01 Nov AROUND THE WORLD IN NOVEMBER 2019
FROM ISTANBUL TO LONDON TO LAGOS, HERE’S OUR TOP 5 PICKS OF EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD IN NOVEMBER 2019
Kenu and Kundu Festival
Where: Alotau, Papua New Guinea
When: 1-3 November 2019
Live music, traditional dancing, arts and craft displays, and drama performances all set the mood for this celebration of customary Papuan ways of life.
[Photos via Facebook]
The usually tranquil seaside town of Alotau, capital of Milne Bay Province, takes on a whole new character during this annual cultural celebration. There will be traditional songs, vibrant singsing dances and plenty of fresh island fare to indulge in – but it’s the impeccably handcrafted kundu drums and kenu canoes that steal the show. Get swept away by the thumping beats, and watch as locals race long canoes – made the same way they were a thousand years ago – across the scenic bay. Though the event itself is not exactly an ancient tradition (the festival was founded in 2003), it’s still an immersive way to experience the spirited culture of the region as it has been lived for centuries.
PA Baconfest
Where: Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
When: 2-3 November 2019
If there’s anything America loves more than bacon, it’s finding new and unusual ways to eat it.
[Photo via PA Baconfest]
At Easton’s annual pig pickin’ pork festival, you’ll find the meaty favourite stuffed into pretzels, on top of cupcakes, covered in chocolate – even replacing berries as the key ingredient in jam – but also in more classic dishes like sandwiches and burgers. Thankfully, the emphasis here is on vendors who source their swine from local farms, ideally small-scale and free-range, so the ethical qualms are minimal. Watching your cholesterol? Take a stroll through the open-air market to find fresh local fruits, veggies and organic breads. And before you fall into a satisfying food coma, be sure to check out the festival’s many fun events, from hog-calling competitions to costume contests, a 5K race, cooking demonstrations, live music and activities for the kids.
pabaconfest.com
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Where:Hyde Park, London
When:Nov 21 2019-Jan 5 2020
It’s a real treat for anyone wanting to get into the festive spirit – as long as you’re ready to hear all those songs as you potter around.
Other highlights of Hyde Park’s annual Christmas treat include circuses and the biggest outdoor rink in the UK – it surrounds the Victorian bandstand and is illuminated with more than 100,000 lights. There’s also the Winter Wonderland Comedy Club, ice sculpting workshops and a German-style Bavarian Village full of frothing steins and live music.
Contemporary Istanbul
Where: Istanbul, Turkey
When: 12-15 November 2019
The Istanbul art scene has been flourishing over the past few years – a fact that’s never more obvious than when the city hosts its annual arts festival.
[Photo via Contemporary Istanbul]
In 2019, look out for the more than 70 galleries hailing from 23 countries, encompassing 510 artists and 1,400 artworks across the event’s four days. Expect to mingle with artists and collectors, critics and academics, gallery owners and art enthusiasts from across the globe, and peruse projects by homegrown Turkish talents in everything from painting to sculpture and multimedia artwork. Particular highlights of this edition include Plugin, an exhibition of digital art and new media curated by Esra Ozkan, as well as the Garden of Eden, an open-air sculpture park curated by Anissa Touati.
GTBank Fashion Weekend
Where: Victoria Island, Lagos
When: 9-10 November, 2019
The GTBank Fashion Weekend is a consumer-focused fair and free business platform designed to showcase the best of Africa’s Fashion to a global audience whilst promoting the effervescent enterprise of the continents growing fashion industry.
Photo via Lanre DaSilva Ajayi
With over 30,000 people showing up to last year’s fashion weekend over the course of 2 days, it is every shopaholic’s dream. More than 90 stalls to shop from, a constant stream of masterclasses and runway shows to end the day. Whether you’re a fashion weekend OG or a first timer, the frenzy of shoppers and fashion enthusiasts this is the energy of Lagos!
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