Ancient Way Fall Festival Features Creativity, Tradition of Northwest New Mexico

Discover one of New Mexico's best-kept secrets - the celebration of community, culture and scenic beauty of the Ancient Way Arts Trail in the Zuni Mountains - during two Ancient Way Fall Festival weekends, October 2, 2010, and October 9, 2010.October 2 at El Morro includes a combined Ancient Way Arts Festival, as well as the Ramah Farmers Market & Harvest Festival that features local arts, food, crafts, music, traditional dances and the opportunity to meet artists directly.

October 9 at Zuni Pueblo features a Fall Arts Market with traditional dances, along with the annual Human/Horse Relay and the Ansele:mo Run. Also on October 9, at El Malpais Information Center (18 miles east of El Morro National Monument), visitors have the opportunity to see Ramah Navajo Weavers Association members demonstrate the traditional wool processes that go into making a beautiful Navajo weaving; see the rare ancestral Navajo-churro sheep that grow the wool for Ramah Navajo weavings; and purchase quality, one-of-a-kind weavings. The weavers' demonstration will be held in conjunction with the Center's annual open house and book sale.

“Fall is when the pine-covered sandstone mesa country of west central New Mexico is most beautiful - the days are cool and sunny and the flowers are at their peak,” said Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department. “The folks along State Road 53, from Grants to Zuni, open their doors for an 80-mile-long party. I cannot think of a more fascinating and fun-filled way to spend a couple of fall weekends.”

Cultures as varied as Navajo, Zuni, Hispanic, Anglo and Mormon create works of world-class reputation. The route itself in the southern link of the state's most recently designated scenic byway, the Trail of the Ancients Byway.
 
In recognition of this region’s uniqueness, the New Mexico Arts Division (a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs) has designated the Ancient Way Arts Trail from Gallup to Zuni to Grants as the state's first multi-art trail, with some 30 participating sites representing more than 650 artists. The trail also serves as a portal to the thousands of active artists and dozens of art businesses and trading posts.

For more information about top events in New Mexico take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in New Mexico.

For more information on the Ancient Way Fall Festival visit www.ancientwayartstrail.com

Silver Jubilee for Historic Helena’s Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival

Listen closely and you can hear it .... the soulful sounds of a guitar and the brusque voice of the bluesman, proclaiming all the wrongs he has faced. It’s the blues and it has become the heartbeat of the Arkansas Delta, a region that is no stranger to hardship. You hear that adversity in the music .... and it reaches into the depths of the listener’s soul. It’s the blues – a powerful, lyrical lullaby for anyone who has faced pain or tragedy or just had a really bad day.

Each October, thousands from throughout the world flock to historic downtown Helena as the music takes over – giving visitors a three-day, down-home, soul-baring musical history lesson. The Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival (formerly known as the King Biscuit Blues Festival) has become one of the largest blues festivals in the world. This year (from October 7 to 9) the world-renowned event celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The festival is adding a special event this year, Warm-Up Wednesday. In the past, activities and music have always started on Thursday afternoon. According to Munnie Jordan, festival director: “We want our visitors to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the festival comes together.” So Wednesday, October 6, the festival area will have a “test run”.

The festival encompasses the majority of the historic town’s Cherry Street, the same street that blues legends Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert “Junior” Lockwood and Robert Johnson once strolled on their way to becoming musical legends.

For more information about top events in Arkansas take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Arkansas.

For more detailed information and a complete lineup for the 25th annual Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival, visit www.bluesandheritagefest.com.

Fairs, festivals and other special events promise fall fun

West Virginia offers a wide variety of fall events all across the state. Whether you want to enjoy the state’s fall foliage atop (or jumping off!) the country’s largest steel arch bridge, attending the richest night of horse racing in the state, visiting the many fall fairs and festivals, now is the time to plan for an autumn adventure in the Mountain State.

Celebrating its 31st anniversary, Bridge Day offers plenty of thrills on the New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville, on October 16. Around 400 BASE jumpers participate each year in the largest extreme sports event in the world. Estimates have as many as 100,000 people attending the overall event. There is no charge for spectators to attend the festival.


The richest night of racing in West Virginia is scheduled for Saturday, October 16 in Charles Town when the West Virginia Breeders Classic showcases the West Virginia thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. The Classic is a day of nine races featuring horses bred or sired in West Virginia.

Many communities and counties celebrate the fall harvests with popular festivals. Here are a few examples.

