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Submit an Event: Express-VA
welcomes calendar submissions and
provides this as a free service to readers and event managers.
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January
2008
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1
January 2008
New Year’s Day
(Secular)
9 - 11 Jan 2008
Wellbeing Show
(Dubai,
UAE); at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, all
things good for mind, body and spirit
14 - 27 Jan 2008
Australian Open
(Rod Laver/Vodafone arena, Melbourne, Australia);
the first Grand Slam tennis tournament for 2008
10 January 2008 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
17 - 27 Jan 2008 Sundance Film Festival
(Park City, Utah, USA); the largest
independent cinema festival in the US;
established 1985
18 January 2008
Dubai Marathon
(Dubai,
UAE), an annual event with great prizes if you are up for the physical
challenge
20 January 2008 World Religion Day;
as per their website ‘…to foster the establishment
of interfaith understanding and harmony by emphasizing the common
denominators underlying all religions’
21 Jan - 15 Feb 2008 Muscat Festival
(Muscat, Sultanate of Oman); an
art festival showcasing Omani, and Arabic culture all over Muscat
24 Jan - 24 Feb 2008
Dubai Jazz Festival
(Dubai, UAE);
forms part of the Dubai Summer Festival
26
January 2008
Australia Day; more
on the history
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February
2008
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1 February 2008 Dubai Tri-club Half Ironman
(Al
Jazira Resort, Abu Dhabi, UAE); fitness challenge comprising of 1.9km
swim, 90km bike, 21km run
2 February 2008 Dubai Road Runners 10km
(Dubai, UAE); 10km run only
1 - 29 Feb 2008 MANTRA International World Music
Festival
(Miami, United States); one of Miami’s
best-loved cultural events
2 - 5 February 2008
Rio de Janeiro Carnival
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); carnival
festivities in Rio
date back to 1723
7 February 2008 Chinese New Year;
7 February 2008 marks the beginning of the first lunar month of Chinese
year 4706, the year of the Rat
2 February 2008 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon (RAK, UAE); half marathon and relay, excellent price money
7 - 17 February 2008 Berlin International Film Festival
(Berlin,
Germany);
established 1951
10 - 18 Feb 2008 Havana Jazz Festival
(Havana,
Cuba);
established 1978
14 February 2008 St Valentine’s Day
(Secular,
Christian)
14 Feb - 16 Mar 2008 Hong Kong Art Festival
(Hong Kong, China); considered to
be one of the most important cultural events in Southeast
Asia
15 February 2008 Parinirvana, Nirvana Day
(Buddhist); this Mahayana Buddhist festival marks the death of Gautama
Buddha at Kushinagara,
India,
at the age of 80
15
February 2008 Mercure Challenge Race
(Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain, UAE); fitness challenge run/cycle
15 - 23 Mar 2008 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
15
February 2008 Mirdif Milers 10mile
(Dubai, UAE); 10 mile running race
18 February 2008
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
22 Feb - 16 Mar 2008 NZ International Arts Festival
(Wellington, New Zealand); the
foremost cultural event in New Zealand,
visual and performing arts and entertainment
25 Feb - 8 Mar 2008
Dubai Tennis Championships
(Dubai Tennis
Stadium, Aviation Club, Dubai, UAE)
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March
2008
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1 March 2008 Bonita Ironman New Zealand
(Taupo,
New
Zealand); the worlds
oldest international Ironman; 2008 is the 24th
edition of the most international race on the Ironman qualifying
calendar
1 - 31 Mar 2008
Borealis
Winter Festival (Alta, Norway);
this annual winter festival celebrates the Northern Lights
with live music, theatre and markets
2 March 2008 Mothering Sunday,
Mother’s Day
(Christian,
Secular); time to say thank you to Mums and female carers everywhere
2
March 2008 Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay
Mountain Bike Challenge (South Africa);
Boschendal vineyards, Malan's Quarry, Berg River, see
route description
6
March 2008 Maha Shivaratri, Night of Shiva
(Hindu); Hindu
festival to worship Lord Shiva
7
March 2008 Arabian Quest Race Series
(UAE); biking,
hiking, navigating; are you up for the adventure
or extreme course?
