Amsterdam Light Festival Through Jan. 19 in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Surprising and beautiful light installations set up alongside the canals and the Amstel River await exploration by means of a boat cruise or an evening stroll.

Ball Season Through February in Vienna, Austria

Couples dressed to the nines take to the dance floors of elegant venues to waltz to the sounds of orchestral music at one of the city’s some 450 annual balls.

Three Kings Parade Jan. 5 in Madrid, Spain

Melchior, Gaspar and Balthazar, the Three Kings of the East, march through the streets accompanied by floats and a cast of famous performing artists.

Winter Sales Jan. 8-Feb. 4 in Paris and countrywide

France’s seasonal clearance sales are bargain hunters’ dreams. The longer an item stays on the shelf, the lower its price will go, so get your timing just right!

Belalp Witches Race Jan. 11-18 in Blatten Belalp, Switzerland

A week of celebrations culminates when hundreds of skiers dressed in witches’ masks and costumes take to the slopes to compete in an eight-mile ski race.

Motor Bike Expo Jan. 16-19 in Verona, Italy

Best-known brands from the international motorcycle scene show off their latest models at what’s billed as the world’s biggest event for customized motorcycles.

Tradfest Jan. 22-26 in Dublin, Ireland

The sounds of Irish and folk music performed by some of today’s biggest names rings out loud and proud in the pubs of the city’s famed Temple bar district.

Chinese New Year celebrations Jan. 25-26 in London, UK

Usher in the Year of the Rat with parades and on-stage performances in the West End, where the largest Chinese New Year celebrations outside Asia unfold.