Alyeska Resort Celebrates Blueberry Season

The key ingredient to Alyeska Resort’s popular summer festival is rapidly blooming throughout the valley just in time for the fifth annual Alyeska Blueberry Festival, scheduled for August 13 and 14. 

The family-friendly outdoors two-day festival will run from 12pm until 6pm each day. Admission to the festival is free.

The festival will feature a variety of arts, crafts and food booths – from hand-crafted jewelry and watercolor prints to blueberry-themed desserts and jam concoctions. Each day of the festival there will be local musicians on the main stage, as well as a beer and wine garden. The live music line-up includes Third Wheel Project, Melissa Beck, Full Tilt, Sarahndipity, Sourdough Biscuits, High Lonesome Sound and Paul Cataldo.

Dedicated for kids of all ages, many of the featured activities at the festival are geared for hands-on fun and playing with Alaska’s favorite berry. There will be opportunities for children to decorate their own berry-picking bags and foray for berries in the courtyard area with Alyeska Resort’s mascot, Mogul Moose. 

Chair 7 will run at specific times throughout the weekend free of charge to carry guests up Blueberry Hill and allow pickers to access the prime blueberry patches in the area. The active Blueberry Stomp Fun Run, a short race up Blueberry Hill, is the perfect complement to all the sugary treats. The popular pie-eating contest has been expanded to include both kids and adults competing on the main stage for great prizes. 

Throughout the festival, find artsy activities such as face painting, or try out fly-casting with a local fishing guide. A disc golf tournament on the resort’s nine-hole disc golf course will cap off the day at 6pm.

The Resort is featuring its own culinary talents under the Food & Wine Tent with a series of demonstrations with a blueberry focus. 

The Hotel Alyeska is offering special Blueberry Festival packages starting at $259 per night. Packages include one-night’s accommodation, breakfast and a scenic tram ride for two adults. Packages can be booked by calling hotel reservations at 907-754-2111 or online at www.alyeskaresort.com 

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

Fundraiser Events at Historic Fort Adams

Just a short drive or a water taxi ride across Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, stands the largest coastal fortification in the United States – Historic Fort Adams. 

It is in the tender care of the Fort Adams Trust, a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to operate Historic Fort Adams as a public historic site. To raise awareness of the Fort, the Trust hosts a number of special, fundraising, events over the summer and fall months. 

For instance, join the Coastal Extreme Brewing Company at Fort Adams on August 20 from 4:30pm to 10pm (rain date August 21) for their 13th annual Newport Storm Luau. There will be live music, Polynesian dancers, Hawaiian themed food,  all inclusive casual beach volleyball, ice cold Newport Storm beer and Thomas Tew rum drinks (and Barritts Ginger Beer). The Old Port Marine has a launch to take revelers from downtown Newport to the Fort each half hour.

Another fundraiser is the third annual Fort Adams Antiques Festival and Preview Party at Fort Adams on Saturday, October 1 from 8am to 5pm, presented and managed by Ferguson& D’Arruda Antiques, Providence, RI. Dealers will be offering a wide range of items. Appraisers will be on-site during the afternoon. Early buyers 8am to 10 am; general public 10am to 5pm.  Food and beverage will be available for purchase. 

And on  August 26 and September 23 the Fort Adams Trust offers a series of ghost hunts at Fort Adams. A 3-hour tour with the Rhode Island Paranormal Research Group as your guides, those attending will have the chance to explore several of the living quarters as well as areas not usually seen on daily tours. 

For more information contact Laurie Labrecque at 401.619.5801 or at llabrecque@fortadams.org

For more in formation on Fort Adams visit www.fortadams.org/

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

World Renowned Motorcycle Rally

When your passion is motorcycles, look no further than the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally from August 8 to 14 at Sturgis, South Dakota. There’s nothing quite like it. The streets are roaring with bikes and vendors fill the Main Street storefronts selling everything from alligator-on-a-stick to tattoos.  

People are taking in all the sights and sounds including the custom bike builder exhibits, cheering for their favorite exhibition stunt riders, attending the world class concerts or supporting historical Jackpine Gypsies racing and hill climbs that started this world renowned rally.

While you are roaming the famous Sturgis Main Street, stop at Rally Headquarters located in the Sturgis Armory to register for a daily prize package valued at $250 and visit the vendors for all your Sturgis souvenirs. 

