Outdoor Lifestyle Festival in Richmond, Virginia

Spring has sprung which means outdoor enthusiasts are preparing for the East Coast’s premier outdoor lifestyle festival. Richmond, Virginia’s Dominion Riverrock, taking place May 18-20, has extended both its length and location, becoming a three-day festival on the grounds of Brown’s Island and the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar. 

Dominion Riverrock brings athletes, spectators, musicians, and even dogs to downtown Richmond’s urban riverfront for a high-energy festival of adventure sports and music. New events this year include slacklining, freestyle kayaking and a short-course mountain bike race. 

The excitement begins on Friday, May 18 with performances by The Root Downs and The Travelin’ McCourys featuring Keller Williams, and the 5k Mud Run and Freestyle Bike competitions. 

The fun continues on Saturday with high-adrenaline activities in and around the river – like the James River Scramble 10k trail run, mountain biking, kayaking and Ultimate Air Dogs, which features canines competing for distance, diving from a dock into a 25 foot pool. GALACTIC and JJ Grey & Mofro take the stage Saturday evening. 

Sunday events include stand-up paddleboarding, a mountain bike race and the finals of many events. Music sets the events in motion all day long with performances by local groups like Farm Vegas and Beast Wellington. For more information and to register for events, visit www.dominionriverrock.com.

As the only area in the U.S. with Class IV rapids running right through downtown, the Richmond Region offers outdoor enthusiasts an experience like no other. Take to the James River for some whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking or tubing. Rocks, rapids, meadows, and forests make for an area of unspoiled natural beauty – wilderness in the heart of the city – that can be enjoyed by jogging, biking, bouldering, tree-climbing or even sunbathing on the shore.

For more information, visit www.VisitRichmondVA.com.

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. 

Florida's Paradise Coast Showcases Culinary Flair

Florida's Paradise Coast – Naples, Marco Island and the western portion of the Everglades – is becoming one of the South's burgeoning "foodie" locales, as the area's culinary scene continues to evolve with an influx of high-profile events, inaugural food tours, and new restaurants.

Already well known for well-established annual events such as the Everglades Seafood Festival (February 1 to 3, 2013), Taste of Collier (May 6, 2012) and the Marco Island Seafood Festival (March 23 and 24, 2013), visitors can enjoy several newer festivals that add to the flavor of the destination. 

The third annual Stone Crab Festival is scheduled for October 26 to 28 at various locations on the historic Old Naples Waterfront. From 10am until 4pm each day, visitors can indulge in fresh stone crab claws, live music, art activities, and more. Admission is free, and nearby parking is available for $5.

This year's inaugural Naples Craft Beer Fest was a sudsy success and event organizers are well on their way to making this an annual event each March. The Naples Craft Beer Fest features craft beer tastings, with each brew complimented by a food pairing provided by local restaurants and caterers.

Whether travelers are looking for a romantic escape or family getaway, Florida's Paradise Coast – Naples, Marco Island and the western portion of the Everglades – has an array of vacation options year-round. With more than 30 miles of soft, white sand beaches, a thriving arts and culture scene, distinctive dining and the best of outdoor adventure, the Paradise Coast is truly a destination with it all.

For more information about the Paradise Coast, call 800-688-3600 or visit www.ParadiseCoast.com.                                                                                                                                         

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.

Spring Events Blooming in Kaua’i

Spring has sprung on Kaua‘i and it’s time to officially bid farewell to the gloomy days of winter and say Aloha to the Garden Isle’s serenity, sunsets and savings.

Some of the events “blooming” on Kaua‘i:

May Day is Lei Day! This treasured time-honored tradition of Hawai‘i will be celebrated in floral grandeur at Kaua’i Museum in Lïhu‘e with its 32nd Annual Lei Contest and May Day Celebration on May 5. Guests can enjoy the beauty of the lei made from Kaua‘i’s fresh flowers with the museum’s lei contest and demonstrations, and learn to make one of their own. 

The Kamanawa Foundation’s Kaua’i Polynesian Festival from May 24 to 27 presents a colorful variety of cultural offerings, including dance competitions, crafts, food, workshops, and entertainment. Men and women performers of all ages compete for titles in hula and different forms of Polynesian dance, including Samoan fire-knife dancing. 

National and local jazz and blues artists, including Miss E.C. Scott and the Vanessa Santi Sextet, are performing at the Fifth Annual Red Clay Jazz Festival in an ocean view outdoor setting at Kaua‘i Lagoons in Lïhu‘e from June 27 to 30. The four-day event offers evening jam sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, an invitational "Meet the Artists" party at Common Ground in Kilauea on Friday, and the main concert late afternoon and evening on Saturday. 

