Sounds of the Mississippi South

It�s true: Mississippi is the True South. It�s also true that Mississippi is the birthplace of America�s music. Country, blues, rock �n� roll .... they all started in Mississippi. 

�From the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers, and the king of rock �n� roll, Elvis Presley, to the originators of blues like Son House, Robert Johnson and B.B. King, Mississippi is home to the ones who started it all,� said Mary Beth Wilkerson, director of the Mississippi Development Authority�s Tourism Division. �Come to Mississippi in May and experience our authentic musical heritage as we celebrate some of the finest musicians, festivals and venues in the world.�

The Mississippi Blues Trail continues its incredible journey of bringing to life the history of blues music all across the state. Blues Trail markers have been placed at sites where blues musicians lived and entertained. Others are situated at historic streets, train depots, blues clubs, cemeteries and even churches where blues musicians made their mark.

This month � May 8 to be exact � marks the 100^th anniversary of the birth of one of the most famous bluesmen of all time, Robert Johnson. His life and legend have served as inspiration for musicians and storytellers around the world. 

Several Robert Johnson 100^th anniversary events are scheduled this year including the Official Centennial Concert from May 5 to 8 in Greenwood with free concerts and more to commemorate this historic year and musician.  

No musical journey to Mississippi is complete without a visit to the Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo and true fans of Elvis will want to be sure to attend the Elvis Festival in Tupelo during June 2 to 5 this year. 

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

To learn even more to help you plan your musical trip to Mississippi in May, go to www.VisitMississippi.org

Rockin� the Globe on Mississippi Gulf Coast

There�s a warm Aloha from Pass Christian on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as it hosts the 7th annual voyage of Rockin� the Globe on April 16.

This time revelers will will be traveling to the Pacific for a Hang 10 in Hawaii.

The event promises to top last year's Sojourn on the Serengeti, where a record-breaking 4,000 people attended, refreshed themselves from a bounty of over 100 restaurants and bars, browsed multitudes of auction items, moved to the sounds of more bands than ever, and hobnobbed with guests of all types, including a lion and some of her wild friends.

This year's luau promises even more excitement � over 125 restaurants, an actual surf board theme park ride, the Kahua Pig Hawaiian BBQ contest, and even more exciting auction items � including a live whole organic cow from Texas. A spectacular fireworks display ends the event.

In addition, there are a multiple of new bands, which include the Escalade Show & Dance Band, the Topcats, and the Tsunami Wave Riders, all jamming to the moves of thousands of partygoers.

The Topcats are famous for their win as the 2009 New Orleans Magazine's Best Local Band Award and their induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. 

So find your Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts and head for Pass Christian on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to join in the fun as money is raised for one of the country's oldest Catholic boarding schools, St. Stanislaus College in nearby Bay St. Louis, MS. 

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

For more information on events on the Mississippi Gulf Coast visit www.gulfcoast.org

Fast Paced Military Tattoo

The largest military music show in Vegas � the Las Vegas International Tattoo � is a fun packed, fast-paced  patriotic show featuring some of the world�s best armed forces bands in a tribute to the American armed forces and allies.

The Tattoo, with a spectacular line-up of 500 musicians and dancers, will be hosted at the Thomas and Mack Center, on Friday April 15 and on Saturday April 16, both at 7.30pm. The United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force will join forces with military and police units from Scotland and Canada.

The Tattoo is the signature event of the Las Vegas International Celtic Festival. The festival events include the Las Vegas Celtic Gathering and Highland Games, which is organized by the Las Vegas Celtic Society. Visiting Las Vegas at this time is a great opportunity to experience two fantastic events. There will be two performances daily by the American rock band The Young Dubliners (sometimes shortened to the Young Dubs).

The original meaning of military 'tattoo' was a drum performance dating back from the 17th Century when the British Army was stationed in Belgium and the Netherlands. Drummers from the garrison would be sent out to towns to signal to soldiers, 'last orders', get back to barracks! The duty was known as doe den tap toe ("turn off the tap"), as an instruction in old-dutch for innkeepers to stop serving beer. Over time this ceremony has become a much bigger spectacle involving military and civilian assets, choreographed into complete theatrical presentations. This event will uniquely blend music ceremony, entertainment and theatre.

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. 

For more information on the Las Vegas International Tattoo visit www.lasvegasinternationaltattoo.com

Mardi Gras in Fort Walton Beach

A little bit of New Orleans is coming to Fort Walton Beach, Florida, at its very own �Mardi Gras 2011� celebration on Saturday, February 12. Because it�s Valentine�s weekend, the theme this year will be �Love on the Island.� Sponsored by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and its annual sponsors, �Mardi Gras on the Island� is a full day of activities, starting with the Mardi Gras Parade on Okaloosa Island at 11am.

