Always Something New at Milwaukee Irish Fest, Wisconsin

North America’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture – the Milwaukee Irish Fest from August 16 to 19 –  promises to deliver all the fan favorites and traditional fun that guests have come to expect and then some.

Music is at the heart of the four-day festival and the biggest names and most popular acts will be performing on 16 stages at Henry W. Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. 

Every year, Milwaukee Irish Fest highlights a region of Ireland or a genre of music with direct lineage to the Emerald Isle. This year, the festival pays tribute to Ireland’s influence on Bluegrass music. A special Bluegrass music showcase will come to life on the Celtic Roots stage, as well as other areas throughout the festival. In addition, the International Bluegrass Music Museum, Owensboro, Kentucky, will bring a traveling exhibit to the Culture Village.

The Milwaukee Irish Fest offers much more than music. Guests can immerse themselves in the culture of Ireland, including its language, arts, sports and commerce. The Cultural Village is the hub for all cultural activities, including: Genealogy, the Literary Corner, Hedge School, Theater, Archives, Harp Stage, Celtic Roots Stage and the Moore Street Market. Milwaukee Irish Fest is recognized for being one of the best “family-friendly” festivals in Milwaukee.

If you love sports, Irish Fest delivers. Guest can enjoy newly expanded tug-of-war and hurling areas, as well as a brand new sports pub featuring flat screen TVs showing Celtic sports including Gaelic football.                                                       

Outside of Ireland, there’s no better place to shop for Irish goods than Milwaukee Irish Fest with more than 90 different vendors selling everything from soccer kits (jerseys) to fine art, jewelry, clothing, music and more.

Be sure to bring your appetite to Irish Fest 2012. In addition to traditional favorites like corned beef, Irish stew and baked potatoes, the festival is cooking up a variety of new entries and drink specials. 

Visit www.irishfest.com for more in formation.

And 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. 

Route 66 Festival Fun in Springfield, Missouri

The 2nd annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival & Car Show is set for 10am to 5pm on Saturday, August 11 on Park Central square in downtown Springfield, Missouri.

The festival is free and open to the public.

The event will feature a car show, food vendors, a kids’ area and more. Live entertainment will be Queen City Cats and Blue Plate Special at 10am, The Detectives at 1pm and The Road Crew at 3pm. The Road Crew is winner of the first ever “Bobby Troup Artistic Recognition Award” from the International Route 66 Association in 2011. They wrote a song especially for this festival. 

               

Car show registration is $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event. Prizes will be awarded for the car show in a variety of categories. Spectators will vote on their favorites. Car show registration is 7-9:30 a.m. and awards are presented at 3pm, along with The John T. Woodruff Award. The Woodruff award is named for the prominent Springfieldian who served as a Chamber of Commerce president and was the first president of the National Route 66 Association. It recognizes an outstanding individual who has helped promote the historic highway.

Officially recognized as the birthplace of Route 66, it was in Springfield on April 30, 1926, that officials first proposed the name of the new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway. In 1938, Route 66 became the first completely paved transcontinental highway in America – the “Mother Road” – stretching from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast.

Traces of the Mother Road are still visible in Springfield along the Route 66 By-Pass, Kearney Street, Glenstone Avenue, College and St. Louis streets and on Missouri 266 to Halltown.

For festival information, visit www.facebook.com/BirthplaceofRoute66Festival. For more information about Springfield, visit www.SpringfieldAdventures.com or call the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-678-8767 to receive a free visitor guide, coupons and information packet. 

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

Maritime Fun on Burlington Waterfront, Vermont

The 6th annual Lake Champlain Maritime Festival sails into the Burlington Waterfront, Vermont from Thursday August 9 through Sunday, August 12 with new events and activities within its spectacular setting on the shores of Lake Champlain.

The Festival is a four-day celebration of Lake Champlain, showcasing hundreds of exhibits throughout sites on the Burlington Waterfront (Burlington Boathouse, Perkins Pier, Spirit of Ethan Allen, Lake Champlain Ferries, US Coast Guard, Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, ECHO Leahy Center, Burlington's Waterfront Park and more) and musical performances on multiple stages. 

