Two Weekends for Pennsylvania Apple Country Festival

Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Apple country, near historic Gettysburg, Adams County, the 49th annual National Apple Harvest Festival will be held on the first two weekends of October.

The festival, which takes place at the South Mountain Fairgrounds near Arendtsville on October 5-6 and 12-13, traditionally combines vendors, crafts, antique farm equipment and family fun with a celebration of one of the world's most beloved fruits - the apple.

In addition to the more than 300 craft vendors, the festival offers apples in every form, from jellies, cider and pancakes to pizza, syrups, sausage and applesauce. Freshly-popped kettle corn, open pit beef and sweet potato French fries bring visitors back every year, while hayrides, a petting zoo and a puppet show highlight the family activities. Antique farm equipment and cars are also showcased along with an antique apple cider press.

In addition to the more than 300 craft vendors, the festival offers apples in every form, from jellies, cider and pancakes to pizza, syrups, sausage and applesauce. Freshly-popped kettle corn, open pit beef and sweet potato French fries bring visitors back every year, while hayrides, a petting zoo and a puppet show highlight the family activities. Antique farm equipment and cars are also showcased along with an antique apple cider press.

The "1st Apple Harvest Holiday" was held by the Adams County Fruitgrowers Association in October 1961, with the "Apple Harvest Festival" under the Upper Adams Jaycees officially debuting on Oct. 9, 1965. The festival then included attractions like the antique car display, orchard tours and the crowning of the 1965 Apple Blossom Queen. The Apple Harvest Festival has since grown immensely, expanding the celebration to two weekends in 1975.

The National Apple Harvest Festival, which is part of the popular Gettysburg Fruit & Wine Trail, will be held from 8am to 6pm each day and will take place rain or shine. General admission is $9 per person, with seniors (60+) $8 and children under the age of 12 free. Admission includes parking, shuttle services and all the attractions and exhibits.

Visit www.appleharvest.com 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.

Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta quickly approaching

The world’s largest hot air ballooning event, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, is right around the corner, October 5 to 13. The signature fall event captures the amazing essence of all that is hot air ballooning from morning mass ascensions with 500+ colorful balloons floating overhead to magical evening balloon glows with music.

The 42^nd annual event will bring visitors from around the world to take in the spectacle. In addition to up-close balloon views on the field, here are a few suggestions of new ways to experience the event this year.

Guests can canoe or kayak along the Rio Grande with Quiet Waters Paddling Adventures during the early morning as hundreds of balloons take off and float overhead. 

The first professionally-led bicycle tour to the Balloon Fiesta, Bikes & Balloons Tour by Routes Rentals & Tours includes bike rentals, unique photo opportunities, VIP bike parking and admission to the event that bypasses the admission lines. This year, the tour is partnering with Los Poblanos Historic Inn and Organic Farm for visits to the farm, five-star breakfasts and inn stay packages during Balloon Fiesta. Another local bicycle shop, The BikeSmith, is offering a Biking Adventure Package that includes a bike rental, self-guided tour of the Bosque Trail along the Rio Grande and a gourmet farm-to-table lunch at Old Town 

Explore the history of ballooning (historic balloons, interactive exhibits and the science behind ballooning) while watching the ascents from floor-to-ceiling windows at the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum facing the Balloon Fiesta Park launch field. The museum has extended hours during the Fiesta.

Visit www.ItsATrip.org/BalloonFiesta2013 for more details on events plus hotel specials and deals. 

Visit www.itsatrip.org/events for more information on events in Albuquerque.

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

Take a Fall Getaway to the Yosemite Region

Fall is a great time for festivals – most of which are free – in California’s Yosemite region, which offer a taste of the local lifestyle, from food and wine to art and music.

• The Groveland 49er Festival and Chili and Salsa Cook-Off (Sept. 21) starts with a pancake breakfast, followed by a town parade, Aviation Club Fly Over, Chili Cookoff, live & silent auction, raffles, food and beverage booths and family activities. 
• Go hog-wild at the Blazin Hog BBQ Competition (Sept. 21) at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, where restaurants battle for best pork BBQ honors. The event also includes a toe-tapping Zydeco Music Festival as well as local beer, wine, food, arts and crafts.
• Howl with laughter at the Coulterville CoyoteFest (Sept. 28), where locals compete in a Coyote Howling Contest and guests enjoy old-fashioned fun from dunking booths, games and crafts to history tours, nature activities, car show and shootouts.
• The annual Sierra Art Trails Open Studio Tour (Oct. 4-6) in Madera County, home to more artists per capita than anywhere else in the country, inspires art lovers with works from more than 100 artists from Oakhurst, Coarsegold and North Fork.
  

