Celebrating Culture and Heritage of Southeastern Indians

The Moundville Native American Festival celebrates the culture and heritage of Southeastern Indians. It is held in early October at the University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park in West Central Alabama.

One goal of the festival is to dispel Native American stereotypes by sparking an understanding of what once was and now is Southeastern Indian culture.

Festival organizers engage over 100 Native Americans and other experts to demonstrate arts, crafts, technologies and other lifeways and to perform music, dancing and storytelling particular to the southern tribes.

The Moundville Native American Festival began in 1989, and 2014 marks its 25^th anniversary. The festival has four major educational areas: the Arts and Craft Arbors, the Living History Camp, the Children's Area and the Native American Stage. Other components include a Trader's Circle and Arts Market, a Target Range and a food court. Every area reflects aspects of Southeastern Indian culture from various perspectives.

Additionally, guides are stationed at the park’s museum and at strategic points throughout the site to interpret this pristine prehistoric landscape.

Many Native Americans attending the festival, especially those whose families were forcibly removed from the Southeast, consider the park to be a sacred site and the festival a homecoming.

The Moundville Native American Festival has grown into one of the largest events of its kind in the Southeast. Designated a Cultural Olympiad Event by the 1996 Olympic Games, the festival has also received awards from the National Bus Association, the Alabama Tourism Department, the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the West Alabama Tourism Awards. It is consistently listed as one of Alabama's top 20 tourism events.

Moundville Archaeological Park is 13 miles south of Tuscaloosa on Alabama Highway 69, off of I-20/59, Exit 71-A. For more information, call 205-371-2234 or visit http://moundville.ua.edu.

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.

New Mexico BBQ Championship returns to Rio Rancho

The 11th annual Pork & Brew and New Mexico BBQ State Championship will return to the Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho from July 4 – 6, bringing together the best barbecue vendors from around the region for a three-day festival featuring food, beer, live music and interactive family activities.

This year’s event, presented by the Santa Ana Star Casino and hosted by the Rio Rancho CVB, will feature an indoor/outdoor format ensuring the 20,000 expected attendees can enjoy all the festival has to offer rain or shine. This is quite possibly the best way to spend 4th of July weekend this summer in New Mexico.

Between chomps of fantastic BBQ, you can check out local arts and crafts, burn off some calories by dancing to live music and even take the kids for a face painting and a few trips through the bouncy houses.

Value Packages including admission to the event and BBQ Bucks to be spent for food and beer are on sale now exclusively through Santa Ana Star Center online at www.santaanastarcenter.com.

Three Value Packages are available for the Pork & Brew:

Two admission tickets and $20 BBQ Bucks for $25 ($30 value)

Four admission tickets and $40 BBQ Bucks for $50 ($60 value)

Six admission tickets and $60 BBQ Bucks for $75 ($90 value)

Adult tickets can be purchased on the day of event for $5 while kids tickets (4-12) and seniors (65+) can be purchased for $3.

The Pork & Brew has become one of the largest annual events in New Mexico and winners of the BBQ Championship will advance to participate in the Kansas City BBQ Society’s National Championship.

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 the Albuquerque region of New Mexico and in the Santa Fe region.

Cheese Days in Monroe Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Welcome to Green County Wisconsin and the granddaddy of all food fests in the Midwest – Green County Cheese Days in Monroe.  

September 19 to 21 marks the 100th anniversary of Green County Cheese Days, and the cheesemaking, dairy farming, and Swiss traditions that continue to this day.

Right away you’ll sense the cheesy vibe:  old time copper kettle cheesemaking demonstrations, cheese carving, cheese pairings, and cheese sampling . 

On the menu: gourmet grilled cheese, the best deep-fried cheese curds in the nation, cheesecake on a stick.  New in 2014:  “Procession of Cheesemakers” with a cheesemaker from each of the dozen factories donning the traditional white uniform and bearing their signature cheese as part of the pomp and circumstance of the opening ceremony.

The best and brightest of the area’s bovines (Brown Swiss, Jersey, Guernsey, Holstein, Red & White Holstein, Ayrshire, and Milking Shorthorn) are selected to make the trip to the “big city” to play starring roles in the wildly popular Cow Milking Contest.  For many, the highlight of the weekend is The Swiss Colony Cheese Days Parade, led by a herd of Brown Swiss cows sporting clanging bells and floral wreaths.

To mark this special anniversary, 100 accordion players will play the official Cheese Days song (of course there is a song), and visitors can tour two century farms where multiple generations have tilled the land and milked the cows for more than 100 years.

Cheese Days offers up more fun things to do than there are holes in a giant wheel of Swiss cheese.  Like the song says “Come to Cheese Days in Monroe!”

Visit www.cheesedays or www.facebook.com/cheesedays for more details of the Green County Cheese Days in Monroe, Wisconsin.

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.

Saddle Up for National Day of the American Cowboy

Visitors to the city of Fort Worth, Texas are invited to “Saddle Up” and take part in festivities for the annual National Day of the American Cowboy in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District on Saturday, July 26, 2014.

