These Five Fun Events Are Worth a Detour

Looking for something fun to do? Check out our event listings. If you’re looking to liven up your weekend plans, we’ve got you covered, with unique event listings around the world. Find more exciting events in Amsterdam, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Prague, Rome, San Francisco, Seattle, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. Flevopark becomes an unlikely stage for the unconventional when No Art Festival takes over the Amsterdam green space with a lineup of boundary-pushing performances and pioneering sounds. Hosted by the independent No Art label, this is less a party and more a curated provocation, designed to challenge what art and music can be when freed from traditional constraints. Each summer, Chicago's Chinatown Summer Fair comes alive with one of the city's most spirited street celebrations, drawing over 40,000 visitors into the heart of a neighborhood with deep cultural roots. Lion dance processions wind through the streets, kung fu demonstrations command attention, and stage performances offer a window into living traditions that stretch back generations. Each summer during Seattle’s Seafair Weekend, the waters of the Pacific Northwest transform into a roaring arena where hydroplane racers push the limits of speed and engineering, drawing crowds to the shores of Lake Washington for one of the region's most beloved annual gatherings. Seafair Weekend is a multi-day spectacle that layers thundering boat races with breathtaking aerial performances, waterfront activities, and a festive atmosphere that has defined Seattle summers for generations. Beyond the adrenaline of the races and airshows, the event unfolds as a living portrait of Pacific Northwest culture, where locals and first-time visitors alike find themselves swept up in something that feels genuinely irreplaceable. Attendees at Otakon in Washington, D.C.. peyj_turner / CC BY-SA 2.0 Otakon is a major annual celebration of Asian pop culture, anime, and music, drawing thousands of fans to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Attendees can immerse themselves in a dynamic atmosphere filled with cosplay, panels, concerts, and a bustling dealer’s hall. The event is known for its diverse programming, special guest appearances, and opportunities to connect with fellow enthusiasts from around the world. Along the Meguro River in Nakameguro, the Washu Festival transforms one of Tokyo's most beloved springtime settings into a celebration of Japanese sake culture. Thousands of visitors gather each year to sample offerings from renowned breweries, with the blooming sakura overhead lending the event an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Stage performances and the warmth of Japanese hospitality round out an experience that goes far beyond a simple tasting.