The Motorcycle Expo located on 4^th & Lazelle is where you can find a number of top motorcycle industry manufacturers providing one of a kind American made products. The Expo also offers a variety of entertainment such as professional stunt riding shows and the Loud American Burnouts. Inside the Motorcycle Expo check out the Visitor Information Booth and computerized registration where you can enter to win a $250 daily prize package.  

Don’t miss out on the 9^th Annual Mayor’s Ride on Monday, August 8. This exclusive ride, sponsored by the City of Sturgis and Jack Daniels, tours some of the most scenic areas in the Black Hills. All proceeds from the Mayor’s Ride benefit the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department and National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

For all of your Official Souvenirs, schedule of events, lodging information and everything you ever needed to know about the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally visit www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com or call 605-720-0800. 

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

DuneFest 2011 on Oregon Coast

Don’t miss DuneFest 2011 at the Winchester Bay/Umpqua Dunes on the Oregon Coast from August 3 to August 7 as the family-friendly event lives up to its motto: “The Most Fun a Family can Have in the Sand”.

Presented by the Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce, DuneFest is the Ovation Award winner of “The Best Sporting Event in Oregon”.  

This five-day event is filled with exciting, fun adult and kid activities including: moto cross, racing, sand drags, poker run, treasure hunt, Show n’ Shine, Drive-In Movie Night, charity auction, freestyle shows, evening entertainment featuring Rock The Dunes on Friday and Saturday nights, a canned food drive to benefit the Reedsport Food Pantry, vendor row, OEM Demo area, and many more activities.

The Rock The Dunes concert series on Friday and Saturday nights features Rock Bands from the Northwest. Day passes for Rock The Dunes can be purchased at the gate or by calling the Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce (541) 271-3495 or (800) 247-2155.

Vendor Row will offer ATV’s, clothing, crafts, and ATV accessories.  Vendor Row and is open daily from 9am to 6pm with food vendors staying open late for dinner

DuneFest 2011 offers: Onsite sand camping and off site camping, free parking and free shuttle bus service from Winchester Bay, A Kid’s Safe ATV Riding Area, and Non Ethanol Gasoline (premium fuel 92 octane) available in Salmon Harbor at the fuel dock. The Original Manufacturers will be offering demo rides to test drive new products.  

For additional information on DuneFest 2011 visit www.dunefest.com .

For more information on the Oregon Coast go to visittheoregoncoast.com/

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

Rutland’s Art in the Park

The year was 1961. John F. Kennedy was president. Princess Diana was born. Barbie got a boyfriend named Ken. Average annual income was $5,735 and minimum wage $1.15. You could mail a letter for $0.04; buy a house for $12,500; or a new car for under $3,000. And, if you were in Rutland in 1961, you could also have attended the First Annual Art in the Park. 

A small group of local Rutland artists had a brainstorm .… let’s have an art show in Main Street Park. So, with nothing more than an idea, they launched what has become a signature event for the central Vermont region.

From the original five artists, Art in the Park has grown to nearly one-hundred artisans. This year Art in the Park will be held August 13 and 14 and October 8 and 9 and if you are a lover of fine handcrafted products made in American, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to attend.  The 50^th Annual Art in the Park promises to be the best yet. The Chaffee Art Center, also celebrating its 50^th year, is the event sponsor. 

Main Street Park is at the Junction of Routes 4 & 7 in the heart of Rutland. In 2011, attendees will see several new vendors who ply their craft in wood, stone, fiber, metal, glass, or clay; some put brush to canvas or use their keen eye with camera.

Also new for 2011, several vendors will provide hands-on demonstrations of jewelry making, spinning and knitting, or woodworking for those savvy travelers who like to see how things are made. 

  

For more information on Rutland’s Art in the Park visit www.chaffeeartcenter.org

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. 

August Events in The 1000 Islands Region

Many of the 300-plus events in the1000 Islands (which encompasses communities in both Southeastern Ontario and Northern New York State) focus on the water including boat shows and races, fishing tournaments, even a whitewater paddling festival.

Two major events to look for this August are the Antique Boat Show in Clayton, New York, from August 5 to 7 and Bill Johnston’s Pirates Days from August 12 to 21 in Alexandria Bay, New York.

