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Now
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Fall Festivals time is here again.
The
weather is cooling down, the leaves are turning (in
some places, anyway), the roads are less congested -
and whether you call it Autumn, Indian summer or anything
else, the cooler temperatures give us all a really good
reason to get out and enjoy the fall.
There
can be no better RV destination than a visit to one
of the many Fall Festivals in various scenic parts of
North America (and the world too. There are many Fall
Festivals in Europe and other places around the globe
as well).
To celebrate the start of fall, here is a list of North
American Fall Festivals, selected by the Society of
American Travel Writers as tops in North America.
California
Oktoberfest by the Bay
October 12 – 15, 2006
San Francisco, California
Over 40,000 people descend on Fort Mason overlooking
the San Francisco Bay in what’s considered the
largest Oktoberfest west of the Mississippi River. Celebrating
in the true tradition of Munich's famed Oktoberfest,
the festival includes nonstop music, dancing, singing,
and the very best in German food and drink. The world
renowned 21-piece Chico Bavarian Band headlines the
stage.
Phone: 888-746-7522
www.oktoberfestbythebay.com
Florida
“Ding” Darling Days
October 8 – 14, 2006
Sanibel Island, Florida
"Ding" Darling Days in mid-October signals
the long-awaited arrival of fall with opportunities
to finally get out and go birding, kayaking, fishing,
and hiking without withering in the Florida heat and
humidity. Called Sanibel Island’s premier birding
festival and eco-event, the weeklong festival features
a kids fishing day, nature photography seminar, noted
wildlife authors and speakers, and a free family fun
day with tram tours of "Ding" Darling National
Wildlife Refuge. The event also includes free food,
wildlife presentations, arts and crafts, and the introduction
of the year's Federal Duck Stamp artist.
Phone: 239-472-1100
www.dingdarlingdays.com
Indiana
Indiana Covered Bridge Festival
October 13 – 22, 2006
Rockville, Indiana
The 50th annual festival celebrates Parke County’s
many covered bridges in eastern Indiana. View over 30
covered bridges; enjoy shopping, crafts, food, and more.
The fall foliage is spectacular, the bridges are charming
and there are lots of activities in communities across
the county. Daily bus tours leave the Rockville, Ind.,
square and provide a guided tour of the region’s
covered bridges and historic structures. A full schedule
of entertainment is included.
Phone: 765-569-5226
www.coveredbridges.com
Nebraska
September 16-17, 2006
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Celebrate the fall apple harvest in this hometown of
Arbor Day. Activities include the AppleJack Parade and
Apple Jam Fest with family entertainment, crafts, classic
car show, flea market, 5K run/walk and an apple pie
baking contest. While there visit the Arbor Day Farm
Tree Adventure or take in the winery tour via historic
trolley.
Phone: 800-514-9113
www.nebraskacity.com
New
Hampshire
Keene Pumpkin Festival
October 21, 2006
Keene, New Hampshire
Thousands of twinkling jack o’lanterns line the
streets, curbs, benches and everywhere else in Keene,
New Hampshire, in the southwest part of the state. Residents
from the town and surrounding communities carve elaborate
pumpkins by the tens of thousands and display them downtown
for one day only. The 2003 event set a Guinness record
with 28,952 lighted jack o’lanterns on display.
People come for the pumpkins, great food and mardis
gras atmosphere in autumn. The surrounding region offers
mountain hiking, historical sites and spectacular fall
foliage.
Phone: 603-358-5344
www.pumpkinfestival.org
New
Mexico
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
October 6 – 15, 2006
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Long considered the granddaddy of events, balloons from
around the world descend on this New Mexico town. With
October comes crystal skies and perfect ballooning weather
due to a phenomenon called the "Albuquerque Box."
This combination of weather patterns and geographic
landscape occurs in the fall and allows balloonists
to control and even retrace their adventure in the skies.
Balloon Fiesta Park covers over 200 acres and is filled
with over 700 balloons plus vendors selling everything
from traditional New Mexican food to balloon memorabilia.
Phone: 888-422-7277
www.balloonfiesta.com
North
Carolina
The Woolly Worm Festival
October 21 & 22, 2006
Banner Elk, North Carolina
Woolly Worm races determine the official caterpillar
used to predict the coming winter weather. In addition
to the worm races, the festival features crafts, food
vendors, live entertainment and much more. Last year's
event attracted an estimated 20,000 fans and 1,000 woolly
worm race entrants. Held in the mountain town of Banner
Elk along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.
While in the area festival attendees can enjoy great
dining and quaint inns and lodges throughout the classic
resort villages of neighboring Linville, Blowing Rock
and Boone.
Phone 828-898-5605
www.banner-elk.com
Nova
Scotia
Pumpkin People Festival
Throughout the month of October
Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada
Pumpkin people invade the town of Kentville each October.
Sometimes humorous, sometimes scary, sometimes even
political, the pumpkin clan invades the town. These
manikins with corn stalk stuffed bodies and carved pumpkin
heads are found throughout the town and can be seen
in the most unusual places from the front yards to the
tops of telephone poles and in apple orchards and even
at local weddings and funerals. Visitors come from all
around to get in the Halloween mood. While in the region
check out the U-pick farms, local wineries and the annual
Kentville Harvest Fair (October 9-11, 2006), a weekend
filled with activities, including a giant pumpkin weigh-off.
Phone: 800-565-0000
www.novascotia.com
West
Virginia
Mountain State Forest Festival
September 30 – October 8, 2006
Elkins, West Virginia
Now in its 70th year, the Mountain State Forest Festival
is the oldest festival in West Virginia and attracts
over 200,000 people to the mountain town of Elkins.
The festival features eight days of dances, carnival,
arts and crafts, weaving and quilt exhibits, wood chopping,
archery and horse pulling contests, gospel sings, Irish
road bowling, scenic train rides and more.
Phone: 304-636 –1824
www.forestfestival.com
Wisconsin
45th Annual Bayfield Apple Festival
October 6-8, 2006
Bayfield, Wisconsin
Celebrating its 45th year, the Bayfield Apple Festival
honors the revered apple. Over 45 orchards and food
booths sell apples, apple desserts and apple delicacies
during the three-day event in this picturesque town
on the shores of Lake Superior. Other activities include
entertainment, carnival, boat parade, apple pie and
apple dessert baking contest and the annual Apple Dumpling
Gang contest for children.
Phone: 800-447-4094
www.bayfield.org
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