best annual festivals and events IN THE U.S.
You have likely already heard of events like the Daytona 500, the Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade, the Iditarod, and Mardi Gras, but there are so many more amazing annual festivals and events in the United States. The purpose of this page is to highlight some of the very best festivals and events in each of the 50 states. In the lists below, you'll find memorable events like country fairs, music festivals, air shows, cultural festivals, renaissance fairs, and sporting competitions.
Please let me know via email if you think I have missed any noteworthy annual festivals or events.
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Noteworthy festivals and events in Alabama include:
✮ Mardi Gras, Mobile (Feb) - a series of Mardi Gras events, parades, and celebrations in downtown Mobile
✮ National Peanut Festival, Dothan (Nov) - this 11-day event and country fair is the World's largest peanut celebration
Discover Alabama travel ideas with my comprehensive Alabama Travel Guide.
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Alaska has several great annual festivals and events, including:
✮ Alaska State Fair, Palmer (Aug/Sept)
✮ Fur Rendezvous, Anchorage (Feb/Mar) - the state's oldest and largest winter festival; also known as 'Rondy'
✮ Iditarod, Anchorage (Mar) - witness the start of the World's most famous sled dog race |
Arizona has many excellent festivals and events, including:
✮ Arizona Renaissance Festival, Gold Canyon (Feb/Mar) - a outdoor festival with medievel-themed events held on Saturdays and Sundays
✮ Arizona State Fair, Phoenix (Sept/Oct) - the largest annual fair in Arizona; typically held Thursday-Sunday each week
✮ Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale (Oct) - one of the premier luxury and rare car auction events in the country
✮ Havasu Balloon Festival (Jan) - one of the largest hot air balloon festivals in the country
✮ Helldorado Days, Tombstone (Oct) - a 3-day festival with gunfight re-enactments and other western-themed events and attractions
✮ MLB Spring Training, Various Locations (Feb/Mar) - catch some preseason major league baseball games
✮ Phoenix Open (Feb) - one of the premier PGA Tour golfing tournaments
✮ Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo (July) - this 7-day event is billed as the world's oldest rodeo
✮ Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show (Feb) - one of the nation's premier horse shows
✮ Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (Aug/Sept) - this 4-day event is arguably the #1 best gem and mineral show in the U.S.
✮ Tucson Rodeo (Feb) - a 9-day rodeo that is also known as the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros
Discover Arizona travel ideas with my comprehensive Arizona Travel Guide.
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Arkansas has a few noteworthy festivals and events, including:
✮ Arkansas State Fair, Little Rock (Oct)
✮ Bikes Blues & BBQ, Rogers (Sept) - the world's largest charity motorcycle rally
Discover Arkansas travel ideas with my comprehensive Arkansas Travel Guide.
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It shouldn't surprise you that California has a ton of amazing festivals and events. Some of the best annual festivals and events in California include:
✮ BottleRock Napa Valley (May) - a 3-day music, wine, food, and beer festival
✮ Cal Expo and State Fair, Sacramento (July) - this 2 week-plus long festival is California's official state fair
✮ Coachella, Indio (Apr) - an enormous music festival that is held on two consecutive weekends
✮ Miramar Air Show, San Diego (Sept) - this 3-day event is one of the premier aviation shows in the country
✮ Monterey Jazz Festival (Sept) - one of the finest jazz festivals in the U.S.
✮ Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Nov/Dec) - one of the world's largest boat parades
✮ Pacific Airshow, Huntington Beach (Oct) - one of the largest airshow events in the country
✮ Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (Aug) - bills itself as the 'world's most prestigious car show'
✮ Rose Bowl Game, Pasadena (Jan) - annual college football postseason game
✮ San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (Nov)
✮ San Diego Comic-Con International (July) - the largest and most famous comic convention on Earth
✮ San Diego County Fair (June/July) - one of the largest country fairs in the U.S.