Clayton’s Antique Boat Show (annually, first weekend in August) is America’s oldest antique boat show and takes place every year at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton. Hundreds of classic wooden boats are on display in the water and throughout the Boat Museum’s riverfront campus. A classic boat parade on the St. Lawrence River and an antique boat auction highlight the event that draws thousands of classic boat and history enthusiasts to the area. 

For 10 days each summer, the riverfront town of Alexandria Bay in the 1000 Islands celebrates Bill Johnston’s Pirates Days (annually, second Saturday in August to third Sunday). The event is rooted in the region’s maritime history of privateers and pirates waging cross-border battles with each other. 

The event is named for the Bay’s most famous pirate, Bill Johnston, who captured and plundered the British steamship Sir Robert Peel in 1838. Pirates Days kicks-off on the second Saturday of August, when pirates attack the village from real sailing ships in front of hundreds of onlookers at the community waterfront. Musket fire and cannon smoke fill the air as re-enactors fight to defend the community. After winning the water and land battle, the invaders take over and everyone becomes a pirate! Nine days of revelry including music, dances, sword-battle re-enactments, children’s treasure hunts and parades follow. A second invasion is staged on the third Saturday.

For more information on the 1000 Islands visit www.visit1000islands.com/visitorinfo/

For more information about Top Events in New York and Ontario take a look at Top Events in New York  and Top Events in Ontario. 

Pullman, Washington State, Lauds the Lentil

The National Lentil Festival is gearing up for its 23^rd year .... so be in Pullman, Washington from August 19 to 20 for this free event that offers something for the entire family. 

Meet in downtown Pullman on Friday, August 19, for the Friday Night Street Fair. Come at 5pm to get in line for a bowl of free lentil chili from the giant 350 gallon bowl. Peruse arts and crafts vendors, hit the bouncy castle, describe why you love lentils on the painting wall, and get something to eat from one of the many vendors who offer lentil themed dishes. 

Then get out your dancing shoes and dance the night away to live music from ColdRail Blues Band and The Whiskey River Band. Those 21 or over can participate in the Microbrew Tasting Tent that will feature local microbrewers. 

Saturday, August 20 offers events all day long. Start your day right with a lentil pancake breakfast before heading up the hill for the Tase T. Lentil 5K Fun Run. After the Grand Parade follow the festival’s mascot Tase T. Lentil to Reaney Park for more live music and vendors. Join the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, Boards & Blades Skateboard Competition, Co-ed Softball Tournament, or the 100K Tour de Lentil Bike Ride that takes participants on a challenging ride through the scenic Palouse hills. If you would rather take it slow in the shade, hit the Farm Tent to see the history of how lentils are grown on the Palouse to  become the producer of 97% of all the lentils in America. 

Stick around because at 2pm, 400 people will have the chance to sample the top six recipes from the Lentil Cook-off and vote for who will win the grand prize of $1,000. While you are judging, listen in on the Little Lentil King & Queen Contest to see who loves lentils the most. 

For more information on Pullman’s National Lentil Festival visit www.lentilfest.com. 

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. 

Dave Brubeck at Newport Jazz Festival

Jazz legend Dave Brubeck has been an integral part of the Newport Jazz Festival since 1955, appearing at the world-renowned seaside event more than any other musician. 

And the famed pianist will be back to join the Brubeck Brothers Quartet as a special guest on Sunday, August 7, at Fort Adams State Park at the 2011 Newport Jazz Festival Presented by Natixis Global Asset Management.

Deemed a "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress, Brubeck is among the most influential musicians in jazz as well as classical music. At 90, he is extraordinarily active and popular and continues to share his musical magic around the world. With a career that spans over six decades, highlighted by landmark pieces like "Take Five," his experiments in odd time signatures, improvised counterpoint, polyrhythm and polytonality remain hallmarks of innovation.

All along the Eastern seaboard and, in fact, around the world, music fans are making plans for the Newport Jazz Festival – America's first annual jazz festival leading the way since 1954. 

Both well-established and up-and-coming artists take over Newport from August 5 to 7 for a Friday night concert at the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport Casino and two days of non-stop music at Rhode Island's historic Fort Adams State Park. 

