Ah - summer festivals and special events. US music festivals? Film festivals? Planning a trip around the US this summer and don't want to miss any summer festivals or special events? Use this handy
festivalfinder from
Travel Cuts to find US festivals and summer special events - search by fesivals themes and/or festivels dates. The festivalfinder search engine offers the option to search for special events up to two years in advance, but you'll probably only see this summer's festivals' dates unless they're annual special events and take place at the same time every summer - you'll see a disclaimer if it's possible that a particular festival's details may change.
Themes
A festivalfinder random search for summer US festivals and special events in the ten theme categories pulled up some examples of interesting things to see and do in the USA this summer (click the theme link to see all listings):
Arts - Chicago's Magnificent Mile Art Festival, Florida's American Black Film Festival, California's Steinbeck Festival and New York International Fringe Festival.
Bizarre - Austin's SPAM Town USA Festival, Georgia's Summer Redneck Games and Georgia's Mighty Mud Mania.
Classical Music - Newport's Chamber Music Festival, the Santa Fe Opera (a "wow" must see) and Philadelphia Orchestra's Summer Season.
Festivals & Heritage - Montana's Custer's Last Stand Re-enactment, New York's Mother AME Zion Church Gospel Service, Missouri's Ozark Empire Fair and Louisiana's Bastille Day.
Gay and Lesbian - San Francisco Pride parade and festivities, LA's Outfest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and Fire Island's Pines Party.
Kids and Family - Detroit's Caribbean International Festival, Wisconsin's Great Circus Parade and Festival and San Diego's US Open Sandcastle Competition.
Lifestyle - Vermont's Quilt Festival, Key West Summer Food & Wine Festival and the Gatlinburg Summer Craftsmen's Fair.
Music & Nightlife - Pompano Beach's Rock Never Stops, Pittsburgh Blues Festival and Miami's Reggae Festival.
Science & Knowledge - Oshkosh's AirVenture, West Virginia's African American Culture and Heritage Festival and Akron's All-American Soap Box Derby.
Sport and Outdoors - "Bronxboro" - NYC's Arm Wrestling Championship, The Death Ride: Tour of the California Alps for cyclists, Alaska's World Eskimo-Indian Olympics and SoCal's International Surf and Health Festival.
Details
When you click into an event, you'll be taken to its individual page giving details like dates, venue and contact info, location and directions, a weather link, tourist offices and a link to the event's website if one exists. Because Travel Cuts is a full-service student travel agency, a bonus is that any event's home page also contains links to information about the hosting area:
Overview
Introduction
Government
Environment
Society
Economy
Pre-departure
Climate
Communication
Getting There
Getting Around
Culture
Images
Map
The Bottom Line
The search engine is surprisingly comprehensive, considering that it attempts to cover events and festivals across the United States.
"The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes 'sight-seeing.'" --Daniel J. Boorstin
