Deb's Monthly Review

January 2011

Editor: Deb Thompson deb@lightpatch.com

Festivals for Travelers, Sites of the Month, Archives, Selected Links and more.

Bringing you festivals and other fun since 1997!

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	The Artsy Site Of The Month: Sketchpad Feed your inner Michelangeo.		Handy Site Of The Month: Design a Brochure in Photoshop A tri-fold brochure for your business, church or cause
	Just Fun Site Of The Month: How to fold a towel dog Wow your overnight guests with your new cruise ship housekeeping skill.		Scientific/Technical Sites Of The Month: How can parts of Canada be missing gravity? Find out how our neighbor to the North varies in gravity.

 January 2011 Festivals and Events

Books to help you make more money for travel fun or make the most of the money you already have! Making Your Money Count Buy It, Sell It, Make Money The Naked Truth About Your Money Gold: The Once and Future Money Your Money After the Big 5-0 Show Me the Money Make Your Money Make Money For You

Scroll down for January Festivals and other events for travelers in the U.S.

January 8, 2011 Lafayette Quaker Oatmeal Festival Downtown, Lafayette, Colorado	Enjoy a great big oatmeal breakfast at Pioneer Elementary School (on Baseline Road) Dive into pancakes, muffins and hot cereal with 140 toppings. The feasting goes from 7:30am-1pm. There will also be an oatmeal baking contest, activities for kids, a health fair and health screenings, plus a 5K run/walk at 9:30am at Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts. It's the festival's 15th anniversary. Learn More: Call 303-925-4352 or 303-666-9555
January 8, 2011 Winter Festival Kickapoo Valley Reserve Visitor Center, LaFarge, Wisconsin	Ice cave hike, archery, horse-drawn sleigh rides and wagon rides, snow sculpture, sled dog races, chili and bread contest, face painting, skating and skiing, warming fires, dog pulls, auction. Layer on the clothing and come out and enjoy the heart of winter in LaFarge. Details: Call 608-625-2960
January 8-9, 2011 Cape Coral Festival of the Arts Cape Coral Parkway from Cape Coral Street to Vincennes, Cape Coral, Florida	For a 26th year juried artists gather to show and sell their work along both sides of the Parkway median, plus you can enjoy sidewalk sales, activities for kids, festival foods and musical entertainment. Get the Facts: Call 239-443-7666 or 239-245-0021
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State Sticker Map from Camping World.
January 12-17, 2011 Sandpoint Winter Carnival Various locations, Sandpoint, Idaho	Ski and board party and bonfire, candy dig for kids, snowshoe hike, crafts activities for kids, dining specials on Friday, poker skiing, Bioluminesce FireDance, dog keg pulls, Taste of Sandpoint Thursday, torchlight parade, passport shopping around town, skijoring, Canpoint canned goods sculpture, fireworks. Questions? Call 208-255-1876
January 13-16, 2011 Riverwalk Mud Festival Various venues along Riverwalk, San Antonio, Texas	Once a year the Parks Department drains the river and then refills it. The party starts after the refilling, with a parade, arts and crafts, festival foods, Mud King Pageantry and the Mud Pie Ball. (This year the draining takes place Jan. 3-11.) Further Information: Call 210-227-4262
January 14-15, 2011 Mohican Winter Fest Central Park and downtown, Loudonville, Ohio	Ice carving and speed carving with displays of the finished works, winter hikes, carriage rides, ice skating, festival foods, skiing and more. The festival celebrates 5 years in 2011. Learn More: Call 419-994-4789
January 14-16, 2011 Fire & Ice Festival Uptown, Somerset, Pennsylvania	It's the festival's 16th season. Planned fun includes musical entertainment, fireworks, ice carving, soup sale, festival foods, activities for kids, chainsaw woodcarvers, marketplace, pancake breakfast on Saturday at 110 S. Edgewood Avenue from 7:30am-1pm, silent auction, display of photo contest winners, 5K walk/run. Questions? Call 814-443-1748
January 14-February 20, 2011 George Washington's Birthday Celebration Various venues, Laredo, Texas	Youth Parade under the Stars, Festival de Mariachi, Comedy Jam for George, Youth Dance Festival, theatrical performances, Caballeros Cocktail Party, Colonial Pageant and Ball, Taste of Laredo, wine tasting and sales, air show, UETA Jamboozle, Birthday Parade, luncheons, International Bridge Ceremony. Some activities may require separate fees and/or reservations and may have limited attendance. Find Out More: Call 956-722-0589
