Notable May 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 4–July 31: The Costume Institute of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts the exhibition Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, in honor of the late designer’s significant contributions to fashion.

May 9-15: Lima’s art galleries, museums and performance spaces celebrate Peru Art Week with a range of special exhibitions, concerts and other events. In the evenings, art lovers hop from gallery party to gallery party.

May 13-15: Artisans from all over Europe gather at Florence’s Palazzo Corsini for Artisans and the Palace, an exhibition of traditional craftsmanship. About 80 artisans set up workshops in the historic formal gardens of the palace, demonstrating their trades and offering high-quality handmade items for sale.

May 24-28: 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 in advance as possible.

May 26-29: Cape Town, South Africa, becomes a gourmet capital during the annual Good Food and Wine Show. Guests can sample some of the country’s best food and wine and take cooking and tasting classes. Several major chefs always attend; this year brings Heston Blumenthal of The Fat Duck and BBC celebrity chef James Martin, among others.

May 26-29: The Hong Kong International Art Fair brings together contemporary art from 260 galleries in 38 countries. Held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, this fair is billed as “the largest display of contemporary art ever seen in Hong Kong.”

May 28: The historic core of Munich sings during the Long Night of Music, when more than 100 venues open their doors. During the course of the evening, music fans stroll from concert to concert, taking in as many of the 400 performances as they can. This festival offers something for everyone, with everything from jazz to flamenco to classical music, all included in one €15 ticket. M

May 28-29: San Francisco’s Mission District bursts into multicultural color during Carnaval San Francisco. Attendees can enjoy music and dance performances from around the world, as well as Sunday’s Grand Carnaval Parade, a Rio-style parade/street party with wild costumes and lively music.