Fort Worth, home to hundreds of years of Western history, has been dubbed the “City of Cowboys and Culture” for its abundance of Old West-related attractions as well as a thriving arts scene complemented by a diverse culinary palate and sophisticated cultural offerings.

Recognized nationally as the Best Cowboy Tribute by multiple national media outlets, the Fort Worth Stockyards has planned a day of free and family-orientated activities that will take place along East Exchange Avenue.

The activities are designed to help visitors experience and appreciate the role that Cowboys and Cowgirls of all ethnicities have played – and continue to play – in every day Western life. In addition to stage coach rides, live music, pony rides, a petting zoo, and a “jail and bail” available all day, there are many other special events.

Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, The Fort Worth Stockyards is a 15-block area that looks the same today as it did 100 years ago, complete with the world's only twice-daily cattle drive presented by the Fort Worth Herd and the restored Grapevine VintageRailroad.

The Historic Stockyards District is also home to Stockyards Station, a dining and shopping marketplace made from former sheep and hog pens, as well as notable attractions such as the Cowtown Coliseum – home to the world's only year-round rodeo, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Billy Bob's Texas – the world's largest honky-tonk, M.L. Leddy's legendary handmade boots and saddles, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro and the White Elephant Saloon.

Visit www.FortWorth.com for more information.

For more information about top events in the Dallas/Fort Worth region check out the Top Events USA selection on the annual main festivals in the Dallas and Fort Worth region of Texas.

From Music in the Canyon to Fun in the Streets

From a canyon concert to a downtown celebration, there will be plenty of things to do in Fort Payne, Alabama the third Saturday in June. 

The Third Saturday Sunset Event returns June 21, 2014, bringing with it family fun to the streets of downtown Fort Payne, and for those who want to escape to nature, Jacksonville State University presents Bluegrass on the Rim at Little River Canyon.

From 3 to 9pm at the Little River Canyon Center’s new Canyon Concert outdoor stage, the Little River Canyon will serve as the backdrop to some of the best bluegrass music. Hosted by “The Fiddle Man” Tim Watson, Bluegrass on the Rim features an incredible line-up of bluegrass talent from around the country.

Additional confirmed headliners include Ronnie Reno and the Reno Tradition, Valley Road Bluegrass Band, Solid Blue Bluegrass Band), and Foggy Hollow Review.

Plenty of food vendors will be on hand and festivalgoers are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and chairs and jammers are welcome. Tickets are $25 per person and free for children 6 years and under. Tickets may be purchase online at www.jsu.edu/epic/canyonconcerts/ or at the Little Canyon Center.

An afternoon of family fun activities can also be found in downtown Fort Payne from 5 to 8pm with the Third Saturday Sunset Event. Enjoy live music, a car show, children’s activities, plenty of food and other activities while strolling along the blocked off streets of downtown Fort Payne. Store specials, giveaways, and discounts will be offered at select retailers and restaurants. Admission is free.

Click on Discover Lookout Mountain for more details or call DeKalb Tourism at 888.805.4740.

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. 

Missouri State Fair Celebrates Kids in Agriculture

A new event day, Celebrate Kids in Agriculture Saturday, August 16, will top the list of exciting new promotions offered at the 2014 Missouri State Fair. 

The day will acknowledge youth currently involved in Missouri's agriculture industry, and help raise awareness of and encourage an interest in agriculture among Missouri youth. 

Plans this day will include free gate admission for children ages 12 years of age and younger, free old-fashioned harvest games and new contests in two competitive exhibit categories. The event day will be the culmination of the 2014 Fair's marketing campaign, which includes a heightened emphasis on celebrating youth.

Old-fashioned harvest games, such as gunny sack races, egg relay races and water relays, will be offered for two age divisions and located on the lawn of the Missouri Department of Transportation's Highway Gardens Saturday, August 16.  Games for 4-7 year olds will be offered between 11am and 12:30pm, and games for 8-12 year olds will be offered between 1:30pm and 3pm. Complete details are available at www.mostatefair.com/special-contests.

Two new contests are also being offered to encourage participation in competitive exhibits amongst youth attending this year's Missouri State Fair, the Largest Homegrown Tomato Contest and the Fun on the Farm Poster Contest. 

These contests offer opportunities to engage youth in summer-long projects, as they wait to compete alongside their peers on August 16.  Complete details for the contests are available at www.mostatefair.com/special-contests. The Missouri State Fair, themed, Harvest the Fun!, will be held August 7-17 in Sedalia. Visit the 2014 Missouri State Fair for more information, and follow the Fair on Facebook and Twitter.

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.

South Shore Air Show’s One-of-a-Kind Aircraft

Glimmering through the sky in his one-of-a-kind aircraft, Starjammer, Elgin Wells will be performing during the 2014 South Shore Air Show in Newton County, Indiana.

Elgin Wells' Unlimited Class, Level I aerobatic airplane is the world's only aircraft of its kind. Starjammer is fitted with 250+ super-bright LEDs, five smoke streams, a 4,000-watt amplifier and onboard loudspeakers, creating a spectacularly bright show for both day and night.