✮ Stagecoach Festival, Indio (Apr) - a 3-day music festival billed as 'country music's biggest party'
✮ Tournament of Roses Parade (aka Rose Parade), Pasadena (Jan) - one of the most famous parades in the U.S.
Discover California travel ideas with my comprehensive California Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of many of the best annual festivals and events in Colorado:
✮ Cherry Creek Arts Festival (July) - this 3-day event is one of the country's largest art festivals
✮ Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off (Sept) - one of the nation's best hot air ballooning events
✮ Crested Butte Wildflower Festival (July) - a 10-day event with hundreds of wildflower-focused workshops
✮ FIBArk Whitewater Festival, Salida (June) - this 4-day event calls itself 'America's oldest and boldest Whitewater Festival'
✮ Food & Wine Classic, Aspen (June) - 3-days of cooking demonstrations and wine/alcohol tastings
✮ Frozen Dead Guy Days, Estes Park (Mar) - a quirky but fun 4-day celebration honoring a cryogenically frozen man
✮ Great American Beer Festival, Denver (Oct) - a 3-day event that declares itself 'America's favorite beer festival'
✮ Greeley Stampede, Greeley (June/July) - a 12-day western festival with rodeos, concerts, parades, and a carnival
✮ Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival, Estes Park (Sept) - a 3-day cultural festival with the 'best all celtic parade in North America'
✮ National Western Stock Show, Denver (Jan) - a western event with '16 days of rodeo action' and one of the world's largest livestock shows
✮ PrideFest, Denver (June) - a 2-day 'celebration of love, diversity, and equality' with a 5K race, live performances, a parade, and more
✮ Telluride Bluegrass Festival (June) - one of the premier Bluegrass festivals in the country (and probably the most scenic one)
✮ Vail Dance Festival (Jul/Aug) - a two-week dance celebration
✮ Winter X Games, Aspen (Jan) - the ultimate annual snow sports competition
Discover Colorado travel ideas with my comprehensive Colorado Travel Guide.
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Connecticut has several festivals and events that are noteworthy on a national scale. This includes:
✮ Milford Oyster Festival (Aug) - one of the best seafood festivals in the country
✮ New England Taco Festival, Guilford (July) - the best taco festival in the Northeast (and possibly in the country)
✮ Sailfest, New London (July) - a 2-day summer festival with boats, fireworks, amusement rides, and more
Discover Connecticut travel ideas with my comprehensive Connecticut Travel Guide.
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I can only think of one festival in Delaware that is of national interest:
✮ Delaware State Fair, Harrington (July)
Discover Delaware travel ideas with my comprehensive Delaware Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of many of the best annual festivals and events in Florida:
✮ Bike Week, Daytona (Mar) - one of the largest and most well-known motorcycle rallies in the country
✮ Daytona 500 (Feb) - a legenday NASCAR motor race event
✮ Fantasy Fest, Key West (Oct) - a 10-day, adults-only, Mardi-Gras like celebration
✮ F1, Miami (May) - an annual racing event that is expected to continue in Miami until at least 2031
✮ Florida State Fair, Tampa (Feb) - the largest country fair in Florida
✮ Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City (Feb/Mar) - an 11-day fair and celebration of all things strawberry
✮ Gasparilla Pirate Fest, Tampa (Jan) - a massive pirate-themed parade plus fireworks and other events
✮ South Beach Food & Wine Festival, Miami (Feb) - this 4-day food and wine festivals is one of the best events of its kind in the U.S.
✮ Ultra Music Festival, Miami (Mar) - a 3-day electronic music festival on Miami's waterfront
In addition to what is listed above, the Walt Disney World Resort holds several major events, including the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, and various other holiday-themed festivals and events. There is also the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.
