Celebrate Dickens on The Strand in Galveston

Dickens on The Strand is Galveston’s 37th annual Victorian-style street festival filled with costumes, music, food and wares straight from the streets of 19th-century London.

During the weekend of December 4th and 5th, hundreds of costumed vendors and performers will provide a look at the pomp and pageantry of the British Empire at a time when commercial and cultural ties provided a strong connection between London and Texas’ largest and richest city.

Centered in Galveston’s The Strand National Historic Landmark District, located approximately one hour south of downtown Houston, the family festival will include parades, non-stop entertainment on the festival’s stages, plus strolling carolers and roving street musicians, bagpipers and entertainers. Additionally, costumed vendors peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with tasty culinary delights and Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations and gift items.

This year the Festival will feature a wide array of new events – including Airship Isabella, an alternative Victorian “Steampunk” group of performers who will host an edgy bazaar, a circus and a street ball.

Besides the Steampunk performances, other new festival offerings include Albert’s Whimsical Whisker Revue – a facial hair contest with various categories.

Her Majesty’s Royal Romp, A Race Fit for a Queen, is a new event inspired by an old Monty Python video. In the Galveston version, contestants dressed as Queen Victoria will race down Mechanic Street through an obstacle course.

The popular Victorian Bed Race features teams of contestants wearing Victorian sleeping attire pushing Victorian-dressed beds on wheels down Galveston’s Mechanic Street as onlookers cheer.

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

For more information visit the Galveston Historical Foundation at www.galvestonhistory.org.

Wine Lovers and Foodies head for Annapolis

The Annapolis Food and Wine Festival, the premier event in historic downtown Annapolis, Maryland, combining the cuisine of the city’s best restaurants with award-winning wines, will be held during the weekend of November 6 and 7 in the Downtown City Dock Area of Annapolis.

It is centered around three of Annapolis' prime attractions: fine dining and gourmet food; premier wine and spirit purveyors; and the natural setting of the Chesapeake Bay. Here you can enjoy food and wine pairings; gourmet chef cooking demos; and wine tasting flights – all add up to a fun-filled weekend for wine lovers and foodies alike.

Special events include a selection of "Vintner Dinner Parties" at award-winning downtown Annapolis restaurants as well as tastings of "Champagne and Oysters on the Half-Shell." For a romantic afternoon, perhaps "Wine, Dine, and Cruise the Chesapeake Bay."

Known as the “sailing capital of the world,” Annapolis and its city dock waterfront provide a natural setting for the two day event.  With a great view of Ego Ally and its parade of sailing vessels, this historic seaport is an inviting, romantic, and fun-filled city.

As a premier travel destination on the east coast, Annapolis boasts over seventy-five restaurants in its downtown Main Street-Maryland Avenue-West Street-Dock Street-Eastport area. Many restaurants create menus that highlight local seafood cuisine but one can also dine on authentic Sicilian pasta or simply sip a cocktail on a deck overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. 

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

For a complete listing of all activities for the two-day Annapolis Food and Wine Festival visit www.annapolisfoodandwinefestival.com

Costuming 'Insanity' to Characterize Fantasy Fest Events

With more than 40 masquerade contests, themed parties, parades and other spectacles during its 10-day schedule, Key West's Fantasy Fest is to push the skills and imaginations of costume creators and mask makers to the limit. The 2010 masking and costuming celebration, themed Habitat for Insanity, is scheduled Friday October 22 through Sunday October 31.

The most elaborate costume competition, Pretenders in Paradise, features huge and vividly colored entries adorned with feathers, thousands of sequins, unexpected elements and even moving parts. As well as designing their costumes, entrants put on performances to entertain the standing-room-only audience.

Pretenders 2010, themed Predators and Prey Come Out to Play, is set for 9 pm Thursday, October 28, on an oceanfront stage at the Pier House Resort & Caribbean Spa, 1 Duval St. Cash prizes totaling $10,000 await the winning amateur, professional and group entries.

Fantasy Fest "insanity" is to take center stage at the 28th annual Headdress Ball, themed Diagnosis: Psychosis, an Assembly at the Asylum. Asylum inmates are to costume their craniums in exotic headdresses, towering masks, mysterious cowls and other "head-turning" haberdashery in this flamboyant festival favorite.

The glittering Headdress Ball is takes place on Tuesday October 26, at Southernmost on the Beach. Fantasy Fest also provides many other opportunities for attendees to indulge their taste for delicious or devilish garb. Costumed characters are to star in a vampires' ball, toga party, masquerade contest for pets and their people, sexy sports soiree, buccaneer bash, glamorous pajama party and much more.

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 Fantasy Fest visit www.fantasyfest.net or visit the Keys at www.fla-keys.com.

Springfield, Missouri, Pets and Pumpkins Fun

Pets and Pumpkins makes a return to historic Commercial Street, Springfield, Missouri, for the 3rd year in a row on Saturday October 23 from 1pm to 5pm – rain or shine. Each year thousands of people and pets fill the street for an afternoon of Halloween fun.

The street between Robberson and Campbell will be closed to safely accommodate this popular event.

