BARCELONA, Spain
Sant Jordi festival –  La Diada de Sant Jordi is a celebration of the deaths of Cervantes and Shakespeare (who both died on the same day), plus a celebration of St George’s Day and a sort of Valentine’s day.  It is not a public holiday, but there’ll be a feel of spring and jollity and the streets will be filled with people strolling around carrying gifts of books and roses wrapped in ribbons in the colours of the Catalan flag.  Flower and book stalls will pop up around the city, especially on La Ramblas and in larger squares.
23 April

BRADFORD, England
Drawn by Light – photography exhibition bringing together over 200 highlights from the collection of the world’s oldest surviving photographic society, the Royal Photographic Society (RPS), by some of the greatest names in photography, including Roger Fenton, William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, Don McCullin, Terry O’Neill and Martin Parr.
Until 21 June 2015, National Media Museum, Bradford

CARTAGENA, Colombia
Red Bull Cliff Diving – the World Series comes to Colombia for the first time
25 April 2015

ISTANBUL
34th Film Festival – tickets are available from 28 March at the Biletix, Atlas and Rexx Theatres.
4-19 April 2015, cinemas across the city.

JAPAN
Cherry Blossom Festival – with Spring in the north now eagerly snapping at winter’s heels, we can enjoy the awakening of nature.  I can think of no better way to do this than to witness the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan.  Given Japan’s size and topography, the best times to view vary by location.  April is a good time to see the spectacle in the north of Honshu and on Hokkaido; you can plan your trip with the help of this blossom forecast map.

LONDON
500th Birthday Party at Hampton Court.  There will actually be 3 parties over the Easter weekend – each will start at 18:30 with live period music, from Tudor to Baroque, plus the chance to eat and drink at pop-up food and drink stalls around the Palace.  Each evening will be rounded off with a spectacular sound and light show at 20:30, in the Privy Garden.
3-5 April, 18:30-21:00, Hampton Court Palace.
Child £10, Adult £22, concessions and family tickets available

The Plant Finders Fair comes to Kew Gardens for the first time.  This novel event allows you to buy plants and equipment for your home garden directly from some of the UK’s best specialist nurseries and growers. There will ve experts on hand to give advice and a “plant crèche” where you can leave your purchases to enjoy themselves while you explore the magnificent Royal Gardens.
24-26 April 2015, adult advance ticket £15

MILAN, Italy
Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition – this promises to be he largest Da Vinci exhibition ever organised in Italy, with paintings, drawings, sculptures and manuscripts being gathered from the best museums around the world.
15 April – 19 July
Palazzo Reale, Piazza Duomo 12, Milan milanmuseumguide.com

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana
The 17th  annual Jazz and Heritage Festival has stars such as Elton John, The Who, Ed Sheeran and John Legend to fill the city with music.
24 April – 3 May, from $58

SALAMANCA, Spain
Lunes de Acqua – this annual festival dates back to medieval times when it wasn’t just chocolate that they gave up for Lent.  Even in the 16th century the city had a great reputation as a centre of learning; when the young Prince Felipe II cam here to marry his Princess he was horrified to see that this great city was also a den of iniquity.  He decreed that during Lent and Holy Week, Salamanca would set an example of repentance and self-denial and ordered that all prostitutes be banished from the city to the other side of the river during that period.  The Lunes de Acqua dates back to the celebrations that developed to welcome back the prostitutes on the first Monday after Holy Week, involving the decoration of boats and a party on the banks of the Tormes.  For the modern day festival, business close at 15:00 and everyone grabs a picnic and heads to the river or to local parks to spend time with friends and family.
13 April 2015

STOCKHOLM, Sweden
Art Week – this annual event includes art and photography fairs, plus exhibitions at many of the city’s museums. During the popular Gallery Night, many galleries will have art openings and extended hours.
14-19 April, across the city

VIENNA
60th Eurovision Song Contest
18-23 Apr at Vienna Stadthalle

I hope this has given you some inspiration for travel and entertainment this coming month.

Do feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments, and if you have any suggestions for May let me  know now and I’ll do my best to include them in next month’s selection.

Posted by Debbie Smyth, March 2015