11 Festivals in 8 States That Celebrate the Good Life
Introduction
Life is the best thing ever, and it should be celebrated with gusto. Beer, wine, music, food—these are all just excuses to gather friends and family together for an epic good time. So why not plan a trip that celebrates the best of being alive? Here are eight festivals across America where you can learn how to live large, one day at a time:
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
When you think of Kentucky, you probably think of bourbon, bluegrass and horse racing. But what about beer? The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in Louisville offers an opportunity to sample some of the best brews from around the country–and it’s also one of the largest events in America dedicated to pairing craft beers with delicious barbecue.
The festival takes place over three days in May (24-26), so you can sip on hundreds of different microbrews while enjoying live music by nationally touring artists like Blackberry Smoke and Eli Young Band. Plus there will be plenty of food vendors selling everything from pulled pork sandwiches to prime rib tacos! If you want something sweet after your meal, there’s even a dessert bar with treats like fudge brownies or peanut butter cupcakes.
You’ll find all these goodies at Champions Park near downtown Louisville; admission costs $5 per day or $15 for an all-access pass if purchased online before April 30th (after that date prices increase). Children under 12 get free admission when accompanied by an adult 21+.
The Texas Renaissance Festival
The Texas Renaissance Festival, which is held in Todd Mission and Houston, dates back to 1973. It’s a 20-acre village that transports you back to the 16th century with its fairground rides and food stands. The festival runs from October 1st through November 25th each year.
The venue has four distinct areas: The Village Green, The Marketplace (a shopping area), Royal Court Theater (for live entertainment) and Jousting Field where visitors can watch knights compete in jousting matches on horseback!
The food available is typical fair fare like funnel cakes or corn dogs but there are also more exotic options like turkey legs–which are exactly what they sound like: whole roasted turkeys on sticks! You can also find BBQ pork sandwiches or bratwurst sausages grilled over open flames at several stands throughout the festival grounds.
Jackson Hole Hot Air Balloon Rodeo
Jackson Hole Hot Air Balloon Rodeo
When: July 13-17, 2019
Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Description: This event is one of the largest balloon festivals in North America. It’s also a chance to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in America (and get up close with bison!). You can enjoy live music, food trucks and local artisans at this family-friendly festival. Tickets are $15 for adults or $10 for children ages 6-11 years old; kids under 5 get in free.
Peak City Balloon Festival
The Peak City Balloon Festival is held every September in Colorado Springs. It’s a great place to see hot air balloons, as well as enjoy live music, food and drinks, and family fun activities. The festival is free to attend and lasts for three days (Friday through Sunday). If you’re visiting the area during this time of year, it’s definitely worth checking out!
Telluride Blues & Brews Fest
Telluride Blues & Brews Fest
Telluride, Colorado
August 20-24
Blues music and craft beer are the stars of this four-day festival in Telluride, Colorado. The lineup includes Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Sheryl Crow and more. There will be live music all day long at five different stages throughout the town’s main street area (which is closed off for this event). The beer selection includes more than 100 different brews from breweries around the country including Deschutes Brewery out of Oregon and Ballast Point Brewing Company from San Diego. If you’re feeling adventurous try some funky flavors like Kolsch with Honey or Witbier with Rosemary.”
Grand Teton Music Festival
The Grand Teton Music Festival is a three-day event that takes place each year in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The festival features more than 50 bands playing on the main stage and smaller stages throughout the town’s historic district.
The event kicks off with a free concert on Friday night followed by several days of live music performances and activities for all ages. The festival also includes arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, beer gardens (with local brews), as well as activities like kayaking and hiking trails nearby Jackson Lake State Park if you want to get out in nature while listening to music!
Admission prices vary depending on whether you buy tickets before or during your trip: pre-sale tickets range from $75-$125 per day while walk up admission costs $99-$199 per day depending upon which package deals are available at that time (packages may include extras such as camping passes). We recommend buying your tickets online beforehand so that no matter what happens during your visit – whether bad weather strikes during one day’s events or traffic jams prevent people from getting there at all – there will always be something fun going on somewhere else inside town limits where everyone can still meet up afterwards without feeling too disappointed about missing out entirely.”
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is a 10-day festival held each spring in the Louisiana city of New Orleans. It’s one of the most popular music festivals in America, featuring some of the biggest names in blues, jazz and Cajun music.
The festival was founded by producer George Wein in 1970 as a way to celebrate Louisiana’s musical heritage; today it attracts more than half a million people each year who come together to listen to these musicians perform on multiple stages throughout the city. This year will mark its 47th annual celebration!
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a theater festival in Ashland, Oregon that runs from February to October. The festival was founded in 1935 and has been running ever since. It’s the largest classical repertory theater in the United States, so if you like Shakespeare or just want to see some great plays, this place is for you!
Summerfest
Summerfest is a music festival held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s been going on since 1968 and it’s the world’s largest music festival.
Summerfest takes place over 11 days in June and features more than 800 acts on 11 stages. It attracts more than one million people each year!
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
July 26-29, 2019
Telluride, Colorado
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is a four-day event that takes place in the small Colorado town of Telluride. The festival features performances from some of the biggest names in bluegrass music and draws crowds from all over the world. Concertgoers can enjoy live music on multiple stages throughout town as well as workshops, jam sessions and other activities for enthusiasts who want to learn more about this genre.
Travel America to celebrate life in style.
Travel America to celebrate life in style.
You don’t have to go far to find a festival celebrating the good life. There are dozens of events held throughout the country every year that offer opportunities for revelry, relaxation, and renewal–and they’re all within driving distance from major cities like New York City and Los Angeles. Here are 11 festivals worth checking out:
- The Kentucky Derby Festival (May 4-28) takes place over two weeks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky–the site of this famous horse race since 1875. It includes races for both humans (the Pegasus World Cup) and horses (the Kentucky Oaks), as well as concerts by big names like Keith Urban and Willie Nelson; all kinds of food vendors; arts & crafts exhibits; parades through downtown; fireworks displays on opening night and closing day…and much more! You can get there by car or train; there’s also an airport nearby if you want your trip to start sooner than later.*
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to relax on a beach or take in the sights of a big city, these festivals have something for everyone. In addition to enjoying great food and music, you can also get up close and personal with nature at some of America’s most beautiful locations–and who doesn’t love that?