Exclusive Screenings at Loft Film Fest

The third annual Loft Film Fest lights up the desert November 8- to 15 with an extraordinary line-up of stellar films, guests and special events at The Loft Cinema in Tucson, Arizona. 

Produced and presented by The Loft Cinema, this eight-day cinematic showcase of exclusive screenings will feature: hand-selected festival favorites from Cannes, Sundance, SXSW and more; lively Q&A's with industry professionals; exciting retrospective screenings; edgy late-night programming; and stimulating short films from the filmmakers of tomorrow. 

In total, this year's Loft Film Fest will present 40 feature films and short film programs – the festival's largest line-up to date.

2012 also marks The Loft Cinema's 40th anniversary as Tucson's premier venue for art, indie and alternative cinema, making this year's Loft Film Fest an especially significant milestone in the Loft's history. 

Adding to the excitement of the festival will be the grand opening on November 9 of the Loft's brand-new third screen, a fittingly serendipitous bit of timing for the Loft's "third annual" film festival.

Some of the highlights of this year's Loft Film Fest will include: a special career tribute to legendary director/producer Roger Corman, who will be on hand to receive the 2012 "Lofty" Achievement Award; an appearance by 2012 Cannes Film Festival Best Director Award-Winner Carlos Reygadas, presenting his latest film, Post Tenebras Lux; the Arizona Premiere of the highly-anticipated animated Monty Python documentary Liar's Autobiography in 3D; Hollywood legend Jane Fonda speaking French(!) in the new Gallic comedy All Together; the widely-acclaimed new adaptation of Wuthering Heights from director Andrea Arnold; Oscar-winner Melissa Leo in the new drama Francine; the new comedy It's A Disaster, starring Julia Stiles, America Ferrara and David Cross; and the Tucson premieres of several official Academy Award submissions for "Best Foreign Language Film", including Barbara (Germany,) Sister (Switzerland) and A Royal Affair (Denmark).

For ticket information and the full schedule of festival screenings and events, visit loftfilmfest.com. 

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.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Celebrates Christmas

And their eyes were filled with wonder and delight …… the tradition reigns and the holiday sparkles brighter than ever with the return of the Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center November 8-11.    

Each year brings new festivities, crafters, artisans, exhibits and tours and this year is no exception. Better than ever as a must see-must do, the Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals provides something special for everyone in the family, from the tiniest of tots on Santa’s knee to Grandparents reliving the days of the strolling minstrel. 

Step back in time into an ever-changing magical setting where shoppers delight and engage with 350 eager period clad vendors hawking their wares among the sites and sounds of a Victorian winter wonderland showcasing everything from fine arts and crafts, holiday decorations, homemade soaps & lotions, clothing, jewelry, imported items and more. 

Surrounding a spectacular Christmas tree adorned for such a special occasion, everything is dressed and ready for your arrival, even the benches and lampposts are laden with snow. It is a holiday lover’s paradise tried and true with Roving Carolers in full Victorian Costume – Suzanne and Jim performing songs of the era, right down to antique instruments. As old Saint Nick visits nearby in his Victorian Castle benefiting the Fostering Hope charity, the child in all of us is encouraged to come alive.

While there, treat your family to one of the show’s oldest and most memorable exhibits - Santa through the Ages. Follow the transformation of Santa from Medieval Times through modern day. Wander through the Festival of Trees, an array of fifty magnificent Christmas trees, each dressed in its own unique holiday splendor shimmering, beautifully designed, and sold to benefit the local Sons of Italy charities. 

Experience the Festival of Worlds where you’ll find traditions and foods of selected countries from around the world. 

Other area attractions include Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest drive thru fully synchronized LED light and music show.  Also, enjoy The Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery at the House of Blues and a number of holiday theatre shows. 

Visit www.DickensChristmasShow.com for more information.

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

Harvest and Holiday Events in Charlotte Harbor

Throughout the year Florida's Southwest Gulf coast communities are warm and welcoming. But as the year draws on, these nine communities open their doors to offer one-of-a-kind hometown fall and holiday experiences that span the gamut from ecological and athletic to quirky, magical and romantic.

Here are a few enticing examples of what visitors can look forward to in November 2012:

Enjoy a Celtic Fling on Saturday November 3 at Punta Gorda’s Fishermen's Village with live Celtic music, beer, wine, food vendors. 

Charlotte County's only all day, all local arts festival ArtSensation returns for the 21st year on November 2 and 3 to Punta Gorda’s Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center. 