The South Shore Air Show will be presented at Fair Oaks Farms in Newton County July 11 through July 13. Fair Oaks Farms is a 33,000-acre attraction, allowing the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority and Fair Oaks Farms ample room to make additions to the family-fun event. Attendees will enjoy exciting aerial acrobatics, Fair Oaks Farms attractions, military displays, food and novelty vendors, and much more.

The South Shore on Lake Michigan is filled with family-friendly attractions like Deep River Waterpark and Fair Oaks Farms. History buffs can choose from an array of historical sites, museums and memorials. Visitors can learn about the history of flight at Marquette Park in Gary, the ice-cutting industry in Cedar Lake and the railroads in Griffith. Many communities along the South Shore also feature agritourism opportunities including wineries, dairies, U-pick orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and farmer's markets.

For more information on the South Shore Air show, contact Special Events and Services Manager Bethany Randolph by email at bethany@southshorecva.com, or visit www.southshoreairshow.com.

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

Bar Harbor, Maine Readies for a Special July 4th Celebration

Voted one of the top five small town Fourth of July celebrations in America in 2013, Bar Harbor, Maine is preparing once again to provide locals and visitors with spectacular festivities. Long-held traditions and exciting new additions have made Independence Day a special and memorable time in Bar Harbor. 

"We've worked with our event sponsors to bring all-day entertainment to those who choose Bar Harbor as their July 4th destination," said Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Chris Fogg. 

A full day of events begins with a blueberry pancake breakfast, craft fair and marketplace, and a fun-filled parade. Maine's iconic crustacean also has a big role with the Annual Lobster Races held to benefit the Mt. Desert Island YMCA, and the Annual Rotary Club Seafood Festival that kicks off at 11am. The Bar Harbor Town Pier is the ultimate venue with a view as a free concert series takes place from 4 to 9pm. The celebration concludes with fireworks over Frenchman Bay as the grand finale. 

"It's great to see the town come together to make this special event happen. We're ready to welcome our visitors for a holiday to remember," added Fogg.

Visit the Chamber's website for more information and a schedule of the day's events.

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

Mission Valley Hosts Jazz Festival “Crown Jewel”

Discerning jazz fans call the San Diego Jazz Fest "the crown jewel of classic jazz festivals". The event is held during the Thanksgiving weekend at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center, in San Diego’s Mission Valley. 

The SD Jazz Fest is a favorite of festival-goers from around the globe. All venues are conveniently located in the Town & Country Convention Center. There are large concert rooms with double dance floors and small, intimate "listening" rooms.  All are non-smoking. The Festival bands and individual guest artists represent a wide variety of traditional jazz, Dixieland, Ragtime, Swing, and Rockabilly styles.  

The 35^th Annual San Diego Jazz Fest will be held November 26-30, 2014.  Wednesday evening will feature two bands, 7 - 11pm. Two rooms with large dance floors and seven bands are on tap for Thursday evening 6 – 11pm.  For Friday (10am – midnight), Saturday (9am – midnight) and Sunday (8:15am – 6pm), all bands will be performing throughout the weekend … totaling over 175 one-hour performances.   

A special Swing Dance Extravaganza is scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights, 7pm to midnight with local San Diego and nationally known bands.  Features include a “Battle of the Bands”, dance performances, and continuous music.  

The festival offers something for every taste in classic jazz.  Ticket prices, band lineup, performance schedules and other information can be found at www.SDjazzfest.org

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 the San Diego region as well as the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas.

Augusta, Georgia Arts Event Stacks Up Awards

For the 34^th year in a row, the Greater Augusta Arts Council presents Augusta’s signature arts event, Arts in the Heart of Augusta, an award winning festival, on September 19-21, 2014.

The Festival won a Silver Best Festival Kaleidoscope Award from Southeast Festival and Events Association and was selected as a Top 20 Event by Southeast Tourism Society in 2013.

The Festival was also selected as Best Festival in 2013 by readers of both Augusta Magazine and Columbia County Magazine. Additionally, the Festival Committee welcomes back American Family Insurance as the Festival’s major sponsor.

Festivities will take place on the Augusta Common and Broad Street which will be closed from 7^th Street through 10^th Street. As always, the Festival comprises the Global Village with authentic ethnic foods from 20 different countries; a Fine Arts and Crafts Market with over 110 juried fine arts and crafts booths; free crafts for kids; and a Young Artists Market where school-aged artists sell their work; and several stages stacked with live, local entertainment.

Exciting new attractions for the 2014 Festival include: an expansion of the Festival to 7^th Street to create a dedicated family area including free hands-on craft activities for kids, fine arts and crafts booths appealing to children and their parents, several food booths from the Global Village, and the Young Artist Market.

Also new is the addition of a fifth stage specifically for jazz performances, alongside the regular stages which are: the Global Stage on the Common, presenting international performers and headline musicians; the Family Stage, presenting entertainment from local community arts organizations; the Community Stage, presenting local bands; and the Troubadour Stage, highlighting spoken word and acoustic performances. 

Additionally, the new countries that will be represented in the Global Village are: Sweden, Micronesia/Indonesia and Cyprus.

Visit www.artsintheheart.com for more details, Like the festival on Facebook and follow it on Twitter, @artintheheart14.

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