United States Events

July - One of the largest fireworks displays in the world. On the Mississippi Riverfront, near the 630-foot tall Gateway Arch. Also: air shows, food, outdoor concerts.

America's most decorated Battleship is now the area's most exciting museum, open for tours, events and overnight encampments. Exploring “BB62” is experiencing history in a whole new way. Not only do you see exhibits of artifacts from the ship’s past, but you are put into the exhibit as you go through the tour route. Sit in the chair from which Admiral Halsey commanded the fleet. Stretch out on the bunks where the sailors slept. Climb into the 16” gun turret and learn how the projectiles were loaded.

The SOS Fall Festival began in 1997 from a desire by the Shrewsbury High School Alumni Association to plan an event in conjunction with its Homecoming Weekend. The Annual Spirit of Shrewsbury Fall Festival committee is comprised of all volunteers who coordinate all festival activities and is self-funded by the generous support of the community to:
- Enhance Shrewsbury's image to its residents and businesses
- Showcase Shrewsbury's culture, history, and quality of life
- Participate in raising and distributing funds to non-profit organizations
- Coordinate town-wide activities for the enjoyment of all residents

Folk music festival in spectacular Moab, Utah.

October - Known as a filmmakers’ festival, the annual Mill Valley Film Festival offers a high-profile, prestigious and non-competitive environment perfect for celebrating the best in independent and world cinema.
Founded in 1978 by MVFF Director Mark Fishkin, the Festival has established an impressive track record for launching new films and the careers of new filmmakers and is well known for the quality of its programming.
As the only prominent fall film festival in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Mill Valley Film Festival is also an important industry resource —both for its emphasis on films that have not yet secured US distribution and for fall launches and northern California Academy Awards campaigns.

March - The Miami International Film Festival (MIFF) brings the best of world cinema to South Florida and plays a leading role in maintaining and further enriching its film culture. MIFF uses the unique geographical and cultural position of Miami to be a premiere venue for the exhibition of international and US films, with a special focus on Ibero-American cinema. Both juried and audience awards are given in Documentary and Dramatic categories.

Late June - The world's biggest Pride event kicks off with a rally and ends with a parade, street fair and dance.

October - The High Plains Freedom Flight IV has come and gone. The sight was spectacular! The event was a huge success. Many thanks go out to all the great sponsors, crew, coordinators, and terrific pilots. We had 12 balloons that flew on Saturday and Sunday. The weather was great! and many spectators were on hand to take part in this great event! Although the wind kept us from flying Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning turned out better than expected. We will be posting pics as fast as we can and had some great photographers this year! Continue to watch this page for date for next year's event. In the meantime enjoy the pictures and treasure the moments! There are many ways for you to be a part of this great event. Sponsorships will be available for purchase enabling you to be an integral part of the action. Chase crew volunteers will also be needed. This is your opportunity to get a hands-on education in the operation of a hot air balloon. Source

The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon is one of the world's great road races, drawing more than 85,000 applicants. The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the more than $500,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and 260 million worldwide television viewers. As any one of the 635,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime.
http://www.nyrrc.org

"The Maui Film Festival Serves Up Feasts, Stars and Enlightenment. It's is where the seaside rules and studio execs retreat and where there's enough A-list presence on and off screen to make it an island celebration deserving of its industry recognition. Maui may be an island in the middle of the Pacific, but it's a festival full of relevance-and lots of class." - Harriette Yahr, IndieWire

Looking to provide a service to golf by hosting a tournament, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts decided to hold an annual event beginning in 1934. The final decision was made at a meeting in New York at the office of member W. Alton Jones. Roberts proposed the event be called the Masters Tournament, but Bobby Jones objected thinking it too presumptuous. The name Augusta National Invitation Tournament was adopted and the title was used for five years until 1939 when Jones relented and the name was officially changed. An early decision was whether Jones would play or serve as an official. Jones preferred not to compete but was persuaded by the Club's members to join the field. In the 12 Tournaments that Jones played, his best finish was 13th in 1934.

From its inception, Bargemusic has been committed to attracting local audiences and enhancing the cultural life of New York by offering frequent, year-round performances of chamber music in a fittingly intimate setting—the type of setting in which chamber music is meant to be heard. To make that unique musical experience available to as many people as possible, Bargemusic presents 220 chamber music concerts annually—four days a week, 52 weeks a year—and offers free tickets to a variety of groups every week, plus a monthly free concert open to the community.

November - Travel the world over and you would be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular gathering of artists than at the Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. These nationally acclaimed, juried fine art festivals attract artists and art collectors from throughout the United States and abroad, all sharing in their love and appreciation for magnificent fine art.

Annual event, always held the first weekend of October. Over 1,500 costumed reenactors and 250 tipis, tents and other shelters of the colonial period. We host over 5,000 grade school children who attend a choice of over 100 demonstrations and classes on colonial America and the fur trade. Food, drink, music, dance, theatre, blackpowder shooting, storytelling.

October - Arizona Exposition and State Fair With over 122 years of history, the Arizona Exposition and State Fair is a fascinating location and is run by an experienced staff of professionals. See how you can become a part of this dynamic team.

The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, located in Montgomery - Alabama's state capital - is the sixth largest Shakespeare festival in the world and attracts more than 300,000 annual visitors from all 50 states and over 60 countries.

Lumberjack Days is Stillwater's annual summer celebration. Most of the festivities are held in Lowell Park adjacent to the beautiful St. Croix River in historic downtown Stillwater. There is no admission fee. National-act concerts and lumberjack shows along with one of the largest musically choreographed fireworks shows in the United States are just a sample of the FREE entertainment waiting for you at Lumberjack Days 06.

September - Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that serves the people of Oklahoma and is dedicated to continuing the organization's heritage of education, entertainment and economic development through the operation of State Fair Park and the annual Oklahoma State Fair.

Tastin' n Racin' is celebrating its 2nd decade of hot Hydroplane action! It's going to be a big splash this year, not only with increased activity on the water, but with great events and specials on the board walk, main stage, and family fun area!

September/October - Lebowski Fest is a bowling event celebrating all things relating to the Coen Brothers 1998 film, The Big Lebowski. It can be likened to a Star Trek convention in a very loose sense. The event takes place at a bowling alley and includes unlimited bowling, costume , trivia, farthest traveled, and bowling contests, prizes, and what-have-you. The friend of the Coen Brothers who inspired the main character played by Jeff Bridges, Jeff "The Dude" Dowd has been known to make an appearance and drink some White Russians. The 1st annual occurred in Fall of 2002 in Louisville, Kentucky and the 2nd annual took place in July 2003. We then headed way out west to Las Vegas for Lebowski Fest West in Feb., 2004. The 3rd Annual Lebowski Fest in June of 2004 brought over 4000 Achievers and included an outdoor concert with My Morning Jacket. Lebowski Fest New York was held in Aug. 2004. Lebowski Fest hit a milestone in LA when Jeff Bridges came out!

The 3rd Annual Lake Home & Cabin Show™ at the Wisconsin Exposition Center in Milwaukee is a celebration of everything about a dream lake home or cabin. The show features products, services, activities and events covering virtually every aspect of lake home and cabin ownership and the lake and cabin lifestyle. A truly unique show for those that already own lake homes or cabins, want to own, or simply want to decorate their existing home in a northwoods décor.

October - Spirit of Humanity Festival celebrates the positive from across the nation. It applauds the resilience of the human spirit. With a festival, it honors the super hero in all of us. With projects like Senior Speak and New Orleans Y.E.S! - Central City Voices, it allows us to gain a deeper appreciation for those in our surrounding neighborhoods. With holistic workshops, it teaches ways we can harness our energies and handle tragedies in a healthy manner. In New Orleans, survivors trickle back and add to the momentum of a city struggling to stand on its own. Returnees have a desire to keep the old spirit of the city alive while creating a better place for themselves and their families. Many are looking for ways to put the pieces of their lives back together. But all who return refuse to give up hope. They refuse to have their spirits broken. They exemplfy the Spirit of Humanity. Every day, people are living, laughing, and loving in the face of adversity. Every day, someone somewhere is struggling to survive and winning. Sometimes, the struggle is lost, but the battle itself serves as an inspiration or motivation to others. The Spirit of Humanity Festival is a celebration to honor all those who have, who are, or who will be willing to put up a fight to survive and win.

First Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August. Over 1,000 fully costumed reenactors of the fur trade. Food such as wild rice soup, buffalo, beef brisket, Indian frybread music, dance, colonial crafts. Located on a 160 acre site with a Northwest Company Fur Post of 1798 constructed with blacksmith shop, company store, birch bark canoe, building shed, baking oven, root cellar, bourgeois quarters, gardens, and mile long nature trail. Participants from 11 states and Canada attend and compete in blackpowder shooting competitions and tomahawk and knife throwing competitions. RV and tent camping available for the public and a discount daily family pass available.

Over the course of twenty-five years the K-300 has become the highest regarded mid-distance dog sled race in the world. The race annually attracts the top mushers in the world.

Late August thru Labor Day. Giant pigs, carnival rides, giant foods, general weirdness, art, headlining music acts perform every night in the Grandstand. About 1.6 million expected attendance. Held annually, twelve days ending Labor Day. State Fairgrounds.

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds. The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the US and typically draws around 155,000 fans. Source

September - The objective of the Illinois International Film Festival is to celebrate the art and entertainment of film in all its forms. The artistic approach is eclectic.Through screenings and associated events, the festival aims to present a wide spectrum of filmmaking - feature films, documentaries, animation, short films, experimental student work, big budget, micro budget and so on. The Illinois International Film Festival brings audiences and filmmakers together to better enjoy the art and fun of filmmaking. The Film Festival offers filmmakers the opportunity to learn, grow and exhibit their films. The festival will offer attendees quality films expanding their knowledge of cinema and enhancing their appreciation of the filmmaking process. Film professionals and the interested public will have the opportunity to gain industry knowledge through interaction within a festival environment. The Illinois International Film Festival is about the film makers’ opportunity to entertain and move their audience.

September - October 26. More than 175 houses and gardens, 8 - 10 per evening. Held annually early fall.

August - Get the lawn chairs in order as you get ready for Grammy Award winning performances by non-other than five-time Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy on Friday, August 25. Buddy will take the stage at 10pm sharp!
Friday night not withstanding, Saturday night's performance of Delbert McClinton, at 10pm, promises to be one of the best Roots Festival performances yet.

May
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, is an American automobile race, held annually over the Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana. "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" is one of the oldest and richest motorsport events in existence, having the largest attendance and one of the largest radio and television audiences of any single-day sporting events worldwide. While the official attendance is not disclosed by Speedway management, news media estimate attendance in excess of 270,000. The event lends its name to the "IndyCar" class of formula, or open-wheel, race cars that have competed in it. In May 2006, the race celebrated its 90th running and 61st consecutive year of uninterrupted occurrence.