There will be beads, treats, and even more beads as the colorful floats make their way down Santa Rosa Blvd. Stick around after the parade and enjoy a festive Block Party sponsored by Helen Back on Amberjack Drive. There will be games for the kids, vendors with exotic items, and food galore.  It�s a family-friendly way to make a day of it!

Later that evening, the Chamber will host the Mardi Gras Ball at the Emerald Coast Conference Center from 8 pm to Midnight.  Come in costume or come in your favorite gown - this is the time to bring out your Mardi Gras finery, enjoy the sounds of the �Swingin� Dick Tracys,� and sample food items provided by Chamber-member restaurants.  

�Mardi Gras 2011 � Love on the Island� is sponsored by the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, A to Z Security and Sound, the City of Fort Walton Beach, Cox, Cumulus Broadcasting, Emerald Coast Tourism Development Council, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Golden Corral-Fort Walton Beach, Helen Back, Image Printing and Digital Services, Northwest Florida Daily News, Qantum, ResortQuest, and White-Wilson Medical Center. 

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. 

For more information visit www.fwbchamber.com/mardigras. 

February is Museum Month in San Diego

Throughout February 2011, visitors to San Diego have the opportunity to experience the region's rich cultural offerings at half-price during San Diego Museum Month. Guests can participate by picking up a free San Diego Museum Month Pass at any area Macy's location; with the pass, they can receive half-price admission for up to four guests per visit at 40 of San Diego's museums, cultural attractions and historical sites.

Visitors can take advantage of San Diego Museum Month at facilities located throughout the region; for example:

The USS Midway Museum, Maritime Museum of San Diego and The New Children's Museum in downtown San Diego;
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla;
LUX Art Institute and the San Diego Botanical Garden in Encinitas;
13 world-class facilities like the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, which is often referred to as the "Smithsonian of the West."
 
Visitors can pick up a San Diego Museum Month Pass, valid February 1 to 28, 2011, at any Macy's store location in San Diego County or neighboring Temecula and El Centro. 

San Diego Museum Month was created in 1989 by the San Diego Museum Council to promote the region's museums, historical sites and cultural offerings. In 2010, nearly 24,000 visitors used Museum Month Passes to explore San Diego museums at half-price.

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.

For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.sandiego.org

Tampa Bay � A Festival Destination

In Tampa Bay, any excuse to celebrate will do and locals break out the fireworks, parade floats and live entertainment for the city�s fantastic line-up of festivals.

The cool and breezy months of January through March draw the largest concentration of festivals. Right now, until January 22, Tampa Bay is celebrating its heart and soul and ethnic diversity at the Black Heritage Festival. There are events all over the Tampa Bay area.

The Gasparilla Children�s Parade and �Piratechnic� Extravaganza on January 22 is part of Tampa�s annual series of pirate-themed Gasparilla activities. This alcohol-free family event is held each year on the Saturday before the colorful Gasparilla Pirate Fest Invasion and Parade of Pirates.

The 106th annual Florida State Fair from February 10 to 21 will feature freebies with your paid admission.

The streets of Channel District and Ybor City come ablaze on February 12 for the Sant' Yago Night Parade; and Tampa's historical Ybor City showcases its ethnic roots with Fiesta Day on February 26.

From March 3 to 13 the Florida Strawberry Festival celebrates the bountiful harvest of the strawberry that has made Plant City, Florida, the �Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.�

Discover an enchanted realm of wizards and warriors amongst gourmet treats and entertainment every weekend from February 26 to April 17 (plus Friday March 11) at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival located at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).

The annual Apollo Beach Manatee Arts Festival on March 11 and 12 is a major arts and crafts show that promotes the visual and performing arts as well as awareness and preservation of the endangered Florida manatee.

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.


For a comprehensive list of activities in and around the Bay area, visit Tampa Bay at www.VisitTampaBay.com

Native American Culture Comes to Life through Song and Dance

Experience traditional and contemporary Native American song and dance as local performers bring this ancient culture to life on stage during the ninth season of Native Trails, presented by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nations the and produced by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau invites visitors and locals to these noontime festivals January 20 through April 2, 2011 where members of various Native American nations join together for rare, collaborative performances incorporating traditional instruments, colorful dances, and customary attire, showcasing their culture and encouraging respect, cooperation, and appreciation.

From noon to 1:30 p.m. most Thursdays and Saturdays, the outdoor amphitheater at Scottsdale Civic Center Mall in downtown will be immersed with the unique culture that continues to shape the state of Arizona today.

�Native Trails is an incredible opportunity to provide insight into our rich and ancient traditions,� said Derrick Suwaima Davis (Hopi/Choctaw), artistic director for Native Trails and five-time world-champion hoop dancer. �Arizona is home to more than 20 tribal nations, and Native Trails is an outlet for them to come together and collaborate to create new dances and songs. It�s an educational exploration for us and for the audience.�

The festival grounds also play host to Native artisans who showcase their fine artwork and skills in the form of jewelry, textiles, pottery and food.