The Kingwood community has its annual buckwheat festival from September 30 to October 3; the Mountain State Forest Festival at Elkins from October 2 to 10 promotes the beauty and utility of West Virginia’s forest land; Milton hosts the family-fun West Virginia Pumpkin Festival from October 7 to 10; and the West Virginia Black Walnut Festival at Spencer from October 14 to 17 is a celebration of the black walnut.

For more information about top events in West Virginia take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in West Virginia.

A list of festivals and celebrations can be seen online at www.wvtourism.com/

New Haven Celebrates Contemporary Art

City-Wide Open Studios is a series of weekends in late September (24 to 26) and early October in New Haven, Connecticut, when the artists welcome the public into their studios to witness the creative process. Each weekend the event focuses on a different part of the city and includes an eclectic assortment of events and demonstrations.

With over 250 participating artists, the entire spectrum of the arts is well-represented. There are painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, potters and mixed media artists; there are also bike tours and a parade.

One of the newest exhibits in the 2010 CWOS event is Project Storefront. With available space in the downtown area, artists are displaying their creations in vacant storefronts. This is a new layer in the integration of art and creativity into the day-to-day lives of New Haven residents and visitors.

An added bonus this year is the ability to experience Square with four circles by Felice Varini. Commissioned by Site Projects, Inc., this public art piece is a 110 ft tall, multi-dimensional painting installed in Temple Plaza. This is Varini's first outdoor public artwork in the United States. From a precise location, one does literally see the square with four circles contained in it. But as the viewer moves through the piece, he sees the piece from a unique perspective. The installation will be in place until June 2011.

For more information about top events in Connecticut take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Connecticut.

If you ever wanted to see the artistic side of New Haven, City-Wide Open Studios is an event not to be missed. A list of participating artists, map and calendar of events is available on www.cwos.org.

Photo credit: Derek Dudek/www.visitNewHaven.com

Fall Colors Peak in Northern Wisconsin for Cable Area’s Fall Fest

Record crowds are expected to descend on northern Wisconsin this upcoming weekend September 24 and 25 for the Cable Area’s annual Fall Festival.

The event draws thousands of spectators over the 2-day event but near peak fall colors and an excellent weather forecast, partnered with some new events should boost traffic to record numbers.

Sharon Haney with the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce says inquiries about lodging and travel have been extremely high. “Everyone loves the northland in fall. Warm sunshine and roads lined with trees that look like a painter’s canvas coupled with a lot of fantastic events at our festival make this one of the best weekends to be in Northern Wisconsin.”

Data from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism backs up her statements. Fall colors are the driving influence for fall travel within Northern Wisconsin from mid September through mid October. This year fall color looks to peek sometime later this week or early next week, just in time for the Cable Area’s Fall Festival.

James Bolen, Executive Director of the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce, credits both the fall colors and opportunities for fun experiences as the draw for travelers to his area this week. “We offer an authentic fish boil, lots of craft vendors, a harvest dessert bake off, pumpkin pecan pancake breakfast, wine and cheese event, almost non-stop live music all weekend long, kids games, a sportsman’s alley for the outdoor enthusiast, chainsaw carving demonstrations, lots of festival food and much more!” he said.

For more information about top events in Wisconsin take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Wisconsin.

For more information on the Cable Area Fall Festival contact the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce at 800-533-7454 or online at www.cable4fun.com

Six Days of Crafts, Arts, and Innovation in November

Winston-Salem’s fall festival – Six Days in November – is one of the south’s premier pre-holiday destinations for arts and crafts devotees. While billed as “Six Days” running from Tuesday November 16 to Sunday November 21, early birds can catch a Garrison Keillor performance at the vintage Stevens Center the Sunday before and also have a full day of activities on Monday.

Now in its third year, “Six Days in November” is chock-a-block arts and cultural activities clustered around Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair, the Southeast’s premier fine crafts show.

During “Six Days”, Winston-Salem, the City of the Arts and innovation, is abuzz with activities, including symphony and jazz concerts, theater, art exhibitions, dance, films, food events and innovative experiences that apply computer and digital technology to the arts world. One huge crowd pleaser is a cutting edge light show in the heart of downtown presented by UNC School of the Arts lighting students.

A popular coffee house will present short documentaries on southern food and foodways with topics as diverse as red hotdogs, soft shell crabs, tamales and oysters. Many activities will be in the downtown Restaurant and Entertainment District. It is anchored by the new Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. There will be opportunities to view an exhibition by renowned Penland School craftspeople and catch a show in the Hanesbrands black-box theatre.

Winston-Salem’s Art District is within easy walking distance with its galleries, shops, and restaurants. Winston-Salem attractions include Old Salem Museum and Gardens; Reynolda House Museum of American Art; Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA); Delta Fine Arts; Children’s Museum; and Sci-Works, the Science and Environmental Park of Forsyth County.

