Events for students in Europe

The Prague Half Marathon attracts major international athletes and is also open to amateur runners, although there is a three-hour time limit! The course is lined with groups of musicians and entertainers, so you don't have to run to have fun.

The Festival Pistes de Lancement performs under canvas in Brussels' Parc Victoria. A string of circus acts from all over Europe has audiences falling off their seats, with pure theatre ranging from the hilarious to the plain weird.

The annual week dedicated to the French language is celebrated in France and French-speaking areas from Québec to Brussels and Geneva. Francophones are invited to take part in a very special competition.

On cloudless nights in late spring and early autumn, greenish-yellow, red or violet lights curl and stretch across the midnight skies in Finnish Lapland. According to Sami legend, it's caused by the swish of a giant fox's tail striking snow...

During Wine Expo, visitors can try fermented grape juice of all descriptions from Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal and elsewhere at Helsinki's Fair Centre.

Discover the genius art of puppetry at the Copenhagen Puppet Festival. The event features workshops, installations, performances - including night performances - and seminars.

Around 50,000 participants of all ages, physical abilities and origins take part in Stramilano, Milan's popular international half marathon. It starts in Piazza Castello and ends at the Civic Arena, ringing the inner city in a circular route.

Rome's marathon runs past famous landmarks like the Colosseum and St Peter's Basilica.

Greece's major annual documentary film festival, the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival takes place primarily at the Olympion Cinema. Focusing largely on European works, it has a reputation for addressing contemporary social and cultural issues.

See the rivalry between Russia's two largest cities played out on the sports field. Spartak, the most popular team of the Soviet period, take on Zenit, relative newcomers to big-time football, at St Petersburg's atmospheric Petrovsky Stadium.

Three times a year visitors flock to the area between Geneva's Rue des Bains and Avenue du Mail for an evening of art.

The Aalborg Opera Festival takes place at indoor venues around the Danish town, providing a great escape from the chilly spring temperatures outside.

Frankfurt's famous tipple is apple wine, or Ebbelwoi as it's locally known. Try it out at the tasting sessions held every year at Apple Wine in the Römer, Frankfurt's town hall. Trade professionals get a head start at 12pm.

St Moritz hosts the internationally renowned Engadine Ski Marathon. The 42km (26.2-mile) course draws around 13,000 participants for a gruelling day of cross-country skiing. The race starts in Maloja and continues down the valley to finish in S-chanf.

Horsens hosts the annual classical music Holmboe Festival in memory of the great Danish composer Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996). His works are among those performed by national and international musicians at venues all over town.

Vienna Stadthalle stages the gravity-defying Masters of Dirt freestyle motocross event. Top international stars perform tricks and jumps that never fail to dazzle the crowd.

Tampere Film Festival is both the oldest and the largest short film festival in Northern Europe. It presents a programme of screenings, seminars, panels, concerts and club nights throughout the city.

The most spectacular in Italy, Viareggio Carnival is famous worldwide for its incredible floats, which satirise public and political figures. Huge Trojan horse-like puppets parade around the town, competing for the finest float award.

Cast inhibitions to the wind and dress up in an outrageous outfit at the Bal du Rat Mort, held at Kursaal Oostende. Attendees can alternatively opt for evening dress, though the brave stand to win the coveted best dressed prize.

The Showgirl is back; she's on form, and even more beautiful than ever. In conjunction with the launch of her 11th studio album, Aphrodite, Kylie Minogue comes to Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi for the Spanish leg of her world tour.