100 Miles of Lights: Richmond to Virginia Beach, VA
November 9-December 31, 2019
100 Miles of Lights began in 1998 as a regional effort to promote holiday events and light shows from Richmond to Virginia Beach. Today, the effort provides a list of light shows and holiday events across the seven cities of Richmond, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach. Drive-through and walk-through light shows will dazzle and shine with more than two million lights, providing a colorful backdrop to the wide range of events and activities for the young and young-at-heart such as lighted boat parades, city illuminations, festivals, parades, living history re-enactments, caroling, dining events, music, dancing and more. For more information, visit www.100milesoflights.com
Fantasy of Lights: New Haven, CT
November 16-December 31, 2018
Holiday visitors to New Haven can experience Fantasy of Lights, a one-mile route through Lighthouse Point Park featuring over 60 holiday light displays. An annual tradition, Fantasy of Lights has mesmerized children of all ages for the last 24 years. For more information, visit www.visitnewhaven.com.
Santa Barbara Night Market: Santa Barbara, CA
November 23-December 29, 2018
This year, the Santa Barbara Night Market is proud to bring this tradition to State Street with holiday themed décor, live music, carolers, food, beverages and all the best products and experiences the Central Coast has to offer! Merchants are combining present buying with some extraordinary enjoyment and nightly entertainment this holiday season. For more information, visit www.santabarbaranightmarket.com.
A Kentucky Christmas at the Frazier Museum: Louisville, KY
November 24, 2018- January 7, 2019
The display will include authentic and traditional holiday décor outside and throughout the entire first floor of the museum. There will be a full schedule of holiday programming including school choirs performing every weekend, wreaths ornaments & other holiday items for sale in the museum store, wreath making tutorials, gingerbread house making classes, dulcimer lessons featuring a Christmas song, and more. See the new Spirit of Kentucky exhibition and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center. For more information, visit www.fraziermuseum.org/calendar-of-events/
Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend: Alexandria, VA
November 30-December 1, 2018
The town kicks off one of Alexandria’s most festive weekends of the year with the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade that floods Old Town on December 1 with Scottish-style merry-making and salutes Alexandria’s Scottish heritage. It is part of a weekend of festivities presented by The Campagna Center, which includes the Taste of Scotland scotch tasting (November 30), a holiday Heather and Greens sale (December 1) and Holiday Designer Tour of Homes (December 1). Events of the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend benefit The Campagna Center, a local nonprofit that has provided education and enrichment opportunities to children and adults in Alexandria for nearly 75 years. For more information, visitwww.visitalexandriava.com.
Fête de L’Escalade: Geneva, Switzerland
December 7-9, 2018
Geneva is renowned for its decadent chocolate, top-notch watches and is an ideal stop-over for avid skiers, but a truly memorable and historic festival awaits travelers the weekend of Dec. 7. L’Escalade, or “the climb,” is the most popular festival in Geneva, paying homage to the attack of the Duke of Savoy’s army in 1602. Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the Fête de l’Esclade, more than 800 people of old town march the streets, play drums and shoot from historical rifles, while thousands of spectators peer through the windows and gather around to watch this one-of-a-kind spectacle. Visitors can indulge in the festival’s ceremonial chocolate pots while fully immersing themselves in all the city of Geneva has to offer. For more information, visit www.geneve.com.
Christmas Eve Canyon Road Farolito Walk: Santa Fe, NM
December 24, 2018
Internationally famed Canyon Road blossoms in dazzling candlelight during this beloved annual celebration, the Christmas Eve Canyon Road Farolito Walk. The adobe-gallery lined road is decorated with thousands of farolitos—homemade candle lanterns—and luminarias, or small bonfires. See exceptional works of art inside century-old adobes, enjoy the comforting hot chocolate, cider and traditional biscochitos in the art galleries and keep warm singing carols by the luminarias along the way. Simply a must, bucket-list experience event for anyone with holiday spirit. For more information, visit www.visitcanyonroad.com/farolitos
Junkanoo Festival: Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas
December 26, 2018 & January 1, 2019
What once began as a temporary celebration of freedom for slaves who were given three days off for Christmas soon blossomed into an exuberant, colorful parade. And now the Junkanoo Festival —a Bahamian cultural expression—occurs during the dark hours the day after Christmas and again on New Year’s Day. In downtown Nassau, this Bahamian celebration showcases costumes, art and artifacts that are unique to Junkanoo. Onlookers have a chance to see costumes made out of cardboard and decorated with brightly colored paper, while rhythmic goombay drums, cowbells and mouth whistles can be heard during performances parading through Bay Street. For more information, visitwww.nassauparadiseisland.com.
