Here is a calendar-full of things to do-parades, pageants, parties, races, fairs and festivals-close to home and far away. All dates, though correct at press time, are subject to change; check with government tourist offices before starting out.
JANUARY
1
Philadelphia Mummers Parade
Watch 30,000 mummers ”strut” for 12 hours on Broad Street.
10-11
Bellinzona, Switzerland Official Opening Ceremony
700 Years of Switzerland Switzerland`s yearlong birthday bash begins in a blaze of fire and light.
17-27
Park City, Utah Sundance Film Festival
America`s premier festival for independent filmmakers.
23-Feb. 3 St. Paul Winter Carnival
The ”Good Neighbors, Good Times” theme is spread throughout the city.
FEBRUARY
1-10
Ottawa Winterlude
Canadian winter sports on and around the frozen Rideau Canal.
1-12
New Orleans Mardi Gras
The ultimate costume party sizzles with parades and balls.
7-10
Waterville Valley, N.H. Christa McAuliffe Ski Invitational
Celebrities team up for fun ski races.
23-March 2
San Francisco Chinese New Year Celebration
The largest Asian population outside of Asia launches the Year of the Ram.
MARCH
7-17
New York City New York Flower Show
Blooms from around the world.
Great Falls, Mont. C.M. Russell Art Auction
Original Western art is displayed and discussed, admired and acquired.
Lawton, Okla.
Wichita Mountains Easter Pageant
The life of Jesus retold by a cast of hundreds on Easter eve.
31-April 7
Washington, D.C. National Cherry Blossom Festival
6,000 Japanese cherry trees put the Tidal Basin in the pink.
APRIL
5-7
Greece, nationwide
Holy Week Greek Orthodox Easter is celebrated with feasts, fairs and folk dancing.
19-21
St. Albans, Vt./Vermont Maple Festival
Dozens of sweet and sticky events in praise of the sugar maple.
25-May 5
Birmingham, Ala. Birmingham Festival of the Arts
A salute to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
26-May 5
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
The best of jazz and jambalaya.
MAY
9-11
Pella, Iowa
Pella Tulip Time Festival
Windmills, wooden shoes and thousands of tulips make this a Dutch treat.
12-30
Madrid San Isidro Festival
Madrid fetes its patron saint with Castilian music, food, and poetry.
24-27
Sacramento Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee
The weekend features 100 jazz bands playing 100 hours of music around town.
31-June 23
Portland, Ore. Portland Rose Festival
Top event among 70 is the Grand Floral Parade on June 8.
JUNE
7-9
Ft. Worth Chisholm Trail Roundup
Trail ride, shoot-outs and Indian dancing.
21-July 4
Detroit and Windsor, Ontario International Freedom Festival
Fireworks and 100 other events celebrate the birthdays of Canada and the U.S. 28-July 1 (and July 4-7) Washington, D.C. Festival of American Folklife
Traditional and popular American music.
29-30
Springfield Lincolnfest
Lincoln`s hometown hosts a huge street fair.
JULY
2-7
Boston Harborfest `91
Boston Harbor celebrates its briny past as the USS Constitution makes its annual turnaround.
4-7
Hannibal, Mo. Tom Sawyer Days
Highlight is the National Fence Painting Contest.
4-7
Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Folk Festival
Largest folk fest in North America.
4-24
Salt Lake City Days of `47 Celebration
Frontier-style fairs, pageants and square dancing in the streets.
AUGUST
Hong Kong Hungry Ghosts Festival
Lavish paper replicas of worldly goods are offered.
23-Sept. 2
Palmer, Alaska Alaska State Fair
Renowned for its gargantuan cabbages, turnips and zucchini.
29-Sept. 2
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa Old Settlers & Threshers Reunion
Working antique tractors, electric trolleys and steam trains.
30-Sept. 2
Toledo ToledoFest: A Celebration of the Arts
Visual and performing arts on both sides of the Maumee River.
SEPTEMBER
5-8
Bismarck, N.D. United Tribes Powwow
Native American singing, dancing, costumes, foods, artifacts.
6-8
Virginia City, Nev. Camel races
Competition is as hot as the desert. Ostrich racing, too.
11-22
West Springfield, Mass. The Big E
With a giant midway and its own circus, this is a biggie.
21-22
Castroville, Calif. Artichoke Festival
The Artichoke Queen reigns in the heart of artichoke country.
OCTOBER
4-7
Sandpoint, Idaho Draft Horse International
There`s a lot of horsepower in these contests and exhibits.
5-13
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
World`s largest lighter-than-air fair, now with a Special Shapes Rodeo.
11-19
Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario/Oktoberfest
Shows, sausage and sauerkraut at the biggest Oktoberfest in North America.
26-Nov. 2
Cayman Islands Pirates Week Festival
Return to swashbuckling times.
NOVEMBER
13-16
Fairbanks, Alaska Athabascan Fiddling Festival
Indian fiddling champions play lively Gaelic tunes in the Far North.
15
Japan, nationwide Shichi-go-san
A photographer`s delight, as children visit Shinto shrines in traditional dress.
23-Jan. 5
Niagara Falls, N.Y. and Ontario A Festival of Lights
An electrifying holiday celebration on both sides of the falls.
24-Dec. 8
Detroit Thanksgiving Festival
A million curbside spectators are expected to watch the Thanksgiving Parade Nov. 28.
DECEMBER
6-24
24Natchez, Miss.
Christmas in Natchez
An antebellum Christmas at the oldest settlement on the Mississippi River.
12-Jan. 1
Washington, D.C.
National Christmas Tree Lighting and Pageant of Peace
Displays and performances nightly on the Ellipse grounds.
Springfield, Mass. Basketball`s Centennial
Much hoopla at the Basketball Hall of Fame.
25-28
Hatillo, Puerto Rico Festival of Masks
Masqueraders roam the streets in extravagant costumes.
