Your passport to the latest destinations and airline promotions

Island carnival

St. Lucia's Carnival is the most extravagant event on the Caribbean island: Every year people mob the streets of its capital city, Castries, in colorful costumes to parade to the latest soca and calypso hits.

This year's party, which runs from May 28 to July 17, will see the island's premier performers test their musical abilities in an attempt to win the coveted Calypso Monarch title. There is also a beauty queen pageant, a steel band contest and a King and Queen of the Band competition.

All of the action will explode into a kaleidoscope of color and sound on Carnival Tuesday, when the costumed bands take to the streets for a day of complete and unadulterated fun. More information at www.luciancarnival.com.

Edinburgh fire fest

Held every year at the top of Edinburgh's iconic Calton Hill, the Beltane Fire Festival is a modern take on an ancient Celtic fertility ceremony in Scotland. Costumed revelers dance around the hill accompanied by drummers, musicians and spectacular props.

The festival begins when May Queen emerges from the Acropolis, accompanied by her White Women. Together with her consort, the Green Man, they process to sites dedicated to each of the four elements. After the Dionysian Red Men have been seen off, the Green Man undergoes a symbolic death and resurrection before marrying the May Queen.

This year's 25th anniversary event will be spectacular with a fire display on April 30. More information at www.beltane.org.

Cinco de Mayo

San Diego's Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo is Southern California's premier celebration of Hispanic culture, history and diversity, commemorating the Mexican defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla. The two-day festival attracts over 150,000 visitors annually. This year on May 5 and 6, eight venues of live entertainment will feature the sounds of banda, norteno, mariachi and cumbia, a re-enactment of the 1862 Battle of Puebla, and an equestrian show. More information at www. fiestacincodemayo.com.

Festival of Fools

The Festival of Fools is a celebration of international street theater and arts. This is a great time to visit Belfast of Northern Ireland as over the long weekend the city comes to life with around 70 weird and wonderful street performers.

The five-day annual event, which begins on May 3, promises comedy, clowning and belly laughs galore.

Talking trees, walking mushrooms, acrobatic boy bands and singing cats are just some of the diversified free performances, with companies from all over the world coming together to create some of the funniest and strangest shows. More information at www.foolsfestival.com.

China Daily - Agencies