Have you been thinking about going to see one of the fabulous and famous cultural festivals in Europe and changed your mind because the crowds might be overwhelming and the prices, staggering.

Take heart, there are numerous festivals with acts and performances, just as delightful but at a much lower price and less frantic atmosphere. Many countries host national and provincial festivals, here are a few:

The EISTEDDFOD

This is Wales premier festival held ever ear during the first week of August.
This festival is the premier fete for welsh culture. The festival travels from place to place, alternating between the North and South of Wales in order to give communities scattered across the country a chance to welcome up to 160,000 visitors over an eight day period.
The Eisteddfod is an eclectic mix of old and new, traditional and modern as well as a celebration of Wales’ culture and language. The Welsh language and “Welshness” is an integral part of the festival. But not to worry it is not essential that you speak welsh for the event. And, you just might, come away from the festival with a smattering of a new tongue.
This cultural festival, the national stage for music, dance, visual arts, original performances – all types of culture. Everything from choirs to comedy has a venue at this festival, all with a welsh twist.
A “Season|” ticket to the eight-day festival is 105 pounds, which gives you admission to the pavilion and a seat, unreserved, at the performances.
Dates for the 2013 festival are set for August 2-11. The Festival d'Avignon was founded by Jean Vilar in 1947.

Avignon Festival

This is the oldest festival in France, a celebration of theater, ballet, music, an opera takes place in this Medieval town with many events taking place inside the courtyard of the historic, Palais des Papes, one of the most important Gothic buildings in France. The festival is spread over a three-week period, giving you lots of time to explore both the countryside and the event. This is also a festival of ideas, global and local. This year the Festival was held during the first three weeks of \July,
This year the festival happened between July 8 to July 29, giving you plenty of time to plan for the festival next year.. You can even apply for a job at the festival, via their website, what a good way to defray the costs of attending.
The dates for the 2013 festival are set for August 2-11. The Festival d'Avignon was founded by Jean Vilar in 1947.

WHITE NIGHTS FESTIVAL.

This three month long cultural event is a highlight of St. Petersburg in the summer. The festival draws high-profile international guest stars, Sir Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones have performed here as well as orchestras, ballet and opera companies. The events are held from May to July, with many events taking place in the Mariinsky Theatre and Mariinsky Concert Hall. Try to attend the last days of the festival that are capped with a specular fireworks display at the closing Scarlet Sails party.

THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL.

This is “”THE” fringe festival, the largest arts festival in the world.
For three weeks each August, performers and patrons throng to the city of Edinburgh, Scotland for over 30,000 performances by hundreds, yes, hundreds, of performing groups, held in over 250 venues, with some unexpected twists, such as an improvisational comedy show that invites the audience to tweet or use Facebook to initiate new material.
The best part of the Fringe Festival is that a good number of events are free!
However, the crowds will be huge particularly in the Royal Mile area of the city. This would be an ideal spot to practice how to be a salmon swimming upstream.

Notable performers at the Festival include: Adrian Sims (piano) returns to Edinburgh to perform virtuoso favorites by Rachmaninov, Liszt, Strauss and Mendlessohn; the accomplished cellist Anne-Isabel Meyer returns to the Fringe with Bach's great masterworks for solo violoncello; and folk singer, Cat Stevens.

On a classical note you can have “Breakfast with Beethoven, “lunch with Chopin, and “Dinner with Cole Porter.”
Culture doesn’t necessarily come cheap; expect to spend about $300 per day, per person, for hotels, meals and performance tickets. Wear your most comfortable shoes, stay hydrated and absorb as much culture as you can handle – a bargain at any price.

MORE FESTIVALS
The Jane Austen Festival, Bath, England
Hay Festival, Hay-on-Wye, Wales
Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
The Palio, Sienna, Italy
Circus Festival, Menton, France.

Have a great time!