Notable August Events

The Palio of Siena © FABIO MUZZI/AFP/Getty Images

August 4 – 7: Experience Montreal at its most stylish during the 10th annual Fashion & Design Festival, when outdoor catwalks line McGill College Avenue. Public runway shows of up-and-coming designers present cutting-edge trends, and live music keeps fashionistas dancing well into the evening.

August 13 – 31: Buenos Aires celebrates all things tango during the two-week Tango Buenos Aires Festival. Venues throughout the city host free concerts, dance performances and classes, and top tangoers compete in the City Dance Championships and Dance World Cup.

August 14 – 15: The Chicago Air & Water Show draws up to two million visitors each year, with two days of dramatic flight and watercraft demonstrations including performances by the Blue Angels. Most spectators gather on North Avenue Beach, but the crowd-averse watch from the private tent of the Beachstro. You should also be able to see some of the action from the beautiful terrace of The Peninsula or a lakeview accommodation at the Four Seasons, though the views are more limited.

August 16: The Palio (pictured above) upends ordinarily tranquil Siena, with a colorful medieval pageant preceding a crazed bareback horserace around the Piazza del Campo. The climax of rivalries amongst the various contrade (neighborhoods) of Siena, the Palio draws thousands of cheering spectators who celebrate long after the victory banner is presented to the winning horse.

August 16: Kyoto’s Obon festival culminates with Gozan no Okuribi, the lighting of five immense bonfires on the surrounding mountains. Set in the shapes of Chinese characters and other motifs, these massive blazes signify the souls of deceased ancestors returning to the spirit world. Just one of these fiery characters, all easily visible from the city center, measures 260 feet wide and 525 feet long.

August 21: Pyrotechnics also illuminate Venice this month, in one of the longest fireworks shows in the world. The 6th annual “Beach on Fire” features no fewer than 12 synchronized launching stations along eight miles of the Cavallino-Treporti beach. The beach’s natural curve affords a fine view, but it’s perhaps most exciting to watch in proper Venetian fashion, from a boat.

August 22 - 23: Oenophiles can sample exciting wines from 300 small, family-owned wineries at a San Francisco tasting organized by the Family Winemakers of California. Although mostly limited to the wine trade, the event opens to the general public from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. on the 22nd. This tasting presents an unusual opportunity to try not only top California Cabernet and Chardonnay, but also varietals such as Picpoul Blanc, Sauvignon Vert, Touriga Nacional and Counoise.

August 25 - 26: Numerous Highland Games take place all over Scotland during the summer, and Oban (about 2.5 hours north of Glasgow) hosts one of the oldest. The Argyllshire Gathering kicks off on the 25th with an outdoor bagpiping competition, and athletic competitions such as tug-of-war, hammer throw and caber toss (the throwing of tree trunks) follow on the 26th. The Harper-Alliance Isle of Eriska is located 12 miles from the games, and they can still offer availability as of this posting. A two-night minimum stay is required.

August 26 – 29: Gourmands gather together for the Taste of Melbourne, one of Australia’s most important food and drink festivals. Held in the city’s spectacular 19th century Royal Exhibition Building, a World Heritage Site, the Taste of Melbourne features sample-size culinary creations from many of the city’s top restaurants. Local wines and live music accompany the cuisine.