July
1 - 15,
2006 Hakata Gion Festival - Fukuoka City, Japan
Hakata Gion Yamakasa is an annual summer festival held from July 1 to 15 by Kushida Shrine in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, which is the center of Kyushu in the southwestern part of Japan. With a history stretching back over 750 years, in 1979 it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
At the climax of the festival, local teams carry the Kakiyamakasa and race at full speed along a 5 km (3.1 miles) course. At 4:59 a.m., with the beat of a drum, the first team carry its Kakiyamakasa and depart from Kushida Shrine, with the others following at 5 minute intervals. The teams compete to complete the course in the fastest time. Despite the early start, the spectacle attracts 850,000 tourists from all over Japan. The team yell the traditional chant, "Oissa! Oissa!" as the excitement peaks, and throw water on the men as they pass to cheer them on. The headlong dash lasts for about 30 minutes, as the several-hundred members of the teams take turns carrying the float, which requires 32 men to carry, in a fever pitched atmosphere.
July
2 - 3,
2006 Gettysburg Civil War Battle Reenactment - Gettysburg, PA
The story of Adams County, from the days of Indian raids to the development plans of today, spreads over two centuries. But our area is best known for just three days of that time, July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 1863 - the Battle of Gettysburg. Though the conflict ended well over a century ago, each year nearly 2 million people make the pilgrimage to this venerable site, the largest battlefield shrine in America with over 1,000 monuments and cannon and over 40 miles of scenic avenues. They come to see for themselves the spot where thousands fought and died for their "cause", the spot where President Lincoln spoke and still speaks to us today.
July
3 - 9,
2006 Fiesta del Fuego - Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Here, in the Fiesta del Fuego (the fire festival) visitors have the chance to see for themselves, in what is probably one of the best preludes to a full carnival. Every year the event is focused on a particular Caribbean country, and musicians and dancers from all over the region travel to Santiago to perform. However, the most interesting feature of this festival is the carnival itself, which often goes on till the early hours of the morning, when the whole city seems to take to the streets in one big dance party.
July
8,
2006 Summer Redneck Games - East Dublin, GA
Started as a Southern-fried spoof of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with a propane torch lighting a ceremonial barbecue grill, the gag games draw tourists like moths to a backyard bug-zapper.
What started as a gathering of about 500 during the 1996 Olympics ballooned to 10,000 by 2001 and reached an estimated 15,000 last year. The actual events, which have changed little over the years, hew to self-deprecating stereotypes and backwoods bawdiness.
The mudpit belly-flop judges contestants on their flabby form and sonic splat as they drop gut-first into muddy water, splattering nearby spectators. The armpit serenade rates children on their musical skills pumping air through a damp hand beneath their underarm. The 12-year-old winner in 2000 squeezed out a recognizable rendition of "Dixie." There's also hubcap hurling (think junkyard discus) and redneck horseshoes, played with toilet seats.
The biggest event of the year in Mongolia is the Naadam Festival, known as the Eriin Gurvan Naadam, after the three 'manly sports' of wrestling, archery and horse racing. It was celebrated for centuries as a test of courage and strength of nomadic people and warriors. People coming from all corners of the country and abroad enjoy watching the Naadam Games. The festival is held all over the country, normally between 11 and 13 July, the anniversary of the 1921 Mongolian Revolution. The major events take place during the first two days.
July
12 - 22,
2006 Peru Amateur Youth Circus Festival - Peru, IN
Join us in Mid-July as we celebrate our Circus Heritage in Peru, Indiana with Great Family Entertainment in the American Tradition. Experience the beautifully costumed young performers who are so skilled that circus fans find it hard to believe they are amateurs; enjoy the rides, food, games and more on the main streets of Peru and for the grand finale, Peru's own Circus City Parade, one of Indiana's largest parades, steps off on the final Saturday.
July
21 - 23,
2006 Boulia Camel Races - Boulia Shire, Australia
Boulia’s major event kicks off Friday night with a novelty camel event, which always guarantees a laugh! Continuing with the Outback theme is a Steer Ride. The business end of the races starts Saturday morning with the Camel Race Heats. Jockey’s and their steads take to the track in hopes of becoming eligible to enter in the Quarter Mile Flyer and the Camel Cup. Throughout the day trackside entertainment is a-plenty. There are tug-o-wars, races, kids entertainment and much more. If you are a keen punter then a flutter at the Boulia Camel Races is a must. The final day’s racing begins with an array of novelty camel races, all part of the lead up to the trophy winning and prize money events. The weekends total prize pool is in excess of $25,000 and is up for grabs to the best performers on the day.
The annual International Asia-to-Europe Swimming, Rowing and Sailing Competition will be held for the eighteenth time on july 23rd 2006. The competition, organized by the National Olympic Committee of Turkey in coordination with the corresponding Sports Federations, bears the motto of ‘Spreading the pleasure and excitement of sport the responsibility of providing opportunity and time for sports events’ and ‘Everyone needs sports’. The event brings together athletes aged from 14 to 71 (and over 71), both from Turkey and abroad and will be held on the Bosphorus in Istanbul in the month of July 23 rd, 2006.
The event was held for the first time in 1989, with the participation of 68 swimmers. The grand winner of that competition Zeynep Oğuz, competing in the junior women’s category at the time had scored a time of 53.28.75 and had out swam all swimmers regardless of gender. Since then her record remains unbroken in her category.
July
24,
2006 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim - New York City, NY
The Manhattan Island Foundation, founded in 1993, organizes swimming events in the waters around Manhattan. Since its inception, the Foundation has attracted nearly 9400 participants in more than 60 swimming races, thus helping to revive a local aquatic tradition that had been abandoned for nearly a century.
The season's premier contest is the annual Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, which draws an international roster of swimmers. This summer the Foundation is also hosting eight other races of various distances (including two new events), an open-water swim clinic, and two multi-sport races.
July
27 - 29,
2006 Zomercarnaval - Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Summer Carnival is a yearly 3-day Caribbean Carnival in the city centre of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Summer Carnival, similar to the carnival in Rio, is a huge event where at least 1.000.000 visitors come from all over Europe to dance to the latin music and look at the colourful and amazing costumes and floats in the big street parade.
Summer Carnival has got a lot to offer. For starters you can visit the Summer Carnival pre party on Thursday on the Beach. The next day The Warmig Up/Battle of Drums starts of. On Saturday the big Street Parade emerges in the city centre. At night there is still a lot to see on the two live stages and last but not least you can visit 'La Noche Grande del Carnaval', so you can party on the Brazilian Way until the wee hours. And so you will not forget the most awesome party you've ever been to.