New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop: Panama City Beach, FL
December 31, 2018
Tens of thousands of visitors are estimated to head to Panama City Beach for the New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop, which features a countdown, fireworks
The Lanesborough’s Inaugural New Year’s Eve House Party: London, England
December 31, 2018
For the first time in their illustrious history, The Lanesborough will be closing their doors for a New Year’s House Party like no other. This ticketed event is one of the most highly anticipated NYE parties in Central London, as The Lanesborough is transformed in to the most luxurious and beautiful house party in collaboration with Moët & Chandon. Expect live music and DJs in a unique nightclub styled event, with deliciously crafted food as the party takes over the entire ground floor of the hotel for the first time in its venerable history. Tickets start at $325 per person. For more information, visit www.oetkercollection.com.
Sacred Sisterhood Retreat: Earthing Your Life’s Purpose at Red Mountain Resort: Irvins, UT
January 3-7, 2019
A five-day, four-night, one-of-a-kind spiritual retreat designed to aid guests in un-earthing their life’s purpose. Guests will begin by exploring their current cycle of life, identifying key aspects and then learning how to take action to achieve pure happiness. The goal is for guests to return home with a clearer vision of who they are, what they love, how best to serve themselves and understanding why self-care is important in their daily lives. For more information, visit www.redmountainresort.com.
Providence Restaurant Weeks: Providence, RI
January 13-26, 2019
For two weeks, diners can enjoy meals from nearly 100 restaurants and celebrate Providence Restaurant Weeks. With three-course meals starting at $16.95, visiting one of the nation’s hottest culinary destinations is an excellent way to start 2019. For more information, visit www.goprovidence.com/rw.
Winter Wine Festival: Portsmouth, NH
January 18-February 17, 2019
The annual Winter Wine Festival will be held in the historic Wentworth by the Sea Hotel. Now in its 13th year, the event features numerous wine and food tastings, demonstrations and dinners hosted by the most esteemed food and wine experts. Tickets can be purchased here.
27th Annual Winter WINEland: Sonoma County, CA
January 19-20, 2019
Celebrate the 27th Annual Winter WINEland by enjoying two glorious days along Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County. An ideal winter escape, guests are invited to taste current vintages, multiple varietals grown in Sonoma County and even try a few verticals. Winter WINEland is a great opportunity to meet winemakers and taste limited production wines, new releases and library wines. All participating wineries will highlight a Vintage, Varietal or Vertical tasting for the weekend. For more information, visit www.wineroad.com/events/winter-wineland/.
X Games Aspen: Buttermilk Mountain, CO
January 24-27, 2019
The world’s premier winter action sports event returns to Aspen Snowmass for the 18th consecutive year. Watch as snowsports’ greatest ski, snowboard and snowmobile athletes’ battle for glory in 18 different disciplines over four days. This year, the X Games Aspen concerts feature the Chainsmokers, Kygo, Lil Wayne and Louis the Child. Most events are free to spectators. Musical performances require a ticket. For more information, visit www.gosnowmass.com/event/espn-winter-x-games/. .
Naples Winter Wine Festival: Naples, FL
January 26-28, 2019
The Naples Winter Wine Festival provides three days of the very best of wine and food, along with a year-round impact for children in need. Proceeds from the Festival benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation, whose vision is to make a profound and sustaining difference in the quality of children’s lives. NCEF is committed to supporting charitable programs that improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County. Since its inception in 2001, the Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised more than $161 million for children in need. For more information, visit www.paradisecoast.com.
