Saint Paul Winter Carnival Celebrates 125th Anniversary

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the oldest winter festival in the United States, has brought family-friendly events and community pride to Saint Paul and the Twin Cities metro area, Minnesota, since 1886 and this year the “Coolest Celebration on Earth”™ celebrates its 125th anniversary from January 27 to February 6.

In honor of the sesquicentennial celebration, the Saint Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation Winter Carnival organizers have strived to create and promote 125 events under this year’s festival umbrella. All events take place in the City of Saint Paul and are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

In addition to its traditional events, the 2011 calendar of activities also includes numerous outdoor athletic events, supports the Saint Paul arts scene and rallies behind the U of M Golden Gophers in a variety of sports.

Most events will take place in Downtown Saint Paul in and around Rice Park and Landmark Center, Lake Phalen, the Como Park area, as well as the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Its traditional events include the Ice Carving Competition (in addition to the spectacular ice carvings, Rice Park will host live music from local artists daily), snow sculptures, historic winter carnival displays, fireworks, and the Royal Coronation. With the help of the Carnival’s legendary characters – King Boreas and the Royal Family, Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe, and the Royal Order of the Klondike Kates – the Saint Paul Winter Carnival will be 11 days of excitement and entertainment for all ages.

Among the new festivities for 2011 is the Winter Carnival Talent Contest.

For more information about top events in Minnesota take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Minnesota.

For the most current information on the 125th Saint Paul Winter Carnival visit www.winter-carnival.com

Skiing, Sledding, Skating in Wintertime Cleveland Plus

Winter in Cleveland, Ohio is about more than just sweaters, scarves, mittens and boots. Winter is a time to experience the best of the season in a region that truly embraces the weather. So, whether they're racing down a 1,000-foot-long ice chute or cheering on the city's ice hockey team, visitors should know there's no better time to experience the unexpected side of Cleveland Plus than in the wintertime.

There are a number of festivals and events, among them, on February 19, the Brite Winter, a local festival held celebrating winter on the Cuyahoga River. This year, the Brite Winter festival, held at the newly created Rivergate Park adjacent to Hart Crane Memorial Park in the Flats, features a bonfire with marshmallows, a wintry mini-golf course, food, beverages and live music all outdoors.

From February 26 to March 6 the Greater Cleveland Auto Show is an exciting ten-day event held at the I-X Center that features more than 1,000 production, concept and classic vehicles. This includes domestic and imported vehicles, sport utility vehicles, mini vans and experimental, never-been-seen-before vehicles for enthusiasts alike. In addition to the cars and other vehicles, the auto show features celebrity sports figures and autograph signings

The Cleveland International Film Festival from March 21 to April 3 features two weeks of more than 250 films originating from nearly 80 countries. Visiting filmmakers, panel discussion and student screenings are all festival highlights.

For more information about top events in Ohio take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Ohio.

For more information on Wintertime in Cleveland Plus visit www.positivelycleveland.com

Variety of Special Events in San Diego

Throughout the year, San Diego plays host to a variety of annual special events, ranging from the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, the largest event of its kind in the world, to Comic-Con International, the largest comics and pop culture event in the United States.

Here are some unique and colorful special events that visitors to San Diego can enjoy in the upcoming months.

Visitors can be Super Man or Wonder Woman for a day at Comic-Con International this week, July 22 to 25, at the San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con is a signature summertime event for San Diego, attracting thousands of artists, celebrities and fans of comic books, movie memorabilia and all things related to pop culture.

Guests can wiggle their toes in the sand and view hundreds of sand sculptors at work during the Annual U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, August 6 to 8, at Imperial Beach Pier.

The San Diego International Film Festival returns September 29 to October 3 to downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter with a full slate of films showcasing the best in American and international full-length features, documentaries and shorts. Extra activities include Q&A sessions with the directors, workshops, panel discussions, guest appearances by film and video artists and more.

Part of San Diego’s annual Fleet Week celebration, the annual MCAS Miramar Air Show, October 1 to 3, showcases several types of aircraft, including vintage biplanes, Air Force Thunderbirds, a Navy Super Hornet and numerous stealth fighter jets. The event includes simulated combat demonstrations, a Twilight Show with the Great Wall of Fire and a firework grand finale.

For more information about top events in California, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California

For more information on events in San Diego visit www.sandiego.org

Festivals Showcase Hawai'i’s Cultural Diversity

A melting pot of ethnicities, Hawai‘i is truly a unique destination and one that makes any visitor feel at home. Locals and visitors alike come together at different times throughout the year to celebrate this diversity that one cannot find anywhere else. Here are several festivals in the coming months that you will not want to miss.

Na Hökü O Hawai‘i Music Festival, May 27 to 30: Hawaii’s talented artisans and musicians will share their knowledge of Hawaiian music, arts, and crafts through a variety of workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and performances throughout Waikiki.. Workshops, demonstrations and exhibitions throughout the four-day event are sure to provide an engaging cultural experience for all.

Pan-Pacific Festival, June 11 to 13: Experience the cultural heritage of the people from Japan. Since 1980, this festival continues to offer an eclectic assortment of cultural arts, crafts, traditional folk music and performances. A complete weekend- long affair, the festival includes a ho‘olaulea, performing arts showcase, hula festival, arts and crafts fair, and parade.

Korean Festival, July 9-10: Engage your senses in all things Korean in this 9th annual celebration. Taekwondo demonstrations, cultural exhibits, Korean cuisine tastings and traditional music will surely delight both kama‘äina (local residents) and visitors alike.

