Annual festivals and events
The Golden Helmet
The most popular motorcycle speedway event in the Czech Republic is the Zlata Prilba or the Golden Helmet. It’s circuit is the oldest speedway circuit in the world, the first speedway race took place here in 1929.
Velka pardubicka cross-country steeple chase
Except for the break during the Second World War, this steeple chase horse run has been run almost every year since 1874. It takes place every second Sunday in October on the Pardubice’s City Course. Eventhough it is just a ten minute race, it has an hour-long programme in TV, it is kind of like Superbowl in the US. It is probably the most difficult and the second most prestigious horse race in the world, after the British Grand National in Liverpool, UK. Official website
Czech Open
The biggest chess (and other games) festival in the world, Czech Open, takes place every year since 1990. It has developed from a meaningless regional festival, nowadays it is a major festival of chess, bridge, draughts, backgammon and many other games. It is very popular for tourists, because you can play there the games you know, get to know new games or try competing against proffesionals. Official website
Grand Festival of Laughter
It is an annual theater festival organized by the East Bohemian Theater in February, focused mainly on comedies, the commission consisting of literary managers, directors and members of the artistic board of the East Bohemian Theatre evaluates the performance of participating companies from the viewpoint of artistic quality and the quality of their comic performance. The commission also distributes individual awards. But it is also a chance for starting actors to shine, or for playwriters to show their new pieces. You can also observe the plays performed by local amateur or students ensembles.
