It’s LifeWise Oregon Berry Festival Time!

Whether you crave juicy, plump blackberries, mouth watering strawberry preserves or a good old fashioned blueberry pie, Oregon’s bountiful berry season will be on full offer in Portland in July at the 4^th annual LifeWise Oregon Berry Festival. 

This free, family friendly event will feature a 2-day farmers market, a children’s booth with activities and crafts, a main stage with cooking demos and entertainment, health and wellness seminars and more berry deliciousness than you can possibly imagine.

New for 2014, the expanded festival will feature a Know Your Oregon Berries booth, which will provide berry handling and storage tips, harvest dates and everything you need to know to help you enjoy the berries when you get them home (if you can resist eating them on the way!)

Returning to the berry calendar in addition to the popular daytime events will be the Gala Berry Dinner on Saturday, July 19.  Held on the rooftop terrace of the Ecotrust building, the dinner will feature a berry centric menu from a selection of Portland’s top chefs. And if you want more, LifeWise Oregon Berry Festival Restaurant Month will be happening across the city, with a range of local restaurants highlighting specialty berry menu items available all July long.

Mark your calendars for the 4^th annual LifeWise Oregon Berry Festival.  The Ecotrust Event Space is located at NE 10^th Ave and NE Johnson St in Portland.  Festival admission is free, and the hours will be from noon to 6pm on Friday, July 18 and 11am to 5pm on Saturday, July 19. For more information visit www.oregonberryfestival.com

LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon, a local health plan known for its commitment to wellness, is the title sponsor for the 2014 OBF. Committed to actively supporting their members’ healthy decisions from foods to activities, LifeWise celebrates the health benefits of Oregon berries through this partnership.

Visit www.activelynorthwest.com for more information to support healthy decisions. For more information about LifeWise, please visit www.lifewiseor.com.

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.

Mucking, Drilling and Mining for Free in Virginia City, Nevada

Step back in time and celebrate Nevada's mining history during Comstock Muckfest in historic Virginia City, Nevada, Saturday, June 7, 2014. 

This family-focused event is free and takes place from 10am until 5pm held at various locations including the Marshall Mint Museum, the Fourth Ward School and more.

The Virginia City Trolley provides an all-day on and off pass for transportation to locations where demonstrations take place. At the Virginia & Truckee Train Depot watch professionals drive spikes, then head to the Marshall Mint Museum to see a live coin minting. At the Fourth Ward School, kids can test their mining skills with a chocolate chip cookie mining activity. At the Gold Hill Depot, find the Comstock Modern Mining Park with its massive displays of modern-day mining equipment, as well as a mucking demonstration. Download the complete schedule online.

Join in on the fun and experience a day in the life of a Virginia City miner. For $10, enter the team handrail race competition, mucking or bucket-lift contest that takes place throughout the day. Winners take home bragging rights and a trophy, not to mention some great photos.

Coinciding with Comstock Muckfest is the Virginia City Wine Tour Series, taking place the first Saturday of each month. The wine tour includes a commemorative Virginia City stemless wine glass, a map and wine samples at 23 locations throughout town for $20. Tickets are available for advance purchase online or at the Visitors Center in Virginia City, located at 86 South C Street.

Comstock Muckfest is an official Nevada 150 event. Learn more about Nevada 150 celebration at Nevada150.org.

For more information on Virginia City, Nev. and the Comstock Muckfest & Heritage Wine Tour, visit online or call the Virginia City Tourism Commission (VCTC) at 775-847-7500.

A short 30-minute drive from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport takes visitors to one of the largest historic districts in the United States - Virginia City, Nevada. Experience this mining “boomtown” as it was in the 1800's. Step back in time while visiting the numerous historic buildings, saloons, churches and museums or take a mine tour or even ride a real steam train.

The Comstock Adventure Passes offer the best value with discounted attraction packages. For lodging, event calendar or Comstock Adventure Passes, visit online or call 775-847-7500. The Visitor Information Center is located at 86 South C Street, Virginia City.

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

Savor the Difference in This Cajun Location

Iberia Parish, Louisiana celebrates its rich heritage and just about everything else at its many area festivals and events, from Mardi Gras to Louisiana shrimp, sugar and music.

Among them are the Delcambre Shrimp Festival (August),  Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival (September) and World Championship Gumbo Cookoff (October).

