England's port city of Liverpool, best known around the world as the birthplace of The Beatles, is adding another chapter to its musical legacy.
In May, it will be the host city of Eurovision 2023, the spangly extravaganza of song that brings an influx of thousands of flag-waving fans from across the continent. It's an opportunity for the city to bounce back after the ignominy of being stripped of its UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021.
In June, the city will celebrate 25 years of the Liverpool Biennial contemporary visual arts festival, as more than 30 international artists and collectives take over spaces in the city until September.
England is also marking the Year of the Coast in 2023, with food festivals and beach cleans taking place along the country's shores. Just a half hour from Liverpool city center by train, Crosby Beach is the permanent home of sculptor Antony Gormley's "Another Place," where 100 cast-iron figures stand facing out to sea. -- Maureen O'Hare