Greater Fort Lauderdale Lights up Holiday Season

One of the most magical times of the year is the holidays, and Greater Fort Lauderdale offers up seasonal festivities with a decidedly unique flare befitting its American Riviera reputation and image. 

 Starting with the “Rockin’ Boats and Holiday Floats” theme of the annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade which celebrates its 40^th Anniversary on December 10, the Parade will feature a light show extravaganza with hundreds of brightly lit boats and yachts as they cruise from the downtown New River and 10 miles up the Intracoastal Waterway. 

Light Up Lauderdale showcases the Riverwalk and Arts & Entertainment District, featuring the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, historic Stranahan House and New River promenade, with thousands of lighted displays and festive décor. Light Up Lauderdale will run through January 14, 2012. 

For those who like their holiday celebrations with a chance to shop, dine and stroll, Las Olas Boulevard is the place to be. LOB’s fashionable boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and trendy lounges will be decked out in holiday décor with the tree-lined thoroughfare featuring an ice staking rink, open through January 1, and Snow Mountain, an interactive children’s attraction and the only mountain of snow in South Florida.

  

Other Greater Fort Lauderdale holiday happenings include:

• The Hollywood Beach Candy Cane Parade on December 3 at the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. 

• The Pompano Beach Boat Paradeon on December 11 along the Intracoastal Waterway in Pompano Beach
• Sounds of the Season: A Holiday Extravaganza is a classical holiday concert at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on December 12.

• Those visitors wishing to bring in the holidays with a spiritually staged event, First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale hosts the iconic annual Fort Lauderdale Christmas Pageant through to December 18.  

For more information on the above events and a complete list of holiday events in Greater Fort Lauderdale, please visit www.sunny.org.

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. 

Christmas Past Comes to Life in St. Charles

The streets of historic St. Charles, Missouri, are alive with excitement through to December 24 as cries of "Merry Christmas," "Good Yule," & "Humbug" fill the air. Carolers stroll the streets, the smell of roasting chestnuts fill the air and jingle bells can be heard. Christmas characters and Santas have come from around the world to celebrate the season.

The Christmas Traditions Festival has entertainment for the young and young at heart with a variety of festivities. Don’t  miss out on some of the fun events like Santa’s North Pole Dash (5K Run or 1 Mile Fun Walk) on December 10. Join other kids as they run here, there and all around the square saying “Catch me if you can!”  during the Snowman Shuffle (Kids Run in Frontier Park) on the same day.

Santa has taken time out of his busy schedule so you can have your picture taken with him. Don’t miss breakfast with Santa where you can enjoy an up-close-and-personal visit at the beautiful Mother-In-Law House Restaurant.

And when Santa has to leave on Christmas Eve, join St. Charles for the Santa Send-Off at 1:30pm to bid Santa goodbye during this last parade of the season and wish him the best as he heads back to the North Pole.

If you’re looking to experience the spirit of an old-fashioned ‘Norman Rockwell-feeling' Christmas, you'll find it in historic Augusta, Missouri during the Candlelight Christmas Walk from December 2 to 9 from 5pm to 10pm.

Learn more about Christmas Traditions and plan your visit by browsing the entire 2011 Festival Guide now. 

To learn more about St. Charles, visit the Greater Saint Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau homepage or City of St. Charles official website.

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. 

Branson: Ozark Mountain Christmas

Just like the ending of a fantastic live music show, this nationally acclaimed Missouri holiday destination, with its broad and unexpected mix of world-class entertainment, lakes area recreation and Christmas spirit, creates a grand finale for the year. 

Ozark Mountain Christmas will bring your family together for holiday entertainment, great shopping and elaborate decorative light displays. This seasonal festival features the Branson Area Festival of Lights (through January 1) which illuminates the night sky with millions of twinkling lights and Christmas shows at dozens of theatres. 

Christmas on the Trail show and Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills Historic Homestead are also Christmas traditions in Branson. 

