Calendar

A collection of fun events to keep you busy over the next three months.

January

1 Dallas

New Year’s Parade

Every year in downtown Dallas, Texans live up to their reputation for loving everything supersized during the Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade. The event draws tens of thousands of people every year. Follow the parade route from the city’s uber-hip Arts District to its end point at Victory Park. Watch rival Cotton Bowl marching bands perform during the parade, along with the more than 15 high school marching bands from across the country. The nonprofit J. Curtis Sanford Parade Committee organizes the event; proceeds go to the Field Scovell Scholarship Foundation, which awards grants to North Texas high school graduates. Last year, the event raised $10,000. Now that’s an effort worth trumpeting.

7 El Paso, Texas

Pro Musica Chamber Music Festival

Technically, the annual El Paso Pro Musica Chamber Music Festival melds both music and film—but apparently the organizers deemed “the El Paso Pro Musica Chamber Music and Film Festival” too much of a mouthful. Even so, for a taste of culture in a desert setting, you’ll want to hit the festival. Running from Jan. 7 through Feb. 1, the festival features free performances and full-blown concerts by musicians from around the world, plus a film series screening a different flick each Wednesday. Kick off the festivities by watching a documentary on the Guarneri String Quartet, then head to the Western Hills United Methodist Church to hear the quartet perform in-person. Pianist Awadagin Pratt and violinists Paul Rosenthal and Rachel Barton Pine are just a few of the names in the festival’s lineup, while films like Humoresque and Ben Hur round out the film series. Throw in a side of tortilla chips and Tex-Mex queso, and we’ll even sit through the credits.

8 Miami Gardens, Florida

BCS National Championship

Heat up the nachos and pizza and get ready for the biggest football game of the year. Okay, maybe the second biggest. The FedEx BCS National Championship in Miami brings the annual Bowl Championship Series to a close. Join nearly 75,000 fans in the stands at Dolphin Stadium for the big game or simply settle in to your La-Z-Boy and catch the event on Fox. The annual matchup determines college football’s national champion. (Louisiana State University took home the honors last year.) So break out your foam finger and celebrate your last chance to catch some college pigskin. Until next season, of course.

9 Cambridge, Massachusetts

Boston Celtic Music Fest

It’s probably hard to find a place in the United States that’s more Irish than Boston, which explains why the Boston Celtic Music Fest, now in its sixth year, has so much genuine Celtic spirit. (And we’re not talking about the NBA champs.) BCMFest is a musician-run, grassroots, community-oriented festival that celebrates the area’s rich heritage of Irish, Scottish, and Cape Breton music and dance. More than 40 of the Boston area’s finest traditional and neo-traditional acts—seasoned performers and promising newcomers—tune up their fiddles, flutes, accordions, pipes, and voices to play dozens of shows for two days at venues throughout Harvard Square in Cambridge. Families stroll from the famed Club Passim, where folks like Joan Baez got their start, to the venerable First Parish Cambridge Church, a stone’s throw away from each other across the cobbled walkways of Harvard Yard. The celebratory finale will focus on Celtic-style dance, both traditional and contemporary, plus a showcase of bands playing music on the “fringe” of traditional/Celtic styles. Go green!

9 Washington, D.C.

Cycle World International Motorcycle Show

Gearheads and road-hogs rejoice: Though the annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Show started moving across the country in October, you still have time to catch the tour before its finale in February. This month, make for Washington, D.C. to check out more than 600 new motorcycles, from cruisers and scooters to street bikes and choppers. Pick up slick accessories for your own ’cycle or stick around to watch the unveiling of new rides. Then stop by the Vintage Pavilion to admire rare beauties. Maybe the kids can’t hop aboard your Harley just yet, but they can still get in on the fun at the Family Action Zone’s obstacle course, game center, and simulated drag racing—or, as we like to think of it, pre-Driver’s Ed.

10 Phoenix

Lasting Light

Afraid of heights? Don’t worry: This month you can view the Grand Canyon without having to set foot on the rocky cliffs and craggy peaks, thanks to a new exhibit making its national debut in Phoenix. Lasting Light: 125 Years of Grand Canyon Photography showcases 60 snapshots of one of America’s most recognizable symbols. As you wander through the Burton Barr Central Library, you’ll get to admire snapshots from such renowned photographers as Pulitzer Prize–winner Jack Dykinga and George Huey. View stunning pieces depicting the great rift from all angles during the past 125 years of the Grand Canyon’s history. On loan from the Smithsonian Institution and the Grand Canyon Association, the exhibit runs until March 29. And it probably won’t give you vertigo.

10 Phoenix

Mothers and Daughters: Stories in Clay

Witness the camaraderie between three special mother-daughter teams of artists during Mothers and Daughters: Stories in Clay at the Heard Museum. The exhibit will showcase pottery, clay sculpture works, and paintings. If you’re looking for a bargain, wait until the second Sunday, when you’ll probably not have to pay for admission. Known for creating pieces with strong social commentary, Jody Folwell is one of seven mothers and daughters whose work is featured in the exhibit. The others include Nora and Eliza Naranjo-Morse, Roxanne Swentzell and Rose Simpson, and Folwell’s two daughters Susan and Polly Rose. Talk about a family affair.

