The Miami Beach Kizomba Festival (MBKF) marks its 5th year of bringing people together from across the globe to celebrate African culture, music and dance.

Kizomba is a slow, sensual dance and musical genre originating in Angola in 1984, a more modern music genre mixed with African rhythm and usually sung in Portuguese.  Kizomba means “party” in Kimbundu, and that is just what you are going to get at this festival.

Not to mention outstanding workshops, world-class dance instruction and lessons, unforgettable music concerts, live musicians and performing artists, superstar DJ’s  and sunrise beach parties, night parties, and pool parties.

MBKF takes place at the iconic Eden Roc Hotel, August 22-27, with live performances by Yola Semedo and Jennifer Dias. You can choose between a Party Pass, Weekend Pass or Full pass. If you like dancing, join the celebration at the Miami Beach Kizomba Festival, a great atmosphere of people from all over the world partying all night under one roof.

For Tickets:  Buy Now

Location: Eden Roc Miami, 4525 Collins Ave, Miami, FL 33140
Dates: Wed, Aug 22 – Mon, Aug 27.  2018
Time: various – see schedule
Tel: 914-226-9554
thembkf.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: miamiandbeaches.com

If you are an aficionado of cigars, bourbon and local craft beer you are going to want to head to Fredericksburg Fairgrounds on August 18th for an amazing day at the Cigar, Bourbon and Brew Festival.

The festival features 20 craft beers from local Fredericksburg Breweries,  bourbons from all across the country and some homegrown, produced in Virginia, and a select number of Virginia Wineries and Cideries, and a notable selection of cigars.

Known as Fredericksburg’s premier cigar event, this festival features an impressive selection of cigar brands including: Drew Estate, Perdomo, Fartello, Romeo Y  Julieta, Montecristo, Miami Cigars and Esteban Carreras.

If you have a passion for bourbon, you will appreciate the extraordinary representation of spirits being showcased from all across the country. Over  30 different samples from 20 different distilleries including: Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Belmont Farm Distillery, Virginia Sweetwater Distillery, KO Distilling, Catoctin Creek, Copper Fox Distillery, Filibuster Distillery, Maker’s Mark, Basil Hayden, River Hill Distillery, Reservoir Distillery, A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Booker’s, Bulleit Bourbon, Jefferson’s, Baker’s and Knob Creek.

Craft brewers from the around the Fredericksburg area will be on hand with 20 craft beers for sampling of some of their award winning beers. For those of you who prefer a glass of wine or hard cider there will be a select number of Virginia Wineries and Cideries sampling their award winning beverages as well.

Whether it’s stogies, whiskey, craft brews, wine or hard cider, there’s something for everyone including food vendors serving up some great festival style foods and craft expos as well as live music from Redneck Pool Party and  Kingbolts on the main stage. This event supports Community Outreach Inc. For Tickets: community-outreach-14908279529

 Location: Fredericksburg Fairgrounds, 2400 Airport Ave, Fredericksburg VA 22401
Date: Sat, Aug 18, 2018
Time: 4pm – 9pm
Tel: 540-373-1294
cigarbourbonbeer.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitfred.com

Savannah VOICE Festival brings classical vocal excellence to Savannah, with over 25 performances, through a two week celebration of operas, concerts,  food and wine events, and masterclasses during the month of August.

Every year, the Festival is inspired by a theme—2018’s is “Stories Great & Small.” Offering music from opera, musical theatre and song, this year’s highlights include Verdi’s La Traviata, Menotti’s The Telephone, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel and Michael Ching’s comedic opera Speed Dating Tonight!

It is a celebration of the classical voice with over 25 performances, including operas, concerts, food and wine events, and masterclasses. Offering music from opera, musical theatre and song, this year’s highlights include Verdi’s La Traviata, Menotti’s The Telephone, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel and Michael Ching’s comedic opera Speed Dating Tonight!