Native Trails performances began in January 2003 as part of the City of Scottsdale�s cultural tourism initiative, Culture Quest Scottsdale.

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.

For more information on Native Trails (including black-out dates), visit www.ScottsdaleNativeTrails.com or contact the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (480) 421-1004 or toll-free at (800) 782-1117.

Magical Merriment Trail Spans Six Cities and Two States

Running until New Year�s Day, the Holiday Trail of Lights � the only holiday tour of its kind � spans six cities across two states and provides all kinds of memorable experiences such as ice skating, fireworks, parades, and toy workshops on the way.

For more than two decades Natchitoches, Shreveport-Bossier (Louisiana) and Marshall, Jefferson, and Kilgore (Texas) have been delivering an amazing holiday experience. Dining, shopping, and sight-seeing await visitors in each city that is an easy one-hour drive along Interstates 20 and 49.

Shreveport-Bossier shares the Red River and close proximity in northwest Louisiana. The riverfront offers fun with shopping and programmed activities at the Louisiana Boardwalk. Bigger and better to this year�s event lineup is a laser show at Barnwell Garden and Art Center and toy-making workshops at Sci-port: Louisiana�s Science Center to complement holiday home tours, fireworks festival, and other events.

Head south of the sister cities to Natchitoches.  This city has the oldest festival in Louisiana dating back to 1927 when city employees at the utility department decided to give their customers a Christmas present � an eight-foot star made of white lights and placed downtown for everyone to enjoy. The festival has grown quite a bit since 1927 and now includes shopping, entertainment, carolers, fireworks and snow. Carriage tours will be available in the evening through the National Landmark Historic District.

Cross the Louisiana state line to Texas for exciting holiday displays in Marshall, Jefferson and Kilgore.                                                                                    

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

For more information on the Holiday Trail of Lights visit www.holidaytrailoflights.com.

New Haven Celebrates Contemporary Art

City-Wide Open Studios is a series of weekends in late September (24 to 26) and early October in New Haven, Connecticut, when the artists welcome the public into their studios to witness the creative process. Each weekend the event focuses on a different part of the city and includes an eclectic assortment of events and demonstrations.

With over 250 participating artists, the entire spectrum of the arts is well-represented. There are painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, potters and mixed media artists; there are also bike tours and a parade.

One of the newest exhibits in the 2010 CWOS event is Project Storefront. With available space in the downtown area, artists are displaying their creations in vacant storefronts. This is a new layer in the integration of art and creativity into the day-to-day lives of New Haven residents and visitors.

An added bonus this year is the ability to experience Square with four circles by Felice Varini. Commissioned by Site Projects, Inc., this public art piece is a 110 ft tall, multi-dimensional painting installed in Temple Plaza. This is Varini's first outdoor public artwork in the United States. From a precise location, one does literally see the square with four circles contained in it. But as the viewer moves through the piece, he sees the piece from a unique perspective. The installation will be in place until June 2011.

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

If you ever wanted to see the artistic side of New Haven, City-Wide Open Studios is an event not to be missed. A list of participating artists, map and calendar of events is available on www.cwos.org.

Photo credit: Derek Dudek/www.visitNewHaven.com

Six Days of Crafts, Arts, and Innovation in November

Winston-Salem�s fall festival � Six Days in November � is one of the south�s premier pre-holiday destinations for arts and crafts devotees. While billed as �Six Days� running from Tuesday November 16 to Sunday November 21, early birds can catch a Garrison Keillor performance at the vintage Stevens Center the Sunday before and also have a full day of activities on Monday.

Now in its third year, �Six Days in November� is chock-a-block arts and cultural activities clustered around Piedmont Craftsmen�s Fair, the Southeast�s premier fine crafts show.

During �Six Days�, Winston-Salem, the City of the Arts and innovation, is abuzz with activities, including symphony and jazz concerts, theater, art exhibitions, dance, films, food events and innovative experiences that apply computer and digital technology to the arts world. One huge crowd pleaser is a cutting edge light show in the heart of downtown presented by UNC School of the Arts lighting students.

A popular coffee house will present short documentaries on southern food and foodways with topics as diverse as red hotdogs, soft shell crabs, tamales and oysters. Many activities will be in the downtown Restaurant and Entertainment District. It is anchored by the new Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. There will be opportunities to view an exhibition by renowned Penland School craftspeople and catch a show in the Hanesbrands black-box theatre.

Winston-Salem�s Art District is within easy walking distance with its galleries, shops, and restaurants. Winston-Salem attractions include Old Salem Museum and Gardens; Reynolda House Museum of American Art; Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA); Delta Fine Arts; Children�s Museum; and Sci-Works, the Science and Environmental Park of Forsyth County.

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.

For more information on Winston-Salem�s Six Days in November, visit www.cityofthearts.com.

