Save the Date – Upcoming Events for 2016

Looking for something to do this weekend or next weekend or maybe in the month of February? We’ve gathered the upcoming festivals, celebrations, conventions and more, from now until the end of time (currently November 2016). Check back weekly for new additions (in red)!
Updated May 21, 2016

May 2016 EventsMay 1--The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is back, offering 40 automobile-free miles across New York City for this once-a-year opportunity with 32,000 of your cycling friends. The bike tour starts at Franklin St. at Church St.
May 1-31—The world’s largest annual photography event returns to Toronto with the Scotiabank CONTACT, a month-long festival of photography in more than 175 venues, including billboards, major public museums, private galleries, and the Pearson International Airport, showcasing international artists’ and local photographers’ talent.
May 16-29—Don’t miss the high-paced action of the 100th Running of the Indy 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil. Two full weeks of events lead up to the main race, including the pit stop competition, a concert featuring Journey, and the Indy Lights Freedom 100. (Indianapolis, Ind.)
May 19-June 5--The San Francisco International Arts Festival present world-class international artists from more than 50 countries whose work has not presented in the U.S. in more than 200 arts. Last year’s festival showcased artists from Colombia, England, France, Japan, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and more.
May 21--The 33rd Annual San Francisco International Beer Festival presents awesome beer and food pairings, and price of admission includes entrance into the festival, unlimited beer sampling in a four-ounce souvenir mug, unlimited food sampling, and live music.
May 20-22—Originally organized to bring visitors back to the gulf after BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Hangout Music Festival is a music festival…on a beach! (Gulf Shores, Ala.)
May 21—Some of the world’s best craft brewers gather in the historic Fort Mason Center to benefit the Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School at the 34th annual San Francisco International Beer Festival. All guests must be 21 and older to attend.   
May 21--Los Músicos de José and Tower of Power will be playing at the Oasis Arena in Cancun as part of the Oasis Jazz U concert series at The Pyramid, Luxury at the Grand Oasis and Grand Oasis Cancun.
May 23-29—Wine lovers, unite! London Wine Week returns for a third year, and with the purchase of a £10 (USD14) wristband, you can enjoy self-guided wine tours, events, and tasting sessions across London. Venues vary from famous restaurants to hotel bars and even wine vaults.
May 24-28--The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 draws more than 150,000 visitors and is on par with Paris Fashion Week. It’s billed as the world’s most famous flower show.  
May 24—Help decide who wins the Golden Clam Award for best New England-style “chowda” at the 26th Annual Chowderfest & Brews in Waterville, N.H.
May 26--Brooklyn Uncorked celebrates its 10th anniversary with award-winning local wines and delicious eats from popular restaurants in Brooklyn and Manhattan, including Hunter’s, Paulaner NYC, Red Trail Ridge Winery, and Wainscott Main Wine and Spirits.
May 26--Alcatraz Challenge, part of the Tri-California Events, includes a 1.5-mile swim in the San Francisco Bay and a seven-mile run over the Golden Gate Bridge; choose a hotel in the Marina District or near Pier 3 to be close to the race action. (San Francisco)
May 27-29--Summer Camp Music Festival is just what it sounds like, a summer camp for grown-ups with field day competitions, sunrise kickball, late-night concerts, and musical workshops. (Chillicothe, Ill.)
May 27-30--Sasquatch! gathers more than 20,000 a performance to a concert venue called The Gorge, a natural amphitheater in Quincy, Wash. for an intimate music experience in the Pacific Northwest.
May 28--Fiusha and Chaka Khan will be playing at the Oasis Arena in Cancun as part of the Oasis Jazz U concert series at The Pyramid, Luxury at the Grand Oasis and Grand Oasis Cancun.
May 28-29--Toronto is the first city in North America and largest in Canada to host Doors Open, which welcomes visitors to explore the history, architecture, culture, and social significance of more than 150 buildings across the city.


June 2016 EventsJune 2-5—Learning experiences, tasting events, classes, dinner, and talent chefs from D.C. to Texas make the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival the nation’s first culinary celebration dedicated exclusively to southern food and drink.
June 2-5—Think about your favorite country festival and then add in cherry everything? That’s what you’ll find at the Beaumont Cherry Festival, back for its 90th year. And don’t miss the parade and car show! (Beaumont, Calif.)
June 3-5--The Governors Ball Music Festival, also known as “GovBall,” offers three days of music excitement with A-list headliners and veteran talent with local fare, vegetarian options, and more, in New York City.
