Concurs de Castells

Tarragona, Spain 6-7 October
Catch Catalonia’s fabled human towers in action at this annual competition, pitting 32 tower teams against one another for who can create the tallest and most difficult-to-build human constructions. The art of the human tower dates back to the 18th century, when a traditional Valencian dance began taking on a new dimension. Today climbers, barefoot and sporting sashes (faixa) around their torsos for back support, create towers 9 stories high, each crowned by a small child called the enxaneta, or rider. The tower competition is the main event, but Catalan culture is also on display in many ways, including parades, music, street performances and concerts.

concursdecastells.cat

Language/s you’ll need: Catalan. Castellaño (Spanish) as a visitor.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Albuquerque, New Mexico 6 - 14 October
Get ready for some neck-xercise, as more than 750 hot-air balloons take flight in the crisp blue skies of New Mexico, against a backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Get up before the rooster crows to witness the Dawn Patrol of hot-air balloons rising in the early morning sky, and stay for impressive Mass Ascensions, when the air is filled with nearly a thousand vibrant vessels. Then there’s the filmmaking contests, balloon riding services, AfterGlow fireworks and balloon races, making for an awe-inspiring festival that’s best seen lying down.

balloonfiesta.com

Language/s you’ll need: American English. Some New Mexican Spanish would be helpful - approx. 29% of Albuquerque residents speak it.

London Cocktail Week

London, UK 1 - 7 October
Cocktail lovers are always at home in buzzing London, but rarely more so than during the annual London Cocktail Week. A €10 pass gives visitors access to discounted meals and €5 cocktails at more than 250 bars and restaurants across the city, not to mention curated cocktail tours, masterclasses, paired meals and entry into the self-contained cocktail village in Old Spitalfields Market. Bottoms up!

drinkup.london

Language/s you’ll need: Good ol’ English (or whatever it is you speak after you’ve had a few…)

Festival du Nouveau Cinéma

Montreal, Canada 3-14 October
Film buffs, pack your bags. You’re going to Montreal. This 44-year-old festival prides itself not only on past triumphs (such as helping launch the careers of names like Jane Campion and Spike Lee), but also on its ability to stay at the top of its game year after year. Expect an onslaught of the avant-garde, featuring over 300 films as well as conferences, art installations, cocktail parties, performances and “transmedia projects” – we’re not entirely sure what that last one is, but it’s guaranteed to be pretty cool.

nouveaucinema.ca

Language/s you’ll need: French / English. Montreal is the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the world, after Paris.

Rocking The Daisies

Darling, South Africa 5-7 October
Come for the rocking indie and EDM beats emanating from the 9 stages, stay for the sense of camaraderie, the ultra-laid-back atmosphere and the scenic location: the Western Cape winelands an hour north of Cape Town. How to get there? You could drive or take the bus, but more sporty types should consider walking or cycling the 65kms – made easy by joining the organised “Walking the Daisies” and “Cycling the Daisies” events, the proceeds of which support efforts to make the event as eco-friendly as possible.

rockingthedaisies.com

Language/s you’ll need: English / Afrikaans

Filmekimi

Istanbul, Turkey 5-14 October
Didn’t catch Sundance or Cannes? No worries, just grab a seat for one of the many screenings at Istanbul’s premiere film festival. Expect to see all the raved-about movies of the festival year so far, all in one place.

filmekimi.iksv.org

Language/s you’ll need: Turkish

Halifax Pop Explosion

Halifax, Canada 17-20 October
Rarely do events named “Explosion” live up to the hype, but Halifax is another story. Part culture conference, part industry meet-up, and entirely musical blowout showcasing talents from home and abroad, this is a musical happening that’s sure to win you some “you went there?” cool points from those in the know.

halifaxpopexplosion.com

Language/s you’ll need: English

Amsterdam Dance Event

Amsterdam, Netherlands 17-21 October
The Conference (panels and meet-ups for industry movers and shakers) combines with the Festival (hundreds of electronic dance music events throughout the city, hosted by DJs both celebrated and incipient) and the Playground (an extensive peripheral programme of film screenings, art shows and pop-up cinemas, galleries and shops) for an event that takes the electro dance club lifestyle to a whole new level.

amsterdam-dance-event.nl

Language/s you’ll need: Dutch

La Fiesta des Suds

Marseille, France 11-17 October
Slowly shedding its rough industrial mantle, Marseille is coming into its own as a seaside destination with a penchant for the artistic. Settle in at this dockyard venue for an eclectic lineup of live music acts along with art exhibitions, kids’ activities and, of course, plenty of that fine French fare.

dock-des-suds.org

Language/s you’ll need: French

Frankfurt Book Fair

Frankfurt, Germany 10-14 October
The place to be for book lovers, book sellers, book writers and anyone with a passion for the written word. This 500-year-old event holds a place of honour as the world’s most important book fair, hosting more than 7,000 exhibitors from 100 countries, not to mention nearly 300,000 annual visitors. The first 3 days are for business and industry only, but the public is invited to attend the last 2 days, which are filled with book signings, readings and perusing thousands of new and exciting titles.

buchmesse.de

Language/s you’ll need: German

Polar Circle Marathon

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland 27-28 October
When they say this is “the coolest marathon on earth”, they’re really not joking – join the world’s craziest/most determined joggers at the one of world’s northernmost points for 42 kilometres of ice, ice, baby!

polar-circle-marathon.com

Language/s you’ll need: Fancy learning Greenlandic? Don’t worry - you’ll be fine with English or Danish.

Diwali

India / Leicester 28 October – 11 November
As the Hindu god Rama returns home from battle and exile, believers everywhere light oil lamps to show him the way. This “festival of light” is the most significant event on the Indian calendar – akin to Christmas in the West – marking the end of the harvest season with feasts, gifts and prayers. Homes are festooned with jasmine flowers and candles, while vibrantly coloured sands shaped like lotus flowers form welcome mats for visitors. Women wear their best and most colourful saris, and fireworks brighten the darkness of night. Though originally an ancient religious festival, Diwali is celebrated by even the non-observant who mark the occasion as a time of post-harvest abundance, renewal and inner enlightenment – and foreign visitors are heartily invited to do the same.

Experience Diwali in Talking Heads’ second home, Leicester.

isitleicester.info/whats-on/diwali

Reviews / Information from American Express essentials (amexessentials.com).