FEELING CRABBY? ESCAPE TO THE OREGON COAST THIS WINTER



It�s Dungeness crab season on the Oregon Coast, the perfect time to escape those winter doldrums, buoy your spirits and feast on fresh-caught Dungeness crab amidst the bracing climes that await you here.

The People�s Coast is serving up a feast for all your senses this winter (the photo of the fresh Dungeness crab is by courtesy of the Oregon Coast Visitors Association). Taste the delights of the deep at the annual Jambalaya Cook-off at the Culinary Center in Lincoln City on January 30 � admission is free, with tasting sized portions available for a small fee. It features a live cooking demonstration.

Or enjoy the 3rd annual Wine, Beer, Seafood & Music Festival: Confluence 2010 in Gardiner from February 12 to 14. Situated between Florence and Coos Bay on the southern end of the Central Coast, this event will take place at the old W.F. Jewett School building in Gardiner. Events include a �Wine Taster�s Dinner�, many bands performing various genres of music, and Oregon wine and microbrewery tastings. Sunday offers chowder samplings during the annual Reedsport and Winchester Bay Chowder Cook-Off.

Hear three days of tall tales and traditional songs of the sea by FisherPoets on the Edge in Newport from January 16 to 18. And talking about cutting edge - there�s even the 25th annual Barbershop Cabaret Show in Seaside on January 15 and 16.

The 5th annual Jazz in January in Newport is on January 23. An exciting night of music, food and drink benefiting the preservation and restoration of the Yaquina Lighthouses.

The annual Winter Folk Festival in Florence on Saturday and Sunday January 23 and 24 offers two days filled with top folk music talent from across the US, including Misty River and The Brothers Four, jam sessions, workshops, crafts, demonstrations and food featuring the Amateur Pie Contest.

Earlier in the month, on Saturday afternoon January 9 be in Florence for the G.A.L.A. Art Walk. Five Florence galleries full of fine art and gifts invite you to hop on the tour bus. Meet the artists and enjoy refreshments along the way. Or you can visit the galleries on your own.

Uncover a chance to win $10,000 in gold coins in - where else - Gold Beach. Its city-wide �Stay & Win $10,000 in Gold� gives visitors a chance to win $10,000 in gold coins now through September 2010. Gold Beach offers a variety of very affordable lodging options and great seafood! While in Gold Beach this winter; whale & storm watch, take in a concert & theater performance, visit the fabulous �Gold Rush Center� art exhibits and others.

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 at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-oregon.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Oregon Coast at http://visittheoregoncoast.com/

WINTER�S CHILL WON�T STOP OUTDOOR FUN IN KANSAS STATE PARKS

Many Kansas parks host unique family fun events during the winter months, including the Polar Plunge at Tuttle Creek State Park, or ice skating at the River Pond area of the same park.

Cooler temperatures and fewer people provide visitors some of the best opportunities for a variety of outdoor activities in Kansas. Bird watching and wildlife photography, trout fishing, hiking, biking and winter events are just some of what�s available in the Kansas state parks during this uniquely beautiful time of the year.

Kansas� off-season (October � March) can be cold, but there are plenty of mild, sunny days to get outdoors. Birds and wildlife are often more visible during the winter months, offering great opportunities to both watch and take photographs. In particular, several state parks have bald eagle watching events in January or February, including Clinton, Tuttle Creek and Milford state parks. Birding enthusiasts can find up-to-date eagle watching information, through the outdoor section of www.TravelKS.com, as well as other information about the best places to view wildlife.

Hiking, mountain biking, equestrian, and off-road vehicle trails all remain accessible throughout the winter. If there is snow on the ground, cross-country skiing is an option on the park trails, and identifying animal tracks in the snow is a great family outdoor activity.

Another unique winter opportunity is trout fishing. From October to April, trout are stocked at specific locations around the state, including Tuttle Creek, Scott, Glen Elder, and Cedar Bluff state parks. Rental cabins at many state parks are available year-round. During the fall and winter the cabins are particularly popular with hunters, but also offer an affordable get-away alternative for anyone looking to get outdoors.

Gary Lucas, park manager at Hillsdale State Park, south of Kansas City, sees many people of all ages coming to the park in the off-season. According to Gary, �In addition to all of the state�s winter outdoor options, the choices have improved for equipment and clothing, making a fall or winter stroll comfortable and relaxing. Kansans should take the opportunity to get out, get going, and get some fresh air.�

Park prices are discounted during the off-season, with standard fees as follows:
� Daily Vehicle permit � $3.70 (senior/disabled, $2.60)
� Annual Vehicle permit � $19.70 (senior/disabled, $11.10)
� Additional Annual Vehicle permit � $12.20 (senior/disabled, $7.35)
� Daily Camping permit � $7.50
� 14-Day Camping permit � $87.50


For more information about top events in Kansas, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Kansas at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-kansas.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Kansas at www.TravelKS.com

MEET SANTA�S EIGHT LEGENDARY REINDEER FRIENDS IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Celebrate the season in Illinois and discover a wonderland of holiday events and wintertime festivals across the state. Here are some of them.