  
• Beer lovers flock to the June Lake Autumn Beer Festival (Oct. 5) which includes a chili cook-off and pie baking contest. 
• Nature lovers should check out the Glacier Point Natural History program (Oct. 6), which shares an insider’s perspective of one of Yosemite’s most famous viewpoints. An expert guide will take guests on an autumn field trip, sharing the cultural and natural history of the iconic Glacier Point area, from fascinating geological features to diverse wildlife.
• Live like a pioneer at the Columbia Harvest FestiFall (Oct. 12-13) where guests can share 1850's hobbies, crafts, music and dancing.
• The Oakhurst Fall Festival (Oct. 12-13) brings together local restaurants, area wineries, breweries and chocolatiers at Oakhurst Community Park , who give visitors a chance to sample their wares while enjoying live music, a classic car show, a petting zoo and kids’ activities from the local children’s museum. That same weekend, the Oakhurst Art and Music Festival (Oct. 12) in Harmony park features crafts from local artists, a parade, 5K Arts Run/Walk, special concerts and regional cuisine.
• Take a Celtic flight of fancy pre-Halloween at the All Hallows Fantasy Faire (Oct. 17-19), offering big and little ghouls the chance to see a fantasy village, fairies, fire eaters, dragons, marketplace and ancient warriors. This Celtic Heritage/Halloween blend includes popular Friday Zombie Bash for adults.
• Rev your engines for the Mariposa Yosemite Hot Rod & Custom Car Show (Oct. 19), featuring more than 100 custom cars, hot rods and motorcycles, plus great music and food.
• The annual Coarsegold Tarantula Festival (Oct. 26), which takes place at the Coarsegold Historic Village, celebrates the harmless arachnid which comes out each fall for mating season. Laughter is on the menu with hairiest leg contests for men and women, screaming contests, costume contests and tarantula races.
• The city of Madera, known as the Heart of Pomegranate Country, hosts the annual Madera Pomegranate Festival (Nov. 2) which features pomegranate-centric cooking demos from local chefs as well as pomegranates specialty products, live music, kids’ activities and the ever-popular Pomegranate Grenade Launch.
• Wine and food connoisseurs flock to Yosemite National Park in late fall for their signature Vintners’ Holidays (mid-November to early December) at The Ahwahnee Hotel. This eagerly anticipated annual event, boasts dozens of the best California vintners pouring their wines at tasting seminars and a five-course gala dinner. Visitors can buy special weekend packages to this event which include accommodations for two, wine tasting seminars, an intimate Meet the Vintners Reception and two tickets to the Gala Dinner.
• Fishing enthusiasts can reel it in at the Ambush at the Lake - Convict Lake Fishing Derby at various times through Nov. 15 featuring $6,000 in resort prizes.

For more information on traveling to the Yosemite region this fall, check out these local websites:

Yosemite National Park (National Park Service)

DNC Yosemite (Accommodations and activities inside the Park)

Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau

Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau
Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau

Mono County Tourism and Film Commission

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.

Celebrating Heritage, Culture on Cape Fear River

Flash back 35 years to October 4-6, 1979 when a group of local citizens interested in the arts and Wilmington’s riverfront staged its first Riverfest, a free cultural street festival. With four concessions, trolley rides, and fireworks, Riverfest was a success and became an annual event.

Today’s Riverfest remains true to its roots as a family-friendly, cultural festival. It now boasts a half-mile of free entertainment with more than 200 craft vendors, concessions, continuous entertainment, fireworks, a Kidz Zone, exhibitions, and special events.

With the Cape Fear River as its focus, Riverfest captures the river’s heritage, culture, and natural beauty. According to festival organizers, this year’s theme – “Celebrating 35 Years on the River” – focuses on the festival’s milestone anniversary. 

Riverfest’s 35^th anniversary celebration begins on Friday, October 4 with a Garden Party (11am-3pm) at Greenfield Lake’s Rotary Garden, home of the world’s largest rotary wheel. 

