Get in on the fun... Watch for free as 400 world-class snowboarders compete during the Snowboard World Championships in Whistler, B.C., starting Saturday.

This year, Ottawa is celebrating its 150th anniversary, Laval is staging an international choral music festival, and Whistler is hosting the Snowboard World Championships, which visitors can attend for free! These are just a few of the highlights for travellers in 2005.

SINGERS IN LAVAL

As many as 10,000 choristers from all over the world will descend on Quebec this year for an international festival billed as Mondial Choral de Laval. According to Tourism Laval spokesman Denis Giroux, the nine-day festival, which takes place June 22-30, "is destined to put Laval on the map for years to come."

Concerts feature classical, popular, and jazz choral music and take place at various indoor and outdoor venues, though most will be at the Nature Centre. This is the brainchild of singer-musician Gregory Charles, artistic director of the festival.

Laval is a 20 minute drive north of downtown Montreal. Visit mondialchoral.org or call 514-925-2105.

The festival coincides with Laval's 40th anniversary. For updates on special events, check the Web site tourismelaval.com. Billed as "a city in the country," Laval is the horticultural capital of Quebec and is known for attractions such as the Flower Trail, and the Cosmodome, which houses the Space Sciences Centre and Space Camp Canada.

SNOWBOARDING IN WHISTLER

For the first time ever, the prestigious Federation Internationale de Ski Snowboard World Championships will be held in North America and visitors will have a chance to watch the world-class competition free of charge. The event takes place at Whistler Blackcomb from January 15 to 23.

Four hundred of the world's best snowboard athletes from 40 countries will compete in the disciplines of Halfpipe, Big Air, Snowboard-Cross, Parallel Giant Slalom, and Parallel Slalom for the title of World Champion. Athletes will be vying for spots at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

For more information check whistlerworlds.com.

LITERARY ANNIVERSARY IN BRITAIN

In Yorkshire, the 150th anniversary of Charlotte Bronte's death will be marked at the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth with an exhibition of letters, manuscripts and costumes from Feb. 1 to Dec. 31. Then in March, a contemporary art event called Leaving Home (March 11-31) will project a film into the rooms of the historic house and on the outside of the building. For more check visitbritain.com.

TOTAL ECLIPSE

If a cruise in the South Pacific is on your trip wish list, why not make it an extraordinary experience and visit this spring when you can witness a total solar eclipse? Sky & Telescope magazine and TravelQuest International will be aboard the newly refurbished MV Discovery, on a special cruise which coincides with the total eclipse at sea near Polynesia on April 8. The ship will also visit Tahiti, Pitcairn and Easter Island. Fares start at $3,075 US. For details visit tq-international.com.

If you prefer singing to sports, hear talented choralists perform in Laval, QC, in June.

OTTAWA 150

Several annual events and festivals in our nation's capital will offer a little something extra this year to mark the city's 150th anniversary. For example, the Canadian Tulip Festival (May 5-25) will launch the first annual Art Festival to exhibit and sell the work of Ottawa artists.

And during Doors Open Ottawa (June 4-5), when the city's historic and architecturally significant buildings are open to the public free of charge, visitors can tour several buildings that represent the timeline of Ottawa's evolution over the past 150 years.

Other events include the Ottawa Stories Costume Ball (Sept. 24) where guests will be invited to dress up as their favourite Ottawa character and dance the night away to live music from the last 150 years. It takes place at the Cartier Square Drill Hall, next to Ottawa City Hall. For more visit ottawa.ca or call 613-580-2400.