Page 43 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

USA THROUGH THE Y EAR  41

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
(3rd Mon). Events are held
around the country to honor
the birth and life of the Civil
Rights leader.
Riverwalk Mud Festival (mid-
Jan), San Antonio, TX.
While workers drain the water
to clear out downtown’s
River Walk, musicians and
artists celebrate.
Cowboy Poetry Gathering
(late Jan), Elko, NV. Cowboys
come to this town to narrate
tales, quote their very
own poems, and sing
songs about the heroic
American West.
A colorful float on parade during Mardi Gras, New Orleans February
Groundhog Day (Feb 2),
serve special Thanksgiving December Punxsutawney, PA. The star of
meals, and the town of Triple Crown of Surfing this festival is a small rodent
Plymouth, MA recreates a pilgrim (late Nov to mid-Dec), North who forecasts the beginning
Thanks giving worship service. Shore O‘ahu, HI. The world’s of spring.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day most prestigious surfing Mardi Gras (date varies,
Parade (Thanksgiving Day), competition usually spans Feb–Mar), New Orleans, LA.
New York City, NY. Giant three weeks, waves and Colorful parades, lavish
inflatable figures march down weather permitting. parties, and masked balls
New York’s Broadway to Boston Tea Party Re- are held. Many smaller cities
celebrate Thanksgiving and enactment (mid-Dec), Boston, hold similar celebrations.
the start of the Christmas MA. Costumed performers and
holiday season. interpreters bring to life the
famous Boston Tea Party, a
protest that played an important
role in precipitating the famous
Winter American Revolution.
Perhaps best known for New Year’s Eve (Dec 31), New
the shopping mania that leads York City, NY. The country’s
up to Christmas, winter in foremost New Year celebration
American cities is a time of starts with the countdown in
twinkling lights, ringing cash New York’s Times Square, which
registers, and occasional is televised live across Eastern
snowstorms. Department stores US and repeated (on tape) for
along New York’s Fifth Avenue, viewers elsewhere in the
Chicago’s State Street, and other country. Major New Year’s Eve
shopping districts attract parties occur in most major
shoppers with exuberant cities, with great public
displays in their store windows. celebrations in Las Vegas and Lion dance during Chinese New Year,
Many ski resorts stage special San Francisco. Chinatown, San Francisco
winter activities, such as sleigh
rides and visits from Santa Claus. January Chinese New Year (date
Winter is also the best time to New Year’s Day (Jan 1). varies, late Jan to mid-Feb),
watch the gray whale migration Parades and festivities are San Francisco, CA. To celebrate
along the Pacific Ocean, or to held all around the country Chinese New Year, colorful
observe the humpback whales and are often connected with a parades are held here, in
on the way to their winter championship college football New York City, and several
breeding grounds in Hawai‘i. game such as the Orange Bowl other cities.
February also sees a number of in Miami, the Cotton Bowl in Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
public parades and parties, Dallas, the Sugar Bowl in New (late Feb–early Mar),
which range from the Chinese Orleans, and the Rose Bowl in Anchorage, AK. This test
New Year celebrations to the Pasadena, CA, which is usually of endurance takes packs
wild fun and festivity of Mardi preceded by a nationally of dogs and their drivers
Gras in New Orleans. televised parade. two grueling weeks.

038-041_EW_USA.indd 41 11/3/16 10:58 AM