Offbeat Travel Events and Festivals

June 1 to October 12 -- Quebec, Candad Parks Canada is offering an exclusive tour of the Saint-Louis fort and castle ruins under Dufferin Terrace. Accompanied by an interpretive guide, you will discover the treasures buried in these historic sites, which were formerly the official residence of several governors. Numerous characters will bring the past to life. Guided tours given daily.

Now through May 20th -- Spring Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands The Keukenhof Gardens in spring said to be the most famous spring bulb garden in the world, with more than 7 million tulips and other bulb flowers in bloom, covering an area of 80 acres. For more information visit Keukenhof.nl

May 20 to July 29 -- Robert Lepage's Image Mill in Quebec City, Canada For 40 evenings, Québec City's old port will set the stage for an outdoor show featuring the world's largest architectural projection. The "Moulin à images" (image mill), an immense 400 metre long by 10 story high historic fresco, will be projected on the grain silos in Bassin Louise. The soundtrack accompanying the images will be broadcast on CKIA-FM. Created especially for the 400th anniversary. For more information visit Monquebec2008.com

May

May 9th through 11th -- Maifest in Leavenworth, Washington The "Bavarian" village of Leavenworth, celebrates the 37th Annual Maifest. Music will include waltzes and polkas typical of Bavaria. At noon there's the Grand March, and everyong is invited to be in the Grand March - the only catch is you have to be wearing lederhosen.The “Looking Good in Lederhosen Contest” will begin after the Maifest Procession which includes Leavenworth’s Bierwagen, other beautifully decorated horse-drawn wagons, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Greater Seattle, vintage Volkswagens, and a host of participants all decked out for Maifest. For more information visit leavenworth.org

May 17th - Helldorado Day Celebration at the Boneyard in Las Vegas The Neon Museum's outdoor display of signs in the North Boneyard on Las Vegas Boulevard, just south of Cashman Field will be open to the public Saturday, May 17 from 9 am to 2 pm. The cost for this event is $5.00 per person. Neon Museum staff and volunteers will be giving tours of the North Boneyard on the hour at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12 noon, and 1:00 pm. Normally admittance to the Neon Boneyard is by advance reservation only, for a fee of $15. The public day is part of the Helldorado Days Celebration. You'll want to see this -- it's a jaw-dropping collection of historic neon signs. For more information visit NeomMuseum.org

May 16th through 18th -- Main Street Days in Grapevine, Texas And, yes, it's named Grapevine because of its 10 wineries. Historic Downtown Grapevine is the site of this popular festival highlighting the city as the ideal place to enjoy an active lifestyle and the great outdoors. Festivities include an outdoor exhibition featuring demonstrations, education and interactive activities. Watch and/or participate in lumberjack shows, a live white tiger exhibit, ridin' rails, scuba diving, BMX stunts, rock climbing, quad bungee jumping, kayaking, and a fishing tank. Main Street Days will also feature three wine pavilions featuring Grapevine and Texas wines. For more information visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com

May 22nd through 26th -- Abbey Road on the River in Louisville, Kentucky Fifty bands from 12 countries will converge on Louisville, Kentucky. Indoor stages, outdoor stages, and music, music, and music. For more information visit AbbeyRoadOnTheRiver.com

May 31st -- It's the Outlaws and Lawmen Poker Run at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casino in Muskogee, Oklahoma The Poker Run will cover a 90-mile route beginning in Muskogee with the proceeds going to the Bedouin Shriner’s Hospital Patient Transportation Fund, which allows the Shriners to help children with serious health needs. Motorcyclists and vintage car clubs are invited to explore some of Oklahoma’s best-known outlaw trails among the beautiful Cookson hills. One of the stops along the route will be the Old Cherokee Courthouse near Vian where a shootout once left dozens in the courtroom wounded, including the judge and jury. For more information visit outlawsandlawmen.net

June

June 6th and 7th -- Yellowbanks Dulcimer Festival in Owensboro, Kentucky Free concerts in lovely English Park; folk instrument instruction; clogging workshops; handmade crafts; traditional foods. It all celebrates the beautiful music from Kentucky’s state instrument – the mountain dulcimer. For more information call 800-489-1131; or visit YellowBanksDulcimer.org

June 7th -- Cannon Beach 44th Annual Sandcastle Day Festival in Cannon Beach Oregon Ornate and intricate sculptures made of sand will be the center of celebration in Cannon Beach, with the 44th Annual Sandcastle Day Festival taking over the town. Each year approximately 1,000 participants and approximately 8000 spectators attend the event. It all begins at 6:30 a.m. with registration and building at the large entrance just north of Haystack Rock (by the Wayfarer Restaurant). For more information visit CannonBeach.org or call (503) 436-2623 ext 3.

June 22nd to 24th -- Third Annual Mother Jones Festival in Mt. Olive, Illinois Her name was Mary Harris Jones, but coal minors and laborers throughout the nation called her “Mother Jones”. She was a labor organizer and once called “most dangerous woman in America...” for her activities. She is buried ”with her boys” in Union Miners Cemetery in Mt. Olive, Illinois. Join the celebration her remarkable legacy. For more information visit MotherJonesFesitval.us

June 22nd through 27th -- San Diego Restaurant Week Now in its fourth year this food fest provides an opportunity for locals and visitors to enjoy special three-course, prix fixe menus from a diverse selection of more than 130 restaurants throughout the area. The prices are set at $30 or $40 per person, depending on the restaurant. Taxes, beverage and gratuities are not included. Enjoy a sampling of the area's leading restaurants at special prices. For more information visit SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com Thanks to Howard Hian of San Diego for this item

June 27th through 29th -- Solar Music Festival in Taos, New Mexico 10th Annual Taos Solar Music Festival is renowned for its brave and eclectic montage of musical acts, a solar and wind powered stage and educational Solar Village. For more information visit SolarMusicFest.com

June 26th to July 6th -- Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Located at Henry Maier Festival Park, Summerfest offers an outdoor, star-studded celebration of music and summer. This annual event showcases over 700 artists on 10 stages and a lakefront 23,000-seat amphitheater. For more information visit Summerfest.com

Looking Ahead

July 11th through 13th -- Telluride Yoga Festival in Telluride, Colorado a three-day event that offers the unique opportunity to experience an array of much-celebrated yoga lineages. To compliment the yoga instruction and enhance the overall experience, meditation, Kirtan and other holistic lifestyle workshops such as vegetarian cooking and Ayurvedic Medicine will also be offered. For more information visit TellurideYogaFestival.com

July 11th to 14th -- Rainforest World Music Festival, Sarawak, Borneo in East Malaysia The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo. There will be afternoon informative workshops, ethno-musical lectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts, followed by evening performances on the main stage. And the setting should be magnificent. For more information visit RainForestMusic-Borneo.com

July 16th through August 3rd -- Horse Shows By the Bay in Traverse City, Michigan This three-week “equestrian festival” of hunter/jumper and dressage competitions also includes four Grand Prix events, the most competitive class of equestrian sport. For more information visit horseshowsbythebay.com

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.