Newport County, long a tourist hub of the state, includes the resort of Newport and picturesque areas of Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Tiverton, and Little Compton. Rich history, miles of breathtaking coastline, unparalleled hospitality, and an impressive collection of venues and restaurants combine to make this perfect destination.

For the latest news on the Newport Jazz Festival visit www.newportjazzfest.net

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

Galesburg Heritage Days: A Living History Festival

Galesburg Heritage Days Living History Festival is recognized as one of the Midwest's largest living history festivals. This year, from August 19 to 21, share in the excitement at Lake Storey Park, Galesburg, Illinois, with over 700 fellow re-enactors.  

Galesburg Heritage Days is an educational-oriented organization that teaches history by hosting an annual living history festival with two encampments within walking distance of each other. There is a pre-1840 colonial/frontier rendezvous and a fully fielded civil war camp.  More than 400+ school kids visit on Friday to learn long-ago skills, such as basket weaving, candle-making, flint & steel fire-starting, blacksmithing, spinning, etc.  There are 30 stations for them to visit.  

Weekend activities on Saturday and Sunday include horse and wagon rides, Faire Wynd's Circus, period music by Brigand's Folie and Ha'Penny, $1 candle dipping at Pineapples, pre-1840's fashion show, period trade goods (30+ traders), period demonstrations, pie & cake auction, quilt drawing, special appearances by Benjamin Franklin and Abe Lincoln, church services, kid's games, candy cannon, three food kitchens, two major battle re-enactments, performances by Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps from St. Charles, Missouri, The Windy City Wizard, camp dance, night firing of cannons, and much more.  

There are no entrance fees or parking charges for this event. Galesburg’s beautiful Lake Storey Park site offers 411 acres of rolling woodland and prairie, and a 130 acre lake.

For more information on Galesburg visit  www.visitgalesburg.com/

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

Barenaked Ladies Headlines Oswego Harborfest

For the 24th consecutive year, the Saturday night fireworks spectacular will highlight the annual 4-day admission-free non-profit Harborfest from July 28 to 31 in Oswego, New York, along the shores of southeastern Lake Ontario.

Barenaked Ladies, one of Canada’s most popular alternative rock bands, will headline Harborfest 2011 at the NRG Lakeview Stage in Breitbeck Park on Friday evening, July 29.

Harborfest 2011 will feature plenty of food, fun and entertainment as venues on both Oswego’s east and west sides are used. This year’s festival will feature live music and entertainment on three different stages, also at the Family Park at East Park, featuring the Children’s Musical along with programming and activities for families. Riverwalk East will again feature Harborfest’s Arts and Crafts venue and the Historic Maritime District (West 1st and Lake Streets) will be home to the Go Green Expo.

The Harborfest Midway, presented by Reithoffer Shows, is located along scenic Lake Street in the Oswego Maritime District in the Oswego Marina/Wright’s Landing parking lot. There are carnival rides and games for everyone.

The world famous Entergy Nuclear Harborfest Fireworks by Grucci of New York on Saturday, July 30 at about 9:30pm demonstrates the highest level of pyrotechnic artistry as thousand of shells and “ground effects” are choreographed to a carefully selected music track.

Harborfest Trolleys will be running an east-west side trolley loop this year during Harborfest 2011. The trolley route will begin at the Romney Fieldhouse parking lot off of Route 104W. 

Visit the Harborfest website at www.oswegoharborfest.com for the latest information on this year’s festival.

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

Vectren Dayton Air Show Soars

Get ready for thrills and fun at the 37^th annual Vectren Dayton Air Show Presented by Kroger on July 23 and 24 at the Dayton International Airport, Ohio.  

The US Air Force Thunderbirds will roar over the skies under the command of Lt. Col. Case Cunningham.  The world-renowned Thunderbirds will push their F-16 Fighting Falcons to the limit with a dazzling display of speed, skill, power and precision. Joining the Thunderbirds in the show’s military line-up will be the tank-busting A-10 Thunderbolt II and the Navy’s elite tactical fighter jet, the F-18 Super Hornet.

Along with a spectacular military line-up, the Vectren Dayton Air Show will also feature some of the world’s finest civilian aerobatic performers. Tora Tora Tora, an eight-plane formation will present an emotional reenactment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor complete with pyrotechnics. Appearing for the first time in Dayton will be the amazing Red Bull Helicopter, flown by Chuck Aaron, the only pilot in the USA certified to fly rolls and flips in a helicopter.  

