It starts with a baton and ends with a bang. The Last Night of the Proms is where one of the world's biggest classical festivals signs off in style. For eight weeks, the BBC Proms fills London's Royal Albert Hall, pictured here, with world-class orchestras and soloists. But the final night? That's the one everyone talks about. It's part concert, part singalong, part flag-waving party.

Henry Wood began the Proms in 1895 to make classical music for everyone, not just the elite. That idea still holds. On the Last Night, the music goes grand, but the mood goes relaxed. Serious symphonies in the first half. Crowd favourites in the second. 'Rule, Britannia!,' 'Land of Hope and Glory,' 'Jerusalem'—all sung by thousands at full volume. And it's not just London. 'Proms in the Park' brings the celebration to cities across the United Kingdom. Live broadcasts mean you can join in from your sofa—Union Jack optional. It's a tradition. It's a celebration. It's the region saying goodbye to summer with a standing ovation.