As always, kids rule at Riverfest with the ever-popular Kidz Zone at the Cotton Exchange, with free family activities such as face/hair painting, balloon art, games, amusements, arts/crafts, clowns, rides, obstacle course, mascots, live entertainment, and more. Older kids will enjoy the Adventure Zone. 

For more information about Riverfest 2013, October 4-6, visit www.wilmingtonriverfest.com or for details of the area click on Wilmington, N.C.’s Historic River District and the Island Beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach.

Visitors can call 866-266-9690 or email visit@wilmingtonandbeaches.com to request a free Official Visitors Guide.  

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

It’s Feline A Lot Like Christmas in Phoenix, Arizona

Some 41 distinct breeds of cats will compete for Best in Show in ten judging rings when Phoenix Feline Fanciers, Inc. presents its 21st annual all breed cat show, “It’s Feline A Lot Like Christmas”, on December 14 and 15 in Phoenix, Arizona.

They’ll include the lean and swanky Siamese, the charmingly “naked” Sphinx, the intoxicating Abyssinian, and the large and extravagantly groomed Persians – over 300 fancy felines in all. 

Phoenix Feline Fanciers, an affiliated club with the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), annually hosts Arizona's largest CFA allbreed cat show in December.

This show also has one of the largest Household Pet attendances in all of the CFA shows nationwide. This year only will be a special tribute to the Maine Coon, America’s native cat and largest breed. There will be special activities involving Maine Coon entries and recognition for the top Maine Coon kitten, champion and premier. 

A “supermarket” of cat supplies will be available from a myriad of vendors – from gourmet foods to unique clothing and jewelry as well as top-of-the-line cat furniture. There will be raffles with many great prizes. Phoenix Feline Fancier’s provides space for feline rescue groups who will have cats to adopt. Pedigreed cats and kittens may be available for placement as well.

There will be a kitty costume contest as well as the “best decorated cage” contest falling under the holiday theme.

Visit www.phxfeline.com for details of times, tickets and additional info or call 623-217-4205.

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 Wisconsin

The Warrens Cranberry Festival, located in the Cranberry Capital of Wisconsin, will hold its 41st annual Festival from September 27 to 29.

The Festival features a variety of attractions for all ages. The Festival boasts more than 850 arts & craft booths, 350 flea market and antique dealers, a variety of contests and one of the largest marching band parades in Wisconsin. 

There is also a wide range of entertainment. Festival attendees can hop aboard a bus and tour a working cranberry marsh. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about the history of cranberry production and catch an up-close glimpse of a cranberry marsh.

Food lovers can purchase fresh produce from the more than 100 farm market vendors present at the Festival. There are also a number of food courts featuring over 100 food booths each with a variety of delicious foods to tempt any pallet, including everything from cranberry cream puffs, and cranberry cream soda pop to chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick. Back by popular demand, both Friday and Saturday, is the giant fry pan, featuring the “Cranberries Jubilee” – served over ice cream.

The Festival is topped off on its final day with a gigantic parade, held on Sunday. The parade features several marching bands from the surrounding areas, as well as numerous special guests. In the past, the Festival has had special guests such as Miss Wisconsin, Miss Wisconsin USA and the First Lady of Wisconsin taking part in the parade.

Visit www.cranfest.com or call 608-378-4200 for more 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. 

RailFest Celebrates Mountain Railroad Heritage

Every year railroad enthusiasts and history buffs from around America gather in Bryson City, North Carolina for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s Railfest. This year, the 12th annual weekend railroading event takes place September 13-15. 

The festival offers guests a taste of railroading, food, memorabilia, storytelling, dance, music, special excursions and events that happen only once a year.

The special Wet Your Whistle Train will kick off this jam packed weekend. A new package to attend this invite only train ride is available exclusively on our website! This package is valued at $175, but is being offered at an exclusive price of $99/person! 

Steam will be returning to the Bryson City Depot for the weekend festivities with the rteturn the LeHigh Valley Coal Co #75! This visiting locomotive will be the main attraction of this year’s 12th annual RailFest and will be providing special Steam train rides throughout the weekend; Saturday at 12:15pm & 2:30pm and Sunday at 1:45pm, all trains depart from Bryson City to Whittier, NC.  

New this year, the visiting steam engine will be pulling our Whittier Sundown evening excursion! Departing Saturday, September 14, at 6:30pm this exciting new train will feature Heinzelmännchen Brewery beer tastings in a commemorative glass plus a delicious meal! 