Another first for Dayton will be an all-women wing-walking team called the Tombstone Riders. Kids will be amazed as School Time, a jet-powered school bus races down the runway in speeds topping 350 mph. Legendary pilot, Sean D. Tucker will delight viewers with his high-energy, to the limits routine in his Oracle Challenger.  

Gates open each day at 9 a.m. with the flying show starting at 11am.  Families will have plenty to do on the show grounds as they enjoy over 100 aircraft and interactive displays including the Vectren Kids’ Hangar, a free tented area on-site with crafts, games, and activities for youngsters attending the show. A wide variety of delicious food and refreshing beverages are also available for purchase throughout the grounds.

For more information on the Vectren Dayton Air Show lineup as well as the various seating options available, visit www.daytonairshow.com.  

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

Hemingway Days Celebrate Author’s Legacy

The literary talent and vigorous Key West lifestyle of Ernest Hemingway will be celebrated Tuesday through Sunday, July 19 to 24, on the island the Nobel Prize–winning author called home throughout the 1930s. 

Hemingway Days 2011 includes a popular look-alike contest, a book debut and authors’ readings, an offbeat “Running of the Bulls,” a marlin tournament and the culmination of a short story contest directed by author and Hemingway granddaughter Lorian Hemingway.

Events begin Tuesday, July 19, with a book release party for “The Key West Bucket List” by Florida Keys writer David Sloan at The Porch, 429 Caroline St. The festival's leading literary offering is the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition. Other literary events include “Voices, Places, Inspirations,” an evening of readings by acclaimed authors. 

Approximately 125 stocky, bearded men resembling Ernest are to compete in Sloppy Joe’s “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, a festival highlight now in its 31st year. The competition takes place at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, 201 Duval St., a watering hole frequented by Hemingway. 

The “Papas” also take part in other festival activities, including Saturday’s “Photos with Papas” at noon and “Running of the Bulls” at 1pm – an offbeat salute to Pamplona’s sporting challenge featuring man-made bulls. 

Those who share Hemingway's well-known passion for angling can compete in the July 20 to 23 Key West Marlin Tournament, offering cash prizes for top catches of marlin and other fish. 

Other events include an exhibit of rare Hemingway memorabilia at the Key West Museum of Art & History, daily tours of the author’s former Key West home, Sloppy Joe’s Arm Wrestling Championship, a 5k race and a lively street fair on Key West’s Duval Street. 

Event information: www.hemingwaydays.net 

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. 

Route 66 Summerfest and Balloon Fiesta

Be a part of Route 66 on July 23 in Albuquerque – celebrate the historic route with music, food, shopping, a race and more.

Arts, live music, family-friendly entertainment and food come together in the 2nd annual Route 66 Summerfest. Festivities will take place throughout the day on Saturday, July 23 in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill district. The signature event will kick off with a 5k run at 8am. 

Throughout the day and into the evening, local musicians, artisans, classic cars, and culinary specialists will entertain visitors of all ages throughout the walkable Nob Hill neighborhood. The festival will wrap up with internationally renowned jazz musician Maceo Parker through a partnership with New Mexico Jazz Festival.

Meanwhile the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta^® will be celebrating its 40th anniversary celebrates from October 1 to 9.

From a modest beginning in 1972 of 13 balloons launching from a shopping mall parking lot, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has grown to 500-plus balloons and hundreds of thousands of guests at Balloon Fiesta Park each fall, filling Albuquerque’s crystal blue skies. 

The Balloon Fiesta is the premier international ballooning event, powered by the perfect October climate and a phenomenon called the "Albuquerque Box," (a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape, the box allows balloonists to control and even retrace their adventure).

The 200 acres of Balloon Fiesta Park’s grass and booths will be filled with balloons and vendors selling everything from traditional New Mexican food to Balloon memorabilia. Each year balloon teams from around the world participate in the event. It has become the most photographed event in the world. 

For more information on events in Albuquerque visit www.itsatrip.org

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. 

Commemorating Start of American Civil War

This year, 2011, marks the 150^th anniversary of the start of The American Civil War, one of the most defining events in the nation’s history. The First Battle of Manassas, or Bull Run, was fought on July 21, 1861 and is considered the first major battle of a War which would last until April 9, 1865.