Daily admission is free to most events with select events requiring admission.

The  Lake Champlain Antique and Classic Boat Society 27th Annual Vintage Boat Show returns to the Festival, Saturday, August 11. The Boat Show is a hugely popular event, hosting thousands at Burlington’s Boat House. More than 45 boats are on exhibit.

New is the Waterfront Wine & Food Festival where you can savor wines and gourmet foods from local restaurants and wineries in an intimate setting on Burlington’s Waterfront. 

Kids’ Day Friday, August 10 features a full day of free activities and interactive exhibits for kids including: storytelling; narrated cruises for kids; Rockin’ Ron the Friendly Pirate, Lake Champlain Sailing Center Activities. There is free paddling on Sunday, a treasure hunt and much more.

Other Festival activities include: Eco-Zone; Pirate 5k Run, presented by NEFCU; Mission Possible Adventure Race; sailboat, kayak and paddleboard rides; ALS Silent Auction; craft and international food vendors; and non-profit Exhibit Area showcasing community organizations.

"What really makes The Lake Champlain Maritime Festival special is that it offers something for everyone; it is a dynamic celebration for children, families and adults of all ages," says Tara Perkins, Festival Spokesperson.

For details click on Lake Champlain Maritime Festival

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

Jerry Garcia Commemorated in Pennsylvania

The life and works of rock icon Jerry Garcia, lead guitarist and one of the principal vocalists and songwriters of the Grateful Dead, is commemorated every year at the Steal Your Fest in Shartlesville, Pennsylvania.

With some 22 diverse bands taking to the stages for 36-plus hours of  live music on August 2 to 4 – blues, bluegrass, new-grass, funk, traditional and boatloads of Jerry and Dead tunes – and a great selection of vendors, the Steal Your Fest memorial music and art festival at Mountain  Springs Arena has become the must-attend summer experience for serious music and camping fans. 

The Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania provide the backdrop and some of the finest bands around provide the grooves for you to dance and shake your bones until sunrise. You can camp onsite and submerge yourself in good vibes from people all across the map.  

Steal Your Fest 2012 will be jampacked with incredibly diverse live music and dozens of unique vendors displaying their creations in a dynamic shakedown loaded with high quality and original handmade merchandise.

Shartlesville is located in Eastern Pennsylvania along Interstate 78, Berks County PA. along the Pennsylvania Blue Mountains.

Visit Steal Your Fest for more details.

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. 

Bird-watching Festivals in Southern Arizona

Late summer monsoon rains bring the greatest number and diversity of bird species to Tucson and Southern Arizona, one of the premier bird-watching regions in the United States.

Visitors can enjoy this seasonal abundance at two festivals: Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival, August 1 to 4 in Sierra Vista, offers 35 field trips throughout southeastern Arizona, including overnight trips to the Chiricahua Mountains and Madera Canyon as well as a children's program and a writer's workshop.

The Tucson Bird and Wildlife Festival, from August 15 to 19 in Tucson, includes The Sky Islands Birding Cup (Big Day competition) in addition to a Nature Expo, workshops, a youth birder outing, and field trips to nearby birding hotspots. 

Thousands of migratory bats roost beneath Tucson's bridges and in rafters under the University of Arizona football stadium every summer. Local residents delight in watching these important nocturnal pollinators emerge en masse at dusk from their urban caves in search of food – a natural spectacle celebrated at the Rillito River Project's Bat Night.

Special events and activities recognizing 2012 as the global Year of the Bat are taking place at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum throughout summer, and information about bats living at Colossal Cave in Tucson and Kartchner Caverns in Benson is always available at both places.