The sixth annual festival, will be staged Aug. 4-26, The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort is the backdrop for many events as well as in and around Savannah in a variety of venues. This will mark the second year of the festival’s expansion to three weeks, treating patrons to several extra days of delightful musical offerings.

Through his VOICE Programs, legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes will take attendees on a lighthearted journey through memorable concerts featuring over 100 artists from 15 countries, who will share operatic stories from the past and present, and modern songs of today.

As part of the intensive programs of the Festival Season, opera industry leaders will offer the next generation of artists tools to improve their performance during hour-long mini master class sessions. The free mini master class series provides attendees with the opportunity to meet the faculty members of the VOICExperience Programs while learning more about vocal music, technique and about the “masters” themselves.

This non-stop celebration of the voice will impress the most avid fans and newcomers alike. For the complete 2018 line-up: savannahvoicefestival.org/festival-events

For Free Events: savannahvoicefestival.org/free-events

Location: Various
Dates: Aug 4 – 26, 2018
Times: Various – see schedule
Tel: 855-766-7372
savannahvoicefestival.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitsavannah.com

The fifth annual Wild Vibes Festival, featuring a full day in nature It takes place at Spring Hill Farm in South Berwick, Maine which is just a short drive away from Portsmouth. It’s nestled in the lush landscape of the Seacoast on a family-run farm, with over 60 waterfront acres of rolling hills and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

Celebrated as one of New England’s favorite Yoga, Music, & Arts Festival, Wild Vibes features a diverse line-up of teachers, presenters, and performers. Experience a jam-packed day of live music, inspiring workshops, unique yoga classes including SUP yoga and paddle boarding, local artisans, Roots Village for tasty treats and refreshing beverages, and you can drop off your kids at Wild Vibes Kids Camp.

Enhance your natural state with the ultimate day of creativity, movement, music, art, wellness and community in this serene setting. Venture in the dreamers den, practice yoga on the water, and get your groove on under the open sky. Check out the schedule for amazing and inspiring workshops: wildvibes.org/workshop

A kid-friendly event, Wild Vibes Festival offers something for everyone. A portion of festival proceeds benefit Puresa Humanitarian Foundation and Yoga & Cancer SATYA. Kids ages 12 & under FREE.

Location: Spring Hill Farm, 117 Pond Rd, South Berwick, ME 03908
Date: Sat, July 28th, 2018
Time: 12pm – 8pm
wildvibes.org
For regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: portsmouthnh.com

Professional and amateur anglers and those looking for a fun, family event gather for The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament (GJKT), a contest fishing for king mackerel that spans six days every July in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, known as one of the largest kingfish tournaments in the Southeast,  is now entering its 38th year and goes way beyond the tournament itself. In addition to the General Tournament, this fishing extravaganza also includes a Junior Angler Offshore Tournament,  live entertainment, food festival, and more.

The event benefits Jacksonville Marine Charities, an organization that has proudly made an impact over the years for the local community and its economy. The grand tournament prizing structure grants cash prizes for 10 places with 1st Place Big Fish prize valued at over $86,000.

Location: Jim King Park & Boat Ramp at Sister Creek, Jacksonville, 32226
Dates: Jul 16 – 21, 2018
Time: Various – see schedule above
Tel: 904-251-3011
kingfishtournament.com
For Regional Accommodations, Rstaurants & Attractions: visitjacksonville.com

Bring your little ones to A Fairy Tale Festival & Adventure, a magical and enchanted festival full of characters from all your favorite fairy tales, benefiting the Sandhills Children’s Center.

Be ready to spend your day dancing with the trolls, princesses, pirates, fairies, elves and mermaids. Maybe join a treasure hunt with the pirates, unless they make you walk the plank. Go to the Mad Hatter’s tea party. There will be horse and carriage rides, hot-air balloon rides, face painting, story telling, tattoos, arts & crafts, food trucks and more.

You can find tickets to additional experiences like the Mad Hatter Tea Party, horse drawn carriage rides and early admission by clicking here

Everyone is encouraged to come dressed in  costumes,  not just the kids but also the kids at heart. Make sure to bring your camera for plenty of magical photo opportunities.

