JULY

July 1–12
Paris Cinema International Film Festival
Paris
Choose from more than 200 films playing at venues across the city for five euros each. Special screenings pay tribute to moviemaking in the Philippines. Other highlights include screenings under the stars, films accompanied by live music, and programs just for kids.
pariscinema.org

July 1–31
Miami Spa Month
Miami
Pamper yourself at some of the country’s top spas — at the year’s best prices. All month long, participating spas offer special packages and discounts for luxurious and exotic treatments.
miamispamonth.com

July 11–15
DHL All-Star FanFest
New York City
Kick off Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week at this interactive festival making its first visit to the Big Apple. Meet players and managers, and test your skills with virtual pitching and batting exhibits. The world’s largest baseball — 12 feet in diameter — will be on display.
allstargame.com

July 11–16
National Kidney Foundation’s 2008 U.S. Transplant Games
Pittsburgh
Hundreds of organ transplant recipients go for the gold at this Olympic-style contest featuring track and field, swimming, tennis, basketball, cycling, golf, and more. Held every two years since 1990, the games showcase athletes who’ve received kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and bone marrow transplants.
transplantgames.org

July 11–20
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
Pittsburgh
This is the only place in the country where vintage autos race on city streets. In addition to the main draw — a 2.33-mile race through Schenley Park — there’s a road rally, car shows, and a parade.
pvgp.org

July 11–20
1st Annual Monterey Motorcycle Meet
Monterey, California
Motogiro, Italy’s oldest motorcycle road rally, comes to the U.S. for the first time with a five-day road race. You can also check out the MotoGP Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, a vintage motorcycle auction, and presentations on bike design, riding, racing, and collecting.
motogiroamerica.com

July 12
Pensacola Beach Blue Angels Air Show
Pensacola
The U.S. Navy’s famed Blue Angels make their home base in Pensacola, and the precision flying team presents two shows there each year. The group performs alongside other civilian and military pilots.
blueangels.navy.mil

July 12
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
Charlotte
Taste some of the world’s best beers, sip the finest Kentucky bourbons, and chow down on North Carolina barbecue at Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall. You can also enjoy live music, attend bourbon tasting classes led by master distillers, and relax in the cigar tent.
beerandbourbon.com/north-carolina/show-info

July 12–13
U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition
San Diego
Amateur and professional sand sculptors vie for more than $21,000 in cash prizes at the country’s largest sandcastle competition. A Saturday street fair kicks off the festivities held each year at Imperial Beach, about 15 miles south of downtown San Diego.
usopensandcastle.com

July 12–13
Taste of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
The city proves there’s more to its cuisine than chicken wings. Taste a variety of foods, from Polish pierogies to Italian sausages to German pastries. Plate-size samples are available for up to $4, while smaller bite-size portions are just $1. Participating restaurants also offer healthy options that are lower in sodium, fat, and cholesterol.
tasteofbuffalo.com

July 12–13
North Atlantic Blues Festival
Rockland, Maine
More than 15 blues artists from around the world perform in the city’s Harbor Park. There’s also a Club Crawl featuring over a dozen bars hosting live blues bands.
northatlanticbluesfestival.com

July 13–19
Reggae Sumfest
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Now in its 15th year, this festival showcases some of the world’s best roots, rock, and reggae artists. Past guests have included Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J, Rihanna, and Missy Elliott.
reggaesumfest.com

July 15–20
Hemingway Days
Key West
The island that Ernest Hemingway called home for much of the 1930s celebrates his legacy. There’s a Hemingway look-alike contest, a children’s book signing by grandson Edward Hemingway, and an exhibition of rare memorabilia. The winners of the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition will also be announced.
hemingwaydays.net

July 18
Mighty Mud Mania
Scottsdale
What began in 1976 as a promotion for Shout pre-wash spray is now the highlight of the Parks and Recreation Division’s summer recreation program. Kids age 7 to 17 can race through the dirtiest obstacle course around. There’s also a mini mud course and puddle pools for children under 7.
scottsdaleaz.gov/mightymudmania

July 18–20
18th Annual National Train Show
Anaheim
The world’s largest model train show pulls into a different city and state each year. For 2008, the Anaheim Convention Center is host to more than 56,000 square feet of operating model train displays, the latest accessories from U.S. and international vendors, free appraisals, and a children’s play area.
nationaltrainshow.org

July 23–August 3
British International Motor Show
London
Hundreds of cars from the world’s leading manufacturers are on display by day. Come nightfall, the Motor Show Music Festival takes over with live performances by artists including UB40, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Chicago, Meat Loaf, Bananarama, Belinda Carlisle, and more.
britishmotorshow.co.uk

July 26–January 18
Setting Trends: National Jewelry Institute Designer Showcase
Pittsburgh
The works of 39 prominent jewelers, including Gucci, Cartier, and Bulgari, sparkle at this exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
carnegiemnh.org

