Invasion of musicians Copenhagen Steel Band will certainly be coming this year too. Karlshamn Baltic Festival seems to suit the Danish temperament. And we are expecting the usual invasion of musicians. Trad jazz bands with international reputations will be filling the streets with happy tunes for young and old. Samba orchestras provide us with exotic rhythms, dance and naked flesh.
Brass bands march up and down the streets.
On two of the festival days something special happens. Towards evening the crowds start drifting away from the marquees serving food and drink and form tightly packed rows along the main streets, wedged between the colourful stalls of hawkers and local shopkeepers. Herring sandwiches and grilled kebab are forgotten for the time being. Hundreds of participants, music, clowning, amazing floats and incredible costumes. So soft was the breeze that it would have been easy to believe that it came from the Mediterranean instead of the Baltic.