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January 2011
1 Jan 2011
New
Year’s Day (Secular)
11 Jan 2011
Birthday
of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh); Guru Gobind Singh's birth took place on 5
January 1666 AD; according
to the Nanakshahi Calendar
17 Jan 2011
World
Religion Day; as per their website ‘…to foster the
establishment of interfaith understanding and harmony by emphasizing
the common denominators underlying all religions’
17 - 30 Jan 2011
Australian
Open (Rod Laver/Vodafone arena, Melbourne,Australia);
the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year
20 - 30 Jan 2011
Sundance
Film Festival (Park City,Utah, USA);
the largest independent cinema festival in the US;
established 1985
20Jan
- 19Feb 2011 Dubai
Jazz Festival (Dubai, UAE); forms part of the Dubai
Summer Festival
21 Jan 2011
Dubai
Marathon (Dubai, UAE), an annual event with great prizes
if you are up for the physical challenge
26 Jan 2011
Australia
Day; more on the history
28 Jan 2011
Creek
Relay (Dubai), 35km (8 stages) relay fun-run day at
the
Dubai Creek
February 2011
3 Feb 2011
Chinese
New Year; 3 February 2011 marks the beginning of the
first lunar month of Chinese year 4708, the year of the Rabbit
8 Feb 2011
Parinirvana,
Nirvana Day (Buddhist); this Mahayana Buddhist festival
marks the death of Gautama Buddha at Kushinagara, India,
at the age of 80
10 - 20 Feb 2011
Berlin
International Film Festival (Berlin, Germany);
established 1951
11 Feb 2011
Wadi
Bih Relay Run (Dibba, UAE) 72km (5 persons per team) ends and starts at
Dibba up Wadi Khab Shamsi
14 Feb 2011
St
Valentine’s Day (Secular, Christian)
15
Feb 2011
Mawlid
al-Nabi, Prophet
Muhammad’s Birthday (Muslim);
public holiday in the UAE; the Islamic
Calendar is
based on lunar observation (local sightings of various phases of the
moon), thus given date is an approximation
17Feb - 27Mar 2011 Hong
Kong Art Festival (Hong Kong,China); considered to be one of the
most important cultural events inSoutheast Asia
18 Feb 2011
Sangha
Day or Makha
Bucha (Buddhist); a celebration of friendship,
Buddists come together to celebrate their worldwide community, the
Sangha. ; NOTE - cities around the world
celebrateSangha Day at
different dates thorughout the year
18 Feb 2011
Ras
Al Khaimah Half Marathon (RAK, UAE); half marathon and relay, excellent
price money
25Feb - 20Mar 2011 NZ
International Arts Festival (Wellington, New
Zealand); the foremost cultural event in New
Zealand, visual and performing arts and entertainment
14 - 26 Feb 2011
Dubai
Tennis Championships (DubaiTennis Stadium, Aviation Club,Dubai, UAE)
3
Mar 2011
Maha
Shivaratri, Night of Shiva
(Hindu);
Hindu festival to worship Lord Shiva
1 - 31 Mar 2011
Borealis
Winter Festival (Alta,
Norway);
this annual winter festival celebrates the Northern
Lights with
live music, theatre and markets
5 - 8 Mar 2011
Rio
de Janeiro Carnival (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil);
carnival festivities in Rio date
back to 1723
5,
6
Mar 2011
Cape
Argus Pick ‘n Pay Mountain Bike Challenge (South
Africa); Boschendal vineyards, Malan's Quarry, Berg River,
see route
description
5 Mar 2011
Bonita
Ironman New Zealand (Taupo, New
Zealand); the worlds oldest international Ironman; 2011 is the 25th edition
of the most international race on the Ironman qualifying calendar
12 Mar 2011
Abu Dhabi International Triathlon
(Abu Dhabi, UAE); choice of long or short
distances; prize money of $250,000 – not to be missed
13
Mar2011
Cape
Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour
(South
Africa); Sea Point, Camps Bay,Hout Bay,
Simonstown, Muizenberg
19 - 27 Mar 2011