June 4-5--The Seattle Pet Expo heads to the Washington State Convention Center to help educate pet owners, offer great deals on vaccinations, free nail trims, live entertainment, obedience demonstrations, and a “mega-adoption event.” Don’t forget to bring your pet!
June 4-5—One of San Francisco’s largest free festivals, the Union Street Festival returns for its 40th year with a fashion show, craft beer and wine tasting pavilions, arts and crafts exhibitors,  an art showcase, local food vendors.
June 7--The Red Hook Bike Jumble is a bike flea market where riders can sell new and used bikes, equipment, and other related bike accessories; presented in association with the New York Bike Jumble.
June 7-12—The premier professional surfing event in Mexico, the Los Cabos Open of Surf is a world qualifying event for WSL Women’s QS6000, WSL Men’s and Women’s Pro Junior Event. See the main event held at Zippers, at Costa Azul, San Jose del Cabo.
June 8-10--Seattle International Beerfest takes over the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion and Lawn at Seattle Center (right outside of the Space Needle) to offer exotic, hard-to-find brews. The festival motto is “taste the greatest beers you’ve never heard of.”
June 9-12--Bonnaro, the largest outdoor music festival in North America, is also known as one of the “50 Moments That Changed Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Rolling Stone and features jam bands, a festive campsite, and even a Splash-Roo slip ‘n’ slide area in Manchester, Tennessee.
June 9-12—Combine hundreds of artists for live concerts, meet and greets, autograph signings, and celebrity sporting events, and you’ll get the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. And you don’t need a ticket! Most events are free around the city, though you will need a ticket for the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium and the Fan Fair X.
June 10-12--Triathlon at Pacific Cove, part of the Tri-California Events, will drench athletes in the Protected Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary at Lovers Point for a .9-mile or .25-mile swim (depending on your course), a 24.8-mile or 12.4-mile bike ride with an ocean view, and a 6.2-mile or two-mile run along Monterey Peninsula. There’s also 10k and 5k runs to benefit veterans.
June 10-12—For more than 30 years, the Chicago Blue Festival has celebrated the city’s heritage and its native sons and daughters who play the iconic musical genre; don’t forget to check local blues bars for more of your favorite music as the festival expands beyond the stages.
June 11—What do you get when you combine the Trooping of Colour, the Horse Guards Parade, and a salute at Green Park and the Tower of London. The Queen’s Birthday Parade, of course! (London)
June 11-14—To celebrate African American cinema, the San Francisco Black Film Festival features a diverse collection of films from emerging and established filmmakers, forums for education and networking, Q&A’s, and more. The festival accepts submissions from around the world to show “Black film-making” from a global perspective.
June 15-19—Regent’s Park once more transforms into a foodie wonderland with famous chefs and world-class cuisine at Taste of London 2016, featuring food from Cinnamon Club, Roux at Parliament Square, Typing Room, and Vanilla Black—plus, cooking demonstrations, tasting, masterclasses, and even tips on growing your own garden.
June 16-19—More than 80,000 are expected to converge on Dover, Delaware for Firefly Music Festival for four days of celebrity talent and emerging artists in “newgrass” and “country punk” genres, farmers’ market, food trucks, and more.  
June 16-26—The largest-running, largest, and most recognized LBGTQ film event in the world, The San Francisco International LBGTQ Film Festival brings more than 63,000 attendees for the Bay Area for FRAMELINE40, a competitive film festival that features audience awards in Best Feature, Best Documentary, and Best Short, plus juried awards for Outstanding First Feature and Outstanding Documentary Feature.
June 17-19—Savor three days of wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, and tasting events at The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Don’t miss the late night parties, where you might be able to meet your favorite celebrity chef.
June 18-19—Following up Open House London comes Open Garden Squares 2016 when more than 200 London gardens welcome guests to see private gardens, rooftop gardens, and urban wildlife areas.
June 18-19—See more than 30 hot-air balloons and take a tethered ride in one at the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic, celebrating its 26th year.
June 18-26—The weeklong Pride in London celebrations the LGBT+ community with events like Pride’s Got Talent and London Gay Big Band. Don’t miss out on the culminating Pride in London Parade on the 25thwith more than 15,000 spectators, 250 community groups, and dancers/performers from Baker Street to Trafalgar Square.
June 23-26--The 20th Annual Stars & Stripes Tournament, a “fishing, golf, and music festival” returns toLos Cabos with themed dinners, a silent auction on the beach, concerts, and of course, fishing and golf excursions.