Discover Florida travel ideas with my comprehensive Florida Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Georgia:
✮ Georgia National Fair, Perry (Oct)
✮ International Cherry Blossom Festival, Macon (Mar) - a celebration of 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees with live performances and other events
✮ Masters Golf Tournament, Augusta (Apr) - one of the four men's major professional golf championship events
✮ Oktoberfest, Helen (Sept/Oct) - a nearly 2-month long Oktoberfest/beer celebration that runs Thursdays to Sundays each week
✮ St. Patrick's Day Festival, Savannah (Mar) - one of the largest St. Patrick's Day festivals in the country
Discover Georgia travel ideas with my comprehensive Georgia Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Hawaii:
✮ Aloha Festivals / Aloha Week, O'ahu (Sept) - the largest Hawaiian cultural celebration in the country
✮ Ironman World Championships, Big Island (Oct) - perhap's the World's most famous full triathlon event (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.22-mile run)
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Idaho:
✮ National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest and Festival, Weiser (June) - an old-fashioned music competition and festival
✮ Teton Valley Balloon Rally, Driggs (July) - a small but enjoyable hot air ballooning festival
Discover Idaho travel ideas with my comprehensive Idaho Travel Guide.
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Many of the best annual festivals and events in Illinois occur in or around Chicago. Here is a list of the best festivals and events in the state:
✮ Chicago Air and Water Show (Aug) - this 2-day event is one of the best aviation shows in the country
✮ Chicago Marathon (Oct) - one the USA's premier annual 26-mile road races
✮ Lollapalooza, Chicago (Aug) - a 4-day music festival held in Grant Park in downtown Chicago
✮ St. Patrick's Day Chicago (Mar) - one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the U.S.; they dye the Chicago River emerald green
✮ Taste of Chicago (Sept) - this 10-11 day event is believed to be the world's largest free-admission outdoor food festival
Discover Illinois travel ideas with my comprehensive Illinois Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Indiana:
✮ Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis (Aug)
✮ Indianapolis 500 (May) - one of the most famous car racing events in the world
✮ Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, Rockville (Oct) - this 10-day event is IN's largest festival; it celebrates the county's 31 covered bridges
✮ West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, Evansville (Oct) - a week-long fall festival with carnival attractions, family events, and a giant parade
Discover Indiana travel ideas with my comprehensive Indiana Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Iowa:
✮ Iowa State Fair, Des Moines (Aug) - one of the largest state fairs in the country with more than 1 million visitors each year
✮ National Balloon Classic (July) - one of the largest hot air balloon festivals in the country
Discover Iowa travel ideas with my comprehensive Iowa Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Kansas:
✮ American Royal World Series of Barbecue (Oct/Nov) - the World's largest barbecue contest
✮ Dodge City Days (July/Aug) - a 10-day western heritage festival that includes a parade, cattle drive, a rodeo, and more
✮ Wichita Riverfest (May/June) - this 9-day festival includes concerts, fireworks, and more; this is Kansas' biggest outdoor event
Discover Kansas travel ideas with my comprehensive Kansas Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Kentucky:
✮ Kentucky Derby, Louisville (May) - this horse racing event is the longest running continually held sporting event in the U.S.
✮ NSRA Street Rod Nationals, Louisville (Aug) - the world's largest street rod gathering
Discover Kentucky travel ideas with my comprehensive Kentucky Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Louisiana:
✮ Mardi Gras, New Orleans (Feb) - a massive, 2-week long adults-only carnival
✮ New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans (April/May) - one of the best jazz festivals in the country
Discover Louisiana travel ideas with my comprehensive Louisiana Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Maine:
✮ Fryeburg Fair (Oct) - the best agricultural/county fair in Maine
✮ Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland (July/Aug) - one of the most famous seafood festivals in the U.S.