Great
New Zealand Trek (New Zealand); ever wanted to trek the entire
NZ (it can be done), this year it is stage 3, from the top of the
Coromandel going south towards Thames
17 Mar 2011
St
Patrick’s Day (Christian)
18 Mar 2011
Mina
Mile (Dubai, UAE); annual swim event at Mina Seyahi
Hotel by Super
Sports
20
Mar 2011
Hola
Mohalla,
Sikh New Year (Sikh);
the first day of the lunar new year festival, but the actual beginning
of the month is 14 March, Nanakshahi
Calendar
20 Mar 2011
Equinoctial Earth
Day; United Nations celebrates it
around 20 March each year, US
celebrates it around 22 April, equinox can have two meanings in astronomy
27Mar - 3Apr 2011
Absa
Cape Epic (South Africa); Knysna to Grabouw, considered
to
be the most challenging mountain bike race in Africa and one of the
biggest mountain bike races in the World; see the epic
route
22 Mar 2011
World
Water Day
5 Mar 2011
Super
Run Series, Race 3 (Dubai, UAE); choose between a 8 or 4km run
starting at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, see map
26 Mar 2011
Dubai
World Cup (Dubai, UAE); the biggest, annual horse race
event in the United
Arab Emirates
2 - 9 Apr 2011
KKNK,
Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (Oudtshoorn, South
Africa); established in 1994/5; second biggets festival in South
Africa; an annual cultural celebration of the arts; get a taste of
Afrikaans culture and tradition
3 Apr 2011
Mothering
Sunday,
Mother’s Day (Christian, Secular); time to say thank you to
Mums and female carers everywhere
17 Apr 2011
London
Marathon (London, UK);
rated as the world’s
number one marathon, due to its great atmosphere and its superior
organisation
22, 23 Apr 2011
Two
Oceans Marathon (Cape Town, South Africa); classified as the
world’s most beautiful marathon, all along the edges and cliffs of
Chapman's Peak road, and the Twelve Apostles for company
23 Apr 2011
St
Georges Day (Christian)
23 – 25 Apr 2011
Easter weekend (Christian); Good Friday, Holy
Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
21Apr - 5May 2011
San
Francisco International Film Festival (San Francisco, USA);
established 1957
25 Apr 2011
ANZAC
Day; remains one of Australia
and New
Zealand's most important national holidays
1 May 2011
May
Day (Secular)
2 - 5 May 2011
Arabian
Travel Market (Dubai, UAE); travel and tourism exhibition
7 May 2011
Super
Run Series, Race 4 (Dubai, UAE); choose between a 8 or 4km run
starting at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, see map
11 - 22 May 2011
Cannes
Film Festival (Cannes,France); established 1939
17May - 5Jun 2011
French
Open (Roland Garros, Paris, France);
the second Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year
17 May 2011
Buddha
Day or Wesak (Buddhist); celebrating the birth of Lord
Buddha on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar
calendar (or 9May11)
27May - 12Jun 2011 Bath
Fringe Festival
(Bath, UK);
cabaret, street theatre, indoor theatre, circus arts, dance, film and
digital arts
29 May 2011
Comrades
Marathon (South Africa); one year you run from Durban to
Pietermaritzburg and the other way round the next (89.5km), also known
as the ‘ultimate human race’
1 Jun 2011
Clean Air Day; part of Environment Week
1 - 5 Jun
2011
Copenhagen
Distortion (Copenhagen, Denmark);
celebrating its 12th anniversary in 2011; a five-day music and arts
celebration of Copenhagen’s urban identity, its club culture and
alternative nightlife
5 Jun 2011
World
Environment Day; forms part of Environment Week
8 Jun
2011
World
Ocean Day
10 - 19 Jun 2011
Eigse
Carlow Arts Festival (Carlow, Ireland); one of Ireland’s largest