11 San Diego

Restaurant Week

Here’s a happy two-fer: During San Diego’s annual Restaurant Week you can give your taste buds a boost and your wallet a break. At more than 130 restaurants foodies can sample a wide range of flavors, from seafood to French cuisine. Try the crab catcher’s oysters Rockefeller, Blanca’s signature merlot-braised short ribs, or Chef Tim Wilson’s seabass at Humphrey’s Grill. Got your mouth watering yet? Here’s a treat for your budget: You can get a three-course meal for as little as $20. Your tip isn’t included, though, so take out extra cash if you’re planning to pair that prime rib with a glass of pinot noir.

21 Los Angeles

Art Show

“As the sun colors flowers,” Sir John Lubbock once said, “so does art color life.” Douse your life in color this month at the Los Angeles Art Show, the West Coast’s largest retail art show. At the city’s convention center, you’ll find exhibits ranging from contemporary installations to paintings by the Old Masters. This year, the show nearly doubles in size to accommodate 175 international dealers, a film series, and lively evening mixers. Join more than 50,000 visitors for this five-day event, where you can attend the Artist Films series, featuring movies created by and about artists, or hop over to a discussion led by prominent artists and museum professionals. Just don’t forget the bottom line—the artworks for sale—and if you need a reminder, go ahead and browse the more than 15,000 paintings, sculptures, photographs, and prints primed for a relocation to your living room.

23 Tucson, Arizona

DeGrazia: 100 Years, 100 Works

Celebrate a lifetime’s worth of art in Tucson this month. The DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun will honor the town’s most famous artist, Ted DeGrazia, with an exhibit that showcases both classic and never-seen works. Some of DeGrazia’s most well known pieces on display include Alone, created in 1967, and the 1957 oil painting Los Niños that was used in a UNICEF greeting card. Get your first glimpse during the opening reception on Friday from 6–9 p.m. Aficionados will get treated to a catered buffet, a selection of wines, and live music. Paintings won’t be the only works on display, either. You’ll also get to see the printmaking that DeGrazia produced during the latter stages of his career. And that’s just the tip of the paintbrush—DeGrazia created more than 15,000 works in his lifetime.

23 Spokane, Washington

Smucker’s Stars on Ice

Don’t wait until the 2010 Winter Olympics to see figure skating’s finest. The Emmy-winning production of the Smucker’s Stars on Ice tour starts in Spokane, Washington, this month and will go on to 40 cities nationwide. Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton started the skating showcase nearly 23 years ago, and the annual event just keeps on growing. Watch stars like Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen and gold medalist Ilia Kulik spin and jump to a soundtrack that includes everything from Beethoven to Celine Dion. This year’s theme is “On the Edge.” We assume they’re referring to the seats.

31 Washington, D.C.

Spy Fest

Turns out inhaling a bag of popcorn during Quantum of Solace isn’t the best way to get inside 007’s head. Much better to scrutinize the second-ever Spy Fest at the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. This event will give the whole family a crash course in international espionage. You can learn the basics of encoding and decoding messages at a secret station. Think you’re the ideal secret-keeper? Test your poker face at the lie detection station, where you can hook yourself up to a polygraph machine. Want to go stealth? Watch how a pro does it during a live ninja demonstration, or go undercover at the disguise station. After all, you never know when SPECTRE might turn up.

February

11 Seattle

The Lion King

Good news: Simba and Mufasa will hibernate at the Emerald City’s Paramount Theatre this month. In case you haven’t left your den in the last decade, here’s what you’ve been missing: The musical version of The Lion King has garnered a Grammy Award and six Tonys, and features the first woman in Broadway history to win a Tony Award for best director. Performances will run every night of the week but Monday including two special matinees. The show will feature Elton John and Tim Rice’s score from the animated flick, along with enough other hits to make you and yours feel like kings of the jungle.

12 Miami

Miami International Boat Show

Mid-February seems more like the time for fueling up the fireplace, not the speedboat—unless, that is, you happen to live anywhere in the Miami area. The annual Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail Miami draws water-loving tourists and locals alike. Since 1941 the show has grown to include more than 2,200 exhibitors and 140,000 visitors. Set sail for the Miami Beach Convention Center and admire the many cruisers and fishing boats on display inside. Distract the tykes with the Kiddie Rock Wall at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, then head over to the Sea Isle Marina and Yachting Center to check out the boats in their element—and maybe even invest in one of your own.

13 Tucson, Arizona

Date ‘n’ Dash

Want to make your sweetie’s heart race this Valentine’s Day? Lose the roses and jog over to the first-ever Date ‘n’ Dash 5K in Tucson, Arizona. The two-day, couples-only event is expected to draw about 300 people looking to share more than a box of chocolates. Warm up with dinner and a movie the night before at the rustic Stardance Ranch located at the base of the Tucson Mountain Range. Wake up early on Saturday morning and set out for the course—a rolling 5K along the roads that surround the ranch. Cool down at the guest ranch post-run, then retrieve those flowers and retreat to your room for some R and R.

