Art Festivals Across America

ALABAMA

Northport

Kentuck Festival of the Arts

Oct. 17-18.

Started as a folk art festival 27 years ago, the annual event now features over 200 local and national artists, music, food, and a variety or crafts.

ARIZONA

Bisbee Fiber Arts Festival

Oct. 9-11.

All kinds of fiber arts hand-crafted by local artisans.

CALIFORNIA

Monterey

Monterey Jazz Festival

Sept. 18-20.

Celebrating its 41st year, the country's oldest continuous jazz festival features the sounds of some of the world's finest jazz musicians.

San Francisco

San Francisco International Art Exposition (SFIAE)

Oct. 2-4.

Annual contemporary art expo held every October at Fort Mason. Features the works of artists presented by American and international galleries.

COLORADO

Durango

Colorfest Gallery Walk

Sept. 25.

A walking tour of Durango's many art galleries.

GEORGIA

Athens

Oconee Fall Festival

Sept. 19.

Annual arts and crafts festival featuring one-of-a-kind works by local and national artists, music, and children's activities.

ILLINOIS

Quincy

Arts/Quincy Riverfest

Sept 18-20.

Celebration of the arts and the Mississippi River in the riverfront parks. Fine arts and crafts, jazz and country-western performances, and children's activities. www.artqcv.org

INDIANA

Columbus

Chautauqua of the Arts

Sept. 19-20.

Fine artists and craftsmen gather to demonstrate and sell their works.

KENTUCKY

Berea

Celebration of Traditional Music

Oct. 23-25.

An annual event presented by Berea College featuring various performers, square-dancing, hymn-singing, and other musical events.

LOUISIANA

Lafayette

Louisiana Native and Contemporary Crafts Festival

Sept 18-20.

A celebration of Louisiana's history through its native crafts, music, food, and folklore.

MARYLAND

Bel Air

Bel Air Festival for the Arts

Sept. 20.

Arts, crafts, and photography exhibits and entertainment.

MASSACHUSETTS

Northampton

Paradise City Arts Festival

Oct. 10-12.

The contemporary crafts, art, and sculpture of 200 artists from across the country. Music and craft demonstrations daily.

West Springfield

The Big E

Through Oct. 4.

One of the nation's largest fairs. It features free entertainment including musical performers, a big-top circus, horse show, children's attractions, daily parade, historic village, and more. www.thebige.com

MICHIGAN

Detroit

Detroit Festival of Arts

Sept 18-20.

Detroit Cultural Center and Wayne State University become a block kaleidoscope for visual, performing, and literary arts and entertainment. www.media.wayne.edu/

MISSISSIPPI

Ocean Springs

Great Oaks Storytelling

Oct. 9-11.

This family event features storytellers from across the country.

MISSOURI

Dexter

Fall Craftfest

Sept. 19.

An indoor show of all-hand-crafted products.

NEW JERSEY

Hoboken

Hoboken Artists Studio Tour

Oct. 18.

A self-guided walking tour in the mile-square city.

NEW MEXICO

Ruidoso

Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium

Oct. 9-11.

The Symposium gathers the world's finest cowboy poets, musicians, storytellers, chuck-wagon cooks, and artisans.

NORTH CAROLINA

Chapel Hill

Festifall

Oct. 4.

Fine arts, crafts, international food, music, and dance.

OREGON

Medford

Medford Jazz Jubilee

Oct. 9-11.

Jazz bands from around the world. More than 100 performances.

PENNSYLVANIA

Gettysburg

Gettysburg outdoor antique show

Sept. 19.

More than 175 antique dealers displaying their wares on the sidewalk.

www.gettysburg.com

VERMONT

Stratton

Stratton Arts Festival

Through Oct. 18.

An annual exhibition and sale featuring the work of 100 selected Vermont artists. Featuring demonstrations and workshops.

www.sover.net/~artsfest/

WASHINGTON

Port Townsend

Kinetic Sculpture Race

Oct. 3-4.

Engineers from across the country emerge from garage laboratories to create human-powered vehicles that will run on land, mud, and water.

WISCONSIN

Milwaukee

Craft Fair Usa: Indoor Show

Sept. 19-20.

Sale of handcrafted items: jewelry, pottery, weaving, leather, wood, glass, yulecraft, and sculpture.

WYOMING

Jackson

Fall Arts Festival

Through Oct. 12.

Features special shows by more than 35 major galleries, program presentations, working demonstrations, exhibits, concerts, dance, and theater.

- From 'The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America' by John Villani and 'Chase's 1998 Calendar of Events.'