prevent the fireworks makers from launching the show.
• Do not be afraid of using the public transport. The shows may have 250,000+ specators but there are hundreds of extra trams and buses transporting the crowds to and from the venues.

I personally recommend you to join this event. At least for one night. I am not a huge fan of fireworks, but the combination of hundreds of thousands joyful people, fresh spring air, classical music and fireworks over great sceneries is magical.

Ignis Brunensis is officialy nicknamed “Brno. The town in the centre of the Europe. Festival of fun below the castles Špilberk and Veveří.” The nickname doesn’t lie – these two weeks bring such amount of fun you can not enjoy anywhere else in the region.

There are many supporting events. I will cover the most interesting ones in upcoming articles, so keep following Brno Now.

The website of the festival is translated into English, German and Russian.

The 13th annual festival Ignis Brunensis – “the town in the centre of Europe” – will take place between May 21 and June 6.

Every year, it attracts 1,000,000+ spectators and participants, which gives Brno absolutely unique atmosphere.

Ignis Brunensis 2008, photo by Zruda

Here is what you can look forward to:

Fireworks

The shows usually start at 10:30 p.m. and last for 20-30 minutes.

• Friday, May 21 – Prelude – shopping Mall Olympia – Theatrum Pyroboli (CZE)
• Saturday, May 22 – Exhibition – Dam reservoir – Flash Barrandov SFX (CZE)
• Wednesday, May 26 – 1st competitor – Dam reservoir – Noctiluca (GER)
• Saturday, May 29 – 2nd comptetitor - Dam reservoir – Pyra (SVK)
• Wednesday, June 2 – 3rd comptetitor – Dam reservoir - Storm Artifices (FR)
• Friday, June 4 – Grand finale – Denis gardens – Flash Barrandov SFX (CZE)

Other events

• May 26 – May 30 – Hot air balloons festival
• Sunday, May 30 – Childrens’ Day
• June 4 – June 6 – Exhibition of historical trams etc.
• Sunday, June 6 – Špilberk castle folk feast
• June 6 – June 10 – Autotec/Autosalon 2010 – international fairs of automobiles at the exhibition ground

Ignis Brunensis 2009 is over. According to a press release, the fireworks and other events were seen by 1,574,000 spectators (not including the Museum night, Night of churches and Motor show), which is a new record.

(I can easily imagine how were those exact numbers created, but… let’s shut up and celebrate.)

I found some great photos at photo-sharing site Flickr, although there’s no sharp picture of the last Friday’s wonderful Grandfinale (by SFX Barrandov). Anyway, enjoy these pics and galleries:

The winning fireworks show by Grupo Luso Pirotecnia (Portugal), captured by Flickr user vasekk

Spanish fireworks show, captured by Flickr user Morten Almqvist

Fireworks above the cathedral of St. Peter, photo by Petr Dvořák

Ignis Brunensis 2010 will start on May 21 and end on June 6 – I’m really looking forward!

Hall P (source: www.bvv.cz)

Trade Fairs Brno will open a new hall “P” – the biggest exposition hall in the central Europe – to public on Friday, June 6.

Three small halls were demolished to clear place for a building with outer dimensions 220.3 × 89.5 m. The interior is as big as two soccer fields. Hall P has enough place for 10,000 spectators of a show or a concert; there are two bistros, one restaurant and the biggest gate is 11 m wide and 7 m tall.

Free motor show tickets for everyone

Friday is a press day of the motor show “Autosalon”, but after 6 p.m., the exposition ground will be opened to general public, without any entrance fee.

You will be able to see new models of 37 automotive brands, including these hot cars; there will be concerts and shows for families with kids.

“Autosalon Night” will end on 11 p.m. Half an hour before the event ends, visitors of the exhibition ground will be able to see the last fireworks (the “Grand Finale”) of the Ignis Brunensis festival.

Put on some mascara and dance through the Friday night! (source: Wikimedia Commons)

5,000 free masks will be available to anyone willing to have fun at the central square on Friday evening. The party – with three stages – will start at Náměstí svobody sq. at 6.30 p.m.

“Night of masks” is brought by Brno’s theatres; actors, actresses and students of drama will participate.

