Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Winter excitement is one the things you can expect during winter in Mongolia. This year, the events have already been held for welcoming the first sunrise of 2016 and the Lunar year of the Monkey, followed by a Camel Polo tournament in Ovorkhangai aimag.

A “Silver Reeds” ice festival is to take place this weekend on the Buyant river in Khovd aimag. On March 2-5, another ice festival is expected on the Lake Khovsgol, organized by Khovsgol aimag administration and the tourism department. Meanwhile, in the South Gobi, “A Thousand Camel” festival is awaited to kick off March 6. Mongolia’s camel herders are aiming to set a new Guinness World Record for organizing the largest-ever Bactrian camel race.

Kazakh people in Mongolia will celebrate Nauryz nationwide March 22. "Misheel Expo" will host “ITM 2016” tourism exhibition March 25-27.

In May, Ulaanbaatar’s “UB Pond” and “Center for Protection of Pure Water Reserve” will mark the World Migratory Bird Day, observed every second weekend of May.

The State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet will be staging the series of concerts for tourists dubbed “Wonders of Mongolian Art” between May 23 and October 1.

The Internaitonal UB Marathon will take place on June 4, while Ulaanbaatar Tourism Exhibition will be staged in Misheel Expo June 4-5.

In July, you can expect various events in the margin of Naadam festival, as well as the “Sand Festival” in Gobi-Altai aimag, “Nomadic Fashion Show” and “Hunnu” music festival near Ulaanbaatar, and the Yak Festival near the biggest falls.

“Wonders of Mongolian Airag” (mare milk drink festival) will take place in August in Baga Gazriin Chuluu of Dundgovi aimag. On August 6-9, “Mongolian Open 2016” golf tournament will run in Ulaanbaatar.

Through July and August, Dundgovi aimag is also hosting the International Yoga Festival.

On August 6 and 7, Ulaanbaatar’s Internaitonal Food Festival will be held, moreover, the “Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset” Asian ultra marathon will run August 1-7.

Western Mongolian Folklore Festival is to take place August 4 in Turgen soum of Uvs aimag. Arkhangai aimag’s Khashaat soum will host “Tours of 99 little heroes” and “Horsement Festival” of Orkhon Valley August 5 and 7, respectively.

The religious “Tsam” festival will be held near Ulaanbaatar August 6-7. 

In the beginning of September, you can expect the annual swan gathering at Lake Ganga in Sukhbaatar aimag. “Altai Eagle”, the eagle hunters’ festival, is scheduled September 17-18. 

The annual Eagle Hunters Festival is to take place October 1-2 in Bayan-Olgii aimag. A “Morin Khuur” festival of the western region will be held in Khovd aimag.

This year’s tour events will be concluded with the annual “Ice Challenge” climbing competition to be held at Ulaan Tsutgalan Falls in the first week of December.

Other events such as horse races, wrestling and archery competitions will be organized throughout the year.