For more information about top events in North Carolina take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in North Carolina.

For more information on Winston-Salem’s Six Days in November, visit www.cityofthearts.com.

Kentucky Hosts World Equestrian Championships

The equestrian world will convene in Lexington, Kentucky for 16 days from September 25 to take part in the pageantry and splendor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The World Equestrian Games will decide the world championships in eight equestrian sports (which are unrelated to the Bluegrass State’s world-famous thoroughbreds) – dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para dressage, reining and vaulting. Some 800 athletes and 900 horses representing more than 60 countries will be there for the largest equestrian event ever held in the U.S.

The opening ceremonies on the evening of September 25 will include many equine entertainers, over 200 horses, a symphony orchestra, dancers, headline musicians, movement corps as well as local and international celebrities and dignitaries.

Every day of the Games will be jam-packed with activities, entertainment, attractions and competitions. Visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington during this time will get not only a generous dose of horsemanship at the Games, but a generous dose of the state's unbridled spirit and Southern hospitality at the Kentucky Experience, a massive interactive facility on the grounds of the Horse Park.

A Bluegrass version of Disneyworld's Epcot Center, the 25,000-square-foot space will utilize five distinctive areas - connected by a promenade - to give visitors a tutorial on all things Kentucky. So, there you have it - a trip through Kentucky's nine distinctive regions - and the opportunity to taste its food, hear its music and buy its products - without having to leave the Kentucky Horse Park.

A concert series, the Alltech Fortnight Festival, will take place at various venues across Kentucky over the 16-days.

For more information about top events in Kentucky take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Kentucky.

For more information visit: http://www.alltechfeigames.com/

Ponderosa Stomp Festival Now has Fall Date

There is much to celebrate as the 9th Annual Ponderosa Stomp Festival kicks into action in 2010 with a new fall weekend to present another rocket-fueled cavalcade of American music stars. After eight years of spring events, fans are marking their calendars on the 24th & 25th of September in 2010.

An incredible array of performers represents American music’s expansive range of genres, from twangy guitar genius to bold, sassy R&B, Chicano rock, primal garage, truckin’ anthems, Southern soul, blues, Cajun, swamp pop and rockabilly.

Duane Eddy, SugarPie De Santo, Thee Midniters, Red Simpson, The Trashmen, Honeyboy Edwards, Lazy Lester, LaLa Brooks of the Crystals, Roy Head, Barbara Lynn and Cajun genius D.L. Menard will lead the charge.

The Stomp doesn’t just blow minds in the evenings, au contraire, by day there is the American music history conference, presented in partnership with the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame & Museum and the Louisiana State Museum, at the beautiful Cabildo in Jackson Square, in which the great producers, iconoclastic performers, journalists and notable music figures speak on panels and oral histories.

That isn’t all: the wonderful exhibit, curated by The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation, “The Secret History of Louisiana Rock ‘n’ Roll” is on display at the museum as well. This year’s Clandestine Celluloid two-day film series moves to One Eyed Jacks, a few blocks from the Music History Conference.

The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation is a not-for-profit cultural organization whose mission is celebrating the legacy, revitalizing the careers and preserving the history of American musicians.

For more information about top events in Louisiana take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Louisiana.

For more information on the Ponderosa Stomp visit http://www.ponderosastomp.com/

Crested Butte’s Vinotok Honors Eastern European Roots

The autumn equinox, a time of balance between day and night, heralds in the celebration of Vinotok in Crested Butte, Colorado. Meaning “fall wine festival” in Slovenian, Vinotok culminates on September 18 after several days of celebrating and commemorates the bounty of the summer harvest and gathering of the community before the long winter ahead.

It is a time of village feasting, of forgetting the woes of yesterday and honoring traditional Eastern European roots. In the midst of the 25th annual celebration, from September 13 to 18, is a colorful array of medieval characters, a street theatre performance, storytelling, traditional food and music.

The origins of Vinotok began when creator and now “Godmother” of the event, Marcie Telander, sat around the pot belly stove at Tony’s Conoco, now the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, listening to the “old-timers” of Crested Butte tell stories from their native lands of Austria, Hungary, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Italy and Slovenia.

A common thread emerged. Many of these cultures had a wine festival in the fall when, as they were putting down wine for the upcoming year, the old wine from the previous year had to be drunk.

They roasted a goat, told tales and danced polka. A fire was always present, a vestige of ancient cultures asking the sun to not stay away too long. It was typically on the fall equinox, a time of planetary balance, and in those cold countries, the start of the new year. They celebrated what they harvested – the hay, children and stories of those who had created roots in a new land.