Silver Dollar City, the award-winning 1880's theme park, has their Old Time Christmas finery all aglow on nearly every tree and building. And With a 5-story special effects Christmas tree, The Living Nativity, the grand production show of A Dickens' Christmas Carol and legendary holiday dining options throughout the park, you will make new Christmas memories. 

Sight & Sound Theatres’ production of The Miracle of Christmas will warm the hearts and bless the souls of everyone that sees it. You won’t want to miss the Adoration Parade held the first Sunday in December. This festive nighttime parade through Historic Downtown Branson and Adoration Scene lighting ceremony celebrates the birth of Christ and features floats, marching bands, and thousands of Christmas lights. 

Branson is a holiday shopper’s paradise with Branson Landing, Historic Downtown Branson and three major outlet malls featuring more than 300 name-brand shops. Hundreds of boutique, arts, crafts and specialty stores throughout the town offer one-of-a-kind handmade heirloom-quality gift items. 

Visit www.explorebranson.com for information about Branson and the Lakes area.

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. 

It’s Time to Visit Tavares

Tavares, America's Seaplane City, splashes down with its Christmas celebrations on December 3 with its City Christmas Light-up and parade.

This year's theme is Twas the Flight Before Christmas. The parade starts down Main Street at 5:30pm. Activities at nearby Wooton Park will follow and include Santa arriving by seaplane (of course!), falling snow, ice skating, horse drawn wagon rides, S'mores Pit, photo booth, face painting, a bounce house, Kids DJ, Library Book Giveaway, rock climbing wall, great food and more food, as well as a variety of seasonal entertainment. 

Some 7,000 take-offs and landings from the Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina in its first year of operation and 16 major community events at Wooton Park each year brings in thousands of visitors to Tavares. Soon waterfront entertainment offerings will be expanded to include an event pavilion and pier, which is expected to be under construction by mid-2012. The Tavares Pavilion on the Lake will host community events, business conferences, weddings and formal events.

Tavares will host the season-opening stop for the BASS Bassmaster Open Southern Division from January 19 to 21 at Wooton Park, Lake Dora. It will be the Bassmaster Open's only stop in Florida. Weigh-ins are open to the public, with a variety of food and vendors throughout the park. 

The annual African-American Heritage Parade & Festival on February 4

begins at 10am with a parade down Main Street. Festivities continue at Wooton Park on the waterfront with ethnic foods, history and cultural learning, arts & crafts, rides for kids.


And every Saturday night venture into the haunted, historical world of Tavares with the Floating Ghosts Séance Tour of Downtown Tavares for a hair-raising tour into the haunted past of this historic city. 

Tavares is the hub of Lake County, Florida. A major source for news of events in the region is Time for Tavares 

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. 

Discover Cool Sounds and Fairs at Claremont

While the fall brings Santa Ana winds to Southern California, it also brings students back to the seven world-class colleges in Claremont and a renewed opportunity for visitors and tourists to catch live local music and fairs.

The birthplace of Grammy-winner Ben Harper, Claremont is home to a wide variety of musical performances, ranging from classical at the Pomona College Department of Music, to student choral and orchestra performances. Local pubs and clubs feature Los Angeles County and Inland Empire area bands performing seven nights a week.

The famous Folk Music Center and Museum in Claremont Village is owned by Ben Harper’s family and includes a collection of rare and antique musical instruments and artifacts from around the world. 

On December 4 visitors will receive free admission to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden where they can visit with Santa and make crafts with the kids, and enjoy holiday gift sales, festive live music and prize drawings.

Among the Fall events to look forward to next year is the Village Venture Arts & Crafts Faire which in October fills The Claremont Village with over 450 arts & crafts booths including photography, pottery, jewelry, clothing, and garden knick-knacks – just in time to kick off the holiday shopping season.

  

In early November there is Marley’s Ghost concert at the Folk Music Center. Since forming in the mid-’80s, Marley's Ghost has built a singular reputation among discerning roots-music lovers for its instrumental virtuosity, ultra-tight four-part harmonies and animated live performances.  They blend English folk, Jamaican reggae, Gospel, Country and R&B.