Englewood hosts a Shrimp Fest on Saturday, November 3, from 11am - 3pm at the Royal Palm Marina. It starts with a Nautical Flea Market at 8am then tuck in to all-you-can-eat Peel n' Eat shrimp, baked beans, coleslaw, hushpuppies and hot dogs.

The Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival on November 17 at Charlotte County Sports Park, Port Charlotte is a fun-filled day to learn more about the natural environment. There are natural landscape demonstrations, guided walks and wagon rides, a fantastic kid's area and musicians.  

Two eagerly anticipated events at Fishermen's Village, Punta Gorda are the Festival of Lights with over a million lights and themed decorations and many attendant festivities from November 17 to December 31, and the Fishermen's Village Christmas Lighted Golf Cart Parade on Saturday, November 24.

On November 24 come out to the first ever Latin Fest on Edison State College Campus, in Punta Gorda headlining Grammy Award Winning Artist Jose' Feliciano. Beer, wine, soda & food vendors will be available for purchase on site.  

Located halfway between Tampa and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast, Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is a charming collection of nine coastal communities surrounding the state's second largest harbor. 

Visit www.CharlotteHarborTravel.com for information about area events, activities and attractions in Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Islands.

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.

Peanut Celebration Kicks off Alabama Fall Events

About half of the peanuts grown in the United States are grown within a 100-mile radius of Dothan, Alabama and each fall Dothan hosts the National Peanut Festival (NPF), the country’s largest peanut festival, to honor peanut growers and to celebrate the harvest season.

The dates of the 69th National Peanut Festival this year are November  2 to 10.

Festivities include amusement rides, animal acts, agricultural displays, music concerts, beauty pageants, arts and crafts displays, contests, food, a two-hour parade, and of course tons of peanuts.

The National Peanut Festival is one of a number of November events and festivals in Alabama.

Among them, on November 3, is the Pike Road Arts and Crafts Fair which takes place on the grounds of the historic Marks House, Pike Road. There will be more than 250 vendors selling many beautiful and unique arts and crafts just in time for Christmas. Delicious pulled pork barbeque sandwiches, homemade chicken salad and pimento cheese sandwiches and fried chicken will keep you from getting hungry. There are special activities for the children. 

The outdoor fall Moss Rock Festival in Birmingham on November 3 and 4 showcases eco-friendly living with landscape and architecture displays and green living exhibits. Visitors will also enjoy nature-inspired works by juried artists, a food-tasting event, live entertainment and art activities for the kids. Park & ride from Regions Park on one of the many free festival shuttles. 

Visit Fort Toulouse just south of Wetumpka from November 7 to 11 for a reenactment of Alabama’s Frontier Days from French Colonial times to the Early American period. You’ll see a Creek Indian hunting camp, Native American reenactors, period traders, merchants and entertainers as well as demonstrations on pottery making, dugout canoe construction and hide tanning

Visit www.alabama.travel/events  for details of these and other Alabama events.

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. 

Outrageous Key West Parade Highlights ‘Apocalypse’

Revelers are to party like there’s no tomorrow during the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade set for the night of Saturday, October 27. The lavish procession is the highlight of Key West’s October 19 to 28 Fantasy Fest celebration, themed “A-Conch-Alypse” in a Keys-style salute to an ancient apocalypse prophecy.

The flamboyant parade typically includes more than 50 decorated and motorized floats, many towering two stories high and featuring music, light shows and oversized moving parts. Accompanying them are Caribbean bands, marching groups and street dancers garbed in elaborate sequined and feathered costumes. 

In keeping with the so-called Mayan doomsday prophecy predicting the world’s end in December 2012, the procession’s grand marshals are two internationally renowned experts on the Maya. Drs. Arlen and Diane Chase have spent more than 25 years exploring, mapping and excavating ancient Caracol, one of Central America’s largest Maya cities.

Standout entries in the 2011 Fantasy Fest parade included a "splash park" float with functioning water slides, a replica ship carrying King Neptune and a "Crustaceans on Vacation" float peopled by "crabs" with huge claws.

For the 2012 procession, event organizers encourage participants to draw inspiration from the “A-Conch-Alypse” theme, portraying everything from manic Mayans and prophets of doom to zombies roaming a post-apocalyptic world. 

Pre-parade activities are to begin at noon Saturday with the open-air Duval Street Promenade. Its “doomsday delights” for costumed merrymakers include vendors offering masking and costuming finery, food, libations and live entertainment. 