Foodies will winging their way into Tucson for the 10th annual Tucson Culinary Festival in October. It kicks off with the Reserve & Grand Tasting on Saturday, October 6 at Casino Del Sol Resort followed by the World Margarita Championship^TM on Friday, October 26, on the plaza at the Tucson Museum of Art. A portion of the proceeds from both events will benefit Tucson Values Teachers and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber Foundation (Scholarship Fund) on behalf of Cox Charities.

For more information on Tucson click on Visit Tucson

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

World’s Largest Cranberry Festival in Warrens, Wisconsin

Warrens, the “Cranberry Capital of Wisconsin”, is a small village with a population of 400, located in the northeastern corner of Monroe County. 

It is transformed every year when Warrens welcomes over 100,000 visitors to the World’s Largest Cranberry Festival. This year’s, from September 28 to 30, marks the 40th annual celebration. 

The Festival is perhaps best known for its shopping and boasts over 800 arts & crafts booths (unusual works of art), 300 flea & antique booths (primitives, pottery and antiques), 100 farm market booths (fresh fall produce) and 100 food vendors that make for a three-mile shopping extravaganza.

The Festival brings in excess of $2 million per year, contributing to the local economy and benefiting the travel and tourism industry. The purpose of the Festival has always been to raise funds to improve the quality of life in Warrens. 

In honor of the 40th Festival the World’s Largest Cranberry Craisin™ Whoopie Pie will be unveiled on Friday September 28. The Festival is partnering with Kentucky Whoopie to make this huge dessert, which will weigh one ton. 

On Friday and Saturday the Cranberries Jubilee Giant Fry Pan will be available. It is one of the most sought after attractions and people stand in line for hours waiting to purchase the warm cranberry mixture that is served over ice cream. 

Other highlights at this year’s Festival are Gilbert’s Foundation Games (Gilbert Brown raising money for charities), a pumpkin carver who will be carving several hundred pound pumpkins, and a variety of entertainment acts. The 100 food booths will provide American, Greek, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican cuisines.

The gigantic parade is always at 12pm (noon) on Sunday. 

Visit www.cranfest.com for details.

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. 

More Summer Fun in Mississippi

There are plenty of festivals and fairs to experience in Mississippi this summer. Here’s a taste of what’s in store in the True South from late July into August.

Established in 1889, the Neshoba County Fair® in Philadelphia (from July 27 to August 3 this year) fosters political, agricultural and social exchanges of knowledge and ideas. Home of the state’s only licensed horse track since 1922 and the nation's largest campground fair, the fair is “Mississippi's Giant House Party®” and was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Rides, games, entertainment and hundreds of fair cabins provide a great atmosphere for visiting and discussing the latest political issues.

The first annual Southern Crossroads Music and Tamale Festival in Jackson on August 10 and 11 will celebrate tamales from many different regions, featuring tamales in their earliest form to the “Mississippi” tamale created in the Delta region. Add to the mix real-time art from local and regional artists creating works during the festivities while displaying their previous creations on-site. 

The first Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival in Clarksdale from August 10 to 12 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. Celebrated for its authenticity and focus on Mississippi's musical heritage, the event features entertainment by local and nationally known blues and gospel artists and also offers lectures and seminars about music and its unique roots.

The 2nd annual Long Beach Band Festival in Long Beach on August 11 offers a variety of fun for the entire family. Enjoy waterslides, live bands, kiddie land, exhibitions, food, vendors and much more.

Click on Visit Mississippi for events all summer in the True South.

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.

West Virginia Hot Dog Festival

West Virginians love their hot dogs, and nowhere is that staple of American culture celebrated with greater fun and fanfare than during the West Virginia Hot Dog Festival at Pullman Square and 3^rd Avenue in downtown Huntington, WV on the last Saturday every July.

This year, as Clear Channel Radio Huntington has reminded us, the eighth annual festival will showcase the region's top hot dog businesses from 8am to 6pm on Saturday July 28.

The event will kick off in the morning with a 5K, “Bun Run/Walk Your Buns Off,” charity walk. All proceeds will benefit the Cabell-Huntington Children's Hospital. To date, area businesses and festival-goers have helped Clear Channel's WKEE, WTCR, Oldies 97.1, WAMX, WVHU and FOX Sports Radio raise over $100,000.    