June 24-26—Head to the New Garden Flying Field (Toughkenamon, Penn.) for the Chester Counter Balloon Festival, boasting more than 20 hot-air balloons flying twice a day, a walk-through balloon, live bands, balloon glows, kids activities, and fireworks, plus more than 100 vendors.
June 25-26--San Francisco Pride has more than a million attendees with 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and 20 stages and party venues for the largest LGBT gathering in the nation. This year’s theme is “for racial and economic justice,” and though the event is free, the organization request a donation of $5-10 in order give back to the community. Since 1997, San Francisco Pride has given more than $2.5 million in grants.
June 26--Discover Hudson Valley Ride offers five routes and 100 miles of beautiful scenery through Ulster and Dutchess counties (New York), plus the Walkway Over the Hudson, the world’s longest footbridge.
June 30-July 3--Ashland Balloonfest features a Backyard BBQ, live entertainment, a morning fun flight, a fun kids’ zone, a cornhole competition, and a balloon glow, all with free admission at Freer Field. (Ohio)
June 29-July 3—What does $18 get you in Milwaukee, Wis.? A day at Summerfest! The two-weekend festival offers 800 acts, 1,000 performances, plus the opening night fireworks over Lake Michigan, a Tiki Hut for local acts, a Kohl’s Captivation Station, plus countless entertainment options like a rock climbing wall, ziplines, paddle boats, a splash pool, numerous food venues—even a fried food festival!
June 30-July 9—After 35 years, Festival International de Jazz de Montreal is the world’s biggest jazz festival with more 3,000 artists from 30 countries, more than 1,000 concerts (more than 2/3 with free, outdoor performances), and almost 2 million festivalgoers.


July 2016 EventsJuly 1-4—Celebrate the Fourth of July at the America’s Freedom Festival at Provo (Texas), featuring more than 20 hot-air balloons, the Hare and Hound competition, a grand parade, a fine art show, and a run.
July 5-10--Summerfest is back for its second weekend with spectacular entertainment, local and world-class musicians, and even a fried food festival! (Milwaukee, Wis.)
July 7-17--The Festival D’éte de Québec draws more than a million festivalgoers a year with 300 shows at 10 venues over 11 days with some of the biggest acts in the biz, like Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, and more. (Quebec City, Quebec)
July 8-17—A-list music talent, chuckwagon races, a spectacular midway, a pyrotechnic evening show, a parade—you guessed it! The Calgary Stampede is back at Stampede Park for 10 days of world-class entertainment.
July 14-17--Western PA Balloon Quest combines the best things about summer—carnival rides, food, fireworks, and entertainment with balloons to create one awesome weekend at the Scotland Meadows Park in New Castle, Penn.
July 15-16—More than 20 balloons will take to the sky at the Paris Balloon & Musical Festival (Texas), and stick around for the evening glows at dusk, live music from 6 p.m. and delicious food trucks.
July 15-16--Balloons Over Vermilion returns after 15 years with more than 30 hot-air balloons (I honestly did not know there were this many hot-air balloons in the world) at the Vermilion Regional Airport in Danville, Ill.
July 15-17—This particular weekend is popular for balloon festivals as the 41th Annual Great Wellsville Balloon Rally also takes flight with 35 hot air balloons, plus enjoy night glows, a parade through Wellsville, and a photo contest. Plus, admission is free! (New York State)
July 15-17--Northern Lights is a different kind of EDM festival with a swimming hole, vegan and eco-conscious foods, and small-scale breweries and wineries supplying the drinks. (Mendocino, Cali.)
July 17-23—Jamaica’s quintessential music event, Raggae Sumfest, has brought world-class acts to Montego Bay since 1993, and this festival is all-out with bands taking stage at 5 a.m. and a beach party with rum, mechanical bulls, and more.
July 18-21--The Miami Beach Convention Center hosts the annual Swim and Lingerie Show, exhibiting more than 400 designers and 2,500 lines of swimwear and lingerie because where else would this show hold its runway other than South Beach?
July 20-24—More than 160,000 comic, geek, and pop culture fans gather in San Diego for Comic-Con International 2016, and this year, the show will become the country’s longest continuously-fun comics and popular arts convention (47th year).
July 22-24—Since 2009, the J-Pop Summit at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center has celebrated the Japanese culture in terms of music, fashion, film, arts, games, food, and more. The 2014 saw more than 120,000 visitors while the 2015 event expanded to Union Square, NEW PEOPLE Cinema, and the Castro Theatre.
July 22-24--Newport Folk Festival is known for its pioneer roots with such talents as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Alison Krauss, and now offers four stages and a variety of