Saturday and Sunday festivities include an authentic Mountain Craft Fair with close to 30 area crafters and artists displaying and selling their handmade crafts, pottery and artwork. Catch the Spirit of Appalachia will present local entertainment featuring singing, dancing and mountain folk music. There will be vendors, a children’s talent contest and winner’s jamboree! Bluegrass, Old Time Mountain Music and Folk will be featured by various local bands, along with The Queen Family Band special Sunday performance!

Visit GSMR.com for more details.

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

30th Anniversary for Miami Book Fair

The Miami Book Fair, one of Miami’s flagship cultural events, will treat book lovers to eight days of cultural and educational activities at Miami Dade MDC’s Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami from November 17 to 24.

It is the 30th anniversary of the Miami Book Fair International,the oldest and largest gathering of authors coming from all over the world, drawing an attendance of 250,000 of all ages.

Over 400 authors will read from their books in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Kreyol, will answer questions from the audience, and will sign autographs. 

In commemoration of the 500 years since Ponce de Leon landed in Florida, this year the Fair will celebrate the culture and literature of Spain. Some of the country’s most illustrious writers and artists will present their works at the Fair this year.

Among the activities will be the beloved Evenings With…. series, the IberoAmerican Authors program, literacy and learning activities for children and teens during Generation Genius Days, and The Kitchen, demos and panels for food enthusiasts in partnership with the college’s Miami Culinary Institute. Fairgoers will also enjoy more than 200 exhibitors from around the country selling books in a festive atmosphere and hundreds of authors reading and discussing new books during the weekend Street Fair. 

To celebrate the 30^th anniversary, Fair organizers have launched a campaign that celebrates Miami’s love and involvement with their hometown jewel. You can visit the Fair’s social media platforms for vintage photos, author Q&As and more at: 

ttps://twitter.com/miamibookfair

https://www.facebook.com/MiamiBookFair

http://thecenteratmdc.tumblr.com/

The Miami Book Fair International, widely considered the largest and finest literary event in the U.S., is the premier event of The Center for Literature and Theatre @ Miami Dade College. The Center promotes reading, writing and theater at locations throughout South Florida by consistently presenting activities open to all.

For regular updates on the Miami Book Fair, visit www.miamibookfair.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.

Spyro Gyra Headlines Eureka Springs Jazz Event

Jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra will headline the 2013 Jazz Eureka Festival, set for September 13 to 15 in Eureka Springs. The band formed in the mid-1970s and its sound has roots in traditional jazz but combines elements of R&B, funk, and pop music. Spryro Gyra band members are known for their mastery over their instruments and the energy of their live performances (writes Jill Rohrbach).

They have performed over 5,000 shows, released 29 albums selling over 10 million albums while also achieving one platinum and two gold albums, and earning Grammy nominations for each of their last four albums.

Festival fun begins Friday, September 13 with a Sunset Serenade in Basin Spring Park on downtown Spring Street. From 7pm to 9pm, enjoy free music by the Fayetteville Jazz Collective, an 18-piece big band consisting of northwest Arkansas’s finest musicians.

Music will fill Basin Spring Park again on Saturday, September 14, from noon until 7 p.m. Starting off the day will be Alan Gibson and First Line with a style of music played in the 1920s that represents the first transition from blues to jazz. At 1:30 p.m. the Richard Bruton Quintet will take the stage. This legendary Springfield, Missouri tenor saxophonist leads a group of Southwest Missouri’s finest musicians doing jazz standards and modern jazz.

The Walter Savage Trio follows at 3pm Savage has a reputation for bringing the upright bass  a primarily supportive instrument–into the spotlight. The final act in the free music line-up for Saturday is the NSU Jazz Sextet, part of the Northeastern State University Jazz Lab, which is home to the Jazz Studies Program, currently under the direction of saxophonist/composer/arranger, Dr. Tommy Poole.

Spyro Gyra will perform at 7:30pm Saturday, September 14 at The Auditorium, located at 36 S. Main Street.  Tickets are on sale now at www.theauditorium.org and range from $20 to $42.50.  One more free performance in the park will take place on Sunday afternoon.  At 1 p.m. the Missouri State Jazz Band will perform traditional and contemporary big band music.

Visit www.jazzeureka.org or call 479-253-7333 for more information.

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.