For more information about top events in Colorado take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Colorado.

For more information on Vinotok and other events in Gunnison-Crested Butte visit http://gunnisoncrestedbutte.com

W.C. Handy Music Festival in Top 100 for 2011

The American Bus Association (ABA) has announced that the W.C. Handy Music Festival to be held from July 22 to 30, 2011, has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2011 by an experienced expert tourism industry selection committee.

Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine, indicates that the W.C. Handy Music Festival offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, according to ABA.

With the release of the American Bus Association's 2011 Top 100 Events in North America, ABA celebrates 29 years of the program. What began as a way for motorcoach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.

"The attractiveness of the W.C. Handy Music Festival as a don't-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for The Shoals," said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, ABA's president and CEO. "The real news here is that the W.C. Handy Music Festival has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars.”

ABA's 2011 Top 100 Events Selection Committee chose the W.C. Handy Music Festival from among a record number of more than 650 event nominations submitted by ABA members. Judges considered the event's broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria.

For more information about top events in Alabama take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Alabama.

For more information on the W.C. Handy Music Festival visit www.wchandymusicfestival.org

State Fair in Vanguard of Vermont’s September Events

The sunny, crisp days of September in Vermont are an ideal time to get outside and visit a community fair, sample local food at an autumn festival, check out beautiful locally made artwork and handcrafted furniture, and take in some spectacular fall foliage.

Here’s a closer look at just a few Vermont events in September.

The 165th edition of the Vermont State Fair now on in Rutland until Sunday September 12 includes carnival fun, food, demolition derbies and concerts by Charley Pride, Wynonna Judd, Danny Gokey, Rick Springfield and Molly Hatchet.

Tunbridge is where the past, present, and future meet up for four days of the Tunbridge World’s Fair from September 16 to 19. The 139th World’s Fair features working antique displays, horse, pony and oxen pulling, horse racing, exhibits, free shows, a midway and more.

New England's largest all British classic and sports car show plus British cultural activities, shops, crafts and more are part of the British Invasion of Stowe from September 17 to 19. The participants are primarily from the U.S. and Canada with over 600 cars on the field.

The Mount Snow Valley’s annual culinary festival, Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival, is at West Dover from September 24 to 26. Enjoy chef cooking demonstrations, wine and food tastings, live music, craft vendors, cheesemakers, art exhibits and more.

Six Vermont villages invite visitors to celebrate rural life against a spectacular backdrop of orange, red and yellow leaves in the Northeast Kingdom’s Fall Foliage Festival from September 27 to October 2. Six unique festivals take place over six different days in six scenic villages in this order: Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet and Groton.

For more information about top events in Vermont take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Vermont.

For a comprehensive listing of events in Vermont visit www.VermontVacation.com

Palette of Vibrant Colors Awaits Artists and Visitors in Beaches of South Walton

Beaches of South Walton is home not only to emerald waters and sugary white sands, but also a vibrant community of artists that have helped to make the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast destination a favorite among those with a love for artistic expression.

The annual Autumn Tides celebration offers wonderful opportunities for travelers, residents, visiting artists and aspiring artists to mingle and even collaborate, with signature upcoming events such as Art Expo and Via Colori.

The Art Expo hosted by The Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin from September 3 to 5 is a weekend “good for the art and soul” with world-class art and live music under the moonlight. Exceptional artists featured in leading galleries across the southeast gather for this three-day festival with events every evening from 5 to 10 p.m.

Via Colori on September 18 offers a more hands-on experience as artists take to the streets for an Italian-style street painting art festival. This unique community project in support of Seaside Neighborhood School brings together volunteers and businesses, and features local and visiting artists using Grand Boulevard’s main street as a giant canvas. This community favorite is open to the public.

The Inspirational Weekend from October 8 to 17 includes events to inspire with food and yoga, and also has an art component. It takes place throughout several locations in the community. There are also a number of musical events as part of the Beaches of South Walton Autumn Tides celebration.

For more information about top events in Florida take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Florida.

For more information about Beaches of South Walton visit www.BeachesofSouthWalton.com

Wickenburg Fiesta Celebrates Hispanic Heritage

On Saturday, September 4, Wickenburg, where Arizona’s Wild West lives, recognizes the town’s early Hispanic pioneers and kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month in Arizona with its 22nd Annual Fiesta de Septiembre.

