Offbeat Travel Events and Festivals

Now through November 7th -- Appalachian Jam Every Saturday in Dahlonega, Georgia North Georgia’s mountain music pickers and singers flock to the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site every Saturday, April 18 through November 7. Listeners and musicians alike enjoy the acoustic bluegrass and old time string music on the Public Square.

Now through September 7th -- Star Trek Exhibit at the Detroit Science Center This interactive exhibit lets fans explore the ‘Star Trek’ universe hands-on with attractions, sets, costumes and props from 5 TV series and 10 feature films. A detailed recreation of the bridge from the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 as featured in the original Star Trek television series. Re-creations of original sets from Star Trek: The Next Generation, including Captain Picard’s quarters and command chair. A full-scale recreation of the Transporter Room from Star Trek: The Next Generation. For more information visit DetroitScienceCenter.org

Now through November 7th -- Appalachian Jam Every Saturday in Dahlonega, Georgia North Georgia’s mountain music pickers and singers flock to the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site every Saturday for the acoustic bluegrass and old time string music on the Public Square. Read more about Dahlonega at Dahlonega, Georgia and for more information about the Jam, call Convention & Visitors Bureau at 706-864-3513

June

June 18th through 21st -- Second Annual Banff National Park Bike Fest in Banff, Canada Cyclists will be racing through the streets of Banff and throughout Banff National Park over the course of four days.

June 20th and 21st -- Hall of Fame Classic at The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown, New York The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum will host the the Hall of Fame Classic on Father's Day, June 21, at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. The Classic will feature an old-timers game with Hall of Famers and recently retired players that will take place annually at Cooperstown's historic Doubleday Field. A variety of interactive activities will be held all weekend, featuring a hitting contest prior to the Classic and autograph sessions. Ticket information and a complete schedule of events will be available soon at baseballhall.org

June 30th through July 5th - Harborfest in Boston Massachusetts A six-day long Fourth of July Festival that showcases the colonial and maritime heritage of the cradle of the American Revolution: the historic City of Boston. For more information visit BostonHarborFest.com

July

July 1st through August 1st -- Artown in Reno, Nevada A month long festival of art, music, dance, and hands on workshops. Of their 400 events, just over 200 are free to attend. Sounds wonderful. For more information visit RenoIsArtown.com

July 3rd through 5th -- Battle of Gettysburg Re-enactment It's more than guys in costume battling each other, although I'm sure there's a fair amount of that going on. But there's also Medical Horrors of the Battle, Spies of the Civil War and the Pinkerton Agency, A Staff meeting with Gen'l Longstreet as he plans for "Gettysburg" and Scary and Chilling tales of the ghosts of Gettysburg with story tellers Susan and Doug Stull. For more information visit GettysburgReenactment.com

July 3rd through 12th -- Edmonton International Street Performers Festival Over 1500 outdoor performances will take place on the StreetFest site - Sir Winston Churchill Square. StreetFest presents its nightly Troupe du Jour performances July 3 - 11 at 10pm. Audiences gather on the steps in the Square for a zany variety show featuring a different cast of performers each night. The pass-the-hat tradition has been a key part of the festival since its inception 25 years ago. No admission is charged for the event, but a hat is passed after each performance. For more information visit edmontonstreetfest.com

July 3rd through 12th - Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Alberta Canada steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding and tie-down roping, and the favorite -- Chuck Wagon Races. Read more at Calgary Stampede

July 23rd through 25th -- Hemingway Look-Alike Competition in Key West, Florida Now in its 29th year, the look-alike challenge is a highlight of the annual Hemingway Days festival (which runs 7/21 to 7/26) that celebrates the legendary author's literary achievements and colorful lifestyle. Read more about the competition at Hemingway Look-Alike Contest

July 26th -- Hall of Fame Induction Weekend at The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown, New York The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum inducts its Class of 2009 on July 26 in Cooperstown. Admission is free for this annual event which draws thousands of baseball fans to Cooperstown. For more information visit baseballhall.org

July 30 to August 2, 2009 in Quebec City, Canada The Plains of Abraham will travel back in time, to 1759-1760. Over 2,000 historical reenactors will set up period encampments that the public can visit and organize two battles under the watchful eye of General James Wolfe and the Marquis de Montcalm's descendants. This will be the largest reenactment of its kind in the country, making it the event of summer 2009 in Québec City. Free admission.

July 25th through August 10th -- Emancipation Festival on Tortola, British Virgin Islands Celebrate the 1834 Emancipation Act (which abolished slavery in the British West Indies) with live music, dancing, street performers, parties and parades all laced with a distinct Caribbean spice and flavor. The calypso competition is hotly contested with performers competing to win the coveted crown of the Calypso King. There are also competitions to find a festival queen and festival prince and princess. This might possibly be the best time to sample the delights of a Caribbean barbecue including seafood, spiced chicken, barbecue ribs, and much more.

August

August 6th through 9th -- Edmonton Folk Music Festival Claim their patch of grass on the hill at Gallagher Park to listen and move to the beat of 64 music makers from the four corners of the globe. For more information visit EdmontonFolkFest.org

August 16th -- Will Rogers-Wiley Post Fly-In Claremore, Oklahoma It will take place on a 2,000-foot grass strip adjacent to Oologah ranch home where Will Rogers was born in 1879. OOLOGAH-Pilots will cruise the skies Sunday, August 16, and drop down on the Will Rogers Ranch to remember the death of Will Rogers and Wiley Post and their dedication to the aviation industry. Rogers died in a plane crash Aug. 15, 1935. For more information call (800) 324-9455 or visit WillRogers.com

August 15th and 16th - Banff National Park Dragon Boat Festival For more information visit BanffLakeLouise.com

August 7th through 23rd -- World Acadian Congress in New Brunswick, Canada Fancy some zydeco with your lobster this summer? The Atlantic Canadian province of New Brunswick – Canada’s only bi-lingual one – is going all out to celebrate its French Acadian culture with a nonstop, three-week party during the summer of 2009. Read more at World Acadian Congress - 2009

Please note: These items are based on information provided to OffbeatTravel. Although we attempt to verify the information, we are not responsible for its accuracy. Please check with the contact name, phone, or website provided. Thank you.