Summer of fun: The International Arts Carnival runs from July 7 to August 13, featuring more than 420 events for family enjoyment.

The annual International Arts Carnival will be held from July 7 to August 13, featuring more than 420 fun family events.

This year, 10 performing groups from Argentina, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Mainland China, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and the US will join 33 local groups to give performances. They will include acrobatics, puppetry, music, dance, drama - and even clowns.

Kicking off this year's carnival is acrobatics marvel "Heroes" by the award-winning Wuhan Acrobatic Troupe. Combining traditional acrobatic feats with modern stage techniques, the performance is an unprecedented celebration of contemporary acrobatics.

The "Summer Fun Party" follows on July 8 and 9.

The carnival has three main series, "Comic Wonderland", "HeARTS Linked", and "ABC, Come & See".

"Comic Wonderland" will bring some unforgettable theatrical experiences. They include martial-arts theatre production "Jump" by Yegam Inc from South Korea, modern ballet "Comedy" by Introdans Ensemble for Youth from the Netherlands, Spanish physical theatre "Olimplaff" by Yllana, and Canadian clowning show "Cirkus Inferno" by the Daredevil Opera Company.

The "HeARTS Linked" series will feature fun and creative shows, such as "Moon 7 1/2" by Theatre Ensemble, "Kaleidoscope of Image Theatre" by Image Theatre from the Czech Republic, "HKS McDull Music Project" by Hong Kong Sinfonietta, "2006 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp Concerts", "Little Panda in a Big Big World" by Hong Kong Dance Company, "Pluckety Pluck - Chinese Plucked String Music" by Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, "Music Factory" by Chung Ying Theatre Company and RTHK Radio 4, "Teatro Delusio" by Familie Floz from Germany and the International Children's Film Carnival.

The "ABC, Come and See" series is a fun-fest especially for children over three. It will feature "Frogz" by Imago Theatre from the USA and "The Sand Boy" by Omar Alvarez Titeres Puppetry Arts Company from Argentina.

"The New Generation" series for teenagers will continue with the theatre classic "Hamlet", a physical theatre workshop "iD Generation - Cosmo X" by On and On Theatre Workshop, a dance video workshop "Dance@Media Workshop" by Dance Video Hub & Unlock Dancing Plaza, and a video workshop "Youth in Love with Video Project 2006".

Apart from performances, there will be workshops, school tours, exhibitions, cultural tours, library and museum activities.

Tickets priced from $40 to $280 are available at URBTIX outlets from tomorrow. Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Package discounts of up to 15% are available for full-price performing arts programmes/films.

Programme guides are available at URBTIX outlets.