With only 12 months in a year (which for the average employee only grants four weeks of vacation time) how can you utilize your free time to its maximum capacity and enjoy the best things life has to offer? Regardless of age, budget, or individual tastes, we have composed 10 of the ‘must attend’ events.

1. New Orleans Mardi Gras - One of the most sought after International Mardi Gras locations. New Orleans offers locals and tourists alike a week long session of street parties, colorful parades and local festivities, the perfect location to release all your inner inhibitions.

2. Carnival in Salvador, Brazil. Although many believe Rio de Janeiro is the place to soak up a true Brazilian carnival, the pulse of the party actually lies within the heart of Salvador. Tourists and Brazilians alike flock to Salvador for the official week long festivities (an unknown reality is the carnival in Salvador commences New Years Eve and is not over until April). Experience the Bahian beauty, hospitality, love and overall jest for life in an unforgettable carnival experience.

3. Chinese New Year - Beijing. China, otherwise referred to as Lunar New Year, traditionally commences on the first day of the new lunar cycle each year. The New Year celebrations in Beijing usually last around 3 days, however the weeks preceding the celebrations are also well renowned for partying.

4. Oktoberfest - One of the largest international public parties, Oktoberfest can be found celebrated in various countries throughout the world. The beer drinking festival is held over the last week in September and the first week in October. The most famous location for partaking in this fun filled holiday is in Munich, Germany.

5. New Years Eve - Sydney harbor bridge. The fireworks display held over Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Years Eve never fails to satisfy spectators. Be sure to arrive at a viewing spot early as it tends to get fairly crowded towards the late evening.

6. St Patrick’s Day in Dublin - Whether you are American, English, Australian, regardless of nationality the chances that there is a small percentage of ‘an Irishman’ running through your blood is very high. The Emerald isle is renowned internationally for its hospitality, warm heartedness, its love for the arts, oh and March the 17th, St Patrick’s Day, where young and old come together in unity to celebrate the joyousness related to being a proud Irishman. The Guinness Factory even has imprinted on their walls in Dublin that “everyone is Irish on March 17th”. Dublin holds day long celebrations generally starting with a parade through the city. However, the true Irish are known for celebrating St Patrick’s Day for more than a week long period.

7. The Henley Royal Regatta - This highly regarded regatta attracts the finest rowing enthusiasts from around the globe. Originally held in 1839 it has remained a yearly event (exemption during World War 1 and 2) and guarantees to provide a fun filled experience for participants and spectators alike.

8. The Cannes Film Festival - This international film festival held in France is known as the most important event within the world of the motion picture industry. A trip to Cannes during Film festival season allows for a spectacular tourist experience, from sunbathing to celebrity spotting. The large screens situated upon the beach even allow visitors to watch the up and coming movies being held within the festival.

9. Edinburgh International Festival - One of the largest international arts festivals in the world, the Edinburgh international festival has something to offer everyone, from classical compositions to recent rock and roll stars. The festival runs for a duration of three weeks and usually commences during the middle of August.

10. Tour de France - The most famous bike ride within the world, the Tour de France has propelled names such as Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya (Big Mig in English) and Lance Armstrong into international stardom. The 23 day bike race takes in some of the most famous sights within France such as ‘The Champs-Élysees’ and the breathtaking Alps. The world hosts a large array of parties and events to indulge in on a continual basis.

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As we circled the globe looking for the best of jazz, I admit, I was surprised to find a trend fostered by the French language; it seems that most romantic language lends itself to this passionate music. From New Orleans, LA in the United States to Marciac, France, here are the best of the best:

Coming in at, perhaps, the most popular and best known is the New Orleans Jazz Festival in Louisiana which this past year featured such superstars as The Neville Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffett, Tim McGraw, and Santana. The best of the U.S. can arguably be summed up with the New York Jazz (running now) and San Francisco Jazz Festivals, creating a cross-continent tour to keep you entertained. Usually mid-October through November 30, the forthcoming San Francisco Jazz Festival brings the best and brightest to the beautiful Golden Gate setting for epic and intimate concerts at venues throughout the city.