Lowcountry Oyster Festival: Charleston, SC
January 27, 2019
The Charleston Restaurant Foundation invites guests to head to Boone Hall Plantation for the world’s largest oyster festival- the 36th Annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival. A tribute to the mighty mollusk, the Lowcountry Oyster Festival will feature over 80,000 pounds of oysters, in addition to a variety of food options from local restaurants and food trucks. Event highlights include the legendary “Oyster Shucking” and “Oyster Eating” contests, live music on the main stage, local wine and beer and the Pluff-a-Pallooza Children’s Area. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.charlestonrestaurantassoication.com.
Seafood Festival: Everglades City, FL
February 8-11, 2019
Hungry travelers can enjoy the annual 48th annual Seafood Festival held in Everglades City, featuring three days of live country music, carnival rides, arts, crafts and incredible food. Guests will feast on fresh gulf shrimp, fish and stone crab claws, fried gator and plenty more seafood. More than 100 vendors offer a variety of great seafood, refreshments and handmade arts and crafts. The kids will love the rides on the midway. For more information, visit www.paradisecoast.com.
Modern Love: Lake Worth, FL
February 15-May 18, 2019
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County presents “Modern Love”. Love is a universal language – whether it’s between two people, the world around us, or even self-love – this complex emotion spans cultures and defines who we are. In this exhibition, there are representations of all facets of love, as a concept, represented in many ways: color, sensation, awareness, empathy or even through nature, technology, dance and beyond. Twenty-one Palm Beach County artists will be sharing their love in this exhibition, co-curated by Kristin Miller Hopkins. The Exhibition preview will be on February 14. For more information, visit www.palmbeachculture.com.
Clarks Summit Festival of Ice: Lackawanna, PA
February 15-17, 2019
The Clarks Summit Festival of Ice will celebrate their 15th anniversary this year, featuring live ice carving demos and more than 50 finished sculptures lining the streets of downtown Clarks Summit. This year’s theme is Ice Wars. The festival will also feature a parade and after party on Friday evening, live music, an Ice Wars themed Comicon on Saturday and Sunday with special guests, horse and carriage rides and much more. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit www.theabingtons.org.
George Washington Birthday Parade: Alexandria, VA
February 18, 2019
The nation’s largest George Washington Birthday parade marches a one-mile route along the historic streets of Old Town Alexandria, celebrating the birth of the first president in his hometown. For more information, including parking, maps, route and status, visit www.washingtonbirthday.net.
St. Andrews Mardi Gras: Panama City, FL
February 22-23, 2019
Celebrating its 22nd anniversary, Panama City’s St. Andrews Mardi Gras is the most popular and largest Mardi Gras celebration in Bay County. Guests can enjoy viewing over 14 Krewes and 30 brightly colored floats alongside festive music, with tens of thousands of beads and doubloons tossed to the crowd of over 50,000 people! The two-day parade and festival in historic St. Andrews is filled with food, fun
Mardi Gras Celebration & Fireworks: Snowmass Base Village, CO
March 5, 2019
A 36-year tradition in Snowmass, Mardi Gras kicks off with the early morning Mother of All Ascensions uphill race, followed by an afternoon of revelry with a traditional bead toss, the Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert in Snowmass Base Village and fireworks. Look for food and drink specials at restaurants and bars around Snowmass Village. For more information, please visit www.gosnowmass.com/event/mardi-gras-celebration/.
St. Barts Bucket Regatta: St. Barts
March 21-24, 2019
This prestigious event attracts the world’s most beautiful sailboats and yachts for three days of races around the island. Now in its 28th year, the regatta maintains its original spirit focusing on camaraderie and as an international meeting place for owners, designers and boat builders. For guests of the island, the regatta provides a rare opportunity to admire the magnificent vessels anchored in the harbor and to attend one of the many social events. For more information, visit www.bucketregatta.com.