Nicknamed the Garden Island, Kaua‘i is green and flourishing with lush flora that runs from the mountains to the ocean. Kaua‘i offers more than 50 miles of white-sand beaches – more beach per mile than any other island in Hawai‘i. Other natural wonders include the 3,567-foot deep Waimea Canyon, dubbed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” and the 3,000-foot towering mountain cliffs overlooking the Näpali Coast along the northwest shoreline.

For information about Kaua‘i – Hawai‘i’s Island of Discovery – visit www.KauaiDiscovery.com or call the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau toll-free at 800-262-1400.

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. 

Brass Band Festival Salutes One of Its Own

Back for a 23rd year, the Great American Brass Band Festival will honor one of its finest planners and performers in Danville, Kentucky from June 7 to 10.

The festival will celebrate and salute one of America’s most renowned performers, Vincent DiMartino, co-founder of the GABBF, on the occasion of his retirement at Centre College.

Subtitled TRUMPETISSIMO in honor of this virtuoso on the cornet and trumpet, the GABBF will draw some of the world’s finest trumpeters, including Doc Severinsen, Allen Vizzutti, Jens Lindemann, and an amazing array of other outstanding soloists. The famed Herald Trumpets of the U.S. Army Band from Washington, DC, return to add their pomp and pageantry, and they will be joined by specially-formed trumpet and cornet choirs featuring top professional players and former students of DiMartino.

The GABBF always offers an eclectic blend of brass styles and performing combinations, and this year will be no exception. Among the notable combinations will be several outstanding New Orleans’ style jazz brass bands, the all-female brass quintet Stiletto, Federal Brass (brass quintet and percussion) from the U.S. Army Field Band, the Kentucky Baroque Trumpets, and two outstanding British-style brass bands: Atlantic Brass Band, champions of North America, and the excellent North York Band, Toronto, of The Salvation Army.

An added attraction this year will be the gathering for the first time of four fine Central Kentucky area community wind bands, each of which will be featured individually during the festival, and then come together, with guests soloists and conductors, for a Grand Finale salute to DiMartino at 4pm on Sunday afternoon in Newlin Hall, Norton Center for the Arts. Advocate Brass Band (out of Danville), Capitol City Band, (Frankfort) Central Kentucky Concert Band (Lexington), and Madison County Community Band (Richmond) are all scheduled to take part in the event.

Visit Great American Brass Band Festival for more information.

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

Fairs and Festivals in California's Gold Country

A visit to California's Gold Country, where gold was discovered in 1849, is perfect any time of year with the state's temperate climate.  But to step back in history or experience that small town feeling, there are some 30 unique and notable events to consider when making plans to visit California, from a frog jubilee to the oldest bicycle race on the west coast. 

The reference to the frog jubilee of course is the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee from May 17 to 20, Calaveras County. Immortalized by Mark Twain's short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", the bug-eyed amphibian has gone on to achieve international star status and its own jubilee. 

Individuals and teams (and their frogs) flock to Calaveras County to participate. The Fair also includes a children’s parade, rodeo, destruction derby, livestock exhibits, musical entertainment, midway rides, country crafts, and both amateur and professional art exhibits. 

One of America's top cycling events, the Nevada City Bike Classic celebrates its 52nd anniversary this year on June 17 and many of the nation's top cyclists are expected to be on hand in historic downtown Nevada City.  It is the oldest and largest bike race on the West Coast, and the second-oldest race in the nation.  

Historic Nevada City is draped with flags and bunting and provides a colorful backdrop as cyclists whiz through the downtown area, spokes flashing and crowds cheering.   Action begins at 1:00pm and the last cyclist is seen about six hours later. 

Go to the Gold Country Visitors Association for details of the many other events in California’s Gold Country. 

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.

North Texas Beer Festival Debuts in Irving, Texas

From dark stouts to pale ales, it’s bottoms up, as the North Texas Beer Festival makes its return Saturday, May 12 in an all-new location at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas. 

The North Texas Beer Festival is North Texas’ premier event dedicated to educating attendees about craft beer culture and brewers – and is the best place to find your new favorite brew.

More than 50 breweries will sponsor the festival, ranging from Samuel Adams and Franconia to New Belgium, Imperial and Magic Hat, and even including new Texas breweries Guadalupe Brewing out of New Braunfels and Revolver Brewing from Granbury. From ales to lagers, well-known brands to newbies on the scene, all styles of beer will be represented at the festival. 