At 7pm the parade is to begin at Southard and Whitehead streets. Floats, bands and other parade participants are to travel down Whitehead toward the Gulf of Mexico, turn onto Front Street and then proceed the mile down Duval to the Atlantic Ocean. Past parades have drawn more than 60,000 people to enjoy the pageantry.

Key West visitor information is at www.fla-keys.com/keywest.

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.

Kid-friendly Events at Rehoboth Beach Film Festival

The Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival from November 7 to 11 will include fun for even the littlest film fans. 

As part of the Festival, children ages 3 to 10 are invited to Children’s Cinema Corner, a kid-friendly event on Saturday, November 10 from 1 to 3pm in the upstairs screening room at Movies at Midway on Coastal Highway. 

Among the film-inspired activities will be screenings of short films based on children’s books from Scholastic Publishing, a reading corner, arts and crafts stations, face painting and more. The activities will be supervised by Rehoboth Beach Film Society and Kids Cottage of Rehoboth Beach employees.

The Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival in the resort town of Rehoboth Beach on Delaware’s Atlantic Ocean coast is an annual event that presents approximately 100 American and international, feature, documentary and short films. 

This year it will feature one of the most talked-about documentaries of the year: “The Invisible War.” As ranks of women in the American military swell, so do incidents of rape. An estimated 30 percent of servicewomen and at least 1 percent of servicemen are sexually assaulted during their enlistment and not by the enemy, but at the hands of fellow soldiers. With stark clarity and escalating revelations, “The Invisible War” exposes a rape epidemic in the armed forces, the institutions that perpetuate it, as well as its profound personal and social consequences. 

The film screenings all take place at Movies at Midway on Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach. 

The Rehoboth Beach Film Society sponsors monthly screenings, special events, and the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. Information can be found on all Film Festival programs and films at the Society’s website: www.rehobothfilm.com, or by calling the Film Society office at 302-645-9095 ext. 1.

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

Wurstfest Bands Amp up Oompah

Wurstfest 2012, a unique celebration rich in German heritage and full of Texas fun, opens November 2 and continues through November 11, offering 10 days of family-style fun on the Wurstfest grounds along the Comal River in Landa Park in New Braunfels, Texas. 

The festival features the sounds of more the 40 bands playing at four different venues, a carnival, tasty German/Texas foods, the Marktplatz shopping area, and the opportunity to visit with friends while enjoying the view of the scenic Comal River.

The festival began in 1961 as a promotional event for the city’s sausage-making industry. It quickly grew from a two-day vent into a week-long event, before expanding into a 10-day affair.

Wurstfest officially kicks off with opening ceremonies at 5pm Friday, November 2 in the Wursthalle with the "biting of the sausage" and the ceremonial tapping of the keg.

The newest venue at Wurstfest, Stelzenhaus, which opened this past year, means bands now have four stages. This year's line-up includes the all-female band, Die Bayrische 7 from Munich as well as returning favorites such as the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra, Alex Meixner, Master Yodeler Kerry Christensen, Seven Dutchmen Orchestra, Cloverleaf Orchestra, Terry Cavanagh and Alpine Express, Alpenfest, Squeezebox and Die Schlauberger.

Wurstfest patrons can enjoy live music at Wursthalle, Das Grosse Zelt (The Big Tent), Das Kleine Zelt (The Little Tent) and Stelzenhaus (stilt house).

Several area-wide, Wurst-related activities take place during the festival including the Wurst Tour de Gruene, Wurstfest Regatta at Canyon Lake, the Wurstfest 10K Walk hosted by the New Braunfels Marsch-und Wandergruppe and the Wurstfest Skat Tournament at Landa Haus.

For a complete list of entertainment, visit www.wurstfest.com.

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.

Maryland Embraces Bavarian Fall Tradition

Oktoberfest season has arrived in Maryland. 

The Maryland Brewers Oktoberfest is on October 13 at the state fairgrounds in Timonium (Baltimore County). More than 80 beers from 15 Maryland breweries are in the spotlight at this 11th annual Maryland Brewers Association festival – a nonprofit trade association for Maryland breweries and brewpubs.

Charles County Oktoberfest is on October 13-14 at the county fairgrounds in LaPlata. This Southern Maryland venue adopts a Bavarian outlook for the benefit of the Society for the Friends of Hospice. Live music and dancing, a Miss Oktoberfest contest, arts & crafts vendors, and a family-fun area are all part of this community event. 