January 15, 2011 Jack Frost Fest Downtown, Spooner, Wisconsin	All-day movies, ice fishing contest, Texas Hold 'Em, open skating, Jack's Snowshoe Jaunt (4K race), minnow races, turkey bowling (with frozen turkeys), chili cooking competition, antique snowmobile display, raffle, dog sled rides, rib cooking contest, merchant specials, festival foods, sled hill, pond hockey. Details: Call 715-635-2168 or 800-367-3306
January 15-16, 2011 Street Fair 2nd Street and Florence downtown, Casa Grande, Arizona	Arts and crafts, entertainment, food court, car and bike show. General hours are 10am-5pm on Saturday and 11am-4pm on Sunday. Further Info: Call 520-836-8744 or 800-916-1515
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January 15-16, 2011 Ice Fest Front Street Park, Leavenworth, Washington	Ice Cube Scramble for ages 6 and younger, ice sculpting, contest, dog sled pull, snowshoe events, Un-waiter competition, entertainment, fireworks Sunday evening, smooshing (with 4-person teams strapping on one pair of skis among them and racing against one another), more games in the snow. Adding to all this is the setting. Leavenworth is a Bavarian-themed village with plenty of local charm. Get the Facts: Call 509-548-5807
January 17-29, 2011 Stowe Winter Carnival Main Street, Stowe, Vermont	Ski races, ice carving competition, snow golf, ice carving demos, kids' carnival, snow volleyball. Fun activities were still being planned at this writing. It's the carnival's 37th anniversary. Questions? Call 802-253-7321
January 20-23, 2011 Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival Fellsmere City Complex on South Cypress Street, Fellsmere, Florida	100 arts and crafts booths, Gator Tail and Frogs Legs Dinners (and other festival foods), pony rides for the kids, carnival rides and games, plenty of entertainment. Hours are 1-11:30pm Saturday and 1-6pm on Sunday for this 20th year. Additional Info: Call 772-571-0150
January 21-23, 2011 Waukesha Jamboree Various locations, Waukesha, Wisconsin	The festival celebrates 26 years in 2011. Enjoy an ice sculpting contest, dog pull, chili dinner, indoor ice skating, 5K run/walk, cross-country ski race, geocaching, ice fishing, YMCA open gym, Kids Fun Fiesta, fireworks, toboggan run, pancake breakfast Jan. 22 from 7:30-10:30am at Schuetze Rec Center on Baxter Street. Get the Facts: Call 282-524-3737
January 21-23, 2011 Flake Out Festival Downtown, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin	Ice carving, wood carving, tubing hill, blacksmithing demonstrations, Wisconsin State Snow Sculpting Competition, arts and crafts, music, dog weight pulls, pony rides for the kids, craft activities for the kids, fireworks, food concessions, ice rink. 2011 marks the festival's 21st season. Questions? Call 800-223-3557
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January 21-23 & 28-30, 2011 Tip-Up Town USA Lake & Shoreline area, Houghton, Michigan	Houghton celebrates for a 61st year with snow and ice games, festival merchandise, 5K run/walk, drawings for prizes, arts and crafts, grand parade, Polar Bear Dip and much more. Further Information: Call 989-366-5544 or 800-248-6263
January 22, 2011 Chillfest Mill Creek Park, Chatfield, Minnesota	Sledding, skating, snowmobile radar run at 10am, Polar Plunge at 2pm, bunco party, chili and salsa cooking competition at 4pm, Cold Cash Bingo, sleigh rides, chili supper 4-7pm, activities for kids. It's the 9th year for this one. Get Details: Call 507-259-6902 or 507-867-4080
January 22-February 2, 2011 Winter Rec Festival Various area parks, LaCrosse, Wisconsin	Snow man making contest, corn hole tournament, lighted sledding hill, broomball tournament, figure skating events, sheepshead tournament, curling, medallion hunt, fireworks January 28, euchre tournament, snow sculpture contest, hockey, torchlight ski hike, ice fishing derby. The festival celebrates 25 years in 2011. Information: Call 608-784-4880 or 608-789-7533
January 27-30, 2011 Winterfest In and around Downtown, Blowing Rock, North Carolina	It's the 13th anniversary for this event. Plans include Shop Til You Drop, silent auction, pancake breakfast Sunday 8-11am, raffles, hot chocolate, wine tasting and wine auction, ice carving competition and demos, concerts, chili cooking contest, Polar Plunge, Winter Paws Pet Show, hayrides, dusk bonfire Friday and Saturday in Memorial Park (weather permitting) with S'Mores and toasted marshmallows (with supplies provided), Winterfeast (additional fee and reservations at 826-295-9627), activities for kids. More: Call 828-295-7851