This is when the town enjoys folklorico dancers, mariachi groups and latin bands, arts & crafts booths, an Hispanic family photo exhibit, food booths, the Viva Margarita! Contest where contestants concoct their favorite recipes, a salsa and guacamole contest, a kids’ zone and much more. Sponsored by the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, the Fiesta is held at the Wickenburg Community Center, 160 North Valentine Street in the historic downtown.
There are some fascinating events scheduled over the next few months in Wickenburg

The 16th Annual Wickenburg Fly-In & Classic Car Show on October 9 at the scenic Wickenburg Airport features airplanes from all over the southwest, booths and over 75 classic cars displayed.

For over 30 years the 3-day Annual Four Corner States Bluegrass Festival has been held the second full weekend in November (this year November 12 to 14 at the Wickenburg Rodeo Grounds & Constellation Park) featuring the championships in fiddle, flat pick guitar, banjo and mandolin. Three nationally known bluegrass bands perform throughout the weekend. There are food and arts/crafts booths, a kids zone, and reserved RV camping.

Two Christmas events are the 22nd Annual Cowboy Christmas Poetry Gathering (Dec. 3 and 4) and the 15th Annual Christmas Parade of Lights on December 10.

One of the biggest events in Wickenburg is the 63rd Annual Gold Rush Days & Rodeo from February 10 to 13, a celebration of Wickenburg's ranching and mining heritage.

For more information about top events in Arizona take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Arizona.

For more information on events in Wickenburg visit www.wickenburgchamber.com

Harvest Fun along the ‘Red Rooster Route’ in Snohomish County

This fall, take a relaxed drive along the “Red Rooster Route” a series of country roads on State Highways 9, 530 and 532 in Snohomish County, Washington State.

You’ll find a concentration of family-owned farms offering plenty of seasonal enjoyment and festivals – corn and hay mazes, u-pick pumpkin patches, pony and wagon rides, fresh baked apple pies, just-picked corn and veggies, and plenty of activities for the kids.

Make the Cider Festival at Garden Treasures Nursery & Organic Farm your first stop to savor the sweet crisp flavor of fresh cider and discover how cider is made during the apple and pear presses. Saturday, October 16 & 23, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Garden Treasures Nursery & Organic Farm, 3328 State Highway 530, Arlington, 360-435-9272. Free admission.

As you travel down the road a bit, watch out for flying pumpkins! At Foster's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze, join the crowd of folks using the Pumpkin Sling Shot to launch the orange orbs high into the air and over the corn fields. Then try finding your way through the hay maze or searching for your jack-o-lantern in the pumpkin patch. Nosh on buttered popcorn, sweet roasted corn, apple pie, hot dogs, and more. Don't forget the hot cocoa or espresso! Free admission and parking; small fee on some activities, including $5.50 per person for the corn maze. October 1 - 31, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Foster's Produce & Corn Maze, 5818 SR 530 NE, Arlington, 360-435-6516.

On the way to Ninety Farms, you'll pass Biringer Farm's Arlington site where delectable summer strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries were recently harvested. But be sure to stop in Biringer Farm's Pumpkin Country & Corn Maze Adventure at their Everett site. Tots and youngsters will giggle and howl with delight as they ride the Creepy Crawley Trolley, slide down the five-slide Mt. Eeerie, crawl through the tractor tire tunnel, brave the Dark Tumbling Tunnel, and take part in more family-oriented activities. Free admission; small fee for some activities. October 2 - 31, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Biringer Farm, 4625 40th Place NE, Everett, 425-259-0255.

As you drive onto Ninety Farms for their Fall Farm Festival, the Katahdin hair lambs will “baaa” in greeting. The festival showcases the importance of the Katahdin hair sheep as a no-shearing hardy breed and lean food source. Learn how this family-owned farm uses natural growing methods to raise and sell USDA grass-fed, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef, lamb and ethically raised veal. At the petting farm, your kids can meet the lambs and other baby animals in a clean and safe environment. It’s a real look at a working farm. Tours: $5 per person. Saturdays & Sundays in October, 10am – 5pm. Ninety Farms 360-435-9304.

On the south end of Red Rooster Route at Lavender Hills Farm owners Mike and Carol McCrorie are noiw preparing for their upcoming Winter Holiday Festival on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, November 19 to December 19, from 10am to 4pm. Lavender lotions, oils, sachets, dried flowers and other items including local arts and crafts and collectibles will be on sale. Enjoy the hot apple-lavender cider and lavender shortbread. Free festival admission. Lavender Hills Farm 360-651-2086.

For more information about top events in Washington state take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Washington.

For more information on RedRooster Route and Snohomish County visit http://www.snohomish.org/index.php?page_id=408