arts festivals; ten days of dancing, comedy, drumming, music, art,
poetry, crafts and workshops
11 Jun 2011
Corpus
Christi (Christian)
15 - 26 Jun 2011
Edinburgh
International Film Festival (Edinburgh, UK);
established 1947
15Jun - 9Jul 2011
Festival
de Marseille (Marseille,France); a three-week summer,
multi-art festival
27Jun - 16Jul 2011
City
of London Festival (London, UK);since 1962, an annual multi-art
festival in London’s Square Mile as well as other dazzling public spaces
19 Jun 2011
Father’s
Day (Secular); time to say thank you to Dads and
male carers everywhere; NOTE: date varies from country to country
19 - 25 Jun 2011 Cannes
Lions International Advertising Festival (Cannes, France); celebrating its 58th
anniversary in 2011; the ultimate event in the world of advertising,
nominating the world’s best commercials
28 Jun 2011
Lailat
al-Meiraj, Ascension of the Prophet (Muslim); public
holiday in the UAE; the Islamic
Calendar is based on lunar observation (local sightings
of various phases of the moon), thus given date is an approximation
20Jun - 3Jul 2011
Wimbledon
(London, England);
the third Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year
30Jun - 10Jul 2011
National
Arts Festival Grahamstown (Grahamstown, South Africa);
established 1974; the biggest arts festival in South
Africa, and a cultural celebration of the arts on the African continent
Discontinued
Marato
de l'Espectacle (Barcelona,
Spain); No more MARATO's, 2009 saw
the last of the MARATO's, 25 years of
amazing, eccentric and experimental showcase of the performing
arts in front of live audiences; but Marato continue to present their
passion
for the performing arts to the general public via various projects'
14Jul - 14Nov 2011
New
Zealand International Film Festivals (major cities, New
Zealand); established 1970
3 Jul 2011
Ratha
Yatra (Hindu); Hindu festival to worship Lord
Krishna; NOTE - cities around the world celebrate Ratha
Yatra at
different dates throughout the year
21 - 31 Jul 2011
Durban
International Film Festival (Durban, South
Africa); established 1979
22Jul - 8Aug 2011
Melbourne
International Film Festival (Melbourne, Australia);
established 1952
15 Jul 2011
Asalha
Puja Day (Buddhist); also called Dhamma Day, celebrates
the first teaching of Gautama Buddha; the middle way, the noble
eight-fold path and the four noble truths
Discontinued
Klippenberg
Arts and Craft Festival (Karibib, Namibia);
this Namibian multi-art festival first kicked off at the Klippenberg
Country Club in 2002
1 Aug 2011
Ramadan begins (Muslim); the Islamic
calendar is based on lunar observation (local sightings
of various phases of the moon), thus given date is an approximation
5 - 29 Aug 2011
Edinburgh
Fringe Festival (Edinburg, Scotland, UK); claims to be the
largest arts festival in the world, covering international authors,
films, talks, visual arts, music, comedy, dance, crafts, opera, and
theatre
22 Aug 2011
Khrisna
Janmashtami (Hindu); Hindu festival to celebrate
LordKrishna’s birthday, the eighth
avatar(incarnation) of Vishnu
25 Aug - 5Sep 2011
Montreal
World Film Festival (Montreal, Canada);
established 1977
29Aug - 11Sep 2011 US
Open (Flushing
Meadows, New York, USA); the last Grand Slam tennis tournament of the
year
30 Aug 2011
Eid
al-Fitr, Ramadan ends (Muslim); public holiday in the UAE; the Islamic
Calendar is based on lunar observation (local sightings
of various phases of the moon), thus given date is an approximation
31Aug - 10Sep 2011 Venice
International Film Festival (Venice, Italy);
established 1932, celebrating its 68th
anniversary in 2011; at the Venice Biennale since 1895 one of the most