The town of Delcambre, Louisiana, located about 20 miles southwest of Lafayette, is home to one of the area's most productive shrimp fleets and on August 14 to 18 the town will devote an entire weekend to honor this economic lifeblood with the Delcambre Shrimp Festival. Events include a shrimp cook-off, queens’ pageants, fais-do-do's, food booths, carnival rides, and the blessing of the shrimp boat fleet. There's plenty of fun for "kids" of all ages and lots to see, hear, and eat.

For 73 years the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival has brought together 23 sugar-producing parishes to honor the cane growers, mill operators and others in the sugar industry with ceremonies, parties, parades, royalty, exhibits, and dancing in the streets. Set in historic New Iberia, the event (September 24-28 in 2014) has small town charm and features top-notch entertainment.

Each year, on the second weekend of October, the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce hosts the World Championship Gumbo Cook-Off, a premier event in Iberia Parish. The three-day event (October 10-12 this year) takes place on New Iberia's historic and award-winning Main Street.

While the gumbo competition itself is on Sunday, Friday evening kicks off the event weekend with great music and popular food items. On Saturday, there are bands all day, down town shopping deals, museum tours and forty-plus food booths cooking anything but gumbo for lunch. Sunday's full attention goes to the gumbo as 90 or more teams vy for bragging rights to the best gumbo in the world.

Just 20 miles south of Lafayette, 2 hours west of New Orleans and 4 hours east of Houston, New Iberia is a must for visiting. Click here for directions. For information on many other events in this Cajun location visit www.iberiatravel.com

For more information about top events in Louisiana take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the major annual festivals and events in Louisiana-Baton Rouge, Louisiana-New Orleans and the Louisiana West region.

Some Upcoming Festivals and Events in Hawaii

Included in some of the upcoming festivals and events in Hawaii is the 25th annual Kauai Hospice Concert in the Sky on July 4 at Vidinha Stadium Soccer field – Kauai’s largest Independence Day celebration event. Benefiting Kauai Hospice, visitors and residents will be treated to a display of aerial fireworks along with Hawaiian entertainment by local musicians and hula dancers. Top hotels and restaurants will also provide great food for this occasion.

The Joy of Sake Honolulu, the biggest sake bash outside of Japan, takes place on July 18 at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu. The event celebrates Hawaii’s 100-year love affair with sake from the early days of Japanese immigration and founding of the Honolulu Sake Brewery to present day. The event will feature a record amount of the world’s finest sakes available for tasting, along with appetizers from a variety of Honolulu’s elite restaurants. 

Koloa Plantation Days celebrates its 29th annual festival in Poipu, Kauai from July 18-27. The ten-day family-oriented slate of events showcases Koloa’s social and natural history and diverse cultural traditions. Additionally, visitors can enjoy sporting activities, entertainment, costumes, and food available at the Poipu and Koloa area resorts. 

Holding its 55th annual tournament from July 26-August 2, the Hawaian International Billfish Tournament combines five days of fishing off the beautiful Kona Coast of Hawaii Island with several other social and cultural events held throughout the week. Spectators can watch the tournament from Kailua Pier, as more than 30 teams from around the world are expected to compete for the coveted Governor’s Trophy. 

From August 15-16, Grand Wailea’s executive chef Eric Faivre will host the James Beard Foundation’s Celebrity Chef Tour on Maui. James Beard award-winning guest chefs David Burke, Johnny Iuzzini, and Norm Van Aken will come together to prepare their signature cuisines for a once-in-a-lifetime reception and dinner. The event benefits the James Beard Foundation and its mission to celebrate, nurture, and preserve America’s diverse culinary heritage and future.

The 20th annual Made In Hawaii Festival (Oahu) is scheduled to take place August 15-17 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The three-day showcase features more than 400 booths selling and promoting made in Hawaii products, including food, books, art, gifts, fashion, plants, crafts, produce, and more. Attendees can take home locally made and grown goods, while enjoying free cooking demonstrations and live musical performances. 

For more information about top events in Hawaii take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the main annual festivals in Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai. 

Gathering of Montana Cowboy Poets, Musicians and Artists

Every August for 28 years, over 100 cowboy poets, western musicians and artist/vendors gather in Lewistown, Montana to celebrate and preserve the history and lifestyle of the American Cowboy of the Upper Rocky Mountain west. 

