MARCH 1

YAP CELEBRATES ITSELF

Far to the south of us, in Yap, one of the Federated States of Micronesia, March 1 is Yap Day, the first day of a two-day cultural festival marked by the creation of new versions of the dance epics by which Yapese culture is passed down, plus displays and contests in various art forms from archery to tattooing, farm and craft exhibits and the serving of special foods. Open to tourism only for 20 or so years, Yap's 140 islands are known for exceptional diving. Though visitors are welcome — especially at the main celebration, on Yap island - Yap Day is mostly by and for locals. www.visityap.com; www.visit-fsm.org.

FEB. 7

NEW YEAR'S IN SINGAPORE

The Year of the Rat will dawn Feb. 7 around the world but nowhere be more enthusiastically greeted than in Singapore, where more than two weeks of festivities comprise the new year celebration, including the famed Chingray parade and River Hong Bao festival, as well as family reunion dinners, visiting and giftgiving among friends and family. The Chingray parade is the city's largest, with many visiting crews from around the world and hundreds of local performers and floats. The River Hong Bao at Marina Prominade is a fair celebrating the arts and folklore of China and a 90-course banquet of Chinese festive foods. www.visitingsingapore.com.

FEB. 15-17

BULL RIDING

If you've thrilled to professional bull riding on TV, you ain't seen nothin' until you've seen one of those car-size bulls up close and personal. The Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour Championship presented by Dickies, the second richest event in professional bull-riding history, is set for Feb. 15-17 with four performances and $1 million in prize money up for grabs at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City. Also planned: a Fan Zone and Marketplace at Cox Convention Center, where sponsors and vendors display their wares, bull riders sign autographs and country artists perform. www.pbrnow.com, 719-242-2800; tickets from Ticketmaster: 402-235-8288.