“It’s great to celebrate some of the special traditions in the area, while also helping the kids in our region battle cancer and other life-threatening illness through our partnership with Cabell-Huntington Hospital's Children's Hospital,” commented Kym York-Blake, Sr. Marketing Consultant for CC-Huntington, and the annual event’s coordinator. 

The West Virginia Hot Dog Festival will offer hot dog samples from a dozen of the top hot dog businesses traditional to this area.  The event will also feature live music and entertainment all day, car & truck show, special kids amusements, demonstrations, retail and craft shopping, as well as fun contests for adults, kids and the family dog, including the ever-popular WV Hot Dog Festival Wiener Dog Races & $100 Dachshund Dash championship race at high noon.  

There will also be “all-breed” exhibition races at 11:30, as well as a dog costume contest (any breed), a dog/owner look alike contest, hot dog eating and rootbeer chugging contests, homemade hot dog sauce competition, and much more.

“There are many decades-old, family-owned hot dog businesses in our region that are still serving up their amazing, original recipes in yester-year style, something very unique to growing up and living in our Tri-State area,” said Kym York-Blake. “The Clear Channel Radio Family is showcasing Huntington and the Tri-State’s beauty, and how wonderful it is to live, work and raise a family here.”


The annual WV Hot Dog Festival was founded by John Mandt Jr., president of Stewarts Original Hot Dogs, a family-owned hot dog staple in the Tri-State area since 1932.

Go to West Virginia Hot Dog Festival for details.

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

LouieFest Set for America’s Car Museum in Tacoma

“Louie Louie,” the most recorded rock song in history, returns to the music forefront at LouieFest on July 28 and 29 in Tacoma, Washington. The outdoor music festival will be hosted by LeMay–America’s Car Museum (ACM) on the museum’s Haub Family Field. 

The 1960’s song “Louie Louie,” written by the late Richard Berry and arranged into rock format by Tacoma’s own The Fabulous Wailers, ranks No. 55 among Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”  

LouieFest, established in 2003, was inspired by the song and celebrates Pacific Northwest music, arts, crafts and culture.  A portion of the funds from the two-day festival go to the Wailers Performing Arts Foundation and other youth music organizations that support scholarships, music lessons and mentoring for youth music education.

“One of our goals when we built this museum was to make it an integral part of the community,” said Scot Keller, chief marketing and communications officer for ACM, which officially opened last month.  “LouieFest is legendary for highlighting the region’s vibrant music scene and the museum will surely help bring the event back in style.”

LouieFest will feature 40 bands on four stages, headlined on Saturday, July 28 by Moby Grape. The event also includes food booths, a beer garden, local vendors and children’s activities.  

Additionally, “The Celebration of 1,000 Guitars” grand finale on Sunday, July 29 at 5pm invites amateur and professional musicians to play “Louie Louie” with original members of The Fabulous Wailers.

LouieFest is the first of three events at ACM this summer, along with the “MEET AT THE ACE – A Summer Shakedown 2012” Vintage Motorcycle and Scooter Festival (August 24-26) and the Kirkland Concours d’Elegance (September 9). For tickets or more information on upcoming events, visit www.lemaymuseum.org.

Click on LouieFest for information on tickets and other LouieFest news.

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

Milwaukee’s Original German Haus Party

Among the many ethnic festivals that run all summer long in Milwaukee in its beautiful 75-acre festival park along Lake Michigan is the German Fest, this year from Thursday July 26 to Sunday July 29.

It joins Irish Fest, Polish Fest and Festa Italiana as the largest festivals of their kind in the country. 

German Fest holds particular interest in Milwaukee however, as the city has such a rich German heritage. Held annually since 1981 at the Henry Maier Festival Park on Lake Michigan, it is the largest German celebration in North America. Traditional music, culture and cuisine are presented by numerous local German-American heritage organizations, businesses and the local German immersion school. 