✮ North American Wife Carrying Championship, Newry (Oct) - a small but unique event where men carry wives across challenging terrain
✮ Wild Blueberry Festival, Machias (Aug) - a 3-day celebration of all things blueberries
Discover Maine travel ideas with my comprehensive Maine Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Maryland:
✮ Baltimore Artscape (Aug) - this 3-day event bills itself as 'America's largest free outdoor arts festival'
✮ Maryland Renaissance Festival, Crownsville (Aug/Sept/Oct) - one of the finest Rensaissance fairs in the country
✮ Preakness Stakes, Baltimore (May) - the second leg of the 'Triple Crown' of horse racing
Discover Maryland travel ideas with my comprehensive Maryland Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Massachusetts:
✮ Big E, Springfield (Sept) - one of the biggest and best country fairs in the U.S. with nearly 1.5 million annual visitors
✮ Boston Marathon, Boston (Apr) - one of the premier marathon race events of the world
✮ Boston Pops July 4th Fireworks Spectacular, Boston (July) - one of the premier July 4th fireworks events in the country
✮ Bright Nights at Forest Park, Springfield (Nov/Dec/Jan) - a large and impressive drive-through holiday lights display
✮ Brimfield Antique Show, Brimfield (May/July/Sept) - arguably the best antique show in the country; this 6-day event is held 3x per year
✮ Haunted Happenings, Salem (Oct) - features Halloween-focused events and thousands of costumed people walking the streets of Salem
✮ Head of the Charles Regatta, Boston/Cambridge (Oct) - the world's largest 3-day rowing competition
✮ King Richard's Faire, Carver (Aug/Sept/Oct) - billed as the 'largest, biggest, and best Renaissance festival in New England'
✮ Pan Mass Challenge (Aug) - a long-distance charity bike ride that raises more than $60 million/year to support cancer care and research
✮ St. Patrick's Day Parade, Boston (Mar) - one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country
✮ Topsfield Fair, Topsfield (Oct) - the second best country fair in the state behind the Big E
Discover Massachusetts travel ideas with my comprehensive Massachusetts Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Michigan:
✮ Ann Arbor Art Fair (July) - one of the largest art festivals in the country
✮ ArtPrize, Grand Rapids (Sept) - an independent international art competition; the 'world's most attended public art event'
✮ Cheeseburger in Caseville (Aug) - a 10-day festival centered around cheeseburgers, live entertainment, and a grand parade
✮ Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids (June) - a 3-day arts celebration with live performances and art activities
✮ Michigan State Fair, Novji (Aug/Sept)
✮ National Cherry Festival, Traverse City (June/July) - this 8-day festival is one of the largest food festivals in the country
✮ North American International Detroit Auto Show (Jan) - one of the largest auto shows in the world
✮ Tulip Festival, Holland (May) - an 8-day festival centered around six million tulips blooming throughout Holland and the surrounding area
✮ Woodward Dream Cruise, Detroit suburbs (Aug) - the world's largest 1-day automotive event with more than 40,000 vehicles participating
Discover Michigan travel ideas with my comprehensive Michigan Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Minnesota:
✮ Minneapolis Aquatennial (July) - a large torchlight parade and impressive fireworks show held on separate days within the same week
✮ Minnesota Renaissance Festival, Shakopee (Aug/Sept) - an interactive medieval-themed festival
✮ Minnesota State Fair, St. Paul (Aug/Sept) - the largest state fair in the U.S. by daily attendance
✮ MSRA Back to the 50s Weekend, St. Paul (June) - a huge car show with more than 10,000 classic cars
✮ St. Paul Winter Carnival (Jan/Feb) - a winter festival with live performances, an ice fishing tournament, a snow-sculpture park, and parades
Discover Minnesota travel ideas with my comprehensive Minnesota Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Mississippi:
✮ Cruisin' The Coast (Oct) - this one week-long auto event is billed as 'America's largest block party"
✮ Mississippi State Fair, Jackson (Oct)
Discover Mississippi travel ideas with my comprehensive Mississippi Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Missouri:
✮ Festival of the Little Hills, St. Charles (Aug) - this 3-day event bills itself the 'Midwest's Premier Arts and Crafts Show'
✮ Festival of Nations, St. Louis (Aug) - a 2-day food, art, and music festival in Tower Grove Park
✮ Soulard Mardi Gras (Jan/Feb) - the second largest Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S. (#1 = New Orleans)
Discover Missouri travel ideas with my comprehensive Missouri Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the many of the best annual festivals and events in Montana:
✮ Battle of the Little Bighorn Reenactment, Little Bighorn River (June) - a reenactment of the 1876 battle between the Army and various tribes
✮ MontanaFair, Billings (Aug)
✮ Montana Renaissance Festival (June)
✮ Sweet Pea Festival, Bozeman (Aug) - a 3-day arts and performing arts festival
✮ Whitefish Winter Carnival, Whitefish (Feb) - a winter carnival offering a variety of different events (e.g. penguin plunge, scavenger hunt, etc.)
