This week’s selection: An international music festival in China, the Fender guitar creator’s centennial, a major arts festival in Finland, the “Woodstock of Gaming” in the USA, a festival in Australia, a book festival in Scotland, athletics world championships in Germany and a music festival in Ireland.

5th Beijing International Music Festival & Academy
As the only annual international summer music festival of its kind in the People’s Republic of China, the BIMFA invites pianists, string players and selected wind instrumentalists from around the world for special classes and public performances.
http://www.bimfa.org
Beijing/China
August 10-29

Leo Fender 100th anniversary
The creator of the legendary Fender guitar would have turned 100 on August 10 (1909-1991)

Search Engine Strategies San Jose
The Search Engine Strategies (SES) conference and expo in San Jose is in its 11th year. The conference details the ins and outs of search engine marketing, website optimization, link-building tactics, pay-per-click advertising and landing page testing. SES 2009 will encompass over 70 sessions with speakers from Google, Skinny Corp, Wall Street Journal, Microsoft, Ask.com and Yahoo!, as well as over 100 companies taking part in the SES Expo.
http://searchenginestrategies.com
San Jose/CA/USA
August 10-14

Helsinki Festival
The Helsinki Festival is the largest arts festival in Finland. The festival, which is structured to make art accessible to everyone, combines free and paid events including classical and world music performances, circus performances, dance, theater, cinema, arts and a wide range of urban events.
http://www.helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi
Helsinki/Finland
August 13-30

QuakeCon in North America
Dubbed the “Woodstock of Gaming”, QuakeCon is the largest LAN (Local Area Network) event in North America, drawing gamers from across America to meet face-to-face and play in a massive, free, four-day gaming tournament.
Event Dates
http://news.quakecon.org/
Grapevin (Texas)/USA
August 13-16

Darwin Festival
It features local and touring performances and events including outdoor concerts, workshops, theatre, dance music, comedy and cabaret, film and visual arts. During the Festival, Darwin buzzes with performers, artists, locals and visitors enjoying the vibrant and colourful atmosphere and festivities of the Darwin Festival.
http://www.darwinfestival.org.au
Darwin/Australia
August 13-30

Look Good Feel Better Women’s Trade Show
Covering all beauty-related aspects that patients may experience during cancer treatment, the fair features the latest hair and makeup techniques, tips on skin care, and guidance for coping with hair loss.
http://lookgoodfeelbetter.eventbrite.com
Anaheim/US
August 14-16

Edinburgh Book Fest
One of the largest book festivals in the English-speaking world, the 26th annual Edinburgh International Book Festival has scheduled over 700 events for all ages, including high-profile debates, its esteemed discussions series and a Children’s Program.
http://www.edbookfest.co.uk/
Edinburgh/UK
August 15-31

Berlin world championships in Athletics
By 23 August, around 1,800 athletes from 212 Member Federations of the International Association of Athletics Federations will have competed for medals in 47 disciplines at this top international event.
After 16 years, this – the world’s third most important sporting event is to return to Germany.
http://www.iaaf.org
Berlin/Germany
August 15-23

Beijing 798 Biennale
The Biennale is held in the 798 exhibition space and around Dashanzi Art District, a hub for artists located in northeast of Beijing. Seventy international and Chinese artists will take part in the Biennale, an event that aims to redefine Beijing as a thriving international art capital.
www.theartistnetwork.org/biennaleindex.htm
Beijing/China
August 15-September 12

Feast of Irish music
One of Ireland’s most central towns takes on the challenge of hosting the largest annual cultural event in Europe in its own stride, delivering the largest showcase of traditional Irish musicians, singers, storytellers, and dancers, with over 10,000 competitors and performers taking part in this ‘Feast of Irish music’.
www.fleadh2009.com
August 16- 23