Get close to Santa Claus with a visit to Hardy�s Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul in Central Illinois to see the famous herd of Alaskan reindeer. The ranch plays host every year to visitors from across the nation who come to see the beautiful relatives of Santa�s eight legendary friends. The 100-year-old barns, which have been recently restored, house the animals and five acres of fertile farm grounds produce more than five thousand Christmas trees. Take your family for a day in the country to see the reindeer and pick out a magnificent tree to cut down and bring home to decorate.

The Northern Illinois sky will light up in festive colors throughout the 21st Annual Holiday Festival of Lights display in Rockford through to December 31. More than 50 lighted displays are featured throughout Sinnissippi Park. Drive through the scenic park to view breathtaking seasonal exhibits and see why this festive drive hosts more than 120,000 spectators each year.

Peoria in Western Illinois welcomes the spirit of the holidays with the East Peoria Festival of Lights holiday light show through to December 31. Some 30 floats are showcased throughout the city at various holiday festivals including Filipe�s Wonderland, where cars can drive through to marvel at the floats from their cars.

Celebrate 20 years of holiday magic and whimsical lights in Kewanee at the 21st Annual Windmont Park Lighting/Drive of Lights through to January 1.

Get up close and personal to beautiful eagles in Southwest Illinois as they take flight at the Locks & Dam Eagle Meet and Greet, Jan. 17, 24, 31 and Feb. 7. Visitors will have an opportunity to see, learn and ask questions about the eagles and their habitats at the National Great Rivers Museum. Afterwards, enjoy eagle viewing in the area by taking a 75-minute trolley tour where you can watch eagles in their natural habitat.

The city of Belleville in Southwest Illinois honors everyone�s favorite holiday cookie with the annual Gingerbread Walk through to January 4. Take a leisurely stroll along East Main Street where dozens of edible gingerbread creations are displayed in shop windows.

For more information about top events in Illinois, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Illinois at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-illinois.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Illinois at http://www.enjoyillinois.com

DAZZLING �DROPS�, FIREWORKS AND FRIVOLITY TO HIGHLIGHT NEW YEAR'S EVE IN FLORIDA KEYS

New Year's Eve partiers unwilling to endure cold-weather festivities, such as the traditional "ball drop" in New York's Times Square, can find exuberant celebrations and far warmer temperatures in the Florida Keys.

In Key West, revelers can choose from three very different � though equally lighthearted � takeoffs on the Times Square gala as midnight approaches Thursday, Dec. 31.

On the island city's renowned Duval Street, thousands of people are expected to ring in the New Year by watching a gigantic conch shell, the symbol of the Florida Keys, descend from its supports to the flat roof of Sloppy Joe's Bar, 201 Duval St. Festivities are emceed by a rooftop host and, as a huge clock counts down the seconds to midnight, the manmade shell begins to descend. Sloppy Joe's live music rounds out the revelry.

A few blocks away at the Bourbon Street Pub/New Orleans House complex, 724 Duval St., renowned female impersonator Sushi is slated to take the celebration's center stage for the 13th consecutive year. Seconds before midnight, a lavishly gowned and coiffed Sushi � riding in a super-sized red high heel that glitters as glowingly as the ball in Times Square � is to be lowered from the balcony of the complex to the accompaniment of cheers and applause from the crowd below. Performances by renowned female impersonators kick off the merrymaking.

In Key West's Historic Seaport, New Year's Eve revelry combines with a salute to the island city's colorful seafaring heritage. Just before midnight, a pirate wench is to begin her descent from the top of the mast of a tall ship, to the accompaniment of cannon blasts and the liftoff of biodegradable balloons. She will complete her earthward journey as the clock strikes and 2010 officially begins. Live music, dancing and festivities at the Schooner Wharf Bar are to round out the seaport gala.

Blackwater Sound in Key Largo is to be the setting for the Upper Keys' leading New Year's Eve fireworks extravaganza. The sparkling sky display is hosted by bayside restaurants Sundowners, Se�or Frijoles, Cactus Jack's, Gus' Grille at the Marriott Key Largo Beach Resort and the Caribbean Club, all located around mile markers (MM) 103-104. Tables fill up fast, so partiers are advised to arrive early.

Visitors and residents who want to start the New Year with a focus on fitness can do so beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, when the annual 5k Run, Walk and Crawl is to depart from Islamorada's Founders Park, MM 87 bayside.

A day of festivities is to follow, highlighted by a blessing of the fleet at Whale Harbor Bridge, MM 84 oceanside.