Discover Montana travel ideas with my comprehensive Montana Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Nebraska:
✮ College World Series, Omaha (June) - the ultimate college baseball tournament
✮ Nebraskaland Days, North Platte (June) - a western festival with a rodeo, country concerts, a parade, and more
In addition, watching the thousands of Sandhill Cranes in March is one of nature's most impressive spectacles.
Discover Nebraska travel ideas with my comprehensive Nebraska Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Nevada:
✮ Burning Man, Black Rock Desert (Aug/Sept) - a week-long 'temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, & self-reliance'
✮ Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Las Vegas (Jan) - the most famous consumer electronics show in the country
✮ Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), Las Vegas (May) - the most famous electronic music festival in the U.S.
✮ Great Reno Balloon Race (Sept) - bills itself as the 'world's largest free hot-air ballooning event'
✮ International Camel and Ostrich Races, Virginia City (Sept) - a unique 3-day event featuring zoo animal races
✮ National Finals Rodeo, Las Vegas (Dec) - the premier rodeo event in the country
✮ World Championship Outhouse Races, Virginia City (Oct) - a quirky and entertaining race of vehicles made of outhouses
Discover Nevada travel ideas with my comprehensive Nevada Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in New Hampshire:
✮ Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic (June) - one of the best sand-sculpting competitions on the East Coast
✮ Jericho ATV Festival (Aug) - one of the premier off-road festivals in the country
✮ Laconia Motorcycle Week (June) - one of the most famous motorcycle rallies in the U.S.
✮ New Hampshire Highland Games and Festival, Lincoln (Sept) - a 3-day Scottish celebration at the Loon Mountain Resort
✮ New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival, Laconia (Oct) - a 1-day fall festival centered around pumpkins
In addition to what is listed above, NH also has several good country fairs, including the Deerfield Fair, Hopkinton State Fair, and the Sandwich Fair. There are several other small fairs in the state as well.
My wife and I also enjoy the Pumpkin People festival in the North Conway/Jackson area each October. Basically, you drive around with a map hunting for the 50-75 businesses that have put characters built out of pumpkins on display (e.g. celebrities, super heroes, cartoon characters, etc.).
Discover New Hampshire travel ideas with my comprehensive New Hampshire Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in New Jersey:
✮ Atlantic City Airshow (Aug) - enjoy an excellent air show from the Atlantic City beach or boardwalk
✮ Festival of Ballooning, Readington (July) - one of the largest hot air balloon festivals in the country
✮ State Fair Meadowlands, East Rutherford (June/July) - a 2-plus week long fair with over 100 rides, games, fireworks, and other events
Discover New Jersey travel ideas with my comprehensive New Jersey Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in New Mexico:
✮ Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (Oct) - the premier hot-air ballooning event in the world features more than 500 balloons
✮ UFO Festival, Roswell (July) - a 3-day celebration of aliens in the most UFO-obsessed location in the U.S.