Beginning July 21, four days of special events, hosted by a variety of Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area partners, will mark the War’s start and bring into the national spotlight a four-year commemoration that will also denote the largest emancipation of slaves in history. The weekend is expected to draw dignitaries, celebrities, historians and an estimated 30,000 spectators.

Ceremonies begin Thursday morning on July 21 at the Manassas National Battlefield Park with introductions by elected officials and others. The day will also include living history demonstrations, a 3-D photo exhibit, Civil War 150^th Anniversary HistoryMobile, official battlefield tours, and the 100^th Anniversary of the National Jubilee of Peace at the Old Manassas Courthouse in Historic Manassas and much more.

 On Friday July 22, Warner Home Video (WHV) and the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership will host the theatrical premiere of WHV’s new version of Ronald F. Maxwell’s definitive epic Civil War film, Gods and Generals Extended Director’s Cut at the 1170-seat Hylton Center for the Performing Arts in Manassas. 

On July 23 and 24, an estimated 10,000 Civil War reenactors from around the country will stage two days of reenactments at Pageland Farm in Prince William County, Va. Hosts will be Prince William County, Virginia and the Prince William/Manassas Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area contains more history than any other region in the nation. 

For information about the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, Sesquicentennial events, hotels, tickets, visit www.HallowedGround.org

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

Authentic Festivals and Fairs in True South

One of the great traditions of summer in the True South is to attend an outdoor festival or fair for a taste of the diverse cultural heritage displayed across Mississippi. Many of these are annual events that draw locals and visitors alike to enjoy long-standing traditions.

Here are just some of the entertaining festivals and fairs you can experience this summer in Mississippi.

Established in 1889, the Neshoba County Fair® in Philadelphia from July 22 to 29 fosters political, agricultural and social exchanges of knowledge and ideas. The nation's largest campground fair, the fair is “Mississippi's Giant House Party®”. Rides, games, entertainment and hundreds of fair cabins provide a great atmosphere.

The Exchange Club Fair in Brookhaven from July 23 to August 6 is reminiscent of an old-time county fair. Most of the rides were handmade by Exchange club members and members operate the rides. Brookhaven is an historic Mississippi town southwest of Jackson.

The Long Beach Festival on August 6 is a family-friendly festival featuring arts and crafts, cruise-in, charity biker run, food, entertainment, games, competitions and a very special salute to the military.  

Enjoy the evening Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights Street Festival on August 13 celebrating Jackson's unique Belhaven neighborhood. Belhaven's Carlisle Street is “lit up” with art, children's events, vendors, one-act plays, musical acts and food.  

The Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival from August 12 to 14 first took place in 1988 and was funded primarily by Clarksdale's downtown merchants. Since then, one of the largest blues and gospel festivals in Mississippi has grown every year to include some of best names in the business.  

For more information on events in Mississippi visit www.VisitMississippi.org

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

Oshkosh, Wisconsin’s Event City

Oshkosh is Wisconsin’s Event City!  Last year, Oshkosh, Wisconsin launched the Wisconsin’s Event City brand after an extensive research and discovery process.  When people think of Oshkosh, they think of events – or more specifically, the sheer number of events, the variety of events and the excitement pertaining to events.  

Whether visitors are lured by the thrill of aviation, the sounds of some of the nation’s best musicians, fascinating museum exhibitions and classical performances, opportunities to study fascinating subjects, challenging sporting competitions or the desire to express faith with thousands of others, Oshkosh hosts the most accessible, affordable, and diverse selection of events in Wisconsin. These events are the gateways through which visitors are introduced to Oshkosh and discover and enjoy its historic districts, museums, waterways, university, arts and culture. 

Oshkosh is Wisconsin’s Event City because of the extraordinary variety of affordable and accessible events that it hosts each year.  While many cities in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest may lay claim to have very active calendars of events, Oshkosh stands apart. Oshkosh hosts hundreds of events each year.  