January 27-30, 2011 Chambersburg Ice Fest Downtown, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania	The festival turns 9 this year. Enjoy ArtFest and an art auction, ballroom dance, popcorn giveaway, scavenger hunt, giant ice carvings and displays, food vendors, 40-foot ice slide, fireworks Saturday at 6:30pm, Snowfall Ball, merchant specials, ballet performance, hot pepper eating contest chili cooking competition, pancake breakfast at Trinity Episcopal Church on S. Second Street Jan. 29 from 8-11am. Questions? Call 717-254-7101 or 717-264-6883
January 27-February 6, 2011 St. Paul Winter Carnival Various locations, St. Paul, Minnesota	It's the festival's 125h annniversary. The whole celebration is centered on the legend of King Boreas defeating vulcanus Rex so that winter can go forward. Plans for fun this year include a soccer tournament, Carnival's Got Talent, King Boreas Grand Day Parade (Jan. 29), snow slide, Ice Bar on Rice Park, torchlight parade on Feb. 5, activities for kids, Salute to Canada, hot air balloons, broomball, pool/dart tournament, orchid show, speed skating, cat show, theatre, opera performances, Klondike Kate Cabaret, jigsaw puzzle contest, snow and ice sculptures, Technokarneval. Further Details: Call 651-223-4700
January 28-February 6, 2011 Winter Carnival Various locations, McCall, Idaho	For a 46th year you can enjoy fun such as a snowmobile race, Children's Light Parade (Jan. 28 at 5:30pm), dog pulls, wine dinners, casino night, fireworks, food vendors, Mardi Gras Parade Jan 20 at Noon, pancake breakfast at the Senior Center Jan. 29 from 8-11am, ski events, snow sculptures, beard contest, arts and crafts, bingo, Polar Plunge, beer garden, musical entertainment. Get the Facts: Call 208-834-7631 or 800-260-5139
January 29, 2011 Kumquat Festival Pasco Fairgrounds and Downtown, Dade City, Florida	10K walk and 5K run, kumquat ice cream, arts and crafts, kumquat marmalade, grower info, wagon rides, kumquat salsa (plus many other kunquat dishes and festival foods), classic cars and tractors on display, entertainment, merchant specials, face painting, non-profit booths. Tip: Get there early if you want a slice of the Refrigerator Kumquat Pie. They go through thousands of slices every year and they sell out by early afternoon. Learn More: Call 234-567-1313
January 29, 2011 Fire & Ice Festival Various locations, Mount Holly, New Jersey	Dog sled demos, 300-pound blocks of ice made into art by professional and amateur ice carvers and then displayed, Philadelphia Zoo on Wheels, fire engine rides, chili contest and public tasting, gingerbread house contest and display, K9 search and rescue dog demos. General hours are 10:30am-4pm. Find Out More: Call 609-914-0811
Did you know that Margaret Truman, the only daughter of President Harry Truman, penned several mysteries? Two of them were Murder in the Supreme Court and Murder Inside the Beltway
January 29, 2011 Marrienville Winterfest MACA Building and Grounds, Marrienville, Pennsylvania	Snow sculpting, raffles, parade, festival foods, chili making contest, games for kids, baking contest. Get The Facts: Call 814-927-8218
January 29, 2011 Texas Citrus Festival Downtown, Mission, Texas	Texas Citrus Youth Show, Parade of Oranges at 4pm, pre-festival events (such as the costume style show and royal court pageantry), carnival, activities for the kids, entertainment. There are also the Vaquero Cooking Contests (ribs, peach cobbler, fajitas, ranchero beans, pan de campo plus Best Authentic Camp Site). Learn More: Call 956-585-9724
January 29, 2011 Winterfest on Broadway Broadway District, Green Bay, Wisconsin	For an 8th year you can enjoy winter fun with snow games, face painting and other activities for kids, music, firefighters and equipment displays, hayrides, ice-sculpting competition and lighted display of the finished works, chili cooking contest with tasting by festival-goers, music, museum displays. General hours are 11am-8pm. Information: Call 920-437-2531
January 29-February 2, 2011 Groundhog Day in the Park Barclay Square (and other venues), Punxsatawney, Pennsylvania	Groundhog Day Birthday Party, music, food vendors, art show, Tours of Phantastic Phils, art activities for kids, S'Mores, Salvation Army pancake breakfast, Groundhog Day weddings, arts and crafts. Further Details: Call 814-933-7700 or 800-752-PHIL
Sorry, festival-goers. I am unable to fulfill requests for personalized festival lists free of charge. You may hire me by the hour for personal research.
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Baker's Edge Brownie Pan Nordic Ware 2-piece Bundt Set
January Somethings! Brief, bare-boned last-minute festival listings:
