January 28 agenda: International Comics Festival

Thursday's selection: extreme winter sports in Colorado, Dubai's biggest shopping festival and the Angoulême comics festival in France, among other events.

International Comics Festival
January 28-31
Angoulême, France

The International Comics Festival in Angoulême is the largest event of its kind in Europe. The 37th edition, which begins January 28, will feature a Manga Building, an exhibition of Russian comics, and an International Encounters Forum. An annual highlight is the 24-hour Comic Strip Contest, in which contestants create 24-page comic books in the 24 hours before the festival begins. General entrance fees are €14 per day, or €30 for all four days.

http://www.bdangouleme.com/

Dubai Shopping Festival
January 28 - February 28
Dubai, UAE

Having developed into a "major retailing and entertainment extravaganza," according to its organizers, the festival is about more than just shopping: promotional events, also for kids, are held around the city, while Dubai presents itself in a "carnival atmosphere."

http://www.mydsf.com

Extreme sports: Winter X Games
January 28-31
Aspen, Colorado, USA

The Winter X Games, a 1997 off-shoot from ESPN's 1995, moves into its 14th year with an event that is free entry to the public. This year it adds the Ski SuperPipe High Air and Snowmobile Knock Out events to a roster that includes the now-standard extreme-style snowboarding and skiing events. Defending SuperPipe snowboard champ Torah Bright has already stated her intention of completing a Double Cork trick, turning a full 900° in an off-axis spin. Meanwhile, last year's snowmobile gold medallist Joe Parsons has combined a breathtaking backwards-landed backflip and 180° spin in a bid to retain his title.

http://espn.go.com/action/xgames/index