MARCH

SINGAPORE FLYER'S DEBUT

If your 2008 travel plans include Singapore, buy tickets now for the city's most-talked-of new attraction, opening in March: The Singapore Flyer, a Ferris Wheel-like "observation" ride that encloses guests in plush "capsules" and lifts them 42 stories in the air for a panorama of the city during a 30-minute "flight." Perched above a new waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex on Marina Bay, the Flyer, designed by celebrated architect Kisho Kurokawa of Japan, will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily. Tickets begin at $29.50 ($20.65 for children; $23.50 for seniors); private rental of capsules begins at $1,000. www.singaporeflyer.com.sg.

MARCH 7-17

MANCHESTER FEST

Every year the city of Manchester, England, goes quite green. Not with envy, but with all things Irish; Levenshulme village, a Manchester neighborhood, is home to the country's biggest Irish community. The city annually hosts the two-week Manchester Irish Festival in the early spring (it's March 7-17 this year), drawing more than a million people to concerts, fairs, workshops, ceilis, rugby and Gaelic football challenges, comedy and stage performances, and gatherings featuring Irish food and drink. On St. Patrick's Day, more than 145,000 pints of Guinness are expected to slide down people's throats. www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk.

— Wanda Adams

JUNE 5-8

WINDY BLUES

The first Chicago Blues Festival paid tribute to Muddy Waters, who had died just the year before. The 25th anniversary event, set for June 5-8 in Grant Park, Chicago, will do the same, with the opening night headlined by Grammy-nominated singer-guitarist Johnny Winter, who played in the first concert, and James Cotton, who played harmonica with Muddy Waters' band. Among the tunes to be reprised will be those played during a brief tour that Waters took with Winter and Cotton. The festival comprises more than 90 performances on six stages from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. 312-744-3315; www.chicagobluesfestival.us.

— Wanda Adams