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 at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-florida.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Florida Keys at http://www.fla-keys.com/

�TIS THE SEASON FOR CHEERFUL EVENTS IN ILLINOIS

Illinois offers a flurry of festive happenings as popular attractions showcase the spirit of the season � with Chicago leading the way.

One of the most anticipated and visited markets in the city, Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, through to Dec. 24, has already kicked off. Visit this seasonally delightful German heritage festival and bazaar and witness the plaza transformed into a holiday wonderland where you can procure German trinkets and taste delicious holiday fare such as savory sausages and sweet waffles. Be sure to grab a glass of Gluhwein, a traditional German holiday hot spiced wine to please your palate and warm your heart, in a take-home souvenir mug.

Visit the Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier, through to January 3. Navy Pier turns into a magnificent winter spectacle of attractions, food and more. The Winter Wonderfest transports patrons to a land of beautiful, ornate winter scenes and brings the magic of the holidays to life. It�s a great family destination.

Lace up your skates and glide through an ice rink in the heart of the city at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, open for the winter season until March 14. The scenic rink has been a staple of winter festivities in Chicago for nine years. Afterwards, warm up with some hot chocolate, browse the surrounding shops or stroll through Millennium Park to see how it transforms in the winter months.

Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden as the Wonderland Express returns to the Garden, until January 3. Take a trip through a wonderland of twinkling lights and holiday beauty where 750,000 lights sparkle outside, while inside, a 10,000 square-foot exhibition of miniature trains winds over bridges, past waterfalls and through more than 80 mini-replicas of Chicago?s favorite landmarks. A brand new ice skating rink will be on the Esplanade, or you can snowshoe on the paths of the McDonald Woods.

Nearly 1 million twinkling lights illuminate the zoo�s walkways during Brookfield Zoo�s 28th Annual Holiday Magic, every weekend in December. After visiting Santa at the Candy Cane Corner, enjoy ice-carving demonstrations, magicians and live musical performances, sample holiday treats and browse the gift shops with hundreds of unique items. New this year is the Wild Lights Spectacular light show at Roosevelt Fountain.

Enter a world of exquisite Christmas extravagance at �A Glimpse of Christmas Past� at the Cuneo Museum until December 31. The stunning mansion will be decorated in holiday finery; lights, garland, decorated trees and poinsettias add festive beauty to an already breathtaking backdrop. And the Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show at the museum, until January 2, is a Lake County tradition.

For more information about top events in Illinois, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Illinois at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-illinois.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Illinois at http://www.enjoyillinois.com

BETHEL, MAINE, CELEBRATES WINTERFEST

Bethel claims with some justification that it is Maine�s most beautiful mountain village � a four season recreational destination in the Androscoggin River valley and the Mahoosuc Mountains.

It has celebrated its annual WinterFest in January in some unusual ways ..... in 1999 it created the World�s Tallest Snowman (113�7� tall) and in 2008 the community set another world record: the World's Tallest SnowWoman at 122'1".

Alas, Bethel won't have a tall snowwoman overlooking its WinterFest in 2010, but there will still be plenty to see and do. New at WinterFest, happening January 23-31, will be a large outdoor ice skating rink and a 200-foot square snow maze.

There will be guided snowshoe tours and free snowshoe demos, a free Nordic ski clinic at the Bethel Inn Resort, a giant snow sculpture and ice carving on the Bethel Common, horse drawn sleigh rides, and a winter triathlon with 2.5 kilometer uphill and down hill skiing legs and a 7 kilometer run. Children can build their own snow sculptures, hot air balloon rides will be offered, along with live music and a rail jam competition for skiers and snowboarders ... and not forgetting the Old Timers 10K Ski Tour at Carter's XC Ski Center.

For more information about top events in Maine take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Maine at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-maine.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Maine at http://www.visitmaine.com/

Photo courtesy Maine Office of Tourism

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN MERRY MARYLAND

Enjoy the splendor of this holiday season with a spectacular array of festive celebrations throughout Maryland. Here is just a sampling of Maryland events and festivities.

The Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival has returned to Seneca Creek State Park for its 14th annual winter wonderland display through to January 2, 2010 (Closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1). This is a great outing for all ages, particularly if you�ve got children to entertain! Drive through the 3.5-mile light display, or take the open-air trolley.

The Garden in Lights on December 11-14, 17-21, 26-28 and 31 (closed during inclement weather) at Annmarie Garden Sculpture Park and Arts Center, Solomons, Calvert County, is a delightful holiday light show full of imaginative creations and holiday �I Spy� games for children. Holiday art exhibits, refreshments and activities inside.

The Carroll County Farmers� Market has all of your holiday needs at the Christmas Market and Handmade Craft Show to December 19 (8am-2pm) at the Agriculture Center, 700 Smith Ave, Westminster, Carroll County. More than 50 vendors with juried crafts, Christmas decorations, fresh-baked goods, gourmet food items, fresh greens and wreaths for sale.