prestigious cultural institutions in the world
1 Sep 2011
Ganesh
Chaturthi (Hindu); Hindu festival to celebrate the birth
of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed God
16 - 24 Sep 2011
San
Sebastian International Film Festival (San Sebastian, Spain);
established 1953
25 Sep 2011
real,
Berlin Marathon (Berlin,Germany); rated as the world’s
number two marathon, the Berlin Marathon is celebrating its 38th
anniversary in 2011
17Sep - 3Oct 2011
München
Oktoberfest (Munich,Germany); annual beer festival,
celebrating its 178th anniversary in 2011
25 Sep 2011
Talisman
Herald Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge
(South Africa); Uniondale
to Knysna via the Prince Alfred's Pass; one of the top ten mountain
bike races in South Africa, see the map
& profile
21 Sept 2011
International
Day of Peace (Secular)
23Sep - 9Oct 2011
New
York Film Festival (New York,USA); established 1962
TBC Sep 2011
Bank
Windhoek Arts Festival / Triennale (Windhoek,Namibia); established in 2002; the
biggest Namibian arts festival celebrating theatre, dance, music and
visual art
4 - 8 Oct 2011
Aardklop
Nasionale Kunstefees (Potchefstroom, South Africa);
celebrating its 13th anniversary in 2011, a lekker (nice), local art
festival
2 - 6 Oct 2011
Durga
Puja Festival (Hindu); religious festival in honour of the
Hindu goddess Durga
9 - 13 Oct 2011
GITEX (Dubai, UAE); annual exhibition re IT business
solutions, telecommunications and consumer electronics
13 - 22 Oct 2011
ABU
DHABI Film Festival (Abu Dhabi, UAE); arab and world films showcase
12 - 27 Oct 2011
London
Film Festival (London, UK);
established 1956
20 - 23 Oct 2011
MTB
Cape to Cape Western Australia (WA, Australia); mountain bike race from
Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste, through the Margaret River
26 Oct 2011
Diwali, Deepawali, (Sikh, Hindu); the most important date in the Hindu
Calendar, also called ‘the Festival
of Lights’
1 Nov 2011
All
Saints Day (Christian)
4 - 9 Nov 2011
Hajj (Muslim); the annual holy pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah); the
Hajj is the
fifth and final pillar of Islam
6 Nov 2011
New
York Marathon (New York,USA); rated as the world’s
number three marathon, but it claims to be the world’s favourite
marathon
6 Nov 2011
Eid
al-Adha, Festival
of Sacrifice (Muslim); public holiday in the UAE; the Islamic
Calendar is based on lunar observation (local sightings
of various phases of the moon), thus given date is an approximation
21Nov – 1Dec 2011
International
Film Festival of India (Goa, India);
established 1952
21 -24 Nov 2011
The
Big 5 Show (Dubai, UAE); Middle East International
Building & Construction exhibition features a wide range of
building and construction products and materials
26 Nov 2011
Muharram
(Al –Hijra), Islamic
New Year (Muslim); public holiday in the UAE; the Islamic
calendar is based on lunar observation (local sightings
of various phases of the moon), thus given date is an approximation
27 Nov 2011
Beirut
Marathon (Beirut, Lebanon); a great event for all
Lebanese and keen runners in the Middle East
29Nov - 8Dec 2011
Cairo
International Film Festival (Cairo, Egypt);
established 1976
30 Nov 2011
St
Andrew’s Day (Christian)
2 Dec 2011
United
Arab Emirates National Day; public holiday in the UAE
9 - 14 Dec 2011
Abu
Dhabi Adventure Challenge (Abu Dhabi, UAE); an annual fitness (team)
challenge over six days
10 Dec 2011
Human
Rights Day
11 - 18 Dec 2011
Dubai
International Film Festival (Dubai, UAE); celebrating its 7th anniversary
in 2011
25 Dec 2011
Christmas
Day (Christian)
26 Dec 2011
Boxing
Day (Secular)
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