Wine lovers are not forgotten, as there will be plenty to swirl and taste. Featured wineries will include Landon, Calias, Messina Hof, Brushy Creek and D’Vine Wines of Fort Worth, among others.

This year’s event will also feature the Negra Modelo Culinary Corner, a chef stage with demonstrations on cooking with your favorite beer and pairing dishes with beer. Chef John Franke of The Ranch at Las Colinas will perform a culinary demonstration, as well as other local culinarians.

The 50,000-square-foot main conference hall at the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas and the second floor terrace will play host to a variety of activities, including tastings, home brewing classes and will feature more than 100 exhibitors with everything from beers to home brewing kits, wine sampling, gourmet foods, cigars and more. 

The Beer Garden on the beautiful, second- floor terrace will feature musical acts Mingo Fishtrap, J.R. Byrd and Leah Marr. Educational sessions will be held in Brewers’ Breakout on the main floor, with notable brewers speaking on a variety of topics related to brewing beer.

Visit North Texas Beer Festival for more information.

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.

Norfolk, Virginia Festival Line-Up

Celebrations will continue throughout 2012 with Norfolk, Virginia’s festival season – the annual showcase of the region’s sights, sounds and tastes through more than 100 public events.  

TownPointPark, which has served as the scenic backdrop to many of the events in the past, will continue to host beloved festivals throughout the year.

Festival favorites, including The Virginia Arts Festival, the Town Point Park Wine Festival (May 12) and Harborfest® (June 8 to 11) return again this year, offering residents and visitors months of maritime events, concerts, family festivals and city celebrations – the majority of which are free and open to the public.  

The Virginia Arts Festival will reach new heights with a spectacular lineup of performances and special events over 50 days from April 12 to May 30 in nine Virginia cities including Norfolk.

Furthermore, the festival season in Norfolk offers exciting options for nearly every major celebration day, including the Cinco de Mayo Celebration (May 4), the 4^th of July Great American Picnic and much more.

The Virginia International Tattoo from April 27 to April 29 in the Scope Arena is an exhibition of marching bands, massed pipes and drum teams, gymnasts, Scottish dancers, choirs, and more. It is the largest tattoo in the United States.  Dating back to 17^th centuryEurope, a Tattoo is a ceremonial performance of military music by massed bands. The Tattoo is produced annually by the Virginia Arts Festival in cooperation with NATO and Norfolk's International Azalea Festival. 

Norfolk's festive events and exciting offerings are both easily accessible and affordable for residents and visitors alike. A comprehensive list of events and information about Norfolk's cultural venues, world-class restaurants and historical landmarks and museums can be found at Visit Norfolk Today. 

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.

Summer Events in Detroit

Summer in metro Detroit is packed with events for all ages and enthusiasts. From the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix early in June to Arts, Beats & Eats over Labor Day weekend, it's an exciting time of year for visitors to check out The D! 

Here are a few events to kick off the Detroit summer:

Celebrating its fifth year from May 4 to 6, the Plymouth Green Street Fair is an outdoor gathering of companies, artisans and entertainers passionate about the green movement. Visitors will enjoy workshops and demonstrations of eco-friendly, organic products available for purchase. 

More 200,000 people head down to Eastern Market Flower Day on May 13 to scope out the bright colors and fresh scents of more than 15 acres of annuals, perennials, foliage, shrubbery, trees, exotics, tropical plants, flats, hanging baskets and more available for purchase.  

Celebrate Detroit being the birthplace of techno this Memorial Day weekend (May 26-28) at Movement: Detroit’s Electronic Festival in Hart Plaza. Started back in 2000, Movement is one of the largest techno fests in the world, drawing thousands of fans who gather to hear more than 50 artists get their tech on. This year's artist lineup includes Public Enemy, Lil' Louis and The Wizard (aka Jeff Mills).

Autopalooza, a celebration of Southeast Michigan's automotive heritage, kicks off this year from June 1 to 3 with the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and the Hot Rod Power Tour and winds down with the Woodward Dream Cruise. A series of other major cruises, races and shows fill up the months of June through September.

For news of many Detroit events this summer Visit Detroit 

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.

Helena, Arkansas Hosts Musicfest and Motorcycles

Each April, downtown Helena hosts motorcycles, music and massive merriment during the Wild Hog Musicfest and Motorcyle Rally. The three-day event celebrates its 12th year this April 26-29 with a packed schedule of events, activities and performances.

