FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

The beats go on

The beats go on

Bali Arts Festival in Indonesia, Sanno Matsuri in Japan, Chinese Opera Festival in Hong Kong

BALI ARTS FESTIVAL 
June 11 to July 9, Bali, Indonesia
Taking place over an entire month from mid June to mid July, the Bali Arts Festival is a unique extravaganza of arts, music, dance and history celebrating passion and pride in Balinese culture. Among other performances, famous masked dances originating from tribal villages are showcased and ancient classic stories retold. There’s a vibrant atmosphere all across the island as celebrations are enjoyed by locals and travellers alike. 
 
SANNO MATSURI 
June 4 to 15, Tokyo, Japan
The Sanno Matsuri was a festival permitted by the shogun to enter the grounds of Edo Castle during the Edo Period (1603-1867) along with the Kanda Matsuri. The ceremony is celebrated annually and features a parade of some 300 people dressed in ancient costumes. Others dress as the legendary goblin Tengu, characterised by a red face and a long nose, and believed to possess supernatural powers. The procession departs from the Hie Jinja shrine at 8am, ventures through the heart of Tokyo including Tokyo Station and the Ginza district, and does not return to the shrine until early in the evening. 
 
SINGAPORE STREET FESTIVAL 
June 8 to July 3, Singapore 
Singapore’s Street Festival is fuelled by popular culture, artistic dynamism and self-expression. The event celebrates street culture and provides a platform for Singapore’s young people to showcase their talents, skills and abilities in the performing or visual arts, lifestyle trends, fashion and sports, entrepreneurship and technology. Expect belly dancing, street art, break dancing, yo-yo competitions, rock bands, street dancing, J-rock and more. Check out www.SingaporeStreetFestival.com for the full line-up. 
 
QUEENSTOWN WINTER FESTIVAL 
June 24 to July 3, Queenstown, New Zealand 
Thousands of locals and visitors flock to Queenstown’s streets and ski slopes to welcome the start of winter with mountain races, street parties, fireworks, live concerts, comedy, theatre and loads of family fun. The event also features mountain biking, skiing, and rafting, epicurean feasting, comedic highs and multiple musical stages. Slide down to www.WinterFestival.co.nz. 
 
CHINESE OPERA FESTIVAL
June 17 to August 14, Hong Kong
Experience the stunning sights and sounds of traditional Chinese theatre where operatic arts embody a rich cultural legacy. The Chinese Opera Festival showcases a stellar selection of Chinese Opera programmes. Traditional yet innovative, the festival sees celebrated artists captivate audiences in Hong Kong through a compelling mix of opera genres, including the local Cantonese opera, which is part of Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Visit www.COF.gov.hk
 
WIFE CARRYING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 
July 1 to 2, Sonkajarvi, Finland 
Want to impress your wife (albeit the hard way)? Then go to Finland! At the annual Wife Carrying World Championships, men carry their wives on their backs over 250-metres of obstacles, including a water jump, with the winner taking home his spouse’s weight in beer. Wives have to weigh at least 49 kilos. Any less than that and they’re given heavy rucksack to make up the difference. Visit www.Sonkajarvi.fi.
 
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