Prince Lot Hula Festival, July 17: Visit historic Moanalua Gardens for the largest outdoor hula festival in Hawai‘i. Featuring both ancient and modern hula along with chant, this festival honors Prince Lot Kapuäiwa, who brought the return of the once-banned hula in the district of Moanalua. Local food and refreshments also available.

For more information about top events in Hawai’i, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Hawai’i.

For more details on these cultural events visit the official Hawai'i web site.

AMERICA’S PREMIER SPRING ROWING REGATTA

The 37th annual San Diego Crew Classic – on March 27 and 28 on San Diego’s beautiful Mission Bay – has matured into the largest regatta in the world exclusively held for eight-oared rowing shells.

The race begins near Sea World and heads north along Mission Bay for 2,000 meters finishing at Crown Points Shores. The protected waters and green lawns of Mission Bay Park offer a perfect setting for this San Diego institution.

Over 3,400 athletes from more than 100 clubs, universities and colleges from across the United States will be taking part. For rowing events, the Crew Classic has been the marquee regatta on the West Coast for many years and has been on the rowing scene with many esteemed regattas such as Head of the Charles.

The Crew Classic has been the competitive site of both future and current Olympians. The Crew Classic is also an event for rowers of all levels and from ages 14-84 competing each year in various divisions. Some are novice rowers, while others are reliving their college and club experiences. The masters level is the fastest growing segment of the sport.

In addition to the outstanding racing, the San Diego Crew Classic features a trade show, great food and and alumni tents along with great viewing of the racing from Crown Point Shores or on the massive Jumbotron.

Crews will be on the water for practice throughout the day on Friday, March 26 adjacent to the merchandise and alumni areas.

For more information about top events in California, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-california.html

Or, take a look at the official web site of the San Diego Crew Classic at www.crewclassic.org

New Mexico’s 2010 Tournament of Roses® Parade Features Balloons, Chuck Jones’ Pepé Le Pew

Academy-Award®-winning Pepé Le Pew and Penelope Pussycat, entertainers of the young and the young at heart for more than 60 years, will take to the southern California skies aboard one of the Land of Enchantment’s most iconic images when New Mexico’s float – “Enchantment is in the Air” - travels Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, California January 1 in the 2010 Tournament of Roses® Parade.

The float design was unveiled this evening (October 29, 2009) at a reception at the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum – a fitting location considering New Mexico is America’s premier ballooning capital; and Pepé Le Pew and Penelope Pussycat were created by the late cartoonist Chuck Jones. Even with his passing, Chuck’s ties to New Mexico remain strong - one of the three Chuck Jones Galleries is located near the Santa Fe Plaza.

The parade begins at 9 a.m. Mountain Time on New Year’s Day.

This is the fourth time in the past five years that New Mexico will be represented by a float in the Tournament of Roses® Parade, and it follows on the heels of last year’s float, “Hats Off To New Mexico – Beep Beep,” starring Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner, which won the Bob Hope Humor (“most comical and amusing”). The 2008 float, featuring Roswell aliens and Spaceport America, was also honored, as winner of the as Grand Marshal’s Trophy “for excellence in creative concept and design.” It is one of the top three awards given each year.

Nearly 40 million Americans in 16.5 million households tuned in to watch the parade on nine national and international television networks each year. The Parade is also broadcast live in 150 countries and territories worldwide. Other media-oriented events promoting New Mexico in Southern California are also being planned.

Once again, the New Mexico float is designed by award-winning float designer Raul Rodriguez and built by Fiesta Parade Floats of Pasadena, Calif. under contract with the Tourism Department.

Nothing says “A Cut Above the Rest” (the theme of the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade) like New Mexico’s hot air balloons. “It can be a huge undertaking or something quite simple,” Secretary Cerletti said of the challenge to create a float that can represent New Mexico’s diverse entertainment offering in a colorful, eye-catching design.

The love-struck French skunk Pepé Le Pew is seeking “l’amour” as he yet again is in romantic pursuit to seduce Penelope Pussycat with amorous gifts of red roses and a heart-shaped box of chocolates. In her attempt to escape the ever-persistent Pepé, Penelope dangles precariously from the gondola of a swaying hot-air balloon. Pepé turns from side-to-side as he offers tokens of his affections.

The picturesque landscapes of New Mexico are comically depicted in animation art form from the snow-capped trees of the majestic mountains, through the teetering rock formations on down to the colorful desert floor bursting alive with blooming yuccas.

Pepé and Penelope will be artistically crafted in layers of velvety black onion seed and crisp white coconut flakes. The colorful hot air balloons are created in a rainbow of materials including yellow and gold strawflower petals, green split peas, blue, hot pink and purple sinuata statice, dehydrated carrot and red bell peppers, safflower spice, sweet rice and coconut flakes. The gondola baskets are woven in cornhusk and kiwi vines. Fiesta Parade Floats worked closely with Warner Bros. to insure the figures of Pepé Le Pew and Penelope Pussycat were reproduced to their exact specifications.

The colorful landscape of New Mexico comes vividly alive in over 50,000 roses. The unique rock formations are created in butterscotch and bronze chrysanthemums with striations of roses including brown Leonodis, Café Ole, Coffee Break and tan Caramel and Sahara roses. The desert floor comes vibrantly alive in orange rose shades of Saturno, Star 2000, Mercedes, Tropical Amazon and Verano. Fluffy clouds of white coconut flakes float above the landscape floor. Yucca blossoms have been created in over 10,000 white dendrobium orchid florets individually glued onto small welded rods.

For more information on other top events in California visit www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-california.html and for top events in New Mexico visit www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-new-mexico.html