Head north from your U.S. tour to Montreal then south to Havana (as you can’t get there from the U.S.) to finish a North America tour including Canada’s Montreal Jazz Festival starting June 26 at the Place des Arts, and The Havana International Jazz Festival. Design by Cubans and… Canadians (apparently, yes really), first time and returning visitors to the Havana Festival get to know Cuban culture while experiencing the best of Latin and international jazz; be sure to bring some of that Montreal experience with you and you’ll fit right in.

From the U.S. to Europe, the Montreux Jazz Festival kicks off in early July starting you at the foot of the Alps on the banks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, in a region known for its unique climate and quality of life as “The Swiss Riviera”. Wrap up Europe with time in France at the Jazz in Marciac summer festival which has just tapped Wynton Marsalis with his Septet, Quintet and friend Richard Galliano. From Marciac to Paris for the ongoing Paris Jazz Festival in beautiful Parc Floral.

Not found in a specific place so much as being throughout the Caribbean, the annual Jazz Party at Sea is a Week long Jazz Cruise featuring the likes of the Cyrus Chestnut Trio and Harry Allen Quartet. With 30 top musicians playing in various combinations on different nights, you get to know them personally in intimate settings granting the possibility of joining an amateur jam

I’d be remiss without adding a local favorite; the Fillmore Jazz Festival in San Francisco, CA this Independence Day weekend. Say hello to Brooks for me.

Not enough? Find your local jazz festival with Zvents or any one of our local partners. For more Jazz news and music, give Jazziz a read or visit All about Jazz.

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Although most of us celebrate the new year on January 1st, there is plenty to celebrate according to the Lunar New Year calendar. On February 7th, we’ll welcome The Year of the Rat by announcing: “Gung Hay Fat Choy” (Cantonese) or “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Mandarin) with hopeful wishes of prosperity.

The color red, a symbol of “good luck,” can be found everywhere on Chinese New Year. Grand festivities and lively celebrations are a cultural tradition. For those who can visit a Chinatown (located across the country in major metro areas), it’s not difficult to miss the startling sound of firecrackers and the deafening clamor of the gong, cymbals, and drums, followed by the elaborate costumes worn by Chinese lion dancers. The lion dancers transfix their audience by moving to the rhythm of the commotion, which resonates throughout the neighborhoods as they chase away evil spirits and bring good fortune.

If you’re looking for something a bit more tranquil, try a Chinese New Year Tea Tasting at the Cha Ma Gu Dao Teahouse to peacefully ease into the new year.If you like community events with parades and floats, the Chinatown Street Fair is a must! You and your family can enjoy dance and music, and also experience ancient and modern Chinese arts such as calligraphy, kite making and acrobatics.

What about the United States Miss Chinatown USA Pageant? Who will be crowned this year at the Palace of Fine Arts on February 16th? For almost 50 years, young women from throughout the United States have come to San Francisco to compete for prizes and scholarships in the annual Miss Chinatown USA Pageant. The winners will become goodwill ambassadors for the Chinese community throughout the year.

If you’re hungry, wander through the Chinese enclaves and arouse your sense with different flavors, smells and aromas. Try a dim sum restaurant like Chau Chow Dim Sum for a tasty sampling of Chinese lunch dishes or indulge your family with an authentic 10-course banquet dinner feast at Empress Pavilion Restaurant.

If you’re really serious about Chinese culture and language, try taking a Mandarin language course or a 15-day study abroad trip to China. What better time to learn to speak the native tongue…especially with the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics just around the corner?

Go ahead and celebrate 2008 a second time around! It’s a great excuse for another New Year’s celebration…but this time with a cultural twist!

Photo/Video Credits: Flickr User: T.O. Wong - Year of The Rat, YouTube User: Kleinkill, Pageant: 2007 Miss Chinatown Court

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If you’re a fan of fromage (that’s French for cheese), crazy for queso, or just cheered by cheese, then you might want to work one of these cheese events into your plans.