“Oshkosh” means only one thing to aviation enthusiasts from around the world – EAA AirVenture, “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration!" from July 25 to 31. Oshkosh also means music and festivals, including Country USA (every June), the premier country music and camping festival in the nation; Lifest, one of the Country’s largest Christian music festivals every July and Waterfest, Oshkosh’s weekly summer concert series (also in July).  New this year, from July 14 to 16 Oshkosh hosts the inaugural Rock USA, which is positioning itself as one of the nation’s largest annual rock festivals.  

Centrally located in the State and close to three major metros, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison, Oshkosh is easily accessible from six major freeways.  

For information on these and other events, check out www.VisitOshkosh.com.  

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. 

Nevada’s American Indians showcase traditions

Experience the energy of a drum circle, the exhilaration of traditional dancing and the appeal of time-honored hand games at one of Nevada’s many American Indian cultural events this summer. 

The Silver State is home to several American Indian tribes – including the Paiute, Washoe and Western Shoshone – that live in various bands or groups throughout the state, and that showcase their individual heritage at annual powwows and special events.

Here’s a look at some upcoming summer events:

• Sacred Visions Powwow, July 22 to 24 at Big Bend Ranch, 50 Big Bend Ranch Road in Wadsworth. Now in its third year, this event is organized by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The schedule includes hand-game tournaments, dance competitions and drumming contests. For those who like to rough it, there’s free camping. 

• Wa She Shu It Deh arts festival, July 23 to 24 at Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe, California. The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California offers this festival that includes a basket-weaving competition, native dancers, music and arts and crafts. The Washoe are known for their skills in basket-weaving. 

• Ely Shoshone Tribe Fandango, July 29 to 31 at the Wappin do-Ya-Be Center, 250 Heritage Drive in Ely. Take in traditional activities — including exhibition drummers and dancers, and a hand-game tournament — as well as recreational fun. 

• Spirit of Wovoka Days, Aug. 26 to 28 at the Joe Parr Sports Complex in Yerington. This event honors Wovoka, the Northern Paiute and religious leader who founded the Ghost Dance Movement in the late 1880s in Yerington. Today, Wovoka’s significance in the history of Nevada and the United States is remembered in a powwow that includes drumming contests, traditional dancing and the Wovoka Princess contest.

Other noteworthy events include the Stewart Father’s Day Powwow, held every June on the grounds of the historic Stewart Indian School in Carson City, and the Walker River Paiute Tribe’s annual pine nut festival, which honors the traditional fall pine nut harvest.

Those are just a few of the events showcasing Nevada’s rich and complex American Indian cultures. For a comprehensive listing and for information on individual tribes and groups, see Nevada Indian Territory at www.nevadaindianterritory.com/

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

“Flying Flowers” at Butterfly Festival

About 25 varieties of native butterflies will swirl, flit and hover as the “flying flowers” are released in the butterfly garden at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park during one of Missouri Springfield’s most popular events, the Friends of the Garden-sponsored Butterfly Festival July 16 and 17.

The live butterfly release will begin at 11am on July 16 and the third annual Butterfly Festival will be from 10am to 4pm and continue through July 17 from 11am to 4pm. Admission is free; donations for operational expenses are encouraged. Children will name each butterfly as they release them from individual boxes.

This year’s Butterfly Festival, for the first time, will add live music to its line up of activities. Bluegrass and Blossoms fans can find their favorite performers beginning at 1pm until 4.30 or 5pm on July 16.

The public park at 2400 S. Scenic Ave. is home to the new Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center and more than 25 botanical gardens created and maintained by volunteers with Friends of the Garden, Master Gardeners and other gardening groups. During the Butterfly Festival, the Botanical Center staff will host free classes and display photo and quilt contest entries.

Children and adults can visit the Caterpillar Petting Zoo, enjoy story times and crafts and bounce their way through a 35-foot long caterpillar. Nearly two dozen vendor booths will sell gardening-related items. 

Each day, children up to 15 years old can dress in butterfly or caterpillar costumes for a chance to win cash and other prizes. On Sunday, adults and children of any age can create butterfly hats and enter their creations at a contest table for a chance to win prizes. Everyone can show off their finery in “pollinator” parades each day.

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. http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-missouri.html

For more information about Springfield, visit 

www.SpringfieldAdventures.com or call the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-678-8767.