If you’ve never attended Wild Hog, you might think it’s a festival dedicated to motorcyclists. You’d be wrong. The three-day event is jam-packed with fun, food, music and activities that don’t require a powerful two-wheeled mode of transportation. Vendors selling food and merchandise will line historic Cherry Street in downtown Helena, offering festivalgoers a variety of wares to eat, drink, enjoy, wear and display.

The 12th annual Wild Hog Musicfest and Motorcycle Rally officially kicks off on Thursday, April 26, with early bike registration, early bird party and live music at the Wild Hog Saloon, located behind Rio Lindo restaurant. The evening’s music is a performance by the Eskimo Brothers with Tyler Boydstun from 7:30 to 11:30pm.

Friday’s events begin at 2pm, as bike registration continues at the Wild Hog Saloon. Live music from the Cherry Street Pavilion starts at 4pm. An escorted bike parade through Helena-West Helena, beginning and ending in the historic downtown, commences at 6pm. The music at Wild Hog Saloon begins at 8pm. 

Bike registration opens at 8am on Saturday, April 28 followed by a full day’s activities.

The conclusion of the festival takes places on Sunday, April 29, with morning church services and blessings of the bikes, beginning at 9:30am.

General admission is $15 for the entire event. Basic registration begins at $30 for one rider and one bike.

To learn more about the Wild Hog Musicfest and Motorcycle Rally, visit the festival’s website at www.WildHogMusic.org.

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

Unique Duct Tape Festival in Avon, Ohio

What should you pack when you head out on safari? Canteen? Check.  Binoculars? Check. Duck Tape^®? Triple Check.

Find out just how to use “Duck Tape^® on Safari” – and everywhere else – at the ninth-annual Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival, where the sticky stuff is sure to provide plenty of safari fun. 

This free festival takes place Friday, June 15 – Sunday, June 17, in Avon, Ohio, the “Duct Tape Capital” of the world, and home of Duck Tape^® brand duct tape.

It celebrates everything duct tape, including the Duck^® brand palette of more than 35 colors and prints – especially the popular, animal-inspired  Zig-Zag Zebra^®, Spotted Leopard™ and Pink Zebra Duck Tape^® patterns.

This Father’s Day weekend tradition typically draws more than 40,000 duct tape enthusiasts from around the country. With no admission or parking fees, the festival is low cost and high adventure – the first 500 attendees each day of the festival even receive a free roll of Duck® brand duct tape.

There's a lot to roar about this year – a scavenger hunt throughout the festival grounds, stylish safari-inspired Duck Tape^® fashions, one-of-a-kind parade floats made with Duck Tape^®, and life-sized Duck Tape^® sculptures – even an enormous Duck Tape^® elephant.  And, festival-goers will be treated to a “mini-safari” whens local animal expert and duct tape parade grand marshal Outback Ray hosts a free animal show. Plus, there’s plenty of food, rides, games and live entertainment.

Several Duck Tape^® celebrities are making the journey to Avon this year too, including Chance Foreman, a Texas-based artist who has drawn national attention for his duct tape portraits of everyone from Bob Dylan to Mother Teresa.  

For more information about the Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival, directions and hotel accommodations, call 1-866-818-1116 or visit DuctTapeFestival.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. 

Virginia Beach Spring Festivals

Spring is in the air, and the warm sun and sandy beaches entice visitors to step outside and “Live the Life” in Virginia Beach and the oceanfront comes alive during the warmer months with festivals and events perfect for all ages. 

From music and art to patriotic events and homegrown adventure, every visitor is sure to find an enjoyable springtime experience in Virginia Beach. 

From May 26 to August 19, explore the renowned works of the enigmatic artist Andy Warhol at the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). “Andy Warhol: Portraits,” will showcase more than 200 original works from The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Show your patriotism at a variety of military appreciation events including the Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival, June 1 – 3, and OpSail 2012 Virginia™, June 1 – 12, featuring military displays and demonstrations, historical reenactments and nonstop musical entertainment. Warbirds Over the Beach will fly for the fourth consecutive year from the Military Aviation Museum in the southern part of the city, May 18 – 20.  Witness WWII-era aircraft, re-enactors, food and entertainment. 

Or, groove to the sounds of the islands at the annual PANorama Caribbean Music Fest, presented by the Virginia Arts Festival, May 11 – 12.  

Virginia Beach entices visitors to “Live the Life” year-round! Located in the southeastern corner of the state in the Coastal Virginia region, Virginia Beach is four hours southeast of D.C. by car and within a day’s drive or less from two-thirds of the U.S. population. For visitor information, call 1-800-VA-BEACH (800/822-3224) or visit www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com for online trip planning. 