Gaithersburg Oktoberfest at the Kentlands takes place October 14 at Kentlands Village Green in Montgomery County. Admission and parking are free at this 21st annual festival, which offers horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin painting, wine tasting and free performances on the Arts Barn Theater stage – in addition to the expected Oktoberfest activities.

The Good Beer Festival in Salisbury (Wicomico County) is also on October 13-14. Held at Pemberton Historical Park, this weekend event serves up 50 American craft beers, live music on two stages, a home-brewer competition, brewing classes, a chili cook-off and the Hangover 5K run (and 1.5 walk). 

A week later, October 20, The Maryland Zoo presents its first OktoBEARfest.

And the Annapolis Craft Beer and Music Festival is on October 27 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. This first-time festival features some 20 craft breweries, two stages (The Lager and Pilsner stages) of live music, beer seminars, a food court with Maryland seafood, and an array of artists and other exhibitors.

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. 

Historic Reenactment of Missouri’s German Heritage

Missouri’s rich German ancestry will be presented on October 20 & 21 at the 31st annual Deutsch Country Days – probably the finest and most authentic living history in the Midwest. 

The educational, family-fun experience is held on historic Luxenhaus Farm, 18055 State Highway O, three miles northeast of Marthasville, Missouri (one hour west of St. Louis) from 9am to 5pm on both days.

In those 31 years Deutsch Country Days has progressed from a benefit house tour on a cold Saturday in January to one of the most unique and authentic recreations of early German life in Missouri. The beauty of the fall foliage and the cool autumn weather persuaded the date change to the third weekend in October. Now the hills outside of Marthasville literally come alive with the sights and sounds of the 1800s.

The early German immigrant's functional lifestyle is authentically recreated as juried artisans, in period attire, demonstrate natural dyeing, spinning/weaving, sad ironing, Kloppolei, wood turning, hide tanning, candle dipping, and rug braiding – just a handful of the 80 primitive skills exhibiting the early German life and trades. Period music, whistling steam, wood smoke and the sweet fragrance of cooking sorghum fill the crisp, autumn breeze.

While watching elite craftspeople, you can savor German home cooking and try your hand at stuffing sausage. A dated antique sorghum press driven by Missouri mules and a steam-powered sawmill complete the historic walk into Missouri's German yesteryear at historic Luxenhaus Farm – 2.5 miles northeast of Marthasville on Highway O. 

Click on Deutsch Country Days or www.visitmo.com/deutsch-country-days.aspx for details.

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.

Arizona’s Wild West Renaissance Festival

One of America’s, and definitely Arizona’s, biggest Western events, the Wild Western Festival, is again riding into Glendale’s historic Sahuaro Ranch Park for three full days of family fun. 

On October 19, 20 & 21, Festival Producer Dr. Buck, a Hollywood stuntman and former General Manager of the world famous Ponderosa Ranch, of Bonanza TV fame, will transform all 17 acres of the park into what the Arizona media has called, “A Wild West Renaissance Festival”. 

It is the only event where “history meets Hollywood”, as guests enjoy action packed Wild West comedy gunfight and stunt shows, trick roping, gun spinning and trick horse performances by world champions, live music, cowboy historians and native American tribal dancers. 

There’s something for all ages at this one-of-a-kind event, from meeting your favorite classic TV and movie stars such as stuntman Neil Summers, Mike “Desperado” Moroff, Helene Udy from “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman” and several more.  

The celebrity panel discussions will be hosted by the Chronicle of the Old West’s very own Dakota Livesay. Enter a good old fashioned pie eating contest, tug-of-war, sack race or one of the many other free, “Blue Ribbon” winning Country Fair contests. 

The Kids Korral has several bounce houses, face painting, train and pony rides and more. 

What really sets this Festival apart from every other Western event is the “Back in Time” atmosphere, not only created by all the Historic Buildings dating back to 1886, but also by the cast of two to three hundred authentically dressed 1880’s Wild West characters, many that are Dr Buck’s “Posse” of Official Festival Volunteers. 

For further details, discount coupons, daily ticket specials and multi day ticket pricing visit the website at www.wildwesternfestival.com  or email Drbuckentertainment@cox.net   

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.

Alabama's Original Beach Party

In Alabama, it’s not often that football is replaced as the primary topic of conversation in fall months. But Auburn, Alabama and high school pigskin feats take a back seat on the second full weekend in October to an unlikely usurper – shrimp. 

