Welcome to the Top Events USA selection of the top event and festival themes in America.
Enjoy our lists of the best annual events and festivals by category.arts & crafts
Arts and crafts is all about the skill and talent in “making things”, whether they be traditional crafts that have not changed their execution in years, or popular handicrafts, or simply making things for the sheer fun of it all.
A lot of arts and crafts have become increasingly popular and enthusiasts take the skills and talents of the crafters very seriously. The great number of arts and crafts events and festivals across the USA, from Connecticut to Mississippi are proof of this success.
ballooning
Everyone has heard of the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, the most photographed balloon event in the world, but there are several balloon festivals in the USA to chose from. With magical backdrops like the rocky Great Falls in Maine, the mountains of Colorado, or Idaho’s majestic Grand Teton Mountains, balloons of all shapes and sizes draw visitors from all over the world to marvel at the sight of balloons aglow in he dusk and dawn, to watch the skies filled with color and to take off as well up up and away in a beautiful balloon of their own.
barbecue events
However you call it, Barbecue or barbeque, BBQ, Bar-B-Q or Bar-B-Que, this form of cooking food over an open flame, either directly or indirectly is practically a way of life for many in the USA.And just as there are many “experts” in every back yard of every home across the country, so there are major competitions and prizes awarded for the best of those with tongs and a hunk of meat!
blues music
A highly influential musical genre, Blues music is so called because it uses “blue” notes which are musical notes played or vocalized slightly lower in pitch than those indicated on a major scale. Emerging first in early African-American communities, Blues became the roots of jazz, rhythm and blues, and bluegrass and is today a hugely popular music form celebrated in events across the USA. From a festival celebrating WC Handy, and the legacy of the “Father of the Blues”, to a hometown “party” for legendary blues musician BB King, there is plenty to chose from for fans of the blues.
celtic culture
There are a number of festivals and events across the USA that celebrate the heritage of over 25 million Scottish Americans, who claim ancestry originating in Scotland, and more than 40 million Irish Americans whose ancestry originates in Ireland. From the largest Scottish festival in the west in Colorado, to the month-long Irish Heritage event in Newport, Rhode Island, these cultural celebrations showcase the best of both Scotland and Ireland.
christmas
Christmas celebrations, festivals and holiday events transform much of the USA as the year draws to a close into wonderlands of light and music.
Towns and cities in every state witness the holiday season with giant Christmas trees, light displays, pageants and parades of horse-drawn carriages, Old World-style family marketplaces, Christmas-themed inflatables, live music performances and fireworks.
film
Practically everyone has heard of the Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent cinema festival in the US, but the Sundance Film Festival is just the tip of the iceberg. The USA offers a wide choice of independent film festivals and international film events of every type. From events organized by the oldest documentary film institute in the nation to the largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films in the USA, or film festivals spotlighting the cinematic works of women, there are plenty of top film events to chose from.
fine arts
Events and festivals are not just about parades and big bands, noisy sporting meets or athletic competitions - they re also about fine art forms, including painting and drawing, sculpture, dance and theatre. The USA offers several festivals throughout the year highlighting the incredible talent the country has to offer.
fishing
A complex sport, fishing is about about companionship and competition, enjoyment of nature’s scenic vistas and blinding focus, memories of lazy summers at the lake and high speed boats on the ocean, simple pleasures and big money. Fishing contests and angling competitions across the USA attract visitors from every state and from abroad - some competing for prestigious fishing titles, other for large rewards, some for both!
flower events
Each year, during the spring months from February to June events
celebrating plants and trees, flowers and gardens take place across the USA. Featuring everything from cherry blossoms and roses, tulips and azaleas, to formal gardens and water gardens, private homes and public attractions, flower shows and floral parades, these events attract visitors by their thousands to every corner of the USA.
fruit
In the USA is it possible to celebrate almost anything - and fruit is no exception. With a plethora of events and festivals celebrating everything from apples to watermelons, and everything you can do with blueberries and raspberries from Arkansas to Washington, almost every fruit is represented somewhere in some way.
German heritage
Arguably one of the most popularly repeated cultural events originating in Germany, Oktoberfest is celebrated across the USA from Rhode Island in the east to Oregon in the west. Considered major events and consistently ranking high in the top events lists, these German cultural festivals highlight German food, beers, wines, music and culture.
history
From remembering the civil war in the south to an appreciation of the arts and culture of the Art Deco era, historical events and festivals across the USA are numerous and varied. Whether it is in re-enacting the journey of an historic pioneer wagon train, or noting the life and achievements of the human rights icon and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Martin Luther King Jr, the USA is proud of its history and showcases many events and festivals throughout the year.
horses
From the worlds most beautiful Arabians competing for more than $500,000 in prize money, to the most famous horse race in the world, the Kentucky Derby, The USA offers a number of different events and festivals focussing on horses. Whether it be rounding up ponies in Virginia, or having a flutter at South Carolina’s Carolina Cup, there is something here in the list of top horse events to suit every taste.
