what's on worldwide

6 July

UK

Bare yourself to others, lose your inhibitions and join in the fun and frolics on World Naturist Day. The rest of us won't see a thing - all the official British gatherings are away from the public eye. But don't let that stop you from throwing clothes and caution to the wind.

4 - 7 June

Chicago

Musical melancholia hits Chicago this week as the blues come home. The windy city's festival is the largest free celebration of R&B in the world. Ray Charles will be headlining the opening night on the lake-front in down-town Chicago. Past guests have included legend Bo Diddley and B B King. This year's line-up includes Pinetop Perkins, Otis Rush and Saffire the Uppity Blues Women. Join an estimated 660,000 at Grant Park.

Until 30 June

Prague

"Prague Legends with Balls" is what the Ensemble Grotesque promises tourists willing to risk seeing the ugly side of the beautiful city (above). This avant-garde production company will be performing twisted tales of Bohemia (with added "sex and rubber gloves"). The venue is the cellar of the Rubin pub, which just happens to be an old meeting place for dissident performers. Every Sunday in June at 8pm, in Malostranske Namesti.

6 - 7 June

Le Mans

If you who love the smell of petrol and the roar of engines, fuel yourself with caffeine and make for Le Mans' 24-hour race, the legendary endurance test where the winner is the driver with most miles on the clock at the end of 24 hours.

The race dates back to 1923 when 33 contestants struggled to reach speeds of 92kmph; the winning distance in that first race was 536km (nowadays, winners clock up to 5,000km). British support this year is vital after last year's debacle in which (after high hopes) no British driver made the finish.