Discover New Mexico travel ideas with my comprehensive New Mexico Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in New York:
✮ Belmont Stakes, Elmont (June) - the third leg of the 'Triple Crown' of horse racing
✮ Erie County Fair, Hamburg (Aug) - a 12-day country fair that typically experiences more than 1 million attendees
✮ Great New York State Fair, Syracuse (Aug/Sept) - a 13-day country fair that typically experiences more than 1 million attendees
✮ Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NYC (Nov) - the most famous Thanksgiving Day parade in the World
✮ New York City Marathon (Nov) - one of the premier road races in the country
✮ Radio City Rockettes, NYC (Nov/Dec/Jan) - a 90-minute Christmas-themed dancing performance at the Radio City Music Hall
✮ Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, NYC (Nov/Dec) - watch the most famous tree-lighting ceremony in the country
✮ St. Patrick's Day Parade, NYC (Mar) - the World's largest St. Patrick's Day parade
✮ Syracuse Nationals Classic Car Show (July) - a large classic car event with thousands of vehicles
✮ Taste of Buffalo (July) - the largest 2-day food festival in the country
✮ Times Square New Year's Eve, NYC (Dec/Jan) - the most iconic spot in the U.S. to celebrate the New Year
✮ US Open Tennis Championships, NYC (Aug/Sept) - the World's most attended annual sporting event
Discover New York travel ideas with my comprehensive New York Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in North Carolina:
✮ Charlotte SHOUT! (Mar/Apr) - a 17-day event with more than 200 events and attractions that celebrate 'art, culture, and community'
✮ Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Linville (July) - a 4-day Scottish festival with athletic events, live performances, and more
✮ Lexington Barbecue Festival (Oct) - a large, 1-day BBQ festival with 250-plus vendors, performing arts, and various other events
✮ North Carolina Azalea Festival, Wilmington (Apr) - a 5-day festival with concerts, a street fair, sporting competitions, a parade, and more
✮ North Carolina State Fair, Raleigh (Oct)
✮ WNC Bigfoot Festival, Marion (May) - a 1-day festival pertaining to the elusive Bigfoot
Discover North Carolina travel ideas with my comprehensive North Carolina Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in North Dakota:
✮ Mandan Rodeo Days, Mandan (July) - a 3-day festival with a parade, road race, arts and crafts vendors, and a professional rodeo
✮ North Dakota State Fair, Minot (July)
✮ Norsk Høstfest, Minot (Sept) - a 4-day Scandinavian cultural festival
✮ Red River Valley Fair, West Fargo (July)
Discover North Dakota travel ideas with my comprehensive North Dakota Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Ohio:
✮ Circleville Pumpkin Show, Circleville (Oct) - a 4-day pumpkin festival and competition with parades and other events
✮ D-Day Conneaut, Conneaut (June 6th) - the largest annual WWII living history event in the World
✮ Ohio Renaissance Festival, Waynesville (Aug/Sept/Oct) - one of the premier Renaissance festivals in the U.S.
✮ Ohio State Fair, Columbus (July/Aug) - one of the largest country fairs in the country with more than 1 million attendees each year
✮ Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati, Cincinnati (Sept) - this 4-day even is the largest Oktoberfest celebration in the U.S.
✮ Tri-C JazzFest, Cleveland (June) - a 3-day music festival
Discover Ohio travel ideas with my comprehensive Ohio Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Oklahoma:
✮ Mayfest, Tulsa (May) - a 3-day festival with performing arts and various other events
✮ Tulsa Oktoberfest (Oct) - this 4-day event is one of the biggest Oktoberfest/beer festivals in the U.S.
✮ Tulsa State Fair (Sept/Oct)
Discover Oklahoma travel ideas with my comprehensive Oklahoma Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Oregon:
✮ Oregon State Fair, Salem (Aug/Sept)
✮ Pendleton Round-Up, Pendleton (Sept) - a western heritage festival with rodeos, a parade, and more
✮ Woodburn's Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, Woodburn (Mar/Apr) - a spring celebration with blooming tulip fields, wine tours, and other events
Discover Oregon travel ideas with my comprehensive Oregon Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Pennsylvania:
✮ Eastern Fall Nationals, Hershey (Oct) - one of the best antique car and flea market shows in the U.S.