Independence Day
Often referred to simply as “The Fourth of July”, Independence Day celebrates America’s declaration of independence from Great Britain. Countrywide, Independence Day celebrations, the most popular of which are set against evocative USA symbols like the Washington Monument in DC, or the mountain carving of four exalted American presidents at Mount Rushmore, are usually centered about major events like outdoor symphony concerts and fireworks displays, parades, picnics and barbecues, carnivals and more more.
jazz
Almost everyone equates jazz and jazz events with New Orleans, Louisiana, but there are many other places in the USA that celebrate jazz too. The longest running jazz festival in the world, for example, is in Monterey, California and the second largest, and widely considered to be one of the best in the USA, takes place in Jacksonville, Florida. Where ever they are being held, USA jazz festivals all present the best in jazz music, featuring the best jazz performers in the world.
marathons
Named after the mythic sprint from Marathon to Athens in ancient Greece after the Battle of Marathon by a Greek messenger with news of the victory of the battle, the modern day marathon is a less frantic, though no less seriously regarded, long-distance foot race with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres or 26 miles 385 yards. The top marathon events in the USA offer different attractions, from spectacular settings in Honolulu, New York, California, Alaska and more, to different challenges from mountains to speed on flat courses.
maritime events
Since ancient times along the Mediterranean, the sea has inspired centuries of events and festivals celebrating the bounty of the ocean. Many locations across the USA still celebrate the sea today with a host of different events and festivals offering a “blessing of the fleet” ceremony actually originating in Greece, sail boat races and boat shows, lighted boat parades, classic antique vessels and new inventions, as well as lots of light-hearted, sea-themed fun.
parades
Young and old, everybody loves a parade, from the best known and loved New Orleans Mardi Gras to local Christmas pageants in e very town and city across the USA. Favourites include the California Rose Parade, the Independence Day Celebration parade in DC showcasing more then 100 marching units stepping out at noon along Constitution Avenue and of course, the thanksgiving fun event, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.
rodeo
Rodeo is a sport that reflects the talents and skills of working cowboys. Different events testing those skills, from calf roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronco riding, popular bull riding and more take place at rodeos across the country from spring to December, making rodeo one of the most popular sports in the USA.
Infact, Rodeo is the official state sport of both Texas and Wyoming.
scandinavia
Celebrating their Scandinavian ancestry, Scandinavian Americans, from Minnesota to Oregon highlight their heritage with a number of Scandinavian themed events. From North America’s largest Scandinavian festival Norsk Høstfest in North Dakota, to Oregon’s Midsummer Scandinavian Festival in Astoria, all complete with Scandinavian food and dancing, art and entertainment - and even a troll run.
seafood
Celebrating the abundance and variety of seafood offered on all shores of the USA, a good number of seafood festivals continue to grow in popularity as they showcase regional delicacies and traditions in food and entertainment. From crab festivals in the north to lobster festivals in the south, and everything in between, including Oyster festivals in Connecticut and crab festivals in California. There is a food and a festival to suit every seafood taste.
state fairs
"1000 Places to See Before You Die".
unusual events
Not all events and festivals in the USA fit into tidy categories. Some are just too strange or off the wall or just much fun. Here Top Events USA picks some of the most unusual events and festivals on offer across the country, from the now world famous Groundhog Day predicting the type of spring ahead, to an events racing worms or dropping moose droppings from high in the sky.
wine
Every state in the USA produces wine, and many wineries across the country celebrate that fact with wine events and wine festivals. From the vineyards of Illinois in the north to the wine growing regions of Florida in the south, from California in the west to Virginia in the east, there is no end to the variety of quality wines and the festivals that recognise them.
winter
Winter in the USA is not just about extreme weather, shovelling snow and shivering by the fire - it is about celebrating the beauty of the season, and communities coming together to recognise natural and man made wonders and to have a good time. From snow-sculpting competitions to festivals of lights (see also Christmas events), from a Teddy Bear Tea at the Newport Winter Festival to Vermont’s infamous Village Night Block Party at the Stowe Winter Carnival, the top winter events of the USA keep revellers busy for the long winter months.
winter sports
There is more to the idea of winter sports than hockey and skiing. Whether it is dog sledding across state lines or playing miniature golf on ice at a fictitious university, winter sports events in the USA take on many shapes and forms. From serious to fun, from world class to backyard festivities, the top winter sports events offer everything from the world class Alaska Iditarod to the US Open Snowkite Masters in Skyline, Utah.
Please take the time to share your views on the selections - there are comment input boxes on every page - or nominate a new event or festival if you think there is something important Top Events USA has missed.
Or simply write to us here at topevents@topeventsusa.com with your comments.
