FRIEZE LONDON U.K. This much-lauded art fair takes over a large part of London’s Regent’s Park every year and features more than 160 of the world’s leading galleries at Frieze London plus 130 at Frieze Masters. These two fairs, alongside Frieze Sculpture, provide an exceptional cultural attraction at the heart of the British capital and catalyse one of the most significant weeks in London’s cultural calendar. Frieze also showcases short films, runs workshops, hosts seminars and shows
performance based installation artworks. Opening for the first time with a twoday preview on 3rd and 4th October, the 16th edition of Frieze London will see the introduction of a new themed section, Social Work, featuring works by artists who challenged the maledominated art market of the 1980s, selected by a panel of leading female art historians and critics from UK institutions, including Iwona Blazwick, Katrina Brown, Louisa Buck, Amira Gad, Jennifer Higgie, Melanie Keen, Polly Staple, Sally Tallant and Fatos Üstek. 3–7 October 2018 www.frieze.com
MASSKARA
“mass” and the Spanish word “kara” meaning face, MassKara is recognised by the ornate smiling masks worn by thousands of revellers performing in the streets. Spectators are also treated to food festivals, live music, street dance competitions and a parade of illuminated floats and giant puppets. Sports events, pageants and street parties also feature during the main few days of MassKara, but what makes this festival particularly standout is the genuine warmth and friendliness of the welcoming locals. 4–28 October 2018 www.lovepilipinas.com
PHILIPPINES Known as the ‘City of Smiles’, Bacolod’s world-famous funfilled MassKara festival, now on its 38th year, is a popular celebration that traces its roots back to 1980 when it was introduced as a way to boost morale after poor sugarcane sales and a tragedy that took the lives of 1,000 people. Since then, this vibrant and brightlycoloured festival has become a much revered annual happening. Named from a combination of the English word
ALBUQUERQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA U.K. Now in its 47th year, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta brings together pilots, crews and hot air and gas ballooning enthusiasts from more than fifty countries and draws a crowd of up to 100,000. With hundreds upon hundreds of brightly coloured balloons taking off, the fiesta is an impressive visual spectacle. Mass ascensions (when many hundreds of balloons lift off together into the 14 The Cultured Traveller Sep-Nov 2018
morning sky) are held on all four weekend mornings plus one day midweek, but only after a dawn patrol carefully examines the morning’s weather conditions. When the dawn patrol gives the green light, balloons from all over the world rise together in a harmonious lift off as dawn breaks over the Sandia Mountains. The sight of 500 balloons in the sky is as breathtaking for first-time visitors as it continues to be for veteran attendees. And on the weekend nights, laser lightshows and firework displays bring the days to a spectacular close. 6–14 October 2018 www.balloonfiesta.com