Bands and entertainers are brought over from Germany each year and an extensive retail element features German crafts and products. 

German Fest is fun for kids of all ages. Children’s activities begin Thursday in Pretzel Park and will continue throughout the festival weekend. 

Always a crowd favorite, the Glockenspiel performance takes place every day.

Tastebuds will be thrilled with favorite German foods like spanferkel, schnitzel, potato pancakes, and of course tortes, bienenstich and strudel. For 32 years there’s been a huge selection of beverages to complement the delicious and authentic German food, and in 2012 there will be even more.

Be sure to stick around for the Fireworks that will brilliantly light up the sky on Friday and Saturday night at 10:30pm.

Other attractions reflecting Milwaukee’s German history are the Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion, the shops and restaurants along Old World Third Street, exhibits at the Milwaukee Public Museum, a large number of German artworks in the Milwaukee Art Museum and the very unique Grohmann Museum. 

Visit German Fest Information for a detailed guide to activities, events, admission and Fest hours.

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

Country Music Headliners in Anderson, California

The beautiful Shasta District Fair Grounds in Anderson, California will be the site of an exciting new music festival from July 20 to 22: the Jukebox Music Festival.

Closing with country music icon Alan Jackson on Sunday the Jukebox Music Festival will for the three days prior present an array of new and heritage talent on four stages. 

Kellie Pickler, who’s new album 100 Proof just debuted on Billboard at #2 behind only Tim McGraw’s new release, will be featured on Saturday while American Idol Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery headlines Friday night.

Also featured during the three days will be Joe Nichols, Pam Tillis, Mark Chesnutt, Ricky Skaggs, Daryle Singletary and Asleep at the Wheel and other artists.

There is limited onsite camping available and the fairgrounds will include a variety of vendors and other activities for the entire family.

Anderson – in Northern California’s Shasta Cascade region –  is just south of Redding and with the Jukebox Music Festival getting underway around noon each day there’s plenty of time to explore the area.

Check out the Sundial Bridge, a one-of-a-kind, glass decked pedestrian bridge which serves as an incredible entrance to Redding’s Sacramento River National Recreation Trail. 

With over 360 miles of shoreline, miles of backcountry trails, and miles of emerald green water to explore, Shasta Lake is a must-see. The Shasta Dam that makes this lake possible offers free public tours through the dam to learn the historic significance of the dam, how it was made, and how it works. 

Visit Jukebox Music Festival for more information.

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.

Denver's Wild and Wacky Summer Events

Maybe it's the altitude, but come summer, the Mile High City unleashes a series of kooky happenings ranging from the world's largest Zombie Crawl (a horde of 7,000 blood-splattered zombies) to the world's largest gorilla run (1,200 fully costumed gorillas...and growing). Visitors are welcome to dress appropriately and join the shenanigans. Here's a guide to Denver's crazy, fun-filled summer:

 1) Every Wednesday night through Sept. 26, thousands of costumed bicyclists take to the streets for a moving pub crawl known as Denver Cruisers. Bike riders dress according to themes (examples include Space Invaders, Duct Tape & Cardboard, Pirates, Punk, Goth & Glam) and travel from pub to pub through the back streets of Denver neighborhoods, finishing with a scary-looking, but generally safe "Circle of Death," a ride in which huge circles of riders pedal into an increasingly smaller circle.

 2) Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Colorado Gay Rodeo from July 13 - 15 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. This year's event includes traditional rodeo events such as team roping, bull-riding and flag racing, but also incorporate some GLBT twists - wild drag racing, steer decorating and goat dressing.

 3) Run for Your Lives in the race of a lifetime at the Thunder Valley Motorcross Park on July 14. This 5K obstacle course pits you – the living – against a horde of zombies who will chase you through a series of obstacles including pools of "blood" and undead infested forests. A dozen bands will play following the race, whether or not there are any survivors. 