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore City hosts Holiday Festival of Trains at the B&O through to January 3, 2010. One of the mid-Atlantic�s best holiday celebrations of toy trains and model railroading layouts. Santa will be present for visits with children on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the festival.

Enjoy lively Celtic harp music, shop for unique holiday gifts and enjoy hot wassail at the Celtic Christmas December 12-13, 19-20, 1-5pm at Boordy Vineyards, Hydes, Baltimore County. Wine tastings from Maryland�s oldest winery are also available.

Take a leisurely evening Candlelight Stroll on December 11-12, 18-19 through historic Annapolis, Maryland�s state capital since 1695. Guided tours begin at the City Dock information booth.

Historic Berlin, Worcester County, celebrates Victorian Christmas on Saturdays and Sunday, through to December 25. Berlin celebrates the season with life-size animated storybook displays, horse and carriage rides, visits with Santa, concerts, Victorian fashion show and teas.

Main Street, Quantico, Wicomico County hosts the 20th Annual Candlelight Tour of Historic Homes and Churches December 12-13, 5-8pm.

On various dates in November (now past of course) and December, St. Michaels, Oxford and Easton celebrate the holiday season in Talbot County�s picturesque hamlets with Talbot Twinkles � caroling, storytelling, festival of trees, �olde tyme� holiday parade, �midnight madness,� �moonlight madness� and other special events.

For more information about top events in Maryland take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Maryland at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-maryland.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Maryland at http://visitmaryland.org

CABS, CHARDS, AND CHEFS TO CONGREGATE IN THE CRESCENT CITY

Plans are underway for the 2010 New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE), in the city that ranks number one in ten categories in Travel + Leisure�s �America�s Favorite Cities� survey.

NOWFE, which also garners its own high rankings as a �perennial �Top Ten' Wine and Food festival,� as noted in Wine Enthusiast, features over 175 wineries and more than 75 celebrated restaurants.

The 5-day event, which has raised nearly $1,000,000 for local charities, will take place May 25�29, 2010 in various locations throughout historic New Orleans.

�No other city can offer the rich history, beautiful landscape and architecture, eclectic art, and diverse music scene � not to mention some of the best cuisine in the country � along side one-thousand different vintages,� says Octavio Mantilla, NOWFE President. �Our events take place right in the heart of the city, where guests can enjoy the wine and food, while partaking in shopping, live entertainment, French Quarter revelry or just one-of-a-kind people-watching.�

Some of New Orleans most famous landmarks will serve as backdrop to the 2010 event. More than 30 of New Orleans most talked about restaurants will host Wine Dinners on Wednesday, May 26; the popular Royal Street Stroll will take place on Thursday, May 27, while the Louisiana Superdome will serve as the home of the Grand Tastings on Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29.

�Each year NOWFE adds new programs, seminars and events to the schedule,� states Joyce Godbold, NOWFE Executive Director. �We try to keep the seminars fresh, relevant and exciting.�

This year�s seminars will include: �The Craft of Curing�, a lesson on the intricacies of curing meats; a look at the bounty of Gulf seafood at �Gone Gulfing�, �Let them Eat Cake� will showcase dessert wines and their accompaniments, �Romancing the Rhone�, will explore Rhone varietals, and a special champagne & sushi seminar.

�New Orleans just gives you a good feeling, and NOWFE really uncorks that sentiment,� adds Mantilla. �We invite everyone to come and be immersed in the feeling that is New Orleans.�

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is a non-profit organization. The Board of the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience donates 100% of the events' profit to support their programs and foundations. Proceeds from the 2009 event benefited University of New Orleans School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism, the Louisiana Restaurant Association's ProStart Program, The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, Delgado Community College Culinary Arts Program, New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, Girls First, Cancer Crusaders, Animal Rescue of New Orleans, Coach Sean Payton's Play It Forward Foundation and Fore! Kids Foundation.

For more top events in Louisiana take a look at the Top Events USA pages on Louisiana top events and festivals at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-louisiana.html

TOP EVENTS ALL YEAR ROUND IN PENSACOLA

Pensacola could be named the Festival City, since every month of the year residents and visitors find something to celebrate. There are refined events such as the wine and jazz festival and wacky events such as the mullet toss. There are food festivals for seafood, sausage, bushwackers and crawfish, and there are fitness events such as the Double Bridge Run and the St. Patty�s prediction race. There are lively parades, whether it�s Mardi Gras floats or a decked-out boats. Whatever your style, there�s a special event for you in the Pensacola Bay Area.

Polar Bear Dip. Jan. 1. The Flora-Bama Lounge at the Florida-Alabama line hosts this popular, annual splash-around in the Gulf of Mexico. (850) 492-0611.

