Page 41 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

USA THROUGH THE Y EAR  39

CA. Northern Cali fornia’s good-
humored culture is evident at
this three-day event, in which
human-powered sculptures
are raced over land and sea.

Summer
The Memorial Day holiday,
at the end of May, marks
the unofficial beginning of
summertime. This is prime
vacation and travel time for
students and families. It is also Independence Day fireworks light up the sky in Houston, Texas
a good time to enjoy music
festivals, usually held in idyllic July country’s most enjoyable
rural locations. The weather is Independence Day (Jul 4), blues festivals takes place in
hot and frequently humid, with Bristol, RI; Boston, MA; the home of the blues, the
afternoon storms in much of Independence, MO; Stone Mississippi Delta.
the country. Mountain near Atlanta, GA. Elvis Week (mid-Aug),
Although the entire country Memphis, TN. Also called
celebrates the Fourth of July “Deathweek,”a series of
with parades and fireworks events are held to celebrate
displays, these cities put on the life and times of Elvis
particularly good shows. Presley, leading up to the
Taste of Chicago, (early Jul), anniversary of his death on
Chicago, IL. The city’s best August 16.
food and music can be Alaska State Fair (late
experienced at an open-air Aug–Sep), Palmer, AK. This fair
party, held on the Lake is especially famous for its
Michigan waterfront. super-sized vegetables, with
Ernest Hemingway Days pumpkins and cabbages
(mid-Jul), Key West, FL. The city grown to world-record sizes
where the famous writer lived due to the state’s 24-hour
offers a week of theatrical summer sunshine.
productions, short-story US Open Tennis
Participants with rainbow-colored balloons contests, and a Hemingway Championships (Aug–Sep),
at LGBT Pride Parade, New York City look-alike competition. New York City, NY. Pro fessional
Tanglewood Music Festival tennis players from the world
June (Jul–Aug), Lenox, MA. The over compete in this Grand
B.B. King Homecoming Festival Boston Symphony and Boston Slam tournament.
(late May/early Jun), Indianola, MS. Pops give outdoor concerts
One of the oldest and most in a beautiful Berkshire
popular of the many Deep South Mountains estate.
summer blues festivals. Newport Jazz Festival
Harvard-Yale Regatta (early Jun), (late Jul–early Aug), Newport,
New London, CT. This series of RI. Founded in 1954, this
collegiate rowing races offers popular festival draws the very
visitors a chance to observe best jazz musicians from all over
the Ivy League elite at play. the country and the world.
Red Earth Native American Hawaiian International
Festival (early–mid-Jun), Billfish Tournament (late Jul–
Oklahoma City, OK. One of the mid-Aug), Kailua-Kona, HI.
largest gatherings of Native An annual event since 1959,
American dancers and musicians this international fishing
is held at what was the last ves- tournament draws teams of
tige of “Native American Territory.” anglers from far and wide in
LGBT Pride Day (Sun in late Jun), search of record-sized marlin.
New York City, NY; San Francisco,
California. Major parades August
featuring elaborate floats and Sunflower River Blues &
festivities fill the streets of both Gospel Festival (early Aug), Opening ceremony of the annual US Open
these cities. Clarksdale, MS. One of the Tennis Championships

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