 4) Summon your inner sleuth for this year's Mile High Murder Mystery, a mad dash to gather clues on whodunit throughout Downtown Denver on July 14. Last year, there were 700 costumed characters competing, with prizes going to the top three teams. Music, drinks and food follow the awards ceremony at Stoney's Bar & Grill.

 5) Military training may come in handy for Denver's Urban Assault Ride happening throughout the streets of Denver on July 22. Teammates set out on a citywide quest for "checkpoints" on their two-wheeled steeds – with tasks such as tricycle "trike" races, slip-n-slides and dance competitions throughout.

6) Catch blue ribbon fever at this year's Denver County Fair from August 10 to 12, where you can enter more than 30 truly crazy competitions. Find out who has the best Mile High City mustache; who the fastest texter in the west is; who does the greatest chicken impression; who rocks the best Frida Kahlo unibrow; who can build the fiercest fighting robot, and a whole lot more. 

7) As John Cougar would say, Denver's Retro Run "Hurts So Good." Dig out your Jane Fonda workout wear and leg warmers for this 1980s-inspired 5K around Sloan's Lake Park on Aug. 26. Prizes will be given to best costumes – including best dressed pet – and break dancers and 80's music will have you "Shakin" like Eddie Money.

8) If you haven't experienced New Belgium's Tour de Fat, you've missed out on bicycling giraffes, superheroes, ballerinas and the most random costumed characters you may ever see on two wheels. Don your craziest costume and head to Denver's City Park for the parade on Sept. 8, and enjoy live music, delicious craft beer and sunshine the rest of the day. 

9) Did we mention Denverites love zombies? In 2011, more than 7,000 of the undead lurched along 16th Street Mall, and the horde is expected to grow for another record-breaking year during the Denver Zombie Crawl on Oct. 20.

10) It's hard to count how many Denver residents own gorilla suits, but there are at least 1,200 who donned theirs – with modifications – for the Denver Gorilla Run, happening this year on Oct. 27. Wynkoop Brewing Co.'s event raises funds for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, and each registrant is provided with a gorilla suit to keep for next year's race. 

Click on Visit Denver for more information on the Mile High City.

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

Family Friendly Oregon Berry Festival

It wouldn’t be an Oregon summer without sweet, juicy berries showing up in everything from beer to pies!  You’re sure to find both at the second annual Oregon Berry Festival on July 20 and 21 at the Ecotrust event spaces in Portland. 

Visitors will have a chance to taste and buy some of the season’s best berries and also sample amazing products made with Oregon’s berry bounty.  Admission is free for all events at the Ecotrust, located at NW 10 & Johnson in Portland. Hours will be from noon to six on Friday, July 20 and 11am to 4:30pm on Saturday, July 21.

The Oregon Berry Festival will feature family centric entertainment all day on the “Bluesberry Stage”. There will be a children’s area with games, activities and a visit from “Ima Blueberry”, as well as cooking demonstrations for all ages. 

An elegant Gala Berry Dinner will be held on Saturday, July 21 at the Heathman Hotel. Tours of local farms, a chance to win raffle prizes and lots more will help round out the 2012 Oregon Berry Festival.

Click on Oregon Berry Festival for more information. 

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.

Authentic Summer Festivals and Fairs in Mississippi

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.

“Throughout the summer, there are many authentic festivals and fairs taking place in communities across Mississippi that showcase the unique aspects of our state’s Southern culture.” said Sandy Bynum, spokesperson for the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division. “Now is a great time to plan a trip and experience the True South’s most interesting events of the summer.”

The following is just a sampling of the entertaining festivals and fairs you can experience this month in Mississippi: 

Enjoy four fun-filled days from July 11 to 14 in Choctaw, near Philadelphia, where Choctaw tribal culture infuses each day’s activities at the 63^rd Annual Choctaw Indian Fair, including tribal arts, crafts, dances, food and the action of World Championship Stickball. 

Sponsored by Main Street Corinth, the unique 25^th Annual Slugburger Festival in Corinth from July 12 to 14 is named after a unique burger. It features a slugburger-eating contest, carnival rides, a variety of food vendors and musical performances, including the popular Slug Idol competition.

