Virgin
From a cigar festival in Cuba to a delicious Chowderfest, Virgin Atlantic’s destinations around the world are hosting a variety of exciting events next year. Read on to find out more about the events Virgin Atlantic is looking forward to in 2011....
* Habano Cuban Cigar Festival, Cuba – 21 to 25 February 2011
Smokers of rich Cuban tobacco, known to be the world’s finest, revel in their pleasurable vice at Havana's annual Habano Cuban Cigar Festival. Taking place from 21 – 25 February 2011, visitors can discover the workings behind cigar factories and tobacco plantations, try new cigars and attend seminars and workshops. Virgin Atlantic flies twice a week from London Gatwick to Havanai. Return fares in 2011 start from £550 per person.
* Taste of Sydney – 10 to 13 March 2011
Bring a healthy appetite to Taste of Sydney, an epicurean extravaganza held in Centennial Park. The city's top restaurants serve sample-sized plates of their signature dishes, which visitors gobble up with gusto and wash down with fine regional wines. At the Chef's Table, look out for renowned culinary masters who are there to chat and share their kitchen tips. Learn more about beer and wine in masterclasses, or simply enjoy a tipple or two while listening to the festival's live music. Virgin Atlantic flies daily a week from London Heathrow to Sydney via Hong Kong. Return fares in 2011 start from £926 per person.
* 44th Annual Antigua Sailing Week – 24 to 29 April 2011
Antigua Sailing Week rolls thrilling races, barbecues and rum punches into one unforgettable package. The gathering of over 200 participating yachts of varying sizes in Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour is truly a majestic sight. The week starts with the Around the Island Race and other highlights include the Beach Bash in Fort James, Beating of the Retreat in the romantic Nelson's Dockyard and the prize giving ceremony. Virgin Atlantic flies daily a week from London Gatwick to Antigua. Return fares in 2011 start from £611 per person.
* Buddha Jayanti Festival, Delhi – 17 May 2011
Buddha Jayanti celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautam Buddha in different years. Buddhist sites in Delhi, most notably the Buddha Jayanti Park, celebrate with prayer meetings and colourful events. Gautam Buddha, also known as the enlightened one, is believed to be the creator and first practitioner of Buddhism. Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima is a major festival for the Buddhist community across South East Asia. On this day, mortal remains of Buddha are also brought out for public viewing by the National Museum in Delhi. Virgin Atlantic flies daily a week from London Heathrow to Delhi. Return fares in 2011 start from £558 per person.
* Boston Chowderfest - 29 June to 3 July 2011
More than 2000 gallons of this New England delicacy are served up in City Hall Plaza during Boston Chowderfest, a cornerstone of the annual Harborfest celebrations. Twelve of Boston's most ambitious restaurants ladle out their 'chowda' to be guzzled or shunned by voting fans. A few dollars gets you unlimited access to the best of the hot and creamy seafood soup. Fresh from the city's immense natural harbour, experts say that you can taste the unique essence of Boston's waters in the perfect clam chowder. Virgin Atlantic flies daily from London Heathrow to Boston. Return fares in 2011 start from £447.00 per person.
* Cropover Festival, Barbados – 2 August 2011
The end of the year's sugar cane season is celebrated in style at Bridgetown's annual Crop Over Festival. See the ceremonial delivery of the last sugar canes and limber up for addictive calypso dancing throughout the capital's streets. The annual Crop Over Festival began in the 1780s, when Barbados was the world's largest sugar producer. The festivities kick off with the traditional crowning of the festival king and queen, the most productive male and female cane cutters of the season. Carts are decorated in colourful designs and patterns for the cart parade and handicrafts and mouth-watering delicacies abound in Bridgetown Market during the festival. Virgin Atlantic flies daily from London Gatwick to Barbados. Return fares in 2011 start from £595.00 per person.
* Chinese Autumn Lantern Festival, Hong Kong – 12 September 2011
When the harvest moon is full and bright, Hong Kong lights up for the Autumn Lantern Festival. Thousands of lanterns in every shape, size and colour fill streets and public parks and visitors should head up to Victoria Peak for the most spectacular views. The festival is an ancient Chinese tradition which commemorates China's 14th-century uprising against Mongolian occupation. Rebels wrote the call to revolt on pieces of paper and embedded them in cakes which they smuggled to compatriots. Today, in honour of this, people eat special yuek beng (moon cakes) - pastry crust filled with sugary fillings like lotus seed paste or red bean paste. Virgin Atlantic flies daily from London Heathrow to Hong Kong. Return fares in 2011 start from £636.00 per person.
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