13 Columbus, Ohio

To Live Forever: Treasure From the Brooklyn Museum

When it comes to mummies, most of us don’t know much beyond what we learned from Scooby-Doo re-runs and old horror flicks. That’s why we won’t be missing To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures From the Brooklyn Museum, an exhibit on Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife at the Columbus Museum of Art. You’ll get a chance to check out authentic sarcophagi, vessels, jewelry, and yes, even a real mummy as you browse more than 100 items from the famed collection. The exhibit runs through June 7. After that, it’s a wrap.

15 Cape May, New Jersey

Wine Trail

From beaches to historic B and B’s, you don’t need another excuse to vacation in Cape May, New Jersey, located about an hour and a half south of Philadelphia. But we’ll go ahead and give you one anyway: the Wine Trail. On this four-hour trip, you’ll start with a trolley ride to Lucky Bones Backwater Grille. After you fuel up, the real fun begins. Stops on the tour include three of the area’s best wineries: Cape May Winery, Turdo Vineyards, and Natali Vineyards, where expert winemakers will hold forth on viticulture—a fancy word for growing grapes. Added bonus: You’ll get to keep your tasting glass. Just try your best not to keep the hangover.

18 Seattle

Northwest Flower and Garden Show

Rub elbows (and green thumbs) with up to 70,000 gardening gurus at Seattle’s Northwest Flower and Garden Show. Widely regarded as one of the country’s top draws for amateur gardeners, the five-day event takes place at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Browse more than 300 exhibitors spread out over six acres with 26 full-scale display gardens and more than 110 free seminars. Our favorites? Flora Fantasia, where local nurseries show off their best flowers, and the Container Garden Exhibition, where even apartment-dwellers will walk away with top-notch decorating ideas. Funky Junk focuses on using recycled products in your garden, and Sproutopia provides educational fun and games for the youngsters. They’ll be early bloomers by the time you leave.

22 New Orleans

Krewe of Bacchus Parade

Before the mayhem of Fat Tuesday, you can catch a slew of parades taking place over the weekend in the Crescent City. Our favorite? The Krewe of Bacchus. Since 1968 the Sunday-night parade has featured such celebrities as Bob Hope and Hulk Hogan. The march starts at 5 p.m. and snakes its way through New Orleans to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Join the hundreds of thousands of visitors lined up to gawk at floats with names like Bacchagator and Bacchasaurus. To date, no plans for a Bacchapotomus.

25 Moscow, Idaho

Jazz Festival

If you’ve never heard of jazz musician Ray Brown, now’s your chance to play catch-up. The legendary double-bassist will be honored at the University of Idaho’s Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival this month, located about two hours from Spokane, Washington. Listen to Latin, Brazilian, and Caribbean jazz during the first two nights when Monty Alexander’s Jazz and Roots Project, the Anthony Wilson/Chico Pinheiro band, and others take the stage. The last two evenings will feature a tribute to Brown’s work as well as a traditional big band performance. Meanwhile, aspiring musicians can work on their bass lines and learn the secrets of improvising like a pro during one of the several workshops. Save us a seat, Daddy-O.

27 Astoria, Oregon

Fisher Poets Gathering

Hear a whale of a tale—or 12—at the annual Fisher Poets Gathering in Astoria, Oregon, located about 90 miles northwest of Portland. The three-day event features a combination of poetry, memoir, and humor readings. More than 60 fishermen and women from British Columbia, Alaska, and the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest will take part in resurrecting the ancient oral tradition. Enjoy live music, open mic nights, and workshops on creative writing. Can’t make it in person? You can still listen in. Astoria’s local radio station, KMUN, will stream most of the performances live on its website, coastradio.org.

March

7 Chicago

Flower and Garden Show

Can you dig it? Back after a two-year break, Chicago’s Flower and Garden Show features plenty of new additions. Visit Navy Pier for expert-led seminars on techniques like shade gardening and cross-pollination, or join a workshop on container gardening or perennials. At Garden Gourmet, the city’s chefs discuss the finer points of cooking with fresh produce. The Photography Garden features a collection of floral and landscape shots from amateur shutterbugs. Tickets cost just $12 during the week and $14 on weekends. Consider using the city’s public transportation when you ride to the event; not only will you be green, but you’ll save $15 on parking. We like to think of that as seed money.

14 Franklin, Tennessee

Feile Franklin

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and all things Celtic at Feile Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville. The street festival lasts from noon until 6 p.m. After that, you can taste more than 40 beers and whiskeys at almost two dozen shops along Main Street. The street festival is free; sadly, the tastings are not. Buy your tickets early at the festival’s website for $30, or pay an additional $5 at the door. Food vendors will also sell a variety of treats, such as roasted and fried potatoes, turkey legs, and plenty of Guinness to go around. Meanwhile, two stages will offer nearly nonstop Celtic music and dance. Before the evening ends, visit the arts and crafts vendors and pick up an Irish-themed souvenir.