The 29th Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Rendezvous is August 14-17, 2014. The Gathering includes over 50 hours of listening sessions, a welcome BBQ & mini show, a prime-rib dinner train with entertainment, a Jam ‘n Dance, a Starlight Street Dance, special presentations, a FREE Western Art & Gear Show, and Sunday morning Cowboy Church. 

The Saturday night Grand Stage Show stars Sons of the San Joaquin with Mary Kaye/Utah, Ol’ Ugly/Alberta, Bob Petermann/Wibaux, MT, and Owen Badgett/Ingomar, MT.

The 4-day schedule, ticket information and housing availability can be found at www.montanacowboypoetrygathering.com or by calling 406-538-4575.  

The Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering is the 2nd oldest gathering in the country, just one year younger than the National Gathering in Elko, Nevada.  Montana Cowboy Poetry is featured in Patricia Schultz’ travel book, “1,000 Places to See in the US and Canada Before You Die,” and was nominated as Tourism Event of the Year at the 2013 Governor’s Conference on Tourism.  

Lewistown is a little cow town in the geographic center of Montana.  C.M. Russell frequented this area and included local landmarks, Flat Butte, Utica and the DHS Ranch in many of his world-famous paintings.  Cattle, sheep and horse ranching along with wheat and hay production are the main economic pursuits in Central Montana.  

Lewistown is “western without even trying”,  surrounded by mountains and punctuated by blue-ribbon trout stream, Big Spring Creek. Click on www.enjoylewistown.com.

For more news of The Gathering visit Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Western Music Rendezvous.

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

Hot Air Balloon Festival Heads Mix of May Events

The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic has been flying for 36 years in Decatur, Alabama, entertaining locals and visitors with free family fun. 

Always Memorial Day weekend, the Alabama Jubilee is a two-day celebration filled with hot air balloons, live music, tractors, arts and crafts and many other activities. This year’s event is set for May 24-25 and in between Alabama Jubilee activities, festivalgoers are encouraged to take a dip and cool off at the Point Mallard Waterpark.

The week before, North Alabama’s largest free outdoor Christian music festival returns to Decatur for two days of uplifting contemporary Christian music and testimonials. With a theme of “God in Control”, SoulStock 2014 features a two-time Grammy award nominated Christian rocker, a Dove Award recipient, rap artists, and an alternative rock singer along with a handful of other Christian bands. The 16th annual event is set for May 16-17, 2014 at Point Mallard Park.

Also on May 16 and 17 the aroma of slow-cooked barbeque will fill downtown Hartselle when barbeque connoisseurs meet head-to-head for a cook-off. Now in its fifth year, the annual Cotton Pickin’ BBQ Cook-off invites professional and amateur grill masters to show off their barbeque expertise as festivalgoers experience the excitement of a cook-off and enjoy shopping in the historic downtown area. It is presented by the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce.

The 20th anniversary celebration of the annual Daikin Japanese Festival  is set for Friday, May 23, from 6:30pm to 9pm at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Decatur. Hosted by Daikin America, the free event offers festivalgoers of all ages an opportunity to experience Japanese culture through music, exhibits, and food.

With plenty of water action, the Point Mallard Waterpark offers a welcoming reprieve from the warm temperatures summer brings. The Waterpark is open daily beginning May 24 to August 10.

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

Maritime Festival Sails into Lake Champlain, Vermont

Now heading towards its eighth year, the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival from August 7 to 10 is a four-day celebration of Lake Champlain, showcasing hundreds of exhibits throughout sites on the Burlington Waterfront (Burlington Boathouse, Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, Burlington’s Waterfront Park and more). 

Past Festival activities have included: Lake Champlain Antique & Classic Boat Show on Saturday; Pirate 5k Run/Walk; Stand Up for the Lake; Free Concert Series; evening ticketed concerts, presented by Higher Ground; international food court and craft vendors; beer tent; maritime exhibits and more. 

The Lake Champlain Maritime Festival has been named a Top 100 North American Event by the American Bus Association and a Top Ten Vermont Summer Event by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Daily admission is free to most events with select events requiring admission.

The Lake Champlain Antique and Classic Boat Society 28th annual Vintage Boat Show returns to the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival, Saturday, August 9. 

“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. Stay tuned for other exciting Festival events that are in the works!” says Tara Perkins, Festival Spokesperson and Director of Public Relations.

