Festivals...

[Dsparate Hswife]

Are there any interesting festivals in your neck of the woods? I was just wondering what I'm missing, plus I love to travel and what like to know about your community. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Burlington, WI had a ChocolateFest (wish I would have thought of it). Every fall, Warrens has a Cranberry festival...Is there a potato festival somewhere in Idaho that I'm missing...or a lobster festival in Maine? Inquiring minds want to know...:sc

[Gray451]

There are plenty of events like that in New England. The fair season is in the fall and there are dozens of them. Around here where I live we have apples and things about them. In fact Jonney Appleseed...who was real...came from around here. So did Mary or Mary and the little lamb. Of course Concord and Lexington are big on the 4th of July...hunting red coats and all. Seems we are a bit short on Brits to hunt these days so if anyone wants to come and wear red...we could use the target practice

[OICurready4me]

Are there any interesting festivals in your neck of the woods? I was just wondering what I'm missing, plus I love to travel and what like to know about your community. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Burlington, WI had a ChocolateFest (wish I would have thought of it). Every fall, Warrens has a Cranberry festival...Is there a potato festival somewhere in Idaho that I'm missing...or a lobster festival in Maine? Inquiring minds want to know...:sc


There are always some sort of festival in Rhode Island. If you are big into seafood, there is the Charlestown Seafood Festival here

http://www.charlestownrichamber.com/seafoodfestival.html


It has been listed as one of the top 100 events in North America. It is great. The food is incredible, if your a seafood fan. Everything and anything you would want.

[peaches]

just last week we had a peoples fair...was great..booths with people selling stuff.food..,.drinks (even beer and bacardi)...and the music all around the park...any kind you can think of and all local artists...it was great.....

[MIGHTY]

Right around the fourth of July we have what's known as the VP Fair in downtown St. Louis, MO. Beer booths, food booths, national live bands and of course the incredible fire works shows that end every night with a magnificent bang. We also have the Fair and Air Show in Chesterfield, MO every year around Labor Day. Lots of air shows, Blue Angels, food, drinks, kids activities, and a carnival atmosphere. There are ethnic fairs as well throughout the year but these are the big ones.

[p.J]

Unfortunately, a tad too far to come but maybe one day you will visit the Uk and come to Glastonbury Festival which is held every year in June. It is the largest performing arts festival in the world. Best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and many other arts. It is like going to a different country, you enter a huge tented city, a mini-state under canvas.
The site is in a beautiful location - 900 acres in the Vale of Avalon, an area steeped in symbolism, mythology and religious traditions dating back many hundreds of years. It's where King Arthur may be buried, where Joseph of Arimathea walked, where leylines converge. And the site is ENORMOUS - more than a mile and a half across, with a perimeter of about eight and a half miles.
Then there are the people, in all their splendid diversity! There is only one common characteristic of a Glastonbury-goer - they understand that Glastonbury offers more opportunity than any other happening to have the best weekend of the year or even of a life-time, and they are determined to have it! You'll meet all kinds of people, of all ages, backgrounds, nationalities, lifestyles, faiths, concepts of fashion (or lack of it), musical taste; some will undoubtedly wear silly hats, or buy shirts that they'll never wear again. Until next year. The vibe is mellow and friendly.
I can guarantee you there will be enlightenments, awakenings, surreal happenings, people doing the strangest things and you'll be wondering whether they were booked to do this as an act or whether that's just how they feel happiest being... There is so much to see! No two people's Festival experience will be the same unless they're tied together (in which case they're probably a theatre company):)

Yes, I'm a fan it's truly is a wonderful experience!