Jan 13-16 International Balloon Festival, Community Center area, Bluff, Utah, 435-672-2341 Jan 14-17 Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, Morro Bay, California, 805-275-4143 Jan 15-16 Nautical & Wildlife Art Festival,                    Convention Center at 40th & Bay, Ocean City, Maryland, 410-524-9177 Jan 15-16, 22-23 River Kiwanis Medieval Faire , Lakes Regional Park, Fort Myers, Florida, 239-839-8036 Jan 26-30 Taos Winter Wine Festival (25th), Taos, New Mexico, 855-968-7366 Jan 20-30 Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah, 877-733-7829
Other January 2011 Events You Might Enjoy
Jan 6-7 Home Entertainment Show, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, 720-242-4545 Jan 7-9 Fungus Fair (37th), Louden Nelson Community Center, Santa Cruz, California, 831-420-6115 Jan 7-9 Toy & Hobby Show, 9-4/10-4, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, North Carolina, 919-553-4285 Jan 7-16 Houston Boat Show (55th), Reliant Center, Houston, Texas, 713-626-6381 Jan 7-16 World Championship Snowmobile Derby, Eagle River, Wisconsin, 715-479-4424 Jan 8 Great Fruitcake Toss, 10am-2pm, High School Track, Manitou Springs, Colorado, 719-685-5089 or 800-642-2567 Jan 8 Swapfest (Ham Radio/Computer/Electronics), County Expo Center, Waukesha, Wisconsin, 414-425-3644 Jan 8-9 Gathering of the Gunfighters (13th), Territorial State Prison State Park, Yuma, Arizona, 928-783-4771 Jan 8-9 Cable air Show, Cable Airport, Uplands, California, 909-983-60211 Jan 8-9 Northeast Motorcycle Expo, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, 976-688-8888 Jan 8-9 Boca Fest (24th), 10-5, Boca Center on Military Tail, Boca Raton, Florida, 954-472-3755 Jan 8-9 Gun Show, Fairgrounds, Jackson, Tennessee, 563-927-8176 Jan 8-9 Rubber Stamp & Paper Arts Festival, Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas, 541-574-8000 Jan 8-16 RV Show, Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 724-446-1048 Jan 8-23 The Main Event, Quartzsite, Arizona, 929-927-5213 Jan 12-16 Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, 800-337-7777 Jan 14-16 Gem-Jewelry-Bead Show, Municipal Auditorium, Sarasota, Florida, 941-954-0202 Jan 15-16 Delray Beach Art Festival, 10-5, Atlantic Avenue, Delray, Florida, 954-473-3755 Jan 15-16 Central Florida Highland Games (34th), Central Winds Park, Winter Springs, Florida, 407-428-7268 Jan 15-16 StampScrapArtTour, Convention Center, Mesquite, Texas, 727-644-0590 Jan 15-17 Gun Show, NW Georgia Trade Center, Dalton, Georgia, 229-423-4867 Jan 16 Bear & Doll Show (20th), Lafayette Hotel, Marietta, Ohio, 740-374-1779 Jan 21-23 Quilt Festival, Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona, 520-498-4698 Jan 21-23 Del Mar Antique Show & Sale, Fairgrounds, Del Mar, California, 800-943-7501 Jan 21-23 Oklahoma City Home & Garden Show, State Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 512-259-1999 Jan 21-23 Chattacon 36, Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel, Chattanooga, Tennessee Jan 21-30 Milwaukee Boat Show, Wisconsin Expo Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 616-447-2860 Jan 23 Weatherfest (10th), Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, Washington, 617-227-2425 Jan 26-30 Louisville Boat, RV & Sport Show, Expo Center, Louisville, Kentucky, 502-935-4141 Jan 27-29 Macworld Expo, Moscone Center West Hall, San Francisco, California, 805-290-1341 Jan 29-30 Heard Museum Guild Library Book Sale, 9-5/10-4, Phoenix, Arizona, 602-251-0209 Jan 29-30 Special Olympics Wisconsin State Games, Wausau, Wisconsin, 608-222-1324 Jan 29-Feb 6 Philadelphia International Auto Show, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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It's always best to call ahead to verify festival information. Please tell them you saw the listing in Deb's Monthly Review.

Above: Metallic Choker Necklace Left: Feather Choker Necklace

Joan Garnand creates from her home in Tennessee. Her design styles range from simple elegance to whimsical fun. Joan does hand-painted stationery, uses spare moments at festivals to paint faces, and entertains children at private parties. A sample of her work is illustrated online. Talk to her about what you're looking for!

Let's look at a serious topic, not to point fingers, but to raise awareness. Please tell parents about the spike in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) on New Year's Day.
Try TravBuddy's Geo Quiz Challenge		How about a trip with a little night life? Astronomy in Arizona with the Smithsonian
Walt Disney World's Block Party Bash is closing January 1. But new things are coming.

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Last Updated December 29, 2010

Deb's Monthly Review © copyright Deb Thompson