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The pretty village of Polonezköy celebrates its cherry harvest, as well as its Polish heritage, in the annual Cherry Festival. A unique event in Istanbul, it features Polish song, dance and other cultural events. The festival is by far the busiest time of year in this otherwise peaceful village, which is also known for its honey, flowers and traditional culture.

This two-day midsummer extravaganza combines top international acts like Morrissey, Black Eyed Peas and Manu Chao with Turkish rock and dance bands.

Also known as Eid-ul-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice commemorates the Koranic version of Abraham’s sacrifice. It falls two months and ten days after the end of Ramazan. Muslims celebrate by slaughtering a sheep on the morning of the first day of the festival. Friends and family are invited to a lavish meal, but much of the meat goes to charity. Note that this is Turkey’s major annual public holiday – nearly everything closes, and the public transport system is seriously stretched.

Competitors in this trio of events cross the Bosphorus from a variety of starting points: Kanlıca for swimmers, Arnavutköy for rowers, and Kandilli for yachtsmen. All three races end at Kuruçeşme. Other events include water-skiing, jet-skiing and underwater-swimming displays; folk dancing; and military band performances.

Since its inception in 1982, this fortnight-long festival has screened more than 3,000 films from 76 countries. A highlight of the festival is the Award for Lifetime Achievement, instituted in 1996 – recent winners include French stars Alain Delon and Jeanne Moreau. Most festival screenings are held in cinemas in the vicinity of İstiklal Caddesi.

Istanbul’s Biennial showcases contemporary visual arts from Turkey and around the globe. Each festival is directed by a curator of a different nationality, who chooses a theme and arranges the programme of exhibitions, conferences and workshops.

The Jazz Festival’s origins lie in a concert by Chick Corea and Steve Kujala at the 1984 Istanbul Music Festival. It was established as an independent event in 1994. The musical range is broad, and you are as likely to encounter Björk or Elvis Costello as you are Brad Mehldau. The choice of venues is eclectic, with traditional clubs, outdoor stages and even a boat cruising on the Bosphorus.

An impressive array of soloists, ensembles and orchestras has graced the stages of this prestigious festival since it was established in 1973. Mozart’s opera The Abduction from the Seraglio is staged each year in Topkapı Palace.

Istanbul Park, out on the Asian side of the Bosphorus at Tuzla, is the newest fixture on the Formula 1 Grand Prix calendar. Every August the engines roar to a sell-out crowd of more than 125,000 people, with flights and local hotel rooms booking up months in advance. During the rest of the year the park hosts national competitions and minor events, as well as tours of the track for visitors.

The Sugar Festival marks the end of the fasting month of Ramazan (Ramadan). People hand out sweets, visit relatives, and enjoy cultural events – and Istanbul’s bars and clubs are busy again. Many take advantage of the holiday period by going away for a few days.