[Dsparate Hswife]

Unfortunately, a tad too far to come but maybe one day you will visit the Uk and come to Glastonbury Festival which is held every year in June. It is the largest performing arts festival in the world. Best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and many other arts. It is like going to a different country, you enter a huge tented city, a mini-state under canvas.
The site is in a beautiful location - 900 acres in the Vale of Avalon, an area steeped in symbolism, mythology and religious traditions dating back many hundreds of years. It's where King Arthur may be buried, where Joseph of Arimathea walked, where leylines converge. And the site is ENORMOUS - more than a mile and a half across, with a perimeter of about eight and a half miles.
Then there are the people, in all their splendid diversity! There is only one common characteristic of a Glastonbury-goer - they understand that Glastonbury offers more opportunity than any other happening to have the best weekend of the year or even of a life-time, and they are determined to have it! You'll meet all kinds of people, of all ages, backgrounds, nationalities, lifestyles, faiths, concepts of fashion (or lack of it), musical taste; some will undoubtedly wear silly hats, or buy shirts that they'll never wear again. Until next year. The vibe is mellow and friendly.
I can guarantee you there will be enlightenments, awakenings, surreal happenings, people doing the strangest things and you'll be wondering whether they were booked to do this as an act or whether that's just how they feel happiest being... There is so much to see! No two people's Festival experience will be the same unless they're tied together (in which case they're probably a theatre company):)

Yes, I'm a fan it's truly is a wonderful experience!

It sounds like my idea of a good time! I hope to see it someday!
:wa:

[Annie]

We had World Naked Bike Ride in Chicago last night... I missed that!

I don't want to miss the Blues Fest... but I probably will.

Taste of Chicago is the first week in July... I won't miss that!

[cherokeered]

Lots of church fairs and county fairs starting now...

Italian fest at PNC...others to follow

church carnival coming up in the next two weeks.....will be heading over Friday for dinner....yumm....love it

[MCat]

In Michigan a couple of the Festivals we enjoy are:

The National Cherry Festival, always the week after July 4th in Traverse City, MI.

We also enjoy the Blue Berry Festival in August. Its in Paradise MI, in the Upper Peninsula of MI. A nice relaxing long weekend eating blueberries and walking on the shores of Lake Superior.

[baby face]

We have a festival called the Tall Corn Festival, also Dover Days, The tulip festival, and bikers festival. Carnival, games, food booths, Corn on the cob eating contest for money. The tallest corn contest for money, Street Dance with beer garden.....just small town fun in the great state of Kansas

[hoss]

july 12-15 is the Merritt mountain music festival ...ita about 2 1/2 hours from vancouver ..they set up a stage in a field and its a weekend of music ,women and drinking ...

[RedHotPisces]

Reno, Nevada...

Hot August Nights ~ starts weekend of around the first friday in august, last about 10 days...celebrates the 50' & 60's...huge car show
http://www.hotaugustnights.net/

Street Vibrations ~ mid-end september, lasts about 5 days...motorcycle event...motorcycles, vendors, music, poker runs...
http://road-shows.com/street_vibrations.php

[Jy]

This weekend is a holiday weekend in Canada, and here in London we have two festivals that happen this weekend every year.

The Rib Fest takes place downtown and attracts restaurants from all over North America to compete for the title of best ribs.
At the forks of Thames River, the Balloon Fest is on, with hot air balloons being launched at 6am and 6pm every day this weekend.
Both festivals have food tents, rides, games, live music and things to buy like crafts and jewelry.
We just got home from the Balloon Fest a little while ago. All of us love watching the balloon drifting up one by one. It's magical.

[P.R.]

We have a apple fest, and a fun fest.

[KindheartedWoman]

International festivals are my favorites. Many larger cities have them.

[Kissie]

Here in Savannah...they have a great St Pattys day celebration...and an Oct Fest...both are truely wonderful times donw on River St!!!!!

[SydneyCarton]

When I lived in Spain, I had the opportunity to experience fallas in Valencia and the sanfermines, otherwise known as the running of the bulls, in Pamplona, together with lesser festivals here and there. Spain has an interesting thing that they call a puente, or a bridge, that we refer to here in the States as the four-day weekend, when the holiday falls on a Thursday or a Tuesday, and you simply make a bridge over the Friday or the Monday to connect the holiday to the weekend.