In addition to the area’s largest costume parade and contest for kids, adults and pets, activities include food, music, marshmallow roasting, trick or treating at the shops & vendors, inflatables, games, hay maze, cake walk and much much more.

Pets and Pumpkins was created to help animal rescue efforts. Money raised from the day of the event is donated to local shelters that are dedicated to saving homeless dogs and working to educate the public about the problems of pet over population. This year armbands and tags will be sold at the admission gates.  The cost is $2 per child and $2 per pet (Adults are free).

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

Visit www.petsandpumpkins.com for additional information, including vendor entry and volunteer forms.

Flavorful Fall Arrives on Florida's Historic Coast

A streetscape redesigned just for outdoor dining, events celebrating a rich heritage and flavorful foods, and special fixed-price dining menus at dozens of area restaurants is greeting October visitors to Florida's Historic Coast. This October, the spotlight is shining on the area's outstanding dining and culinary traditions.

Located mid-way between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast features 42 miles of unspoiled Atlantic beaches; the nations' oldest city, St. Augustine; the elegant seaside resorts of Ponte Vedra; and some of the world's best golfing opportunities.

Founded by the Spanish in 1565, St. Augustine continues to celebrate daily the flavors of Spain that were a rich part of the everyday life here for nearly 250 years. Combined with the Mediterranean culinary traditions brought to Florida's Historic Coast by Minorcan and Greek colonists in the 18th century, the area offers both time-tested Old World favorites and cutting-edge culinary creations. The tantalizing tastes of these flavorful influences are made even more exciting by the variety of dining atmospheres found here – oceanfront seafood restaurants, old Florida riverfront hideaways, quaint bistros and trendy eateries. "Foodies" ranging from epicurean experts to folks who just want a delicious, flavorful meal can easily satisfy their culinary cravings on Florida's Historic Coast.

October is dedicated to Flavors of Florida's Historic Coast, a month-long dining experience that offers visitors an opportunity to experience the wide-range of local culinary diversity. Each of the participating restaurants is presenting a "Chef's Choice" prix fixe (fixed price) three-course meal reflecting its unique flavor and style.

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.

To learn more about the October 2010 Flavors of Florida's Historic Coast Prix Fixe dining celebration visit www.HistoricCoastFlavors.com

Inaugural Delaware Wine and Beer Festival near Dover

Advance tickets for the Inaugural Delaware Wine and Beer Festival on Sunday, October 17 can be purchased online at Dover’s homepage (see end of this blog and start clicking).

The Festival will be held from 12 noon to 5 pm at Pizzadili Vineyard and Winery located at 1683 Peach Basket Road near Felton, just minutes south of Dover off Route 13. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

General admission to the festival is $5. To sample beer and wine, attendees must be 21 years of age and purchase a sampling package at $20 per person, which includes general admission and five tasting tickets.

Additional tokens for full pours will be sold onsite at $4 for a glass of wine and $3 for a glass of beer.  Barbecue and pizza, along with non-alcoholic beverages, will be available for purchase. The event will be held rain or shine under a covered pavilion. 

Attendees will have an opportunity to meet Delaware’s vintners and brewers, and sample more than 30 Delaware-made wines and craft beers.

Festival-goers will also have an opportunity to take tours of the winery. Fun activities will include horseshoes, volleyball, and there will even be a "grape stomp" and "keg tossing" contest. Live music for the event will be provided by Celtic Harvest's Woodyword Trio. In addition, a select number of Delaware artisans will be participating.

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

Click on the Wine and Beer Festival on Dover’s homepage www.visitdover.com to begin your ticket purchase. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 800-233-5368.

Red River Revel Arts Festival Celebrates 35th Year

For 35 years the Red River Revel Arts Festival has attracted thousands of people who love art, food, music, and fun. This year’s event is now taking place through Saturday October 9.  This eight-day festival is held at downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza on the banks of the Red River.

The featured attraction at the Revel is the variety of art on display and for sale by more than one hundred juried artists. It’s the perfect place to find unique jewelry, paintings, acrylics, clothing, pottery, photography, wood work and much more. This year will offer 40 new artists.

Another popular activity at the Revel is eating. Many festival-goers count down to the event in anticipation of eating their Revel favorites, most of which are prepared by local non-profit organizations. From the Muffaletta pizza and turkey legs to the Italian ice and funnel cakes.

This year the 50-foot Ferris Wheel is back and will be in a new location overlooking the Children’s Arts Education Area and the Red River. Children’s events include Artist for a Day, “Twister” Tot Tent, Architecture Alive, Salto Trampoline and the Rock Climb.

Revelers can enjoy local bands and regional Revel favorites throughout the eight-day festival. The eight-day Reveler Pass allows unlimited admission throughout the festival for one low price.

Shreveport-Bossier is Louisiana's Other Side – a mix of wide-open Texas spirit and spicy Cajun attitude. They took the best of big Texas and the tastiest of Louisiana and blended it into their own brand of entertainment and fun.

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.

To learn more about all there is to see and do in Shreveport-Bossier, visit www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com.