Visitors can find more information about Claremont and local activities at www.DiscoverClaremont.com, www.claremontchamber.org and www.claremontcalendar.com. 

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

A Dickens of a Christmas in Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe, in Carbon County, Pennsylvania is celebrated for its picturesque scenery, its mountainous location, its architecture and as the Gateway to the Poconos.

It is also hugely popular at this traditional time for its Olde Time Christmas Celebration when its streets bustle with the sounds and joy of a Christmas of yesteryear, straight out of a Dickens novel. 

Jim Thorpe’s Olde Time Christmas Celebration is spread out over three weekends. Be part of the holiday festivities starting December 2-4^th, December 10-11^th, and December 17^th-18^th.

Street carolers sing in chorus while horse-drawn carriages transport riders through Jim Thorpe’s beautifully adorned Victorian streets. Decorated store fronts invite visitors inside to discover unique items and ideal gifts for their loved ones. 

Rub shoulders with Dickens characters. If you bring family and friends dressed in Victorian hats or capes, you could be rewarded for dressing in character with a Scrooge dollar given out by Jim Thorpe’s strolling Ambassadors of Christmas (put Scrooge behind you and spend those Scrooge Dollars which is legal tender in Jim Thorpe during Olde Time Christmas).

There are train rides with Santa, live Nativity plays, historic district ghost walks, a Gingerbread House Contest, expanded shopping hours, and seasonal dinner specials at Jim Thorpe’s many restaurants. Grab a mug designed by a local artist and take around to participating merchants for gifts and treats.

In addition, ticketed entertainment takes place each Saturday night of Olde Time Christmas at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, one of the finest downtown music venues in Pennsylvania. This year the timeless Dickens story has a new adaptation – A Coal Country Christmas Carol with all the elements of the original Scrooge, Marley and Tiny Tim placed inCoal Country. 

It’s easy to get to Jim Thorpe. It’s only an hour-and-a-quarter from Philadelphia, two hours from New York City and 35 minutes from the Lehigh Valley. For more information on Jim Thorpe visit www.jimthorpe.org/ 

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

Arrgh! Pirates to Plunder Key West

The historic seafaring town of Key West is to become a pirate stronghold Thursday, November 24 through Sunday, December 4, when “brethren of the coast” and winsome wenches invade the island for the 12th annual Pirates in Paradise Maritime Heritage & Music Festival.

Featuring more than 100 costumed pirate re-enactors, Pirates in Paradise offers a packed roster of revelry for children and adults intrigued by the Florida Keys’ seafaring history and culture. 

The festival includes nautical excursions and pirate sails, the staged re-creation of an actual pirate trial, parties and buccaneer balls with dancing under the stars, walking tours of Old Town Key West led by re-enactors and historians, a lively pirate village and marketplace, swashbuckling film presentations and much more. 

Highlights include the annual National Walk the Plank Championships, set for noon Saturday, December 3. Entrants in this typically hilarious competition are to plunge into the deep from Key West’s “pirate vessel” Schooner Wolf, moored at the Truman Waterfront. Plank-walkers are judged on their costumed attire, overall style, pleas for mercy and splash. 

Seafarers and wannabes can experience tall ship sails and sea battles on the Schooner Wolf, scheduled to weigh anchor at 1:30 and 4:30pm daily. Call 305-296-9694 for reservations.

Festival attendees eager to mingle with costumed pirates and damsels are invited to “invade” the Pirate Village Marketplace, Art Fair & Holiday Bazaar, open daily at Key West’s Truman Waterfront Commons. Attractions include the Pirate Pub & VIP Hospitality Tent with nonstop entertainment, craft beer tastings, period arts and crafts, storytelling competitions, a carnival, daily sea chantey songfests, strolling minstrels and more. 