The festival will be fun for the whole family, but especially designed for children 12 years of age and younger. This event will be held rain or shine.  For additional festival information and to purchase admission tickets, you can click here.

Location: Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC 28376
Date: Sat, June 23, 2018
Time: 11am – 6pm
IndelibleProductions.net
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitfayettevillenc

Father’s Day is a special day, so why not treat Dad to a fun-filled day at A. Smith Bowman Distillery, the home of World’s Best Bourbon 2016 & 2017, for their 7th Annual Father’s Day Festival.

Admission is FREE to the festival and entertaining for the whole family.  Highlights include: Distillery tours on the half hour, tastings & cocktails, local beer & wine, Live music, mouthwatering food, vendors, games, and the much anticipated Annual Barrel Regatta.

The Annual Barrel Regatta is an amusing watery tradition. Taking place from  noon – 1pm, individuals or teams from around the create their own boats made from used bourbon barrels and race them in Deep Run. There will be prizes and awards for the two fastest finishes, most spirited and best sinking. You don’t want to miss the race.

No pets with the exception of service animals are allowed in the festival areas.

Location: A. Smith Bowman Distillery, One Bowman Drive, At Deep Run, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Date: Sat,  June 16th, 2018
Time: 11am – 5pm
Tel: 540-373-4555
asmithbowman.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitfred.com

Grab your spoons and mark your calendars for Scooper Bowl – all-you-can-eat Ice Cream Festival.

Celebrating its 36th year in 2018, the Scooper Bowl is now a three-day event that dishes out 20 tons of the summer’s finest ice cream to more than 40,000 ice cream lovers from across the nation. Enjoy a lot of great entertainment and fun activities at this country’s largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival.

What is most impressive about the ice cream festival is that all ice cream companies donate all the ice cream, labor, scoopers, and products needed to make the event happen each year. Though they are competitors for 51 weeks of the year, during the first week of June they come together to create an event that is now known as the “unofficial start of summer” in New England.

Made possible by the generous contributions of the industry’s largest ice cream companies, the Scooper Bowl has raised more than $6.3 million in the past 35 years for cancer research and patient care at the world-renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Get Your Tickets 

*Pricing will increase at the door – Kids under 3 are free

Whether you’re a visitor to the area or professional ice-cream-eater, you play a huge part their our mission to conquer cancer.

Ice Cream Flavors

Baskin-Robbins Boston Cream Pie Cannoli Be With You OREO® ‘n Caramel Triple Grape Ice Beckon Ice Cream (formerly Minus the Moo) – Thursday only, lactose-free Vanilla Chocolate Espresso Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Mint Chip Chocolate Candy Crunch Strawberries & Sweet Cream Black Raspberry Confetti Ben & Jerry’s Gimme Smore™ Caramel Almond Brittle non-dairy AmeriCone Dream® Chocolate Shake It™ Breyers Nautral Vanilla Oreo® Cookies & Cream Mint Chip Edy’s Birthday Cake Dulce Rainbow Sherbet Friendly’s Triple Caramel Peanut Heaven Hunka Chunka PB Fudge® Rockin’ Poppin’™ Cotton Candy Cookies ‘N Cream Black Raspberry Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Salted Fudge Truffle Non-Dairy Hood Hood® New England Creamery Limited Edition Chocolate Churro Hood® New England Creamery Limited Edition Purple Panda Hood® Coffee Cookies ‘n Cream Hood® Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Lactaid – lactose-free Lactaid® Cookies ‘n Cream Lactaid® Mint Chocolate Chip Lactaid® Mocha Almond Chip Lactaid® Salted Caramel Rosev Dairy Foods Coconut Rum Raisin Purple Cow Twisted Sea Turtle Vice Cream Afternoon Delight Bourbon Mash L’Orange A Trois Minted Higher Grounds Yasso Stick Bars: Pistachio Brittle Fudge Brownie Coconut Caramel Chocolate Chip Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Scoops: Party Animal  Mint Championchip Rolling in the Dough Caramel Pretzelmania Coffee Brownie Break Location: City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201 Date: June 5 – 7, 2018 Time: Noon – 8pm scooperbowl.org For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: bostonusa.com

For over 40 years the Georgia Sea Islands Festival on St. Simons Island, Georgia has celebrated the African American musical traditions, crafts, and food of the coastal barrier islands.

