Fun in Every State
Alaska
Iditarod
Beginning in Anchorage and ending in Nome is the grueling 1,000-mile dog-sledding race known as the Iditarod. Running each March, the event first began in 1925 as a race against time to bring medicine to the children of Nome who were dying from diphtheria. Honoring the brave dog-sledding teams and mushers who risked their lives, Iditarod relaunched in 1973 as a memorial race that continues today.
Arizona
Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo
Known as the "World's Oldest Rodeo," the famous Prescott Frontier Days began in 1888 as a cowboy tournament and returns each year to celebrate all things rodeo. Today the rodeo includes bull-riding, steer-wrestling, barrel-dancing and more, highlighting the impressive skills and talent of modern cowboys every 4th of July weekend.
Arkansas
Scottish Festival
The first Arkansas Scottish Festival began in 1981 as the Highland Games—an athletic event popular in Scotland. Today, the festival, which is held for one weekend each April at Lyon College, celebrates Scottish culture, food, music, games and sporting finesse, and is considered one of the premiere events in Arkansas.
California
Coachella
Let's be real, California has a lot of cool events but one of the most famous is undoubtedly the music and arts festival known as Coachella in Indio. The spring festival draws more than 120,000 people from around the world to take part in the two (back-to-back) three-day-weekend celebrations featuring electric performances from some of the biggest names in music.
Colorado
Telluride Film Festival
Each September, the sleepy mountain town of Telluride bursts to life during Labor Day weekend to host its annual film festival, which first began in 1974. Today, the festival welcomes movie makers, celebrities and the public as new films are screened to audiences hungry to celebrate the art of cinema. While it's not the only great event in Colorado, it's definitely one of the coolest.
Connecticut
Sailfest
If anyone knows how to throw a killer block party, it's New London, Connecticut. Its annual Sailfest is a summertime wonderland of fun carnival rides, incredible food, hundreds of local vendors, sailboats, races, concerts, fireworks and more. Located on the waterfront each July, the beautiful scenery only adds to the magic of this annual festival.