Adventurous attendees also can enjoy Literature & the Sea sessions with author/historian Robert N. Macomber and other writers, an exuberant re-enactment of the trial of real-life female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read, and a rich cargo of other events. 

For Key West visitor information visit www.fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY 

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. 

New England's Favorite Christmas Town

To get into the proper holiday spirit early, the place to be the first weekend in December is the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. Festivals galore start the season right in this region that is always as pretty as a Christmas card, and there are numerous opportunities to check off your holiday shopping list in scenic settings. The only dilemma is where to go first.

One good place to start is Connecticut's own little town of Bethlehem, a quaint village that is transformed each December, when it becomes New England's favorite Christmas Town. 

Thousands of visitors arrive to mail their Christmas cards with a Bethlehem postmark and to enjoy the 30th annual gala Christmas Town Festival, set this year for Friday night December 2 and Saturday, December 3.  The town green is transformed for the occasion with some 70 vendors offering crafts and good food. Bring the family for musical entertainment, hayrides and the chance for a photo with Santa. 

Bethlehem's historic Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden will be festively decorated for the weekend, with themed decorations in each of the first floor rooms. Children will enjoy games, prizes and surprises and refreshments in the Visitor's Center. This house will be open during festival hours, December 2 from 5pm. to 9pm and December 3 from 10am to 4pm. For details, phone (203) 266-7596.

Bethlehem also offers the chance to visit a rare museum-quality 18th century Neapolitan Crèche housed in a barn at the Abbey of Regina Laudis. 

For more information about other December events in the Litchfield Hills visit www.visitwesternct.com. 

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. 

Oshkosh Celebrates 10 Years of Magical Lights

The Oshkosh Celebration of Lights has been bringing joy, beauty and wonder throughout the holiday season to thousands of visitors to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, since 2001.  

Set up in Menominee Park on Lake Winnebago, the one-mile, magical journey through more than a half-million lights is a great event for the entire family. Experience the awe of the 100-foot Christmas tree, sculptured scenes, animated lighted displays and more!  Drive your car, walk or take a horse-drawn carriage ride as you relax and enjoy the spirit of the season.  

In addition to the twinkling displays, kids are encouraged to visit Santa’s Workshop and the Elves Hideout for pictures with Santa and several children’s holiday activities and projects.  While you are there, don’t miss out on the live reindeer and Santa’s Gift Shop.  

Celebrating “10 Years of Holiday Magic”, Oshkosh Celebration of Lights kicks off  on November 23, the night before Thanksgiving, and runs nightly from 5 to 9pm through January 1. 

Several special events throughout the span of Celebration of Lights make the event even more appealing.  ‘Patriot Night’ on December 7 will commemorate the 70^th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor and will honor all service men and women, past and present, allowing their cars free admission on this night. 

A new patriotic display will also be featured. On December 10 and 31, enjoy ‘Nights of the Torches,’ presenting hundreds of torches and Roman candles against a winter’s night sky and dazzling with the thousands of lights.  

A non-profit fundraising event, Oshkosh Celebration of Lights benefits several organizations throughout the Oshkosh area including numerous local food pantries, Toys 4 Tots, the Oshkosh Area Humane Society and more.  Non-perishable food donations are encouraged every night and get you $2 off the admission price.  

To find out more information and for a schedule of special event nights, visit www.OshkoshCelebrationOfLights.org.   

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.

Candlelight, Mistletoe & Home Tours

Fort Scott, known for its Fort Scott National Historic Site and its National Cemetery, celebrates its rich heritage with major events on the first full weekend in December.

The 32nd Annual Moonlight & Mistletoe and the Homes for the Holidays Tour is on December 2, 3 and 4 – an opportunity to see older Victorian homes decked out for Christmas. The tours are on Saturday and Sunday with a bonus tour on Friday night with a purchase of an extra ticket. 

