Rio Carnival in Brazil is a whirl of costumes and colours

April:
The San Marcos National Fair, Mexico
Known by locals as ‘the fair of Mexico’, The San Marcos National Fair spans a period of three weeks, and is incredibly popular with tourists.  One of the central attractions is bullfighting; but for those with a less bloodthirsty appetite, activities such as people’s theatre, art, poetry prizes and beauty competitions also take place.

May:
Monaco Grand Prix:
Known as the race that tests the drivers like no other, the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most glamorous and exciting races in the world. Witness this sporting spectacle from the 13th to the 16th May, and if the 78 laps is racing overkill, indulge in some celebrity spotting with many staying in Hotel de Paris or The Grand.

June:
Extreme sports week, Norway
Ekstremsportveko (Extreme sports week) is one of the world’s largest annual festivals dedicated to extreme sports. Competitions in extreme sports such as BASE jumping, parachuting, paragliding and hanggliding take place. But Ekstremsportveko is also a music festival, and thousands attend annually for both the sport and the music.

July:
Pamplona
If you need an adrenaline rush then the San Fermin festival, held annually from 12 on the 6th July, is the perfect destination, offering you the opportunity to become a matador for the day as you run in front of bulls that have been let loose on a sectioned-off subset of a town’s streets. Alternatively you can choose to watch the running of the bulls safely behind fences in the village, or opt to bargain a balcony with your best Spanish skills.

August
Edinburgh Fringe
While not the destination for sun seekers the Edinburgh Fringe is the perfect destination for culture vultures hoping to soak up the atmosphere at the biggest arts festival in the world.  Taking place for three weeks in August each year in Scotland’s capital city the festival promises theatre, comedy, children’s shows, dance, physical theatre, musicals and opera

September:
Galway Oyster Festival, Ireland
A real treat for oyster fans, oyster season begins at the end of September, and has been celebrated since 1953, when hotelier Brian Collins started the Galway Oyster Festival. The festival is elaborate, filled with galas, live jazz and the ultimate spectacle, the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship, where a competitor from each country is required to open 30 oysters each, as neatly as possible.

October:
Oktoberfest, Germany
Oktoberfest is a 16-day beer festival held each year in Munich, one of the most famous events in Germany, it’s also the world’s largest fair and a key part of Bavarian culture. Last year 3.3 million visitors drank almost 3.3 million litres of beer, as well as consuming hearty amounts of traditional food, such as Hendl (chicken), Würstl (sausages), Brezn (Pretzel) and Knödeln (potato or bread dumplings).

November:
The Pushkar Camel Fair, India
The Pushkar Camel Fair is a three-day market where people flock to trade animals. A popular and traditional attraction, with around 200,000 people and 25,000 camels, its sights and sounds are incredible.  Tug of wars between the locals and camel races are just a few of the popular activities the Fair offers.

December:
New Year’s Eve, Times Square New York
The bursting energy and excitement on New Year’s Eve in Times Square makes New York one of the best places to see in 2011.  Already a highly popular tourist destination, the estimated one million people in Times Square on the night, and millions watching on television confirm Times Square as the place where only the best celebrations will do.