The Stand Up for the Lake is a community-based festival that promotes wellness, fitness, and lake stewardship through a chic and trendy sport – stand up paddle boarding – and will take place on Saturday, August 9.

For tickets visit www.highergroundmusic.com. Children 12 & under are free. Stay tuned to www.lcmfestival.com for 2014 Festival details/updates and to review the events from 2013. Like the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival on Facebook and follow @LCMFestival on Twitter.

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

Longer Hours for Oldest Folklife Festival in America

Now in its 65th year, the Kutztown Folk Festival is the oldest folklife festival in America and a recognized name in the celebration of Pennsylvania Dutch culture. 

This year's Kutztown Folk Festival will operate with newly expanded hours from 10am – 8pm from June 28 to July 6, 2014 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds (225 North Whiteoak Street, Kutztown, Pennsylvania). In celebration of the extended hours, a new admission category is being offered for evenings only. The festival will close on Sunday, July 6 at 5pm. 

With activities and entertainment for the entire family, this nine-day festival, hailed by the Washington Post as a “Must See” festival and named one of America’s Top Celebrations by USA Today, has something for everyone. 

Every year, over 130,000 visitors flock to the Kutztown Folk Festival for Pennsylvania Dutch food of every variety, the largest traditional quilt sale in the nation, craft demonstrations, historical reenactments, traditional music, and dancing. 

Children will enjoy Noah’s World animal park, hay mazes, do-it-yourself mural paintings, rides, and their own children’s stage.

Admission for adults is $14; for seniors (55 & older) $13; Juniors (13-17) $5; Children (12 & under) FREE. An All-Week Pass is $24. Evening only (5pm-8pm through July 5) is $7. 

Save $3 off admission by visiting www.kutztownfestival.com/festival-tickets for a printable coupon.

About the Kutztown Folk Festival: The Kutztown Folk Festival is the oldest continuously operated folklife festival in America. The weeklong festival draws visitors from all over the world, entertaining families while providing insight and understanding of the traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch and their fascinating way of life. The Kutztown Folk Festival features a wide variety of Pennsylvania Dutch food; over 200 nationally recognized, juried folk artists and traditional American craftsmen; over 2,500 locally hand-made quilts on display and for sale; antiques and collectables; 5 stages of entertainment; music and dancing; and a wide range of children's activities.

Check the Kutztown Folk Festival listing as one of the Top 20 festival events at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Pennsylvania.

Surfing Added to Payette River Games

The Payette River Games (PRG) has now added River Surfing to its many whitewater events.  The games will take place at Kelly’s Whitewater Park in Cascade, Idaho, June 20-22, 2014. There will be Elite and Open surfing competitions at Kelly's legendary wave. 

Spectators can watch the surf action at Kelly's for free. Elite athletes will also compete in Kayak and Stand Up Paddle all weekend. It will be a fun weekend at the Payette River Games for the family.  

Derek Rabelo, who was born blind but still pursued his dream of surfing, will participate at the games. He has surfed around the world, most notably at The Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore. A film about Derek's life, “Beyond Sight,” will have an exclusive screening during the weekend. 

Munich, Germany gave birth to river surfing over 35 years ago and has remained the epicenter of the sport. The Payette River Games will pay homage to the sport's founders and leaders by bringing a select group of the most influential river surfers from Munich to the PRG to compete in the Elite Surfing competition. 

World renowned film maker and long time Munich river surfer Bjoern Richie Lob will be at the games. Bjoern's critically acclaimed documentary film "Keep Surfing" will have a one-time exclusive showing at the Roxy Theater in Cascade. 

Because building waves like those at Kelly's Whitewater Park is key for river surfing to spread around the world, the PRG will welcome The Surf Anywhere Project. The Surf Anywhere Project's mission is to help communities around the world to build river waves. 

Jacob Kelly, a co-founder of The Surf Anywhere Project said recently, "The Payette River Games in Cascade, Idaho this June will be a monumental event for river surfers around the world. It will be a meeting of the minds, an explosion of river surfing culture, and just a cool happy place to hang out all weekend long. It's not often someone gets to experience something like this in their lives.  To be a part of something that will change the world forever, to meet the Michael Jordans of a sport before the NBA is even created, to build something like the Zepher crew in Dogtown. I am so blessed to have passion and purpose in my life greater than myself."

Visit www.payetterivergames.com for events and registration information or follow the PRG on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PayetteRiverGames. 

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