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Mardi Gras; meaning "Fat Tuesday" is an annual Carnival celebration held in New Orleans, Louisiana.  The parades in New Orleans are organized by Carnival krewes. Krewe float riders toss throws to the crowds; the most common throws are strings of plastic colorful beads, doubloons, decorated plastic throw cups, and small inexpensive toys. Mardis Gras celebrations run for about 2 weeks with this year's festivities start February 12, 2013.  Mardis Gras pretty much runs 24 hours per day once it starts.  The events of Mardis Gras truly do bring this city alive.   Music, Dance, Costumes and Partying!  

Mardis Gras - New Orleans, Louisiana

Which American events draw the biggest crowds - and why?  Is it the entertainment, the food, the displays or just the sheer fun?  America The Beautiful searched from sea to shining sea and even hopped over to an island or two in order to compile these results.  If you love to be where the action is - these events should definitely be added to your activity list in 2013.   Our list features events large and small - but worthy of your time!   Check them out....

The Kentucky Derby Festival is Kentucky's largest annual event and one of the nation’s finest celebrations with more than 70 special events of this annual civic celebration including concerts, races and just plain fun.

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds which race around a 1 1/4 mile track at Churchill Downs.  The race is known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports" or "The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses"

Kentucky Derby - Louisville, Kentucky

Home of the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon, distance running is a tradition here in Boston. This year’s John Hancock 117th Boston Marathon will be held on Patriot Day - April 15, 2013. The event attracts over 500,000 spectators each year, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event.  The event now attracts an average of about 20,000 registered participants each year, with 26,895 people entering in 2011.  A fantastic way to bring in New England Springtime.

Boston Marathon - Boston, Massachusetts

Pumpkin Chucking, or  “Punkin Chunkin” is the sport of hurling or 'chucking' a pumpkin solely by mechanical means for distance. The devices used include slingshots, catapults, centrifugals, trebuchets, and pneumatic cannons. The contest is held the first full weekend after Halloween in Sussex County, Delaware.  For the entertainment of spectators, the event also features amusement rides, food vendors, fireworks, live concerts, a pumpkin cooking contest, a chili cook-off, the Miss Punkin Chunkin pageant, et al.  Set your sight on attending a new and unique event each year ! Love it!

Punkin Chunkin Championship- Delaware

America’s favorite Stock Car race happens in the sunshine state of Florida just in time to give race fans a break from the winter chill.  This is the Great American Race.  The Daytona 500 is an incredibly popular race with activities that begin weeks before the big race happens.  If you are a race fan, if you are a sun and fun lover - you may find this event is the perfect fit to get you primed for the rest of the year.  500 miles of action packed racing at a very prestigious race.    The Daytona 500 is the race of a lifetime and it runs on February 24, 2013 at 1:00pm.   Start your Engines and plan your trip!!!

Nascar Daytona 500 - Daytona Beach, Florida

Families across the Unites States and Rhode Island celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives and friends.  It is a day that we as a nation come together to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people. Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States. Bristol, Rhode Island is a charming small bayside community- so plan early and remember forever!

Indepedence Day - Bristol, Rhode Island

The City of Chicago and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events presents the annual Chicago Taste of Chicago 2013. Each day more than 70 local restaurateurs offer a delicious combination of ethnic items, family favorites, exotic and Chicago specialties feeding more than 3 million people in Grant Park, in downtown Chicago. Live entertainment is also provided every day by a variety of musical performances on multiple stages.   The Taste of Chicago 2013 runs between July 10 &14 in one of our favorite cities.    It's free to go, and if you are hungry, which you will be, the food tickets are cheap. YUMMY!

Taste of Chicago 2013 - Chicago, Illinois

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a yearly festival of hot air balloons that takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA during early October. The balloon fiesta is a nine day event, and has around 750 balloons. The event is the largest hot air balloon festival in the world.

 This year’s events begin on October 5 and runs through October 15, 2013 with a jam packed line up of special events and competitions.  There are balloon glows, Specials shapes, artistic visions and Other piloting, skill, and speed competitions.  This event will get you High on Lifte.  Hitch a Ride!

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - New Mexico

The longest running jazz festival in the world, held every September on the Monterey Fairgrounds site where the Festival was first presented in 1958. The 56th Monterey Jazz Festival presents the best jazz performers in the world for a three-day celebration of the best in jazz. The Monterey Jazz Festival also features jazz conversations, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, clinics, and an international array of food, shopping and festivities spread throughout the 20-acre Monterey Fairgrounds.  If you don’t “LOVE” jazz going in - you will coming out.  A very fine music festival. Cheers!

The Monterey Jazz Festival is a nonprofit organization and has donated its proceeds to musical education since its inception in 1958

Monterey Jazz Festival - Monterey California

In our book, it is the only way to send out the old and bring in the New - Year that is.  This event to bring in the coming year is internationally recognized as “the place to be”.  Hundreds of thousands of people pack the streets around Times Square and surprisingly don’t seem to get aggravated by the lack of space.  New York City continues to do an exceptional job of hosting this event and bringing in the New Year with character and style.  This is an entertaining event you must do once!

New Year’s Eve / Times Square, New York