MILAN, ITALY
There is still time to catch the Universal Exhibition or World's Fair (www.expo2015.org) in Milan before it ends on Oct 31. The exhibition, where more than 140 countries present the best of their culture and technology, is held in different cities around the world every two or three years.
The theme for this year's exhibition is Feeding The Planet, Energy For Life, which explores humanity's need for healthy, safe and sufficient food resources.
The exhibition also features music performances from around the world. Next month's line-up includes an evening of hip-hop for dancing with Italian rappers Marracash, Gue Pequeno and Emis Killa; circus acts and concerts by performers from the Czech Republic; and a show by Hungarian illusionist David Merlini.
When: Till Oct 31
Info: www.expo2015.org/en
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
If electronic dance music is your jam, head for the Amsterdam Dance Event, the world's biggest club festival for electronic music.
More than 2,000 top artists will perform in more than 450 events around the city during the five-day festival.
This year's performers includeAfrojack, David Guetta and Carl Cox.
When: Oct 14 to 18
Info: www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl
INDIA
The 10-day festival of Shardiya Navratri is dedicated to the nine manifestations of the beautiful and fierce Goddess Durga, the remover of life's miseries. Each night of the festival celebrates one of Goddess Durga's nine manifestations.
It is celebrated through processions, dances and temple offerings all across India, but the festival is best experienced in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
When: Oct 13 to 22
Info: www.drikpanchang.com/navratri
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Fans of bluegrass have flocked to Golden Gate Park every October since 2001 for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, a free three-day festival which features the best of the genre.
Hundreds of thousands of people attend the festival, carrying picnic baskets full of artisanal cheeses, organic produce, craft beer and local wine (no hard liquor allowed), and find a spot on the grass to sit on and enjoy the strumming banjos. In true San Francisco style, the festival aims to be waste-free, so recycling, composting and biking or taking public transportation to the event are encouraged.
When: Oct 2 to 4
Info: www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2015/
ASHLAND, OREGON
Since 1935, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has been thrilling theatre lovers with 11 plays which are held throughout its season from February to early November.
Though the festival originally focused on works by Shakespeare, the programme now typically includes three or four plays by the Bard and seven others by classic playwrights. Some of the plays being staged this year are Much Ado About Nothing, Guys And Dolls, Antony And Cleopatra and The Count Of Monte Cristo.
Most run continuously throughout the season, so visitors can enjoy up to nine plays on any given week, though some will end in the middle of next month.
When: Till Nov 1
Info: www.osfashland.org
Lydia Vasko
