Welcome to the Top 20 Events in the USA.
Explore the selection of the top 20 annual events and festivals, fairs and celebrations (listed in calendar priority) across America from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico to the Iowa State Fair.
Rose Parade
January
Pasadena
Since 1890, millions of spectators from around the world celebrate the New Year with the annual Rose Parade featuring the beautiful pageantry and tradition of magnificent floral floats, high-stepping equestrians and spirited marching bands.
The Rose Parade has grown from a local Pasadena institution to a national ceremony that's very equivelent to the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square.
For more information visit: www.pasadenacal.com/rose_parade_bowl.html
Sundance Film Festival
January
Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Utah
The largest independent cinema festival in the US, The Sundance Film Festival, founded by Robert Redford in 1981, is the premier showcase for new work from American and international independent filmmakers.
The festival comprises competitive sections for American and international dramatic and documentary films, and a group of noncompetitive showcase sections, including the Sundance Online Film Festival.
Through its Sundance Film Festival, the Sundance Institute has grown into an internationally recognized resource for thousands of independent artists.
For more information visit: http://sundance.org
Mardi Gras
Fat Tuesday
Louisiana
On the Tuesday before ash Wednesday, bead-draped Louisianians and their guests hit the streets for a day of fun and frivolity. And no two places celebrate it in exactly the same way.
In the New Orleans area, more than 60 parades roll during the two weeks before Fat Tuesday. Slidell and Madisonville celebrate with colorful boat parades, and Monroe-West Monroe, Lake Charles and Houma have lighted boat parades. Shreveport-Bossier City's and Lafayette's Mardi Gras traditions focus on family activities, and the Alexandria-Pineville are celebrates with a children's parade for the young and the young at heart.
For more information visit: www.mardigras.com
Groundhog Day
February
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Celebrating this day this 1886, every February 2, visitors gather in Punxsutawney for a weather forecast from internationally-recognized weather expert, Punxsutawney Phil - a groundhog.
On February 2, Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob - in front of thousands of followers from all over the world - to predict the weather for the rest of winter. Tradition has it that if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. If he does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.
Festivities also include the Woodchuck Whittle Carving Show, the Souvenir Show & Sale, Phil’s Wedding Chapel, Hay Ride Town Tours, Groundhog Day in the Park and much more.
For more information visit: www.groundhog.org
Boston Marathon
April
Boston, Massachusetts
The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's most prestigious road racing events. A Boston tradition for more than 112 years, the 26 mile, 385 yard Boston Marathon has distinguished itself as the pinnacle event within the sport of road racing by virtue of its traditions, longevity and method of gaining entry into the race.
To qualify to run the Boston Marathon, entrants must run a qualifying time at a certified marathon. In 2007 more than 20000 runners completed the race.
For more information visit: www.bostonmarathon.org
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
April / May
New Orleans, Louisiana
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, a/k/a Jazz Fest, is a 10-day cultural feast in which thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople welcome 400,000 visitors each year.
The Louisiana Heritage Fair at the Fair Grounds Race Course showcases unforgettable music on multiple stages, delicious Louisiana cuisine in two large food areas, and crafts artisans from the region and around the world demonstrating and selling their work.
For more information visit: www.nojazzfest.com
Independence Day Celebration
July 4
Washington DC
DC is one of the most exciting places to be to celebrate the nation's birthday. Where better than in its capital.
The parade showcases more then 100 marching units stepping out at noon along Constitution Avenue. When that's over, popular music groups entertain from mid-afternoon until the fireworks. The National Symphony Orchestra, with guest stars and soloists, performs at 8 p.m. The fireworks show begins around 9:20 pm over the Washington Monument grounds.
Thousands congregate along the National Mall to watch the spectacular fireworks light up the DC sky.
Fourth of July Celebration at the Hatch Shell
July
Boston, Massachusetts
Nationally known for the Boston Pops Orchestra’s Boston Fourth of July celebration, the Hatch Shell is an outdoor concert venue next to the Charles River Esplanade near downtown Boston.
The famous concert and fireworks display at the Hatch Shell is one of Boston’s most famous and popular events. The live performance by the Boston Pops Orchestra and appearances by various special guests is televised nationwide.
Attendees collect on the Oval, the lawns in front of the Hatch, or along the Charles River Esplanade, for the evening concert at 8:30pm which concludes with the fireworks at 10:30pm.