Then there's Chicago, a virtual Tower of Babel of ethnic festivals. If you come to Chicago on a given weekend during the Spring and Summer, you may think it's been overtaken by foreign forces due to the large numbers of vehicles driving around with large Mexican, Polish, Greek, Irish or German flags being held out the windows.

[fever]

We have a bunch here... Among the more unique ones is the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

Then there's Chicago, a virtual Tower of Babel of ethnic festivals. If you come to Chicago on a given weekend during the Spring and Summer, you may think it's been overtaken by foreign forces due to the large numbers of vehicles driving around with large Mexican, Polish, Greek, Irish or German flags being held out the windows.

I do so miss those! Hit the weekend of the Andersonville festival last summer but it's been ages since I've been about to make the rounds. Need to get back for Taste one of these years!!!

[dcowboy09]

http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/

[SydneyCarton]

We have a bunch here... Among the more unique ones is the Gilroy Garlic Festival.



I do so miss those! Hit the weekend of the Andersonville festival last summer but it's been ages since I've been about to make the rounds. Need to get back for Taste one of these years!!!

I forgot Venetian Night, too.

I'd love to hit the Gilroy Garlic Festival. I've seen stories on the Food Network about it and I love garlic anyway.

[fever]

I forgot Venetian Night, too.

I'd love to hit the Gilroy Garlic Festival. I've seen stories on the Food Network about it and I love garlic anyway.

Trade you for Taste...

[SydneyCarton]

Trade you for Taste...

Deal.

I hate Taste. I've never been. And it's getting dangerous.

It's all yours.

[gdgrlgnbd]

My hubby is Portuguese, they have festivals in the Acores and also here in the US. They are usually during the summer and are geared toward a Saint. There is a parade, dinners and a dance. Each community has a queen and it is a week long process.

My daughter was recently a Portuguese queen, she had a beautiful gown and cape, that was hand sewn. It can be a lovely occasion if one does not get involved in the "keeping up with the Jone's, this case Silva's" scenario.

At the end of the week process there is a bullfight, bloodless of course. It can be a cool experience.

[SydneyCarton]

My hubby is Portuguese, they have festivals in the Acores and also here in the US. They are usually during the summer and are geared toward a Saint. There is a parade, dinners and a dance. Each community has a queen and it is a week long process.

My daughter was recently a Portuguese queen, she had a beautiful gown and cape, that was hand sewn. It can be a lovely occasion if one does not get involved in the "keeping up with the Jone's, this case Silva's" scenario.

At the end of the week process there is a bullfight, bloodless of course. It can be a cool experience.


I spent a nice weekend in and around Coimbra and Porto. I never got to see any festivals, though.

[MikeyLikesIt]

I wish there was...been too damn cold to do anything here in NJ

[Curiousoneonly]

The Tulip Festival in Holland, MI during the first week of May.

[SydneyCarton]

The Tulip Festival in Holland, MI during the first week of May.

I just miss that every year by four weeks when I go to Traverse City for a professional seminar. I did stay in Holland last Memorial Day, however, as friends had use of a lakeside cottage in Glenn. Went to dinner in Douglas, too. Nice area.

[dartgirl]

On Monthers Day Weekend I love to go the Moyie Mud Bogs. Beer, Mud and Big Engines.....Heaven.

The third weekend in May we have "Lost in the 50's". They close off downtown for a vintage car show and have a big dance with 50's music.

[countrygent07]

My little town in NW Illinois will have a Valentines show - not exactly a festival but it's going to be fun.

[aniceboomer]

Lived in Germany for a few years. Octoberfest is something you seem to be "required" to do while there, but has gotten WAY to commercialized.
I prefered the small town fests where you have breathing room. Most small towns have a fest spring and fall. If the town has more than 50 thousand people it probably has three or four a year.
If you can make the trip, it is well worth it.

[jmsmith12345]

National Cherry Blossom Festival
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Filmfest DC
Washington, D.C. Green Festival
National Capitol Barbecue Battle
Capitol Jazz Fest
Washington, D.C. International Wine & Food Festival
...and every ethnic festival you can think of