HELLO PYEONGCHANG WINTER FESTIVAL

February 4 to 6, Gangwon-do, South Korea

Part of the run-up to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Hello PyeongChang Winter Festival takes place this week around Gangneung Dano Park. It features various programmes including an opening ceremony with performances by K-pop singers, cultural and arts groups, traditional performances themed on Gangwon-do traditional culture, a World DJ festival, cultural art performance by EATOF (East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum), and professional arts groups’ performances. Reservations for the festival are available through the official website. Visit http://www.HelloPyeongChang.com.

PENANGITES’ CNY CELEBRATION 2016

February 13, Penang, Malaysia

Penang’s government will hold a Chinese New Year celebration on the streets of George Town, partly to celebrate George Town’s recognition as a Unesco World Heritage city. More than 20 clan houses and temples within Penang’s historical district, which are normally closed to all except their members, will open their doors to visitors on February 13. Visitors will also enjoy wushu performances, fireworks displays, lion and dragon dances, Chingay parades and a wealth of red lanterns.

C3 IN HONG KONG 2016

February 19 to 21, Hong Kong

C3 in Hong Kong is an annual anime and manga event held at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre for fans of Japanese anime and manga culture. Major anime publishers, retailers and production houses bring the authentic Japanese manga culture to Hong Kong with their latest creations while popular Japanese singers entertain the fans.

SAIDAI-JI EYO HADAKA MATSURI

February 20, Okayama, Japan

Every third Saturday of February some 9,000 men wearing only loincloths push and pull to win shingi, a pair of lucky sacred sticks measuring 4 cm in diameter and 20 cm in length, which are thrown into the crowd by the priest from a window 4 metres up. The one who gets hold of the shingi and thrusts them upright in a wooden measuring box full of rice is considered a lucky man and blessed with a year of happiness. On the day of the festival primary school boys compete for rice cakes and cylindrical treasures prior to the main event.

PENANG CHINESE NEW YEAR LANTERN FESTIVAL 2016

February 8 to 22, Penang, Malaysia

The event is the first ever Chinese New Year Lantern Festival in Penang and is being held at the Esplanade. More than 40 lanterns will be grouped into 20 giant lanterns throughout the 15 days of the Chinese New Year and will be lit nightly from 7.30 to midnight.

PRINTEMPS DES ARTS DE MONTE-CARLO FESTIVAL

March 19 to April 10, Monaco

Monaco’s spring starts with music in Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo festival. The festival began in 1984, at the instigation of Princess Grace and Antoine Battaini, then Director of Cultural Affairs in the Principality. Decades later, the adventure continues with more exciting performances than ever. Visit http://www.PrintempsDesArts.mc.