For more information visit: www.july4th.org/concert.htm
Iowa State Fair
August
Des Moines, Iowa
Featured in the New York Times’ "1000 Places to See Before You Die" as one of the world's must-see events, and named the #2 choice for summer fun in America by USA Weekend, the internationally-acclaimed Iowa State Fair annually attracts more than a million fun-lovers from around the world.
Special features include one of the world's largest livestock shows, the country's largest state fair foods department (approx. 900 classes), the state's largest arts show, hundreds of competitive events and wacky contests; 600 plus exhibitors and concessionaires selling quality and tasty treats, and 160 rolling acres of campgrounds.
For more information visit: www.iowastatefair.org
Aloha Festivals
August, September, October
Statewide, Hawaii
Aloha Festivals was first held in 1947 as Aloha Week, but has grown over the past five decades to encompass nearly a hundred events statewide over a two month period. It has become a celebration of our Hawaiian Culture integrated with the traditions and cultures of each of the islands through music, dance, cuisine and art. Each year, hundreds of volunteers labor to stage the events, which are enjoyed by nearly one million people.
For more information visit: http://alohafestivals.com
Bumbershoot
August
Seattle, Washington
The 3-day urban event, Seattle’s premier music and art festival, takes place on Labor Day Weekend). The Festival stretches across the 74-acre Seattle Center, located beneath the city’s iconic Space Needle, and programs 20 indoor and unique outdoor venues. This progressive Festival features a diverse array of arts including live music, comedy, theatre, dance, film, urban crafts, and literary and visual arts.
For more information visit: www.bumbershoot.org
Washington State International Kite Festival
August
Long Beach, Washington
Voted best kite festival in the world by Kite Trade Association International, the WSIKF is a weeklong kite celebration and competition that boasts skies ablaze with color, high flying action and choreographed movement. Washington’s Kite Festival draws famous kite fliers from all around the world, and tens of thousands awed spectators, many of which participate in the fun with their own kite flying adventures.
For more information visit: www.kitefestival.com
Burning Man
September
Black Rock Desert, Nevada
Nevada is the host to one of the country’s (or world’s) biggest counterculture festivals every year. With over 40,000 people in attendance, the city created by attendees, named Black Rock City after its location on the Black Rock Desert, is the largest in the county when it’s up, and one of the ten largest cities in the state.
For more information visit: www.burningman.com
International Balloon Fiesta
October
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the premier ballooning city due to the crystal skies, perfect October climate and a phenomenon called the "Albuquerque Box." With a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape, the box allows balloonists to control and even retrace their adventure.
Balloon Fiesta Park covers over 200 acres and is filled with balloons and vendors selling everything from traditional New Mexican food to Balloon memorabilia.
Each year balloons come from around the world to participate in the event and news coverage originates from more than 50 countries. It has become the most photographed event in the world.
For more information visit: www.balloonfiesta.com
Puyallup Fair
October
Puyallup, Washington
The Puyallup Fair (once officially known as the Western Washington Fair) is the largest single attraction held annually in the state of Washington. The Fair continually ranks in the top ten largest fairs in the world. The Western Washington Fair Association hosts two annual events, the 17-day Puyallup Fair every September, and the four-day Puyallup Spring Fair every April.
Situated south of Seattle and east of Tacoma in the shadow of majestic Mount Rainier, the Fair & Events Center comprises 169+ acres, with buildings and land valued at more than $54 million.
When it began in 1900 it attracted over 20,000 visitors. Today, the Puyallup Fair draws more than a million people from across the state and the USA.
For more information visit: www.thefair.com
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
November
New York City, New York
Starting in 1924 as Macy’s Christmas Parade with animals from the Central Park Zoo, this popular event now attracts more than 2.5 million people and another 44 million tune in to watch the balloons, floats, bands and celebrities in the most spectacular Thanksgiving holiday celebration in the world.
The three hour parade trails from 77th Street down Central Park West to Columbus Circle, then down Broadway to Herald Square.
For more information visit: www.macys.com/campaign/parade/parade.jsp
National Finals Rodeo
December
Las Vegas, Nevada
Organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the National Finals Rodeo, held at the Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, is the grand finale of the modern professional rodeo circuit. It has been held in Las Vegas since 1984,
Known as the Super Bowl of Rodeo, this ten-day event puts the talents of the nation's top fifteen money-winners to the test and they compete for championship titles.
