Closing Parties – Ibiza
After the frenzy of Ibiza’s summer season, September offers clubs the chance to throw the party to end all parties. Almost every venue hosts a closing bash, enjoyed by those clubbers who prefer to avoid the crush of teenagers during July and August. DJs Carl Cox and Paul Oakenfold will be spinning the decks at venues like Space and Pacha, while troupes of dancing girls and fireworks add to the atmosphere.
Last three weeks of September

Art’Air – Geneva
For one weekend, all of Geneva becomes an outdoor artist’s studio. Around 400 professionals, students and amateurs set up their easels in the open air to paint the scenery; each artist is allocated a spot in one of six different city zones and their skill and style is on display for passers-by. Art’Air winds up on the Sunday afternoon with an exhibition and art sale, awards and cocktails in the leafy, village-like quarter of Carouge (Salle Communale de Pleinpalais, 52 rue de Carouge).
1 & 2 September
www.artair.ch

All About My Mother – London
Director Pedro Almodóvar has, for the first time, allowed his work to be produced in English for the theatre. All About My Mother, with Marisa Paredes and Ceclia Roth (pictured above), won an Oscar in 1999. Now Diana Rigg and Lesley Manville star in The Old Vic’s adaptation of this quirky tale.
Until 24 November
www.oldvictheatre.com

Oktoberfest – Berlin
Attracting 150,000 people, Berlin’s beer festival may be slightly smaller than Munich’s famous Oktoberfest, but any chance to sample Germany’s finest beers is a good thing. Head to Zentraler Festplatz after 3pm and spend an evening draining a few steins (litre glasses) in the beer tents, or to the alternate venue in Spandau for the festival ground between the brewery and Falkenseer Platz. Despite the amount of booze, the fest is family friendly, with a funfair for kids.
28 September – 14 October
www.schaustellerverband-berlin.de

Chocolate Festival – Stockholm
Nordiska Museet hosts this most indulgent of events, the sixth annual chocolate festival. A museum exhibition tour tells the history of chocolate. But, along with chocolatiers, pastry chefs and serious foodies like Parisian author Clotilde Dusoulier of www.chocolateandzucchini.com, you’ll really just want to sample what’s new. There’s a Cakemaker of the Year contest, too.
12-14 October
www.nordiskamuseet.se

Art Copenhagen – Copenhagen
This event at the Forum is Scandinavia’s biggest art fair, and this year over 60 galleries from each Scandinavian country will exhibit and sell modern and contemporary pieces. So whether your interest is professional, like the dealers and curators here, or simply personal, come and take a look around.
21-23 September
www.artcopenhagen.dk

La Mercè – Barcelona
At this all-out, day-and-night street carnival celebrating Barcelona’s patron saint you’ll see a giant puppet parade, dragons that spit fire and acrobatics including the building of a human tower with a small child balanced on the top. Why not keep the kids quiet by saying you’ve volunteered them for the role?
24 September
www.bcn.es/merce

Storytelling Festival – Edinburgh
Scotland has such a rich storytelling heritage that Edinburgh has a dedicated Storytelling Centre. The 18th annual Scottish International Storytelling Festival takes as its theme Out of Eden: Scotland and Africa. Guest storytellers will draw on African oral traditions and Highland lore and legend.
26 October – 4 November
www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Storytelling Festival – Edinburgh
Scotland has such a rich storytelling heritage that Edinburgh has a dedicated Storytelling Centre. The 18th annual Scottish International Storytelling Festival takes as its theme Out of Eden: Scotland and Africa. Guest storytellers will draw on African oral traditions and Highland lore and legend.
26 October – 4 November
www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Open Monumentendag – Amsterdam
Amsterdam is worth visiting any time, but especially on Open Monuments Days, when 4,000 historic buildings all across the Netherlands throw open their doors to the public free of charge. In the capital, that means a rare chance to see inside the iconic, gabled canal-side Grachtenhuis – merchants’ homes from the 17th century.
8 & 9 September
www.openmonumentendag.nl