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. 

Head for Barnesville, Georgia for BBQ and Blues

During the fourth weekend of every April, downtown Barnesville, Lamar County, Georgia hosts the annual BBQ & Blues Festival .... this year April 27 and 28.

On Friday night you can enjoy the blues music, classic cars on display, delicious food, and a kid’s park. On Saturday, taste 24 cook teams’ brisket and relax under the shade trees to good music while the kids play.

Accompanying the fabulous BBQ aroma throughout the entire event is the sound of the Blues. Bands from across the southeast perform Friday and Saturday on the BBQ stage. The Saturday night concert bash located at The Ritz Park Amphitheater always has a featured Blues headliner, presents a Georgia Music Legend Award, Mayor Dewaine T. Bell Scholarship, and jam with other special guests. 

The Barnesville Lamar County Chamber of Commerce sponsors the annual BBQ and Blues Festival. The Festival is sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association, and was declared a State Championship Cook-off by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2009. More than 45 teams compete each year in the Triple Crown Series and the coveted Jack Daniels National Qualifier Competition. Be sure to check out the Barnesville Lamar County Chamber of Commerce VIP Packages on the BBQ & Blues Festival website.

Visit Barnesville-Lamar County Chamber of Commerce for news of events and festivals in Barnesville and the rest of the county.

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. 

New York State Ushers in Spring Season

Spring is just around the corner and that means cities and towns across New York State will be celebrating the arrival and excitement of the season with a variety of festivals and events. 

From mid-March through mid-June, visitors can enjoy the booming food and wine scene, sensational concerts and shows, cultural and artistic exhibitions, adventurous outdoor activities and adrenaline-racing sporting tournaments.

From its majestic mountains, storied cities and pristine lakes to pastoral farmlands and vineyards, New York State has it all. 

Here’s a selection of just three of the season’s best food and wine festivities.

The 7^th annual Adirondack Festival of Food and Wine takes place at Lake Placid’s Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa from April 19-22. The festival will feature “The Culinary Melting Pot” theme to capture how the five elements of taste influence the way people eat and drink. The popular four-day event will include wine tastings, culinary demonstrations, a cooking competition and various special seminars.

Tap NY is the longest running craft beer and food event in New York State and has grown tenfold through the years to now include the entire Base Lodge facilities at Hunter Mountain, in the Catskills, plus added tent space. From April 28-29, over 70 invited breweries representing 140-plus individual beers offer everything from India Pale Ales (IPAs) and lagers to wiesbiers, doppel and trippel bocks, stouts, ales – virtually any variety you know of, and probably a few that you don't. 

Uncork a natural wonder on the Niagara Wine Trail from April 13-15. Experience the beautiful countryside between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario as you spend the day traveling from one winery to another. Collect recipes as you sample food at each winery along the way and receive a wine glass at the first winery of your choice. 

For a complete list of events in New York State, visit I Love New York.

For a complete list of events in New York State visit the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in New York.

Explore Our World on Maryland Day 2012

Maryland Day - the University of Maryland’s increasingly popular open house - celebrates its fourteenth anniversary April 28 from 10am until 4pm. Now one of the top annual events in the state of Maryland, the university welcomes the entire Washington, D.C. region to discover what a 21^st Century Land Grant University is all about.

There will be more than 400 family-friendly interactive events across campus this year, all of them offering learning and fun for all ages. 

Throughout Maryland’s 1250-acre campus, visitors can “Explore Our World” with tours, exhibits and demonstrations. The university is broken up into six specific areas of exploration, learning and fun:  Ag Day Avenue, Arts Alley, Biz and Society Hill, Science and Tech Way, Sports and Rec Row and Terp Town Center. 

The 2012 program features several new events. Elmo creator, Kevin Clash, will be at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. The Merrill College of Journalism will present a sports journalism panel and offers visitors a chance to live “Life in the Anchors Chair” – both in beautiful Knight Hall. In the Big Top performing stage on McKeldin Mall there will be several new student performers including dancers, comedy troupes, and more. 

The National Archives will be part of Maryland Day again – offering an exhibit on Benjamin Franklin. 

Back by popular demand is the Cooking Stage on Hornbake Plaza. Maryland sports fans can head over to Comcast Center for autographs with their favorite Terp men and women’s basketball players. 

Visitors can pet animals at the campus farm, instruments at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and insects in the Plant Sciences Building. 

Admission and parking are free, and there will be free shuttle buses to and from the College Park Metro and on campus. Visitors are encouraged to take Metro.  

Plan your day online at Maryland Day.

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.