THREE TO VISIT

A trio of global events to check out this month

Redeemer Festival

With grim beginnings, but full of historic meaning and significance, the Redeemer Festival marks the end of the plague’s hold on Venice in 1577, which claimed 50,000 lives. There are fireworks, boatloads of people on gondolas, and a gathering of well-wishers lining the canals. The gondola regatta takes place the next day, too, which is one of Venice’s ten major annual regattas. July 15 to 16

Calgary Stampede

Strap on your cowboy boots, practise your best line dance and head for a honky-tonk. Full of bovine-related madness, the Calgary Stampede takes over the Albertan city playing host to an invitation-only list of the world’s best cowboys for ten days of partying (and rodeos). Not only that, but it’s one of the richest rodeos on Earth, with Dhs4.3 million in the prize pot. July 7 to 16

Boryeong Mud Festival

If Brazil has Rio Carnival and Munich Oktoberfest, Korea has Boryeong Mud Festival. More than 2.2 million enthusiasts converge on the city as festivalgoers slap on layers of sludge and then wrestle, rave and slide about. Some brave souls take a dip in the mega mud tub, before running down the beach and into the ocean. There are also parades, mud painting, a mud marathon and mud skiing competitions. July 21 to 30