The 30th Annual Candlelight Tour at Fort Scott National Historic Site on December 2 and 3 commemorates the Civil War Sesquicentennial. Over 700 candle lanterns illuminate the site and over 100 re-enactors bring the fort to life. Groups will be led by re-enactors throughout the grounds and buildings as they visit scenes with live re-enactments. Tours run from 6:30 to 9 every 15 minutes on the evening of the December 2 and from 5 to 9 every 15 minutes on the 3rd. Tickets are $7 each. Reservations are required so call 620-223-0310.

Fort Scott ushers in the Christmas with its Downtown Christmas Parade & Holiday festival on November 29.

 And looking ahead, Fort Scott holds its Good Ol’ Days celebration on the first full weekend of June every year (in 2012 on the evening of May 31 and June 1 and 2 ). It's an old fashion street fair with 3-plus blocks of arts and crafts, food, several stages with live entertainment and music, children's carnival, street dances on Friday and Saturday nights and much more. It is kicked off with a parade on Friday evening followed by a chicken dinner and a street dance. Re-actors are on site for the weekend at the National Historic Site. 

Visit Fort Scott at www.fortscott.com 

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

Gettysburg Honors Fallen Soldiers, Famous Speech

Two of Gettysburg's largest annual events will coincide on November 19, for a day highlighted by a ceremony in Gettysburg honoring Lincoln's immortal address, a parade through downtown and an illuminary featuring more than 3,500 candles in the national cemetery.

Dedication Day – a time in which Gettysburg honors the Gettysburg Address and President Abraham Lincoln's visit to Gettysburg – is held annually on November 19. Remembrance Day, a time when thousands of Civil War re-enactors and living historians converge on the historic town to honor the brave men who gave their lives fighting in the nation's most famous battle, is always held the Saturday closest to Dedication Day. This year, both occur on the same day, making it a popular time to visit Gettysburg and pay tribute to these historic events.

The day starts at 9:30am with a Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Soldiers' National Monument in the Soldiers' National Cemetery. The Dedication Day ceremony follows at 9:45. The ceremony includes remarks, Civil War-era music and the reciting of the Gettysburg Address.

At approximately 11am, immediately following the Dedication Day Ceremony, a Salute to U.S. Colored Troops will follow near the eastern portion of the cemetery. This salute will feature soldiers re-enacting the U.S. Colored Troops, along with presentations by historian Deb McCauslin and Getty.

The Remembrance Day Parade begins at 1:30pm, and can be seen from High Street, Baltimore Street, and Steinwehr Avenue. A ceremony will follow in Zeigler's Grove at the Gettysburg National Military Park. The parade attracts re-enactors from as far away as Europe.

The day is capped off with the Remembrance Day Illuminary in the Soldiers' National Cemetery. 

For more information on Dedication Day or Remembrance Day, call the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at (717) 334-6274 or visit www.gettysburg.travel.

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

Celebrating 20 Years of Fantasy in Lights

Fantasy in Lights^® at Callaway Gardens bedazzles young and old nightly, November 18 to December 30, continuing a tradition started two decades ago. 

Families choose a time (6, 7 or 8 p.m.) and board the fun, interactive “Jolly Trolley” or take their own car while navigating more than five miles and 14 striking holiday scenes at the 13,000-acre destination about an hour southwest of Atlanta and thirty minutes north of Columbus. 

Take a break from the electrifying displays and gather round two narrated scenes on Robin Lake Beach, Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Nativity, each lasting about 10 minutes. 

Then, unwrap more holiday magic at the Christmas Village, open daily beginning at 4pm, an indoor magical wonderland shopping area with opportunities to visit Santa Claus and other holiday characters. Shop for specialty food items at the Callaway Gardens Country Store^®, gather unique gifts. An array of Georgia crafters will be on hand making and selling their wares. 

Purchase tickets in advance online or by phone; prices range from $16 (Value Night) to $22 (Prime Night) for adults and $8 (Value Night) to $11 (Prime Night) for children; children five and younger are admitted for free but must still have a "free child" ticket. If purchased on-site, tickets are $25 per adult and $12.50 for children 6-12; children five and younger are free. 