AUGUST

August 1–24
La Jolla Music Society SummerFest 2008
San Diego
More than 70 artists and ensembles perform 16 concerts featuring masterpieces from the world’s most renowned composers. The highlight this year is the addition of a free outdoor concert overlooking the ocean on August 14.
lajollamusicsociety.org

August 6–10
Dublin Horse Show
Dublin
Thousands of people turn out for this annual show — one of Ireland’s largest events and a highlight of the summer season. See some of the best show horses and jumpers from around the world.
dublinhorseshow.com

August 7–10
Toronto’s Festival of Beer
Toronto
Raise a glass at Canada’s “premier celebration of the golden beverage.” More than 200 brands of beer are on site for tasting at Historic Fort York.
beerfestival.ca

August 8–9
New York State Yo-Yo Contest & International Yo-Yo Open
New York City
Forget Walk the Dog and Loop the Loop. Yo-yo tricks have come a long way since the toy’s early days. See some of the world’s top performers demonstrate just how far at this second annual event.
yoyoopen.com

August 9–10
Spa Experience Aspen
Aspen
Presented by SpaFinder, this free show lets guests sample the spa lifestyle — from beauty treatments to healthy cuisine. Dozens of the world’s best spas and spa lifestyle companies have representatives on site.
spafinder.com/spaexperienceaspen

August 9–17
Legg Mason Tennis Classic
Washington, D.C.
One of the longest-running tournaments in men’s pro tennis, this competition holds its 40th event this year. Last year’s champion, Andy Roddick, will be back to defend his title.
leggmasontennisclassic.com

August 15–17
American Craft Show
San Francisco
More than 250 artists display their unique creations in home decor, furniture, fashion, jewelry, toys, and accessories at the Fort Mason Center. New this year is a Green Craft category highlighting pieces created with recycled and eco-friendly materials and sustainable processes.
craftcouncil.org

August 17
Longacres Mile
Auburn, Washington
Located about 20 miles from Seattle, Emerald Downs hosts this annual thoroughbred race, now in its 73rd year. Don’t miss the events leading up to it: weiner dog races on the 15th and a run along the track on the 16th.
emeralddowns.com

August 18–20
Chicago Dancing Festival
Chicago
Dancers from some of the world’s most renowned companies perform for free in Millennium Park. Shows feature representatives from the Martha Graham Dance Company and the American Ballet Theatre, among others.
chicagodancingfestival.com

August 28–September 13
Moab Music Festival
Moab, Utah
Experience “music in concert with the landscape” at a series of outdoor concerts that take place in spectacular settings — along the banks of the Colorado River and nestled among red rock canyons.
moabmusicfest.org

August 29–September 1
SantaCaliGon Days Festival
Independence, Missouri
One of the Midwest’s largest Labor Day festivals takes place just outside of Kansas City. It honors the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon trails, which all began in the town of Independence. About 250,000 people show up each year for the food, live music, crafts, and historic reenactments.
santacaligon.com

August 31–September 13
Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe
Philadelphia
Theater and dance performances at venues across the city feature artists from around the world. The Festival Plus program lets you learn more about the artists’ work through a series of post-show talks and panel discussions.
livearts-fringe.org

SEPTEMBER

September 3–27
Charlotte Shout
Charlotte
This month-long celebration of art, culture, and community presents more than 200 music and theater performances, art exhibitions, culinary festivals, and more. Don’t miss the popular Blues, Brews & BBQ September 11–13.
charlotteshout.com

September 13
3rd Annual Whitewater Festival
Charlotte
The U.S. National Whitewater Center invites everyone to stop by and experience what the facility has to offer. The daylong event includes a 5k trail run/stroller walk, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, zip-lining, and — of course — whitewater rafting. There’s also plenty of food and live music.
usnwc.org

September 14
NatureSweet Carmel TomatoFest
Carmel, California
Taste test from among more than 350 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, then sample tomato-based recipes from 60 of the country’s best chefs. There are also wine and olive oil tastings and a Salsa Showcase featuring variations from across the U.S.
tomatofest.com

September 19–November 1
Terror Behind the Walls
Philadelphia
Venture inside Eastern State Penitentiary for one of the area’s scariest Halloween attractions. The now-abandoned prison once held the likes of Al “Scarface” Capone and bank robber “Slick” Willie Sutton.
easternstate.org

September 21–January 4
Art and Empire: Treasures from Assyria in The British Museum
Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston presents a collection of 250 objects from ancient Assyria (now modern-day Iraq). The pieces date from the ninth to seventh centuries B.C. and include monumental wall reliefs, jewelry, ivory carvings, and clay tablets. The exhibition is organized by The British Museum, which houses the finest collection of Assyrian art outside Iraq.
mfa.org

September 28
Sunrise to Sunset Acoustic Music Festival
Norfolk
Some of the region’s best acoustic musicians play all day in Town Point Park. The event features 15 concerts on three outdoor stages.
festeventsva.org