Calendar

ASIA

Japan Hakata Gion Yamakasa
Held every year in Japan, this festival displays dazzling kazariyama (decorated) floats standing more than 10 metres tall and weighing about two tonnes. A total of 14 floats stand proudly across the city until July 14, including two at Hakata Station and Canal City Hakata. The festival ends on a high note with a spectacular race on the last day. The race includes seven neighbourhoods of Fukuoka's Hakata district. The teams compete by pushing beautifully decorated festival floats along a 5km course through the city. Thousands of spectators line the course to witness the annual extravaganza. Where: Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan Date: July 1-15 Website: www.hakatayamakasa.com/

China Qingdao International Beer Festival
As Asia's largest beer festival, the Qingdao International Beer Festival celebrates China's beer-drinking culture with beer tasting and drinking competitions, Western and Chinese food and entertainment that includes karaoke, and opening and closing ceremonies. The venue, Qingdao Century Square, is packed with tables and beer tents. Renowned international brewers usually taking part include Beck's, Kirin, Asahi, Carlsberg, Corona, Heineken, Tiger, Budweiser and, of course, China's Tsingtao. Shilaoren beach is just 10 minutes from the venue. Where: Qingdao, China Date: August 10-25 Website: www.qingdaochinaguide.com

Singapore The Great Singapore Sale
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Great Singapore Sale has special anniversary promotions and sensational deals for shoppers over an eight-week period across Singapore. There is late-night shopping in some malls, and great bargains on a wide range of products, including electronics, toys, jewellery, gems and luxury watches, are available. In addition, the Singapore International Jewellery Expo 2013 will be held from July 4-7. Where: Singapore Date: Until July 28 Website: www.greatsingaporesale.com.sg/

China Turpan Grape Festival
The Turpan Grape Festival takes place every August and celebrates the cultivation of grapes in the region, which dates back 2,000 years. The Turpan region produces hundreds of varieties of grapes known for their fine tastes, of which most are grown in Grape Valley. The festival also commemorates the ancient Silk Road which stretches 4,000km in China, half of it in Xinjiang. Fireworks, singing and dancing kick off the festival, with other events and competitions throughout the day. Where: Turpan, Xinjiang, China Date: August 20 Website: www.travelchinaguide.com

EUROPE

Britain Glastonbury 2013
One of Britain's leading music festivals, Glastonbury attracts top bands and leading performers in the dance, comedy, theatre and cabaret worlds. This year's headliners include the Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones, Mumford & Sons and Primal Scream. Hundreds of other artists will be on multiple stages and in tent venues. The festival is hosted on a farm in Somerset and has grown in popularity since it started in 1970. Where: Pilton, Somerset, England Date: June 28-30 Website: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Italy Estate Romana Festival
Estate Romana Festival is an umbrella term for a series of entertainment and cultural events - art exhibitions, dance displays, theatre performances, cinema screenings and jazz, rock and classical music concerts are hosted throughout the city, be it in parks, courtyards, art galleries or ancient monuments. Highlights include stalls and bars that open up along the banks of the River Tiber and L'Isola del Cinema, the open-air cinema that operates during summer on Tiber Island. Where: Rome, Italy Date: June to September Website: www.estateromana.comune.roma.it/