Callaway Gardens includes a garden, resort, preserve and residential community on 13,000 acres in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Highlights include a butterfly conservatory, horticultural center, discovery center, chapel, inland beach, nature trails and special events throughout the year. 

To experience the most spectacular holiday light and show in the South, visit www.CallawayGardens.com or call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292). 

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

Fun Events in Peanut Capital of the World

About half of the peanuts grown in the United States are grown within a 100-mile radius of Dothan, Alabama, so it’s no surprise that the nation’s largest peanut festival is held here each fall to honor peanut growers and to celebrate the harvest season. 

The 2011 National Peanut Festival is just drawing to a close but there is still time to get there for the final few days of fun (through to Sunday November 13). 

But Dothan also hosts other interesting events.

For instance, on Thursday, November 17 you can enjoy exotic sample-sized martinis at the mARTinis on Main at the Wiregrass Museum of Art while exploring regional and local artists at this swanky affair benefiting the Wiregrass Chapter of the American Red Cross. General admission tickets are $30 and include 4 drinks, Hors d'oeuvres, live jazz music and auction. 

Or enjoy a day of free family fun on Foster Street in Downtown Dothan at the Downtown Christmas Festival on Saturday December 3 from 9am to 3pm. Let the kids play in the snow, visit with Santa, ride the train, roast marshmallows, decorate cookies and make ornaments for the family tree. Families will delight in the horse and buggy rides and rows and rows of vendors with delightful Christmas crafts and gifts for sale. Most activities free, thanks to the generosity of local businesses who sponsor the venues.

And mark your calendars for the Tri-State BBQ Festival on Friday and Saturday April 13 and 14 at the Houston County Farm Center when Dothan becomes the Mecca for all things cooked low and slow during the second weekend in April each spring.  

 Visit Dothan at www.dothanalcvb.com/ 

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. 

5-million Lights Salute Veterans

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is gearing up for its four-month-long celebration of Winterfest – a Great Smoky Mountains tradition that includes 5-million festive lights and festivals within a festival.

Chosen by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event in the Southeast, Winterfest is a mixture of holiday celebrations, themed special events and the millions of decorative lights.

Four months of activity begin on November 8 with a special parade saluting military veterans (Veterans Day is of course November 11) and a ceremony in Patriot Park that flips the switch on the Winterfest lights.

This is Pigeon Forge Winterfest’s 22nd year. Dates are November 8 to February 26, 2012.

Apart from the afternoon parade ending in Patriot Park, the November 8 kickoff also includes an evening program featuring a tribute to veterans, bluegrass music and the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus.

After the entire city’s light displays pop on, Pigeon Forge’s Fun Time Trolleys will offer free rides on the Trolley Tour of Lights for the rest of the evening.

Among the events on the calendar:

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas (November 5 to December 30) glows with 4 million holiday lights of its own and the premiere of “Christmas on Ice” in DP’s Celebrity Theatre.

The Titanic Museum Attraction gets in the Edwardian holiday spirit with its “Christmas in a Winter Wonderland” (November 8 to December 31) festivities.

Wilderness Wildlife Week (January 7 to 14) offers eight days of programs and activities about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other outdoor topics, while Saddle Up! (February 23 to 26) brings a taste of the Old West to Pigeon Forge with cowboy poetry, western music and a chuckwagon cookoff.

Information about Pigeon Forge Winterfest, including Wilderness Wildlife Week in January and Saddle Up! in February, is at www.MyPigeonForge.com and 1-800-251-9100.


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

Classic Holiday Offerings in Virginia

Love is what the holidays are all about and Virginia’s classic seasonal events put love at the heart of holiday getaways – from Christmas-themed tours to special holiday deals.