✮ Fort Ligonier Days, Ligonier (Oct) - a 3-day festival with French and Indian war reenactments, a grand parade, a 5K walk/run, and more
✮ Gettysburg Civil War Battle Reenactment, Gettysburg (July) - the largest Civil War reenactment event in the U.S.
✮ Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney (Feb) - a quirky event where a groundhog determines whether there will be six more weeks of winter or not
✮ Mummers Parade, Philadelphia (Jan) - the longest-running continuous folk and costume parade in the country; held on New Years Day
✮ Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, Manheim (Aug/Sept/Oct) - one of the best Renaissance fairs in the U.S.
✮ Picklesburgh, Pittsburgh (July) - a 3-day, pickle-themed celebration in downtown Pittsburgh
✮ WWII Weekend, Reading (June) - a historic military air and vehicle show
Discover Pennsylvania travel ideas with my comprehensive Pennsylvania Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Rhode Island:
✮ Newport Jazz Festival (Aug) - the largest Jazz festival in the Northeast
✮ WaterFire, Providence (Apr to Nov) - a river bonfire celebration mostly held on Saturday nights from April through November
Discover Rhode Island travel ideas with my comprehensive Rhode Island Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in South Carolina:
✮ Spoleto Festival, Charleston (May/June) - a 17-day performing arts festival; declares itself the 'nation's preeminent performing arts festival'
Discover South Carolina travel ideas with my comprehensive South Carolina Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in South Dakota:
✮ Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Aug) - this 10-day event is the most iconic motorcycle rally in the country
Discover South Dakota travel ideas with my comprehensive South Dakota Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Tennessee:
✮ Bonnaroo, Manchester (June) - a large 4-day music and arts festival
✮ Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games, Townsend (May) - a 2-day cultural festival with live performances and competitions
✮ Tennessee State Fair, Lebanon (Aug)
✮ World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Memphis (May) - USA Today calls this "the most prestigous barbecue contest" in the U.S.
Discover Tennessee travel ideas with my comprehensive Tennessee Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Texas:
✮ Austin City Limits Music Festival (Oct) - a large music festival held on two consecutive 3-day weekends
✮ Fiesta San Antonio (Apr) - a 10-day citywide cultural celebration with parades and many other events
✮ Houston Art Car Parade (Apr) - a parade of hundreds of wildly-decorated cars and other vehicles
✮ Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo/RodeoHouston (Feb/Mar) - likely the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world
✮ State Fair of Texas, Dallas (Sept/Oct) - one of the largest and best country fairs in the U.S. with more than 2 million annual visitors
✮ South by Southwest (SXSW), Austin (Mar) - a 9-day film and music festival with various industry conferences and events
✮ Texas Crab Festival, Crystal Beach (May) - a 3-day music, art, and food festival
✮ Texas Renaissance Festival, Todd Mission (Oct/Nov/Dec) - the largest (and arguably best) medieval festival in the U.S.
Discover Texas travel ideas with my comprehensive Texas Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Utah:
✮ Easter Jeep Safari, Moab (Apr) - probably the most famous offroad driving event in the country
✮ Sundance Film Festival, Park City (Jan) - the largest and most celebrated independent film festival in the U.S.