Each year the highlight of the festival are the musicians – young, old, and some “with an old heart” — who perform traditional spirituals, work songs, and plays handed down by their ancestors. Live entertainment includes The Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters.

There will be cuisine such as  smoked mullet, fried fish, sweet potato pone, homemade ice cream, and demonstrations of traditional Gullah Geechee knitting cast net and sweet grass baskets.

The Georgia Sea Islands Festival is FREE and filled with fun and entertainment for the whole family.

Location: Gascoigne Bluff Park, 1000 Arthur J Moore Dr, St Simons Island, GA 31522
Date: Sat, June 2, 2018
Time: 11am – 6pm
Tel: 912- 634-0330
ssiheritagecoalition.org/2018/02/16/georgia-sea-islands-festival-2018
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: goldenisles.com

Celebrating Annapolis’ Diverse Arts Scene, Annapolis Arts Week was created to bring together the area’s local artists and musicians for a week of art, food, block parties, events, music, and festivals.

The week includes major events: Paint Annapolis, a county-wide, juried, plein air competition celebrating its 15^th year with 30 distinguished artists from around the globe. The artists will create 300 landscape works, highlighting the special colonial architecture, marine atmosphere, and overall energy of Annapolis. p a i n t a n n a p o l i s . o r g

Paint Annapolis features special events every day:

Sunday, June 3: Dueling Brushes – Quick Draw at Susan B Campbell Park
Monday June 4: Artist paint in Anne Arundel County
Tuesday, June 5: Paint the Bay Reception at Annapolis Maritime Museum
6-8pm
Wednesday, June 6: Artists paint in the city of Annapolis
Nocturne at dusk – Dinner Under the Stars
Thursday, June 7: Artists paint in the historic district
Art on the Avenue, Maryland Avenue, 5-7pm
Friday, June 8: Collector’s Award Reception, 6:30 – 9pm
Saturday June 9 & Sunday June 10: Reception & Sales at Circle Gallery
Mimosas & Muffins: Sunday 11am – 1pm

Here are some additional events going on throughout Annapolis Arts Week:

The Annapolis Irish Festival where you can enjoy traditional Celtic music and Irish rock bands on three different stages, along with workshops and exhibits. Try some delicious Irish beef stew and other Irish favorites. Little Leprechaun Land (open on Saturday only 11am– 4pm) provides pony rides, face painting and other free activities for the kids.  June 1 & 2, 2018 at Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds annapolisirishfestival.com

16th Annual First Sunday Arts Festival Shop among the creations of 130 local and regional artisans; dine at outdoor cafes; and enjoy the music of more than seven live bands. It’s a great time to explore art galleries, take a game room challenge and/or create your own artwork at shops on West Street taking place on First block of West and Calvert Streets,  Sunday, June 3 – 11am – 5pm – Admission: Free firstsundayarts.com

Dinner Under the Stars is a place for families and friends to come together and for couples to experience a romantic evening under the stars. Artists will paint from sundown to sunrise alongside the hundreds who come to dine, drink, and dance under the night sky. Spend Wednesday evenings dining, dancing and listening to live bands in the middle of the first block of West Street, just off Church Circle. Wednesdays, June 6, 13, 20, 27, 6pm – 10pm dinnerunderthestars.org

Photo Credit: VisitAnnapolis.org & Kenneth Tom Photography

Location: Various
Date: June 1 -10, 2018
Hours: Various
Tel: 410-268-4566
annapolisartsweek.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitannapolis.org