At 10.30 p.m., the first fireworks of this season will be launched at Denis gardens, next to the St. Peter cathedral. The best point for observation is usually the western end of the main train station, or Opuštěná st. in sounthern centre.

The events are part of the Ignis Brunensis festival.

Read more

• The complete guide to the fireworks festival
• Complete programme for the 2009 Ignis Brunensis festivalr

Ignis Brunensis 2007 (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Ignis Brunensis 2009 is about to start – enjoy the fireworks festival with our unique advices!

So, what is the Ignis Brunensis?

It’s a month-long festival of various events. One of these is an international competiton of fireworks. Ignis Brunensis debuted in 1998 and quickly became very popular. Approx. 100,000-200,000 spectators of every fireworks show make it the biggest event in the Czech republic in the term of visitors.

Where and when will the fireworks take place this year?

On Friday, May 22, you can enjoy a non-competitional fireworks show by Theatrum Pyroboli (CZ) above the St. Peter cathedral in the very centre of the town.

Then the festival moves to the Brno dam, an artificial lake 8 km northwest from the town’s centre. The dam can be reached with trams # 1, 3 and 11, as well as special bus lines departing from Česká st. The transportation is usualy well organised.

On Saturday, May 23, there’s show by Flash Barrandov SFX (CZ). Pirotecnica Igual (ESP) is presenting their show on Wednesday, May 27. Austrian Pyrovision will have their 30 minutes of fame on Saturday, May 30 and Grupo Luso Pirotecnia (P) will finish the festival on Wednesday, June 3.

The “grande finale” can be enjoyed on Friday, June 5 around the Špilberk castle, back in the town’s centre.

All the fireworks start right at 10:30 p.m. It does not matter whether it rains.

So… how is that thing organised? Do I have to buy a ticket?

You don’t have to buy anything. Just find a nice place somewhere on a street or on a bank. Just follow the crowd.

How to get most from the fireworks

Bring your own FM radio and tune 88.3 FM. The shows are synchronised with broadcasted music.

Be there one hour in advance. Due to the amount of people atending the shows, it may be difficult to get to a tram 20 minutes before fireworks start. You’ll also have more time to find a nice place and to buy a drink and a snack.

Safety advices

I don’t remember the fireworks itself have injured a single person. However several people have been injured because they had been trying to climb to trees or at buildings to achieve a better view. So: stay at the ground.

Other events at Ignis Brunensis 2009

See an older article with the complete programme of the festival!

These concerts, festivals and sport events will be just great.

Bonjour Brno

March and April

www.bonjourbrno.cz

Belive it or not, even the French culture needs to be advertised. That’s the point of this festival, bringing French movies, music and even sports like pétanque to Brno.

Ignis Brunensis

May 23rd – June 6th

www.ignisbrunensis.cz

If you like fireworks, be there. Period. The competition attracts the best performers from Europe every year, and also some 200,000 visitors. Don’t be afraid: the banks of Brno dam are large enough.

Ignis Brunensis also means many other events – concerts, exhibitions, parades. It is a huge two-week celebration and I love it. Check out the complete programme!

Autosalon Motor Show

June 6th – June 14th

www.bvv.cz

You’ll be able to see the future of the automotive industry right at the Exhibition Centre.

Concert of Lenny Kravitz

June 19th

ticketpro.cz

American Woman will stay away from the pop icon at the Velodrome.

World Superbike Championship Race

July 24th – July 27th

automotodrombrno.cz

Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa, Yukio Kagayama – ever heard of them? Some people prefer Superbikes to Moto GP because of the not-so-official feel of the races. And the tickets are also cheaper.

10th International Musical Festival Špilberk

August

filharmonie-brno.cz

Famous works of classical music, played by great interprets at the Špilberk castle – this is one of the unforgettable things you can experience in Brno.

Grand Prix of the Czech republic

August 14th – August 16th

automotodrombrno.cz

The biggest sport event in the Czech republic in the terms of visitors: 240,000 fans came to the Masaryk Circuit last year, despite rain. The atmosphere is just fantastic every year, so if you like motorcycles, give the event a chance.

Czech Internetional Air Show

September 5th – September 6th

airshow.cz

If you can tell a reverse half cuban eight from an inside loop, you will love this show.

The wonderful headline photo was taken by Adam Pniak last year. Visit his gallery!