Event-o-Rama: 10 Must-Dos in July

There are some amazing events on tap all over the world, all the time. Here’s a taste of what you can see and do in July:

• It’s not too late to join in on the madness at the 2014 FIFA World Cup (June 12-July 13) in cities across Brazil. The semi finals, which kick off on July 4th, lead up to a final showdown on July 13th, when one team will be crowned the world champion. Which nation will take home the cup? Be there to find out!
• See Lake Geneva lit up in a blaze of color and lights–and set to music–at the culmination of one of Switzerland’s biggest events of the summer: the Fêtes de Genève (July 17-August 10). The month-long celebration includes free nightly concerts, carnival rides, hundreds of food stalls representing a “world tour of flavors,” and unique arts and crafts visitors can take home as souvenirs. 

• Don your red, white, and blue to celebrate America’s birthday in the city most closely associated with its independence–Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the Fourth of July Jam, live music, an all-day parade, and an explosive fireworks display turn this historic landmark into a giant party that’s perfect for the whole family. 
• Did someone say revolution–and red, white, and blue? Commemorate the start of the French Revolution on Bastille Day (July 14) in Paris, France. A military parade on the Champs-Elyseés, free entry to the Louvre, balls at local fire stations, and stunning pyrotechnics make Paris the place to be on this spirited national holiday. 

• Turn your eyes to the skies during the annual Bali Kite Festival (July 18-20) in Sanur, Bali. The friendly competition between local villages features thousands of handmade kites battling it out in a number of categories. When not looking up in amazement, attendees can indulge in local music, food, and drink.
• Get your groove on at one of Australia’s most beloved music festivals, Splendour in the Grass (July 25-27). Art installations, crafting workshops, and a children’s festival–not to mention a standout lineup that includes Outkast, Lily Allen, and Kelis–make this Gold Coast extravaganza the can’t-miss occasion of the season.
• Travel to paradise to celebrate traditional Polynesian culture at Heiva | Tahiti (July 3-19). This hip-shaking festival provides a spectacular showcase for Tahitian dancing–once forbidden to suppress local culture–as well as sports and games with ancient roots, such as stone lifting, javelin throwing, and fruit carrying.  

• New England’s most famous crustacean will be front and center at the 67th annual Maine Lobster Festival (July 30-August 2) in the coastal city of Rockland. Live music, a big parade, lobster crate races, and a cooking contest round out this five-day feast, which serves up more than ten tons of lobster each year. 
• Get ready for some good, clean fun–or not so much–at the Boryeong Mud Festival (July 18-27) in Boryeong, South Korea. Join two million festival goers on Daecheon beach to frolic in the local mineral-rich mud accompanied by an eclectic live soundtrack. Ski, slide, or wrestle–but make sure to get your dirt on in some way, or you’ll be sent to “mud prison.”
• Carthage has been a crossroads of culture since ancient times. Learn more about modern-day Tunisia through the lens of performance at the Carthage International Festival
   (July 10-August 16). You won’t want to miss musicians, dancers, and thespians from Africa’s northernmost country–along with artists from around the world–as they take to the stage of a restored Roman amphitheater for weeks of live shows.

What would you add to the list? Let us know what we’re missing by leaving a comment.