The “Colonial Christmas” program at Jamestown Settlement features a film and interpretive presentations that compare and contrast 17th-century English Christmas customs with how the season may have been observed in Jamestown Settlement’s early years.  For the month of December, daily tours and programs in the outdoor living-history area allow visitors to learn about the English colonists’ first Christmas at sea, enter a re-created colonial fort and take a scenic drive on Colonial Parkway to Yorktown, where the victory of the American Revolution was won. Call 757-253-4838 or visit www.explorewilliamsburg.com for more information.

Civil War Christmas at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre on December 17 brings visitors back 150 years to see how soldiers and civilians celebrated Christmas time during the Civil War when they were away from their families and loved ones. For more information, visit http://www.pwcgov.org .

New for 2011, Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration will dazzle visitors as Busch Gardens gets decked out in holiday splendor this Christmas.  From November 25-December 31, the popular park will be ablaze with over two million twinkling lights, holiday traditions, dazzling shows and one-of-a-kind gift ideas. Call 800-343-7946 or visit www.christmastown.com for more information.

The Annual Scottish Christmas Walk parade held on Saturday, December 3 at 11am, honors Alexandria’s Scottish heritage. More than 100 Scottish clans dressed in traditional tartans will march through the historic streets of Alexandria. Call 703-746-3301 or visit www.scottishchristmaswalk.com for more information. 

More than 100 holiday events and 30 new programs bring historic Christmas cheer to the streets of Colonial Williamsburg. For more information visit www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/visit/holidays/holidayPrograms.cfm

Visit www.Virginia.org for more trip ideas or call 1-800-VISITVA for a free Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

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. 

Enjoy an America’s Cup Getaway in San Diego

San Diego welcomes the world's top sailors as they race for victory in the third stop of the America's Cup World Series from November 12 to 20. Spectators can enjoy high-speed adventures on scenic San Diego Bay, considered to be one of the best natural harbors for racing on North America's west coast.

With the excitement of the America's Cup races and sunny skies galore, now is the perfect time to plan a getaway to San Diego, where a variety of world-class offerings await.

Beginning Nov. 12, nine state-of-the-art high-speed catamarans representing seven nations will take to San Diego Bay at speeds over 30 miles per hour. The America's Cup World Series kicks off on opening weekend, Nov. 12-13, with three fleet (exhibition) races, and culminates Nov. 16-20, when teams compete for Series points during the Match and Fleet Racing Championships.

San Diego's picturesque Embarcadero, Harbor Island, Shelter Island, Coronado Ferry Landing and numerous other locations along San Diego Bay will offer breathtaking views of the action as the vessels catapult from the starting line just off downtown's Navy and Broadway Piers. A variety of other activities on land will complement the exciting action on water, including food and shopping at the America's Cup Village, a racing simulator ride, battle of the bands live music event and more.

For a complete schedule of the races and other official America's Cup events, visit AmericasCup.com/sandiego.

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

Plan Your "Nosh-cation" in Hawaii This November

What do you mean you’ve never heard the term “nosh-cation” before? It combines two of America’s favorite pastimes, noshing (or eating) and vacationing. 

This word may not have hit the foodie lexicon just yet, but given the variety of food festivals coming up throughout Hawaii in November, one avid cuisine traveler just may become the first to complete a “nosh-cation.”

Think about it. Three events on three Hawaiian Islands (on Hawaii Island, Kauai, and Oahu), in two weeks. Completely possible! Here’s the details for an incredible time eating your way across the Aloha State:

• 41st Annual Kona Coffee Festival – now to November 13 – Since its inception in 1970, the Festival has sought to preserve, perpetuate, and promote Kona’s unique 183-year coffee heritage. With close to 50 events over 10 days, there’s something for everyone, from casual coffee drinkers to connoisseurs to multi-generational families. www.konacoffeefest.com

• Garden Island Range and Food Festival – November 13 – The event brings together the Kauai community and the cattlemen, farmers, and chefs to taste healthy, local, and nutritious foods. Locally produced agricultural products are presented through social, cultural, and scientific exchanges. www.kauaifoodfestival.com

• Wailea Food and Wine Celebration – November 18 – The Hui Noeau Visual Arts Center’s annual benefit in support of community arts education at Hotel Wailea’s elegant Anuhea Room. Enjoy exceptional wines and taste the best in Maui cuisine from the finest local restaurants and chefs all while supporting a worthy cause! www.huinoeau.com

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

American Indian Crafts Events in Nevada

Learn about Nevada’s American Indian culture at one of several events showcasing native artwork scheduled this fall. 

