North America Events

    Dixon Petunia Festival, United States

   - Dixon, IL           
Each year, the residents of Dixon, Illinois, honor a group of public spirited men and their project which has earned the town national recognition and as the State of Illinois official "Petunia City."
Thousands of pink petunias line more than two miles of Dixon highway approaches and main thoroughfares, giving the city a warm glow of color from early May until late fall.
It all began in the late 1950s when a combination of Dutch Elm disease and major highway expansion caused the removal of all trees along the communitys major roadways.
The Dixon Mens Garden Club, which for several years has worked on small flower beds scattered throughout the city, decided to do something about the barren look of the highway approaches.
In 1960 and 1961, the club planted 4,000 petunias along both sides of about one-half mile of the principal north-south route, South Galena Avenue. The next year, the club members put 6,000 more petunias on the three-quarters of a mile of North Galena Avenue.
Today, the plantings have spread to other approaches to the city and now extend along principal streets. Most of Dixon's 15,000 residents have taken part in one way or another.
    Des Moines Art Festival, United States
   - Des Moines, IA           
Join us for the 2007 Des Moines Arts Festival on June 29-July 1 for Iowa's only free, three-day celebration of the arts!
    SoulFest, United States
   - Gilford, NH           
August - SoulFest is growing! We anticipate our anniversary year to be a great success. We are making plans to make room for more people here are some important changes to camping.
On Site camping is reserved exclusively for multi-day SoulFest ticket buyers.
    Kentucky Derby, United States
  Churchill Downs - Louisville, KY            
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The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter miles (2 km) at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds. The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in the US and typically draws around 155,000 fans. Source
    Battleship New Jersey, United States
  62 Battleship Place - Camden, NJ             
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America's most decorated Battleship is now the area's most exciting museum, open for tours, events and overnight encampments. Exploring “BB62” is experiencing history in a whole new way. Not only do you see exhibits of artifacts from the ship’s past, but you are put into the exhibit as you go through the tour route. Sit in the chair from which Admiral Halsey commanded the fleet. Stretch out on the bunks where the sailors slept. Climb into the 16” gun turret and learn how the projectiles were loaded.
    Oklahoma State Fair, United States
   - Oklahoma City, OK           
September - Oklahoma State Fair, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that serves the people of Oklahoma and is dedicated to continuing the organization's heritage of education, entertainment and economic development through the operation of State Fair Park and the annual Oklahoma State Fair.
    Lebowski Fest, United States
   - Louisville,            
September/October - Lebowski Fest is a bowling event celebrating all things relating to the Coen Brothers 1998 film, The Big Lebowski. It can be likened to a Star Trek convention in a very loose sense. The event takes place at a bowling alley and includes unlimited bowling, costume , trivia, farthest traveled, and bowling contests, prizes, and what-have-you. The friend of the Coen Brothers who inspired the main character played by Jeff Bridges, Jeff "The Dude" Dowd has been known to make an appearance and drink some White Russians. The 1st annual occurred in Fall of 2002 in Louisville, Kentucky and the 2nd annual took place in July 2003. We then headed way out west to Las Vegas for Lebowski Fest West in Feb., 2004. The 3rd Annual Lebowski Fest in June of 2004 brought over 4000 Achievers and included an outdoor concert with My Morning Jacket. Lebowski Fest New York was held in Aug. 2004. Lebowski Fest hit a milestone in LA when Jeff Bridges came out!
    Emmy Awards, United States
   - Los Angeles, CA           
The Emmy Awards are United States television production awards, similar to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment. Three related but separate organizations present Emmy Awards: the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honors national prime time entertainment (excluding sports); the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recognizes daytime, sports, news and documentary programming; and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honors programming originating outside the United States.
The first Emmy Awards were presented on January 25, 1949 at the Hollywood Athletic Club. The name "Emmy" was a feminization of "immy", a nickname used for the image orthicon tubes that were common in early television cameras. Shirley Dinsdale has the distinction of receiving the very first Emmy in the first awards ceremony. The Emmy Awards trophies are currently made by a private company with a manufacturing site at the maximum security El Dorado Correctional Facility, in El Dorado, Kansas. The statuette of a winged woman holding an atom has since become the symbol of the TV Academy's goal of supporting and uplifting the art and science of television: The wings represent the muse of art; the atom the electron of science. It was created by television engineer Louis McManus, using his wife as a model. Source
    Calgary International Film Festival, Canada
   - Calgary - Alberta,              
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The Calgary International Film Festival Society was established in 1999 as a non-profit organization providing an annual world-class cinema event for the citizens of Calgary and area. We aim to showcase the best of national and international film to Calgary audiences. The Festival has brought numerous Canadian film premieres and world caliber filmmakers to our city. Your support is needed to continue bringing quality films to Calgary.
    Caribana Festival, Canada
   - Toronto, CA            
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July-August. Caribbean-style carnival with parties, music and parade.
    Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada
  1181 Seymour Street - Vancouver, BC           
September/October - This year we introduce a new event program at the VIFF. As part of our hospitality and networking initiatives, the festival is hosting a regular series of receptions at our spacious new Vancouver International Film Centre.
    Guadalajara Cinema Fest, Mexico
   - Guadalajara,            
A lo largo de sus veinte años de existencia, el Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara se ha consolidado como un espacio privilegiado para la exhibición del cine de calidad. Desarrollado en un ambiente que favorece el diálogo entre los creadores y el público, el Festival ha sido también un lugar de reunión de cineastas, actores, fotógrafos, funcionarios, distribuidores y críticos, nacionales y extranjeros. Así, este encuentro anual ha servido para dar a conocer jóvenes valores e impulsar sus carreras, al mismo tiempo que ha reconocido y revisado la obra de los ya consagrados.
    Festival Acadien, Canada
   - Little Brook, NS           
Sunday, July 4, 2004
    Festival du Voyageur, Canada
  233, boul. Provencher Blvd - Winnipeg, MB            
February. Winter carnival.
    Edmonton International Film Festival, Canada
   - Edmonton - Alberta,             
Septermber/October. Just a couple hours drive from the glorious Rocky Mountains, Edmonton is known for its big sky and endless sunshine. Located east of Vancouver and west of Toronto, Edmonton is in the heart of the Canadian Prairies and our city is often called upon to be the set for independent and Hollywood movies. With a population of one million people, Edmonton is a city that loves movies. It's reported that the number one, per capita, movie rental city in Canada is Edmonton. Need we say more? Oh yes, and we have the world's largest shopping mall -- West Edmonton Mall.
    Carnaval de Quebec, Canada
   - Quebec,            
February. Snow and ice sculptures, canoe races on the frozen St. Lawrence, Queen's Ball, parades.
    Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival, Canada
   - Sudbury - Ontario,            
- Has been in existence since 1989. What was initially a three-day festival is now a nine-day event.
- Festival attendance in 2005: 27,500
- Audience: approximately 50/50 males vs. females; ethnically diverse; majority of patrons range in age from 35 to 60 years, but youth do attend; proven consumers of media arts