Christmas Ice Rink at Somerset House

Date: December 5-January 20.

Location: Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2R.

Description: Spectacular skating on a 700m² open-air rink. Book early.

Contact: 020-7413 3399.

Email: info@somerset-house.org.uk.

Link: whatsonwhen.com/events/~46247.jml.

New Season Opening at La Scala

Date: December 7.

Location: Teatro alla Scala, Via Filodrammatici, Milan, Italy.

Description: Italy's greatest opera house opens its new season with Plácido Domingo singing Otello for the last time.

Contact: 0039 02 72 00 37 44.

Link: whatsonwhen.com/events/~38407.jml.

Presents to the Polar Bears

Date: December weekends.

Location: Central Park Wildlife Centre, 830 5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York 10021, US.

Description: Christmas comes early for the polar bears (and snow monkeys).

Contact: 001 212 861 6030.

Link: wcs.org/home/zoos/centralpark.

The Million Dollar Singapore Duck Race

Date: December 2.

Location: Singapore, Asia.

Description: 100,000 or so rubber ducks are raced down the river.

Contact: 0065 220 8180.

Email: diakonos@mbox5.singnet.com.sg.

Link: whatsonwhen.com/events/~25471.jml.