Since 1971, that’s the weekend that approximately 300,000 people will make their way to Gulf Shores to take part in the Annual National Shrimp Festival™ presented by Zatarain’s. The dates this year are October 11 to 14.

Featuring four days of fresh seafood, more than 80 hours of musical entertainment, a dedicated Children’s Activity Village and almost 200 fine art and arts and crafts vendors all nestled along the sugar white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, the Festival is one of the top fall attractions in the Southeast. 

Patrons can walk along the beachfront boardwalk eating fresh Gulf shrimp prepared in ways that would even impress Bubba Gump while enjoying the sounds of music ranging from acoustic harmonies to country twangs to Motown and classic rock. In recent years the Festival has featured such musical luminaries as Miranda Lambert, Eddie Money, Lee Ann Womack and former Foreigner frontman Lou Graham.

Families can enter the annual sand sculpture contest. Kids can take part in a myriad of activities in the Children’s Activity Village, including face-painting, karaoke, the soon-to-be-world-famous Candy Cannon and much more. Runners and walkers can enter the 10K and 5K races to help work off some of the great food at the Festival and the weather is still warm enough for swimmers to take to the blue-green waters of the Gulf and sunbathers to work on their tans.

Produced by the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, the Annual National Shrimp Festival™ presented by Zatarain’s has something for everyone. Mark your calendars for the second full weekend in October and go on down to Gulf Shores for Alabama’s Original Beach Party and a taste of the best the Gulf Coast has to offer. 

Click on the Festival’s website at www.nationalshrimpfestival.com for more information.

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. 

Taste the Best of Sonoma County, California

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair in Santa Rosa, California on October 5, 6 and 7 is a celebration of the local harvest – but also a quintessential experience for wine lovers.

The Fair features three full days of wine tasting with 150+ wineries, wine sales, marketplace, chef demonstrations and workshops, farm and harvest agricultural activities for children and adults, the World Championship Grape Stomp, live music, an art show and sale, crafters pavilion, farm animals to meet, and much more.   

The grape stomp has become one of the most popular and unique events at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Teams of two (one stomper & one swabby) compete in the hope of being named the world's greatest grape stomp team. Winners from stomps around the country (and the world) travel to the Sonoma County Harvest Fair to compete for the World Championship title.

Also popular is the Grand Tasting where guest experience an evening of Sonoma County's most inspired food and wine. 

Making the Sonoma County Harvest Fair's one the best in the country are all the other fun activities available during the weekend. There are cow-milking lessons (on a fake cow), the traditional pumpkin carving, chocolate and port tastings, and a cheesy beer school with microbrew and cheese tastings. 

For the family, kids and parents can experience life on the farm with some of this year's new additions. Sweet Lil's Farmery will be on hand with hatching chicks, barnyard animals, and perhaps best of all, a faux cow that the whole family can milk.  

There is also an agricultural education day for elementary school students and a Harvest Fair competitive exhibit program.  

Click on www.visitsantarosa.com for lodging, wineries, dining and entertainment opportunities in Santa Rosa and Sonoma Wine 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.

Fall Festivals and Fun on Oregon Coast

Among the bumper crop of fall festivals, celebrations and revelries awaiting visitors on the Oregon Coast is the Fall Kite Festival in Lincoln City – the Kite Capital of the World.

Held on the beach, in the center of Lincoln City, at the D-River Wayside from 10am-8:30pm on Saturday October 13 and from 10am-4pm on Sunday October 14, the weekend includes featured flyers, family-friendly activities such as kite-making, a kid’s kite parade, and a mass ascension. 

The festival will include kite flying demonstrations by experts, and some of the most colorful “big” kites in the world. This year’s theme is “Stars & Stripes so a dizzying array of red, white and blue kites will be on display.

Unearth the secrets to identifying, foraging for and cooking up wild forest mushrooms at the annual Village Mushroom Festival in Yachats. Come out of your shell and open up to the tasteful joys of crabbing and clamming in Garibaldi. Or join the other go-go girls at the " See Jane Run" women's walk and run in Coos Bay.

Experience the full gamut of Latino art and culture at the " Dos Culturas – Una Comunidad celebration in Newport. Explore the reefs and waterways of the south coast on a guided kayak tour in Gold Beach. View the historic waterfronts and experience the majesty of native wildlife from the comfort of a 40-foot yacht during an eco-tour of the mighty Columbia River in Astoria. 

Visit www.oregoncoast.org/fall-kite-festival for more information on the Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival.

Click on Oregon, The People’s Coast to see everything featured this Fall 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.