7 March 2008 Abu Dhabi Striders Race
(Abu Dhabi, UAE); 10km and half marathon
7 March 2008 Dubai Tri-club Olympic Triathlon
(Dubai, UAE); sprint, novice and junior
9
March2008 Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay
Cycle Tour (South Africa); Sea
Point, Camps
Bay,
Hout Bay,
Simonstown, Muizenberg, see the route map
14 March 2008 Nanakshahi, Sikh New Year
(Sikh);
the first day of Chet in year 539 in the Nanakshahi Calendar
17 March 2008 St Patrick’s Day
(Christian)
20 March 2008
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
21 March 2008 Mina Mile
(Dubai, UAE); annual swim event at Mina Seyahi Hotel
21 March 2008 Magha Puja
(Buddhist);
considered to be the second most important Buddhist festival
21 March 2008 Dubai Road Runners Race
(Dubai, UAE); 3 x 4km relay
21 - 29 Mar 2008 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
21, 22, 23, 24 Mar 2008 Easter weekend
(Christian); Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
22
March 2008 Equinoctial Earth Day; or around 20 March each year, equinox can
have two meanings in astronomy
22
March 2008 World Water Day
28
Mar - 5 Apr 2008 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
29
March 2008
Dubai World Cup
(Dubai, UAE); the
biggest, annual horse race event in the United Arab
Emirates
31 March 2008 Coral Beach Tennis Tournament (Sharjah,
UAE); local tennis tournament, all categories
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April
2008
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4 April 2008 Mina Seyahi Aquathlon (Dubai,
UAE); fitness challenge run/swim
4 April 2008 Abu Dhabi Striders Cross Country (Abu Dhabi,
UAE); 2.5, 5 and 10km races
4 - 13 April 2008 Windhoek International Film
Festival (Windhoek, Namibia);
established 2001
13 April 2008 London Marathon
(London,
UK);
rated as the world’s number one
marathon, due to its great atmosphere and its
superior organisation
23 April 2008 St Georges Day
(Christian)
24 Apr - 8 May 2008 San Francisco International Film
Festival (San Francisco,
USA);
established 1957
25 April 2008
ANZAC Day;
remains one of Australia
and New
Zealand's most important
national holidays
28 Apr - 3 May 2008 UAE National Tennis Championships (Dubai,
UAE); national open tennis tournament, all categories
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May
2008
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1
May 2008
May Day (Secular)
5 - 10 May 2008 Furjeirah Country Club Tennis Tournament (Fujeirah,
UAE); local tennis tournament, all categories (except women's singles)
6, 7, 8 May 2008
Arabian Travel Market
(Dubai,
UAE); travel and tourism exhibition
9 - 31 May Kunsten Festival des Arts
(Brussels,
Belgium);
an annual art festival that embraces theatre, music, dance, film,
visual arts
12 May 2008 Buddha’s Birthday
(Buddhist);
celebrating the birth of Lord Buddha on the eighth day of the fourth
month in the Chinese lunar calendar
12 - 17 May 2008 Marbella Resort Tennis Tournament (Sharjah,
UAE); local tennis tournament, all categories
14 - 25 May 2008
Cannes Film Festival
(Cannes,
France);
established 1939
19 - 24 May 2008 Al Wasl Sports Club Tennis Tournament (Dubai,
UAE); local tennis tournament, all categories
20 May 2008 Vesak, Buddha Day
(Buddhist);
for western Buddhists this can be a three fold celebration
(Buddha’s Birthday, achieved enlightenment, and attained
‘nirvana’)
22 May 2008 Corpus Christi
(Christian)
23 May - 8 Jun 2008 Bath Fringe Festival
(Bath,
UK);
cabaret, street theatre, indoor theatre, circus arts, dance, film and
digital arts
25 May - 8 Jun 2008 French Open
(Roland Garros, Paris, France);
the second Grand Slam tennis tournament for 2008
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June
2008
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1
June 2008 Clean Air Day;
part of Env Week
1 Jun - 31 Jul
2008 Darwin Fringe Festival
(Darwin, Australia); a multi-art
festival created by Darwin’s vibrant
artists’ community
2 - 7 June
2008
Jumeirah Beach Hotel Tennis
Tournament (Dubai, UAE); local tennis tournament, all
categories
4 - 8 Jun 2008 Copenhagen Distortion
(Copenhagen, Denmark); celebrating
its tenth anniversary in 2008; a five-day music and arts celebration of
Copenhagen’s
urban identity, its club culture and alternative nightlife
5 June 2008 World Environment Day;
forms part of Environment Week; 2008’s host will be New
Zealand, and the slogan will be "CO2,
Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy"
6, 7 June 2008
Marato de l'Espectacle
(Barcelona, Spain); 2008 will see the last MARATO, so if you are in
Barcelona at the time be sure not to miss this eccentric and
experimental showcase of the performing arts in front of live audiences
7 - 15 Jun 2008 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
9 - 14 June
2008
TopSports Indoor Tennis Tournament (Dubai,
UAE); local tennis tournament, all categories
8
June 2008
World Ocean Day
15 June 2008 Father’s Day
(Secular);
time to say thank you to Dads and male carers everywhere
15 June 2008 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’
15 - 21 Jun 2008 Cannes Lions International
Advertising Festival (Cannes,
France); celebrating its 55th anniversary in
2008; the ultimate event in the world of advertising, nominating the
world’s best commercials
18 - 29 June Edinburgh International Film
Festival (Edinburgh, UK);
established 1947
22 Jun - 12 Jul 2008 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
23 Jun - 6 Jul 2008 Wimbledon
(London,
England);
the third Grand Slam tennis tournament for 2008
26
June - 5 July 2008 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
(tbc) Jun - Jul 2008 Festival de Marseille
(Marseille,
France);
a three-week summer, multi-art festival
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July
2008
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5 July 2008 Birthday of Guru Har Gobind
(Sikh);
according to the Nanakshahi Calendar
11 Jul - 26 Nov 2008
New Zealand International Film
Festivals (major cities, New Zealand);
established 1970
16 July 2008 Ratha Yatra
(Hindu);
Hindu festival to worship Lord Krishna
23 Jul - 3 Aug 2008 Durban International Film Festival
(Durban,
South
Africa); established 1979
23 Jul - 10 Aug 2008 Melbourne International Film
Festival (Melbourne, Australia);
established 1952
(tbc) 25 - 26 Jul 2008 Klippenberg Arts and Craft
Festival
(Karibib,
Namibia);
this Namibian multi-art festival will celebrate its sixth anniversary
at the Klippenberg Country Club in 2008
30 July 2008
Leilat
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
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August
2008
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3 - 25 Aug 2008 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
21
Aug - 1 Sept 2008 Montreal World Film Festival
(Montreal, Canada);
established 1977
24
Aug - 7 Sept 2008
Venice International Film Festival
(Venice,
Italy);
established 1932, celebrating its 65th
anniversary in 2008
24 August 2008 Khrisna Janmashtami
(Hindu);
Hindu festival to celebrate Lord Krishna’s
birthday, the eighth avatar
(incarnation) of Vishnu
25 Aug - 7 Sept 2008
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