Mardi Gras. Feb. 12-14. One of the country�s original celebration sites, Pensacola hosts family-oriented Mardi Gras fun at numerous parades with lots of beads and moonpies. (850) 436-7638, www.pensacolamardigras.com.

McGuire�s 5K Prediction Run. March 13. With more than 5,000 participants, it is Pensacola�s largest run and the nation�s largest prediction run. Awards go to the fastest as well as the most accurate in predicting the time it will take to complete the course. (850) 433-6789, www.mcguiresirishpub.com.

Beulah Sausage Festival. March 19-21. Enjoy some of Nashville�s hottest country music stars, arts and crafts, carnival-style rides and of course, great sausage. (850) 944-3167, www.beulahsausagefest.com.

Pensacola Wine Festival. April 2-4. Sample more than 100 wines from around the world while Pensacola�s top restaurants lead cooking demonstrations. (850) 434-5371, www.pensacolawinefestival.com.

Pensacola JazzFest. April 10-11. Pensacola�s historic Seville Square hosts an event filled with great jazz performed by local and national talents. (850) 433-8382, www.jazzpensacola.com.

26th Annual Interstate Mullet Toss. April 23-25. Perdido Key�s Flora-Bama Lounge on the Florida-Alabama state line hosts this wacky annual tournament that has participants compete in tossing an actual mullet. Live music, food and drinks. (850) 492-0611.

26th Annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival. May 7-9. Held along the bay in Bartram Park, indulge at one of the largest crawfish boils in Florida. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org.

7th Annual Outside Art Fair. May 15-16. Celebrate warm spring weather with nearly 100 local artists, live entertainment, good food and children�s activities on the bay at Bartram Park. (850) 432-9906, www.artsnwfl.org.

Evenings in Olde Seville Square. Thursdays, May-Aug. This well-attended summer concert series in Seville Square features a variety of musical styles from big band and jazz to rock-n-roll. (850) 438-6505.

Bands on the Beach. Tuesdays, May-Sept. Celebrate summer at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach with local musical favorites. (850) 932-2257.

Fiesta Days Celebration and Boat Parade. June 3-12. This annual event celebrates the founding of Pensacola, the first European settlement in the U.S., in 1559 by Spanish Conquistador Don Tristan de Luna. (850) 433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org.

Sounds of Summer. June-Aug. The beat goes on in Pensacola Beach with this free concert series most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Quietwater Shell on the Boardwalk. (850) 932-1500

Pensacola Beach Air Show. July. This must-see event features a show by the world-famous Blue Angels. (850) 932-2257.

Pensacola Seafood Festival. Sept. 24-26. Sample a variety of mouth-watering seafood dishes, enjoy continuous live entertainment, shop at the many arts and crafts vendors, and participate in a 5K. (850) 433-6512

Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show. Nov. With Pensacola as its home base, the Blue Angels perform the season�s final show at Naval Air Station Pensacola. (850) 452-2583, www.blueangels.navy.mil.

Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival. Nov. Talented artists bring new music to the Gulf Coast. (850) 492-7664, www.fbisf.com.

Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival. Nov. 5-7. Browse more than 200 fine art and hand-made craft exhibitors in Pensacola�s historic Seville Square. www.ggaf.org.

Holiday Evening in Olde Seville Square. Dec. Get in the holiday spirit with the Christmas concert outdoors under the oaks. (850) 438-6505.

Lighted Boat Parade. Dec. Decorated vessels parading against the dark December sky delight those watching from the shores along Portofino Boardwalk. The nautical parade officially delivers Santa Claus to the Island. (850) 932-1500.

For information on the top annual vents and festivals in Florida, visit http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-florida.html

For more information about Pensacola please visit http://www.visitpensacola.com/

Missouri Introduces 1st Annual Fox Trotter Heritage Days

Top Events USA brings news today about a new event in Ava, Missouri.

The Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association's 1st Annual Fox Trotter Heritage Days are due to take place October 16th and 17th, 2009 at the MFTHBA Show Grounds in Ava, Missouri.

The two day event will offer �A fun filled family weekend to include a bluegrass festival (plus all day jam session on the front porch), country western dancing (two-step, line dancing and square dancing), Sassafras Sprouts Hoedowners, Miss Heritage Days Contest for girls kindergarten through 12th grade, horse pull, petting zoo, farmer�s market, art show, games and old-time contests for children and adults, fishing pond, and 40+ vendors including an old-time photographer.

There will also be all day demonstrations and displays on Saturday, Oct 17th such as molasses making, basket making, rope making, Fox Trotting Horse demonstrations and Civil War re-enactors.

At 5:pm Saturday Oct. 17th there will be a Horse Training Demonstration by Cecil Huff of Ava, MO Winner of the 2009 Ultimate Equestrian Challenge� sponsored by MFA Inc.

For more information visit http://www.mfthba.com and for more information about other events in Missouri visit the Top Events USA Missouri page at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-missouri.html