Discover Utah travel ideas with my comprehensive Utah Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Vermont:
✮ Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival (June) - the largest hot air ballooning event in New England with typically around 15-20 balloons
✮ Vermont Brewers Festival, Burlington (July) - one of the best beer festivals in the country
Discover Vermont travel ideas with my comprehensive Vermont Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Virginia:
✮ Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction, Chincoteague (July) - a carnival that features swimming ponies and a pony auction
✮ Foxfield Races, Charlottesville (Apr & Oct) - a semi-annual steeplechase horse racing event
✮ Neptune Festival, Virginia Beach (Sept) - a 3-day beach festival with live performances, a sand-sculpting competition, and many other events
Discover Virginia travel ideas with my comprehensive Virginia Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Washington:
✮ Seafair, Seattle (June/July/Aug) - a 10-week celebration that bills itself as 'Seattle's premier boating event, air show, and festival'
✮ Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Mount Vernon (Apr) - a tulip bloom celebration
✮ Spokane Hoopfest (June) - the world's largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament
✮ Washington State Fair, Puyallup (Aug/Sept) - the largest country fair in the Pacific Northwest
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Washington D.C.:
✮ National Cherry Blossom Festival (Mar/Apr) - a 3-week celebration of 3,000 cherry trees donated by Tokyo to the city of Washington D.C.
Discover Washington D.C. travel ideas with my comprehensive Washington D.C. Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in West Virginia:
✮ Bridge Day, Fayetteville (Oct) - watch B.A.S.E. jumpers hop off the New River Gorge Bridge at West Virginia's largest single-day festival
✮ Mountain State Forest Festival, Elkins (Sept/Oct) - a 9-day cultural festival with concerts, events, arts and crafts, rides, and parades
Discover West Virginia travel ideas with my comprehensive West Virginia Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Wisconsin:
✮ AirVenture, Oshkosh (July) - the best air show in the U.S. calls itself as 'the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration'
✮ Bristol Renaissance Faire (July/Aug/Sept)
✮ German Fest Milwaukee (July) - this festival is held along the shoreline of Lake Michigan and is one of the largest German festivals in the U.S.
✮ Iola Classic Car Show, Iola (July) - the 'biggest and best car show in the Midwest' typically displays more than 2,000 cars
✮ Summerfest, Milwaukee (June/July) - believed to be the world's largest musical festival
✮ Wisconsin State Fair, West Allis (Aug) - one of the largest state fairs in the country with more than 1 million visitors per year
Discover Wisconsin travel ideas with my comprehensive Wisconsin Travel Guide.
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Wyoming:
✮ Cheyenne Frontier Days (July) - one of the premier outdoor rodeo and western heritage celebrations in the U.S.
✮ Wyoming State Fair, Douglas (Aug)
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Here is a list of the best annual festivals and events in Canada:
✮ Calgary Stampede (July) - the most famous rodeo in Canada
✮ Montreal Jazz Festival (June/July) - the best jazz festival in Canada
✮ Quebec Winter Carnival (Jan/Feb) - the finest winter carnival in Canada
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Here are some lists of the best-of-the-best festivals or events by type. These are all legendary events and I highly recommend all of them.
Country/Agricultural Fairs
✮ Big E, Massachusetts
✮ Iowa State Fair
✮ Minnesota State Fair
✮ Texas State Fair
Air / Aviation Shows
✮ AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
✮ Chicago Air and Water Show in Chicago, Illinois
✮ Miramar Air Show in San Diego, California
✮ Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, California
Food Festivals
✮ EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival in Orlando, Florida
✮ Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado
✮ Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine
✮ National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan
✮ San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival in San Diego, California
✮ South Beach Food & Wine Festival in Miami, Florida
✮ Taste of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York
✮ Taste of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois
Auto/Car Shows
✮ Eastern Fall Nationals in Hershey, Pennsylvania
✮ Charlotte AutoFair in North Carolina
✮ Cruisin' The Coast in Mississippi
✮ Hot August Nights in Reno, Nevada
✮ Iola Classic Car Show in Iola, Wisconsin
✮ MSRA Back to the 50s Weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota
✮ North American International Detroit Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan
✮ Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California
✮ Syracuse Nationals Classic Car Show in Syracuse, New York
✮ Woodward Dream Cruise in the Detroit suburbs of Michigan
Wild Parties
✮ Burning Man in Nevada
✮ Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana
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