OZtoberfest
Wamego, Kansas (KS)
September 30 - September 2, 2012

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Wamego, Kansas for OZtoberfest, a celebration of the timeless classic The Wizard of Oz. At this event, you will be able to meet Robert Baum (great-grandson of L. Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz) as well as some of the individuals who portrayed the Munchkins in the 1939 film. There will be a Ruby Red Slipper Run, free hot air balloon rides, a silent auction and more.

Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival
Moorhead, Minnesota (MN)
June, 2012

The Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival is held in Moorhead, Minnesota. Minnesota is home to many people of Scandinavian descent and this Scandinavian themed event celebrates the heritage of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. The festival is held at Heritage Hjemkomst Center, home of the Hjemkomst Viking ship. This ship was built by Robert Asp and family, taking them on an unforgettable voyage to Norway in 1984. The festivities will include dancing, stalls of traditional food and live entertainment.

Belmont Stakes
Belmont, Kentucky
June 9, 2012

The final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes is known to be the most difficult of the three races. Many a horse has come into the Belmont, with wins in the other two races only to meet defeat here. The purse for the winner is $1 million U.S.D.

National Tom Sawyer Days
Hannibal, Missouri (MO)
July, 2012

Each year since 1956, thousands of people gather together in Hannibal, Missouri to celebrate its most famous and beloved resident, Samuel Clemens AKA Mark Twain and the unforgettable character he created: Tom Sawyer. Activities at the event include contests such as Fence Painting and Frog Jumping as well as Mississippi Mud Volleyball, a parade and carnival and much more.

Taste of Chicago
Chicago
July 11 - July 15, 2012

For ten days the cuisine of Chicago is on full display on the lakefront. No more scouring the city for your favorite foods, they are all in one place at the Taste of Chicago! There is much more than food to enjoy, live music is continuous throughout the festival.

Central Park Film Festival
New York City, New York
August, 2012

The summer of 2011 marks the 9th anniversary of the Central Park Film Festival. Each August at Rumsey Playfield, the park hosts screenings of new and classic movies. The event is free, gates open at 6:00 p.m. Bring a blanket and picnic dinner and enjoy!

Maine Lobster Festival
Rockland, Maine (ME)
August 1 - August 5, 2012

The Maine Lobster Festival, held in the mid-coast town of Rockland, is one of Maine’s largest yearly festivals. Each year, thousands of people come to Rockland to celebrate the town’s most famous export: lobster. There are works by local artists on display, harbor cruises, craft booths and live entertainment. Enjoy some fresh “lobstah” with locals and people from around the world at this 3-4 day event!

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Sturgis, SD
August 6 - August 12, 2012

Are you a motorcycle fanatic? If you are, than you've probably already heard of Sturgis. It is arguably the world's most famous motorcycle rally. See the most extreme custom bikes and vintage hogs and celebrate with other motorcycle zealots. Camp out and enjoy a party like no other!

Beach, Boogie, & BBQ Festival
Myrtle Beach, Virginia (VA)
September, 2012

Just as the name implies this festival of revelry is the place for fun in the sun, getting down with your groove thang, and eating to your heart's content. Whether you're a BBQ aficionado or just want to party on the beach, this weekend is an awesome getaway.

Bikes, Blues and BBQ
Fayetteville, Arkansas (AR)
September 26 - September 29, 2012

Each year, hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the United States head to the Ozarks. The Northwest Arkansas town of Fayetteville is host to the annual motorcycle rally Bikes, Blues and BBQ (also called BBB or Bikes, Blues and Barbecue). BBB is the largest non-profit charitable event of its kind in the world and is sure to be a good time for the whole family with plenty of music, food and fun. The event raises funds that will go to local charities and boost the local economy. Since 2000, the organization has donated more than $500,000 to charities around the Ozarks. Hop on your motorcycle and take a scenic drive through the beautiful Ozark Mountains to join the fun!

Nebraska's Junk Jaunt
300 Miles along NE Hwys 2,11 & 91 - Nebraska (NE)
September 28 - September 30, 2012

If you like flea markets and garage sales, you will love the Nebraska Junk Jaunt. Each September, 35-40 towns along highways 2,11 and 91 in central Nebraska hold a massive 300 mile continuous yard sale. This event brings tens of thousands of visitors from out of state and helps boost the local economy.

Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb
Newport, Indiana (IN)
September 30 - October 7, 2012

The Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb is an uphill drag-racing event in Newport, Indiana. This event draws hundreds of thousands to Newport, a town of less than 600, each year. One can expect to see trucks, cars and even motorcycles from the Classic, Antique, Vintage, Brass and Steam car eras. There will be pageants, a car show, parades and a street fair with hundreds of vendors selling antiques, hot food and more.

Oktoberfest
Orlando, Florida (FL)
October, 2012

Come to Avalon Park in downtown Orlando and celebrate Oktoberfest. This event is fun for the whole family, with a beer garden for the adults and a root beer garden for the kids. Entertainment will include traditional German music performed by Europa, Alpine Dancing by the Schuhplattler Gruppe Alpenrose and more. There will be games, events and the best part of all is that this event is totally free to attend!

Garlic & Harvest Festival
Bethlehem, Connecticut (CT)
October 6 - October 7, 2012

If you are a fan of garlic, this is the festival for you! Bethlehem, Connecticut hosts an annual Garlic & Harvest Festival at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds. There will be live music, garlic cooking demonstrations and stalls which offer fresh local garlic and other harvest produce as well as free samples of garlic dips, oils, cheeses, etc. At the food court you will find a variety of garlic infused foods such as roasted garlic sausage, deep fried garlic and even garlic ice cream! There will also be rides and games for the kids.

Williamsburg Festival
Wooster, Ohio (OH)
October 6 - October 7, 2012

Every year in October Pine Tree Barn in Wooster, Ohio travels back in time and invites you to be part of the transformation. Dozens of artisans display their crafts from colonial times and provide demonstrations on how it was done it olden times.

Country Living Festival
Atlanta, Georgia, (GA) Stone Mountain Park
October 26 - October 28, 2012

The editors of Country Living Magazine have put together the Country Living Festival, a fair that celebrates all things “country living” lifestyle. There will be more than 150 stalls of crafts, antiques, folk art and more. A Gourmet Harvest Market and Country Living General Store will also be there.

Stone Cliff Winery Nouveau Wine Festival
Dubuque, Iowa (IA)
November, 2012

The Nouveau Wine Festival is a celebration of food, wine and tradition. This event begins with a parade down Dubuque’s Main Street at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 11. During this procession, Bob and Nan Smith (owners of Stone Cliff) along with guests, a polka band and their dog “Vino” will deliver the wine from this year’s harvest to various bars and restaurants along the way. The event is presented by Stone Cliff Winery, located in the historic Star Brewery Building in the Port of Dubuque along the Mississippi River.

Chicago Food Film Festival
Chicago, Illinois (IL)
November 15 - November 17, 2012

2011 will be the second year that the Windy City plays host to the Chicago Food Film Festival. Food and movie pairing is the brainchild of documentary filmmaker, George Motz, who put together the NYC Food Film Festival which is reaching its 5th year. The festival showcases films and documentaries on various cuisine, during which guests are served the featured dishes for the ultimate "multi-sensory, full bodied experience".

Anchorage International Film Festival
Anchorage, Alaska (AK)
December, 2012

The Anchorage International Film Festival is an event that has been held each December since 2001. Its mission is to promote new media and independent film making in Alaska. The AIFF is the northernmost festival of its kind in North America and is growing in popularity each year. There will be more than 100 animated films, shorts, documentaries and features screened at this event.