Beadwork, baskets, jewelry, quilts, paintings and other items made by American Indian artisans will be displayed — and in some cases sold — in November and December.

American Indian tribes throughout Nevada share information about crafts shows, powwows and other cultural events open to the public through Indian Territory, a nonprofit organization that promotes and markets tribal activities and enterprises.

American Indian arts events scheduled this fall include:

Contemporary Arts and Crafts from the Powwow Tradition, an exhibit organized by the Nevada Arts Council, is on display through December 21 at the Charleston Heights Art Center, 800 S. Brush St. in Las Vegas. A public reception for the exhibit, with a performance by the Las Vegas Native Dancers from the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, runs from 6 to 8pm. The exhibit, part of the NAC’s Traveling Exhibition Program, will move to the Clark County Museum in Henderson from January 6 to May 6, 2012, and then to the Marjorie Barrick Museum on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus from May 16 to September 13, 2012. Details: 702-229-1012.

Annual Holiday Faire, 9am to 5pm November 12 and from 10am to 2pm November 13 at the Stewart Community Center, 465 Clear Creek Ave. in Carson City. Items crafted by Washoe tribal members and others, including beadwork, jewelry, lamps, quilts, blankets and ceramics, will be for sale. Admission to event, which will feature 20-25 vendors, is free. Details: Debi Jones, 775-313-4871.

After-Thanksgiving Native American Arts and Crafts Sale, 10am to 6pm November 25 and 26 at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony gymnasium, 34 Reservation Road in Reno. Beadwork, baskets, hand-crafted items, blankets and other items made by Paiute Indians and other tribes will be for sale. Baked goods and Indian tacos also will be available at the event. Admission into the sale is free. Details: Janice Gardipe, 775-329-6114.

Tommo Craft Fair, 10am to 6pm December 16 and 17 at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, 34 Reservation Road in Reno. Around 25 American Indian artisans will offer beaded items, quilts, paintings, jewelry, baked goods and more. Admission into the sale is free. Details: Henrietta Tobey, 775-336-8896 (after 5 p.m.) or Joanne Bill, 775-560-9965.

Learn about American Indian events throughout the state at the Indian Territory website, 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.

Astronauts Get Down to Earth at Autograph Show

They just may have encountered aliens, they definitely did some moonwalking, zipped around outer-space in Jetson’s-like backpacks and zoomed to and from earth in 4 different types of spaceships for 50 years; and now, they are beaming down to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to rendezvous with you! 

On November 4 to 6, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) will present the World’s Largest Astronaut Autograph & Memorabilia Show, where over 40 famed galactic travelers will be just one small step away from making a giant leap into your life!

It's back for the fourth year running .... and is boldly going where no other autograph show has gone before. Snapshots and signatures don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what all this stellar event has to offer; the 2011 show will open a new dimension of excitement, bringing guests up close and personal, through special photo opportunities, lunches, dinners, autograph sessions, space chats and more, with explorers who have tasted the great unknown.

Guests may bring their own items to have signed or purchase them at the show. In addition to the sensational lineup of rocketmen (and ladies), which includes astronauts from the Mercury 7 through Space Shuttle programs, ASF has teamed up with some of the spaciest exhibitors in the world to offer fans the ultimate selection of out-of-this world memorabilia, photos and more! Ticket packages range from $15 to $600. Astronaut autographs are an additional fee.

ASF's Astronaut Autograph & Memorabilia Show is launching this week, so get your head out of the clouds and secure your SPACE now by visiting www.AstronautScholarship.org/aams or calling 321-455-7014. 

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.