From the Kentucky Derby on May 2 to the Cannes Film Festival from May 13-24, Andrew Harper shares a curated list of notable events set to occur around the world in May 2015.

May 2015 Events

May 1-November 30: Starting in May, Hermanus, South Africa, turns into a fantastic base for whale-watching. Along this stretch of the famous Garden Route, it’s not even necessary to get into a boat to observe the whales passing by.

May 2: Louisville hosts the Kentucky Derby, one of the world’s most famous and important horse races and the first leg of the Triple Crown. It’s possible to observe the race from the infamous Infield at Churchill Downs, but it’s far more comfortable to secure reserved seats.

May 5-30: There is no better place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than Puebla, Mexico. This beautiful colonial city celebrates the day with a colorful parade, and keeps on celebrating for most of the month with a variety of concerts, exhibitions and theater and dance performances.

May 9-November 22: This year sees the return of the famed Venice Biennale, one of the greatest art festivals in the world. Pavilions sponsored by various countries host exhibitions, and compelling site-specific art installations can be found throughout the city.

May 12-August 16: New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art unveils an exhibition entitled Van Gogh: Irises and Roses. For this show, the Met has reunited four of Van Gogh’s loveliest still-life paintings, two of roses and two of irises. The paintings haven’t been seen side by side since the artist’s death; viewing them as the ensemble he intended promises to be illuminating.

May 13-24: France’s Côte d’Azur glitters with film stars and paparazzi during the annual Cannes Film Festival. It’s the French Riviera at its most fashionable and most exclusive, or most insufferable, depending on your point of view. In any case, it’s surely something to experience at least once in your life.

May 19-23: The grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea turn into a horticultural paradise during the annual Chelsea Flower Show. The show gardens and flower displays inevitably dazzle, and tickets can be hard to come by — reserve as far ahead of time as possible.

May 21-24: The Monaco Grand Prix is perhaps the world’s most glamorous car race. Formula 1 race cars take over the narrow streets of the tiny principality, zooming past the casino and mega-yachts in the port. Securing accommodations and tickets well in advance is vital.

May 29-31: The three-day Prague Food Festival celebrates the rich heritage of Czech cuisine and wine with a full array of classes and tastings. Hungry visitors graze on local specialties sold from tents set up throughout the Prague Castle grounds, and restaurants across the city have festival menus featuring unique Czech recipes.