A Cinco de Mayo Celebration in San Antonio, TX

Celebrate Cinco de May in San Antonio, TX this year. The festival takes place on the 5th of May and is widely acknowledged as a day to appreciate Mexican pride and heritage. While the holiday is not a government mandated holiday, it is voluntarily celebrated by citizens in the United States and areas of Mexico every year.  The event will take place in Market Square with delicious Tex-Mex food for you to enjoy as well as arts and crafts from Mexico. You will love exploring the vendor’s stands and finding the perfect souvenirs to take home with you.

While you’re in San Antonio for this cultural celebration, see the Spanish influence on the city with the Rio San Antonio River Walk Cruises.  The city is full of beautiful architecture and history that joins two separate cultures to create a city that is as unique as it is fascinating to explore. See sights like the Alamo, San Fernando Cathedral, and other historic parts of the city as you cruise along the river. If you’re not a fan of cruises, take a bus tour like the San Antonio Grand Tour which will give you a similar historic tour by land instead of water.

Once you’ve seen the Alamo from the river, you’re going to want to go and see it up close. The Alamo Reflections Tour is perfect for this. It not only takes you to the Alamo but a tour guide will be with you to tell you the story of the Alamo. Famous pioneers like Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett even have a place in the tale of the Alamo. After the Alamo, you will also visit places like Mission San Jose and Mission Concepcion for a full history of San Antonio.

Ring in the New Year All Over Again DC’s Chinese New Year Spectacular!

While Valentine’s Day may be the first celebration to come to mind when thinking of February 14, those that would prefer cultural exploration will find fifteen days of celebration throughout Washington DC under the banner of the Chinese New Year! On February 14, we will officially enter the Year of the Tiger and DC will kick off the occasion in lively form.

While the exact date has yet to be announced, the annual Chinese New Year Parade will undoubtedly be one of the top draws this year. The parade is set to be held in DC’s Chinatown along H Street between 6th and 8th Streets.

Other celebrations are set to include various events at the Lakeforest Mall on weekends throughout the 15-day celebration, as well as a coordinated effort from the Montgomery County Public Libraries to place focus on Chinese culture through hands-on activities, demonstrations and more!

Those interested in visiting Washington DC during the Chinese New Year can find a variety of lodging options throughout the DC area online.

Celebrate with Dollywood During the Uplifting National Gospel & Harvest Celebration

This October 2 – 31, the natural wonder of the Smoky Mountains will be coupled with the graceful beauty of hymns as the National Gospel & Harvest Celebration returns to Dollywood theme park. Throughout the nearly month long festival, numerous nationally known acts including The Isaacs, Jeff & Sheri Easter, Riders in the Sky, The Kingsmen and more will bring praise to the already inviting setting that is Dollywood. Aside from daily concerts, the National Gospel & Harvest Celebration will also bring a variety of artisans and craftsmen to the park to work their trades; showcase Rusty’s Chuckwagon, offering Dutch oven demonstrations and campfire cooking; and host the Woodcarving Showcase & Competition (October 2 – 4).

Those from out of town that interested in attending the National Gospel & Harvest Celebration can find a variety of lodging options in the Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge area online.

Of course, those visiting Dollywood for the National Gospel & Harvest Celebration will still find all of the traditional attractions and activities that Dollywood is noted for. Whether your perfect day at the park includes exploring Mystery Mine and braving Timber Tower, playing with the kids in the Dreamland Forest Treehouse and watching them ride the Busy Bees, settling in to live performances such as Dreamland Drive-In and Country Crossroads, or enjoying traditional Smoky Mountains cuisine at Granny Ogle’s Ham n’ Beans or Miss Lillian’s Chicken House, there is something for one and all at Dollywood!

Vancouver Festivals to Light Up Your Summer Vacation

As the days lengthen and grow warm, Vancouver comes alive with great festivals and entertainment to take advantage of the warm summer nights. With a festival appropriate for every age and interest, it has never been a better time to explore what Vancouver has to offer.

The Celebration of Light festival is an annual event that features pyrotechnics and musical displays. It is also an annual contest, with different countries competing for the victory. For 2009, the Celebration of Light displays are on July 22, 25, and 29, and August 1. Each night features a different show with a different theme. Each night is hosted by a different country. Participating countries are Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and China. This is the 19th year for this event, and it typically draws over 1 million spectators. Each night, the show begins at 10 p.m. The shows take place over English Bay in Vancouver. English Bay provides the best viewing point, and Vacations Made Easy offers a number of hotels near the bay that will let you avoid the traffic and walk to the event or just watch it from the comfort of your hotel.

Another major event in the Vancouver area is the Harmony Arts Festival, which is a ten day ongoing festival featuring a variety of exhibits and performances. The festival takes place from July 31 to August 9 at the John Lawson Park in West Vancouver. Ongoing events of the festival include exhibits of hand-crafted jewelry, paintings, sculptures, pottery, and woodwork. Other features of the festival include ArtSpeaks lectures, concerts, children’s exhibits and special programming, movie screenings, and a craft market. Whether you just want an activity for an afternoon or an entertaining evening out, the Harmony Arts Festival will have plenty of events for your enjoyment.

Music lovers should mark their calendars for the Festival Vancouver. Also known as the MusicFest Vancouver, the festival takes place August 2 through 16. Nine Vancouver venues will be hosting concerts throughout the festival. Concerts range from classical performances to world music. Music groups from around the world are coming to Vancouver for this festival, including the Leipzig String Quartet from Germany, the Double Choir Masterworks from Taiwan, and the Renaud Garcia-Fons Trio from France. Whatever your musical taste, you will be able to find an amazing concert to go to during this festival. Venues include The Centre In Vancouver For Performing Arts, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Chan Centre at UBC.