Spring has arrived and it is time to get out and enjoy the splendors of this miraculous season. Whether you are in Istanbul or hitting the road, there are a number of ways to start this season right by being social and trying something new. The following are a list of events off the beaten path you might want to try to take a walk on the wild side of life.Test your talentsIstanbul's expat community has a number of active open-mic and stand-up comedy circles that hold regular events starting tonight at 8:30 p.m. with Spoken Word at Arsen Lupen in Beyoğlu. In addition, the Spoken Word event will become a weekly event held on alternating Monday's and Tuesdays each week.On April 5, the Take Me Up to the Bosporus team will be hosting an English Stand-up Comedy Open-Mic Night at Arsen Lupen followed up by another on April 14 at Kafe Hangart in Kadıköy's Yeldeğirmeni neighborhood. If singing, reciting poetry or making people laugh is your thing, this is a relaxed environment in which you can test out your material onstage, is open to all and certainly not limited to expats.Test your knowledge skillsQuiz nights have become a steadfast tradition in Istanbul as well as other cities, and they are a fun opportunity to socialize while testing your knowledge and even maybe even winning a prize. Such quiz nights are all held in English, and people band together in groups to beat out others on carefully devised questions that end with a winning team.The Real Istanbul Quiz is an expat-organized quiz event that takes place at James Joyce Irish Pub off İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu. Their Day Before April Fool's Day Pub Quiz will be held on March 31 at 8:00 p.m.Cihangir Cool for Cats will also host a quiz night to support the street animals of Cihangir held at Cafe Nove in neighboring Fındıklı on April 2 at 8:30 p.m.Varun Gezgin, a unique chain of restaurants run by Turkish world travelers in cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Eskişehir holds quiz nights simultaneously at all of their locations every Sunday at 9:45 p.m. with questions read aloud in English and Turkish. The winners get travel-themed prizes such as backpacks, sleeping bags and travel guides.Stories, treasure hunts and shoppingOn April 7, French expat Judith Liberman, a connoisseur of storytelling who also hosts her own radio show in Turkey, will be holding a storytelling night from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Kafe Hangart in Yeldeğirmeni, which is located in Kadıköy on Istanbul's Asian side. Her talents in art, musical accompaniment and Turkish adaptability make this a unique event to experience.Istanbul's geocaching community will be meeting on April 12 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Parachute Cafe in Kadıköy. This group of "players" from all over the world is furthering the new sport of "geocaching," where treasures are hidden in locations that are tracked down via GPS to test your search skills, and is a fun way to socialize, exercise and discover the city.Hosted by the TÜRVAK Cinema Theater Museum in Beyoğlu on the weekend of April 23-24, there will be a special short film screening series titled "Days of Inspiring Films: Journey," which will tackle topics related to travel. On the weekend of May 14-15, the series resumes with "Days of Inspiring Films: Sports," which will have a series of short films screened on sports-related themes.The Handmade Istanbul Spring Market will be held on April 17 at St. Helena's Chapel in Tepebaşı, Beyoğlu. This group of craftmakers is a mix of expats and Turks who enjoy making handmade gift items. Stands selling an assortment of items will be set up and proceeds will be used to help refugees in Istanbul.Speed datingFirst Sight Date is a new, ongoing speed dating event, which will be held next on April 3 followed by April 7. Organized by a Turkish "repat" who spent 10 years in the United States, in this fun event, contenders are carefully picked out - all of whom speak English - and the event is moderated to ensure it goes as smoothly and safely as possible. A total of 17 couples, in other words 34 singles divided evenly between men and women, meet up at an undisclosed location to meet one another and alternate between potential suitors in just minutes. Sometimes they even hold a 30+ event in which all attendees are over the age of 30.The location of the event is only revealed to attendees but in general are held in venues in the central Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş and Kadıköy regions. To find out more, contact: firstsightdate@gmail.com.On another noteThe 5th Istanbul International Dance Festival commences in Istanbul on March 30 and will continue until April 4th. Held at The Green Park Hotel in Pendik on the city's Asian side, this festival is becoming one of the most popular Latin dance festivals in the world. It will bring out more than 3,000 social dancers from 80 different countries for live musical performances, dance parties and more than 150 hours of dance workshops for all levels.

Get Outta Town

The 19th International Bayındır Flower Festival (Uluslararası Bayındır Çiçek Festivali) takes place from May 4 to May 8, and it is a festive and colorful event with stands, exhibitions, seminars and local cuisine set among display after display of stunning flowers. This should come as no surprise as Bayındır, located inland approximately 70 kilometers from central ‹zmir, is one of Turkey's largest garden plant and flower producers. This legacy is celebrated every year with four days of events centered around but certainly not limited to flowers, and it includes folkloric dance performances, musical concerts, kite-flying and fireworks shows that bring the town to light.

Cappadox

Cappadox has quickly become the mothership of festivals celebrating nature, music, gastronomy, yoga and meditation. Held from May 19 to May 22 in Uçhisar, Göreme and Cappadocia in central Turkey, some of the activities to expect include nature walks, valley runs, bike rides, special yoga and meditation sessions, a series of gastronomic events hosted by some of Turkey's leading chefs such as Maksut Aşikar, a full moon party and dawn concerts in addition to a number of musical performances from the likes of The Sun Ra Arkestra, Erik Truffaz Quartet, İlhan Erşahin, Ceylan Ertem and Gevende to name just a very few. Although the price tag on some of the events may seem high, there are also package deals available on Biletix. Moreover, a number of activities such as silent morning walks and dawn concerts are free. Either way, Cappadox will be the place to be this May and the hottest ticket in Turkey.