Since 1978, the Mississippi Watermelon Festival in Mize on July 20 and 21 has celebrated the delicious, ripe, world-famous Smith County watermelons.

The Natchez Food and Wine Festival in Natchez from July 27 to 29 has become one of the most anticipated events in the area with an agenda taking you from one remarkable eating and wine tasting experience to the next.

Go to Visit Mississippi and click on “EVENTS” to get all of the details and specifics about events and many more happening all summer in the True South.

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.

Best Days of Summer Arrive in Minneapolis, Minnesota

You might have thought that the vibrant Minneapolis downtown on the Mississippi River could not become any more exciting and entertaining than it already is. But it does just that with the July arrival of the Aquatennial, the city’s spectacular celebration of the summer. 

The 2012 Minneapolis Aquatennial marks the 73rd annual civic celebration for the City of Lakes. The excitement begins Friday, July 13 and carries on for nine fun-filled days, ending with a bang with the Target Fireworks on Saturday, July 21.

Along with the favorite events Minnesotans have come to know and love at the Aquatennial, this year’s festival brings an array of new events to the lineup, ranging from the Life Time Tri Minneapolis at Lake Nokomis, to the Global Smoothie Smack Down at the Midtown Global Market and the NorthStarSurf Stand-Up Paddle at the Star Tribune Beach Bash.

Three of the Aquatennial’s flagship events are: 

The Star Tribune Beach Bash on July 15 features the Aquatennial Milk Carton Boat Races and Xcel Energy Sandcastle Competition at Thomas Beach, Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis.

The CenterPoint Energy Torchlight Parade on Hennepin Ave. between Dunwoody College of Technology & 5th St., Minneapolis on the evening of July 18 is a one-of-a-kind parade which will illuminate downtown with bands, floats and fun for all ages.

  

The Target Fireworks on the West River Parkway along the Mississippi River, Minneapolis on July 21 is one of the largest annual firework shows in the country. In addition to the amazing fireworks at 10pm, enjoy pre-fireworks festivities with live music beginning at 6pm, between Portland Avenue and the 3rd Avenue Bridge.

The Minneapolis Downtown council works to preserve and enhance a vital and attractive downtown for the people who invest, work, shop, visit and live in Minneapolis. For more information, visit downtownmpls.com.

Find a comprehensive list of events go to Aquatennial.

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

Summer Starts with a Bang on the Oregon Coast

The People's Coast, Oregon, has kicked off summer off with a bang – it’s got fireworks and festivals, free outdoor concerts and free-wheeling bicycle tours, farmers markets and family fun runs plus.

Among the festivities is the Lincoln County Fair & Rodeo in Newport from July 13 to 15 with its concerts, contests, exhibits, food, rodeo, and more. With this year’s theme ‘Coastal Wonderland’, you can explore the various wonders of Lincoln County and beyond.

The 32nd Annual Yachats Music Festival in Yachats will take place Friday, July 13 through Sunday, July 15 at Yachats, Oregon. This major classical music summer festival is presented annually by California-based Four Seasons Arts. All Festival activities take place at the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, 360 West 7th Street in Yachats, with concerts at 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and an afternoon concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday. 

Enjoy three fun-filled days at Winchester Bay’s Ocean Festival from July 20 to 22 with live music, the Beach Blvd. Bazaar, children's parade, open House at the shops, a seafood barbecue, games for young and old, Coast Guard demonstrations and Kayak races on the Umpqua River. 

The Toledo Summer Festival in Toledo from July 27 to 29 features a local logging show starring the “real deal”, the men and women who work Oregon’s local forests. Just for fun there is a carnival, beer garden, booths, festival food and a fireworks show at 10 pm on July 28. A grand parade is held at noon on Saturday, down Business Highway 20 and Main Street.

Click on Oregon, The People’s Coast to see everything featured in July on The People's Coast.

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.