Top 5 Cheese Festival Picks:
(listed chronologically)

California’s Artisan Cheese Festival
March 7 - Petaluma, CA
Four days to learn about and taste artisan cheese…and that it happens to be in Sonoma wine country is a bonus!

Oregon Cheese Festival
March 15 - Central Point, OR
Sample cow, sheep and goat cheese from Oregon and northern California creameries.

Seattle Cheese Festival
May 16-18 - Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA
Taste more than 200 cheeses from local and international producers along the cobblestone street.

Amish Country Cheese Festival
Labor Day Weekend, August 30–September 1 - Arthur, IL
National Cheese Eating Championship. Need we say more?

Riverbank Cheese & Wine Exposition
October 11 & 12 - Riverbank, CA
Cheese and wine, together at last! Taste California wines and cheeses, and enjoy the street fair.

And there is much, much more cheese goodness in the world, including cheese tasting classes, and even cheese-making school! Here’s a more extensive list of 2008 Cheese Festivals & Events.

Cheese History:
Many historians believe that cheesemaking originated in the Middle East about 5,000 years ago. One legend cites the “discoverer” of cheese was an Arab nomad, who had filled his drinking bladder with milk to sustain him for a long journey across the desert. While resting on his trip, he discovered that the milk had separated into a watery liquid and solid white lumps. His drinking bladder was made from the stomach of a young animal, which contained a coagulating enzyme known as rennin. The rennin separated the curds (solid white lumps) and whey (watery liquid). And thus the first cheese was born…though it probably didn’t taste anything like a nice wedge of Stilton!

Photo credit: Flickr user cathou_cathare

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While perusing our fine dining establishments for the coming holiday, we discovered an amusing opportunity for a road trip that takes us to the best local restaurants in towns with coincidental names. The trip was too enjoyable not to share with you Zvents’ 2008 dining road trip, a whirlwind, foodie tour of the United States through the most unusual of towns.

Start with an early morning wake up call in the aptly named Collins Mississippi suburb of Hot Coffee. The moon pies at this area “mini mall” may not be your idea of a healthy breakfast but you can’t argue that the coffee must be world renowned; after all, they’ve named the town after it. So skip the moon pies grab a cuppa joe as we head to Bacon, IN, Buttermilk, KS, and Two Egg, FL for something to fill that belly. I like my eggs scrabbled but at Mary’s Breakfast Nook just outside Bacon or around the corner from Two Egg at the Huddle House, you can get them any way you want. Pancakes and Eggs not your cup of Tea? (hang on… we’ll get to Tea) Sit tight for the annual Oatmeal Festival brought to you by Oatmeal, TX and Quaker Oats. Every September, thousands flock to Bertram, TX (yeah I know, why isn’t it in Oatmeal, TX?) where you are encouraged “bring your honey to Oatmeal”

From Two Egg, we’re off to Sandwich, MA just 20 miles south of Boston and Tortilla Flat, AZ for lunch. We suggest Bobby Byrne’s Sandwich in Sandwich or Sluggo’s Sports Bar near Tortilla Flats (you expected Mexican didn’t you?). With Tortilla Flat just east of Phoenix, you have an endless list of options for lunch so consider this ‘free time’ from our tight schedule and enjoy the warmth and sun.

Back in the car we’re driving through Tea, South Dakota on our way to Kaladis Coffee Legend and Bistro for that mid-day snack to tide you over till dinner. If you are good in the car, we’ll stop in Pie Town, NM and swing by The Adobe Cafe and Bakery for a treat.

For dinner, we’re torn between a Picnic in Florida, there is the little market just off (ahem) Picnic St. in Port Charlotte, or some Good food around Goodfood, MS; Ragtime in Grenada is a great choice.

From there we leave you to your own devices. Search Zvents and discover amazing places to eat like Cheesequake, NJ,   Sugarland, TX, or Ham Lake, Minnesota where we should remind you to wait 20 minutes before going swimming.

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