Maine Seafood Festivals

Maine's summer harvest from the ocean is celebrated at large and small festivals along the coast. Here's a sampling of the state's seafood themed festivals:

Whether you like your Maine clams steamed, fried in batter or crumbs, made into cakes, or in a chowder, you can get them at the 47th Annual Yarmouth Clam Festival happening from July 15 to 17. Enter the six-mile river canoe and kayak race, and don't miss the Maine State Clam Shucking Contest.

August is the month for lobster fans. The 64th Annual Maine Lobster Festival overtakes Rockland August 3 to 7. Volunteers in the eating tent give cracking and eating tips to steamed lobster virgins. The Winter Harbor Lobster Festival happens August 13. Lobster dinners come with corn on the cob, coleslaw and dessert, and stay for the lobster boat races. 

For the away-from-it-all experience head to Long Island, eight miles off the southern tip of Mt. Desert Island, for the Frenchboro Lobster Festival on August 13. Dine on fresh lobster and homemade pies overlooking scenic Lunt Harbor. The state ferry at Bass Harbor makes a special festival run.

The island city of Eastport winds down summer with the Eastport Salmon Festival on September 3 and 4. The downtown celebration features fresh salmon dinners and boat tours to local Atlantic salmon pens.

The tidal Damariscotta River is where many of Maine's best-known cultivated oysters are grown. The riverside Schooner Landing Restaurant & Marina in Damariscotta hosts the Pemaquid Oyster Festival where 10,000 Maine oysters were consumed last year. The 2011 festival is September 25.

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

For more information about Maine's early summer events go to

www.visitmaine.com

Wisconsin Welcomes Pets and Owners

If you’re the type who would never dream of vacationing without your precious pooch or fluffy feline, then pack up your pet carrier and start exploring pet-friendly Wisconsin.

Every dog should have their day in the sun, at least that’s the philosophy among a number of event organizers around Wisconsin. 

Bastille Days (July 14 to 17) is Milwaukee’s salute to all things French and that includes poodles. The festival features La Parade des Caniches – Pooch Parade for you non-French speakers – with fashionably costumed canines strutting their stuff.

Door County holds a Scottie Days gathering every May. Ripon’s big fall event, Septemberfest (September 17), includes a dog walk and pet parade. There’s also Cambridge’s Barktoberfest (October 9), which features demonstrations and a prize for the best owner/pet theme costume.

One event that is a must-experience for dog lovers is Dog Days of Stockholm, billed as a celebration of dogs and the arts. The 2011 event is slated for the weekend of August 5 and 6 and will feature a Smarty Paws Parade; dog contests with prizes for best smile, person who looks most like their pet and best trick; and dog-related art, music and literature. 

A getaway with your dog should include a stop at one of the state’s many pet-friendly state parks. Pattison State Park in Superior offers a 1-mile-long dog trail that links into the dogs welcome Logging Camp Trail. Lake Kegonsa State Park near Madison features a pier to teach your dog to jump into the lake. And don’t miss a chance to visit the Jefferson County Dog Park near Johnson Creek, rated among the top 40 in the country. 

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. 

Travelers looking for more pet-friendly options, year-round Wisconsin getaway ideas, travel planning, events and free guides can discover their own fun at www.travelwisconsin.com/

Bluegrass on the Bay in Great Falls

Now in its 9th year in Great Falls, Montana, Bluegrass on the Bay is a magical outdoor event right on the Missouri river. This year’s event is on July 15 at Odd Fellows Park in Great Falls.

A fundraiser for Great Falls’ History Museum, Bluegrass on the Bay attracts great Bluegrass music talent from all over the US as well as local talent. Each year there are new bands to experience. This year’s headliner is Town Mountain from North Carolina. The 23 String Band from Kentucky will be paying homage to the deep roots of American traditional music, while pushing forward with genre-bending, hard-driving originals and distinctive arrangements.

There are food and beverage vendors at the concert site as well as great raffle items. 

Gates open at 5pm. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available at both Albertsons stores, and at The History Museum, 422 2nd St. South, Great Falls.

Concertgoers are invited to bring their own folding chairs or blankets for the outdoor event. Pets and coolers are not allowed.

The History Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage of this area. In the previous eight Bluegrass on the Bay events, more than 8,000 people have attended and over $100,000 has been raised for The History Museum. 

For more information about top events in Montana take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Montana. http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-montana.html

For more information on Bluegrass on the Bay visit bluegrassonthebay.com/