Abu Dhabi: International Camel Beauty Contest at the Mazayin Dhafra Festival

This animal version of Miss World takes place in Zayed City outside Abu Dhabi each year. Some camel owners travel on foot for weeks to enter the most beautiful of their herd into the contest, in which over 9 million US dollars and 100 cars are given out in total to prize winners. Camels are judged on criteria including the fullness of their hump and size of nose. The contest aims to promote Emirati national identity through an animal which is central to Arab culture. The Mazayin Dhafra festival also hosts singing shows and handicraft stalls and is accessible from Abi Dhabi by 4x4 or camel. Next event: April 2009.

ASIA

Malaysian Borneo: Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak

Set in the rainforest of Malaysian Borneo, this celebration of traditional music from around the world is a real treat. The jungle plays host to an array of musicians from all over the world - from Polish Celt-funk to indigenous music from the interiors of Borneo. The afternoon involves jamming sessions, ethno-music lectures and short concerts, which turns into a night of dancing to the rhythm of nature and music combined. Next event: 11th-13th July 2008.

Mali: Festival on the Niger, Segou

This lively celebration of the ancestral rites of the region involves a mix of music, dance and puppetry. In a country famous for its music scene, the festival hosts musicians and artists from Mali and the rest of West Africa. So get on down and dance alongside the floating stage and watch the fire-lit canoes float on by. Accommodation is available in homes with local families, local dormitories, camping or on a luxury river-boat. Next event: 29th Jan to 3rd Feb 2009.

Spain: Las Fallas, Valencia

Spain is famous for its love of partying - fiesta style. Las fallas (literally 'the fires') must be one of Spain's most bizarre examples. Every year a large number of huge papier-mache statues (ninots) several stories high are built and placed all over town. The statues, whose depictions include timely imitations of corrupt politicians and Spanish celebrities, are then filled with fire-works and set alight at midnight. The scene of what looks like the whole city on fire is spectacular, if a little scary. The burning and partying then continue through the night in true Spanish style. Next event: 12th-19th March 2009.

EUROPE

France: Les Europeennes du Gout (Food Lovers' Festival), Aurillac

Quite literally a taste of France - this extravavaganza of everything gastronomical will leave you wanting to undo your belt a notch or two. For three days each year, the historical town of Aurillac plays host to a grand celebration involving food tasting, cooking demonstrations, talks and workshops. This is the place to come to fill your stomach (and your fridge) with the best of France's culinary delights. Next event: June 27th-29th 2008.

NORTH AMERICA

USA: Burning Man festival, Black Rock City, Nevada

Not for the faint-hearted and that's not just because the temperature's 100 degrees. In its own words, Burning Man is "an annual experiement in temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance". Every year for 6 days, thousands of people descend on a remote part of the Black Rock desert and turn it into a the world's weirdest campsite. This is the place to come to express your most unique interests or simply watch others. Themed camps range from the tame to the completely twisted but it's all friendly. Tickets must be purchased in advance and range from about US$200-300. Also check out the camping regulations and equipment requirements before attending. Next event: Aug 25th-Sept 1st 2008.

NORTH AMERICA

USA: Christmas in New York

Ho, Ho, Ho. Come and get into the Christmas spirit by browsing the brightly coloured decorations of the Fifth Avenue shop windows or skating on the ice beneath the grand Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Centre. With any luck, you might even have some snow. Next event: December 2008.

SOUTH AMERICA

Brazil: Carnival, Rio de Janeiro

No other nation knows how to party quite like the Brazilians. This extravaganza of music and dancing in the streets attracts visitors from nations all over the world to come and join in the fun. Watch as the bold and the beautiful dance on by in endless trains of elaborately decorated floats and dance your way through the streets of Rio. Don't miss the Samba Parade (this one is not free - get your tickets beforehand) - often noted as the highlight of the carnival. The drag queens of the Banda de Ipanema are also one of the carnival's most outrageous attractions. The event takes place from Sunday to Tuesday, 7 weeks before Easter each year. Next event: 2nd-5th February 2009.

New Zealand: Pasifika Polynesian Festival, Auckland

For one day each year the cultures of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and other Polynesian islands come together to put on a display of traditional dances, music, food and ceremonies. Over 300 stalls display an array of products from tapa cloth, traditional wood carvings, food made from traditional recipes and music. This is the place to get a taste of the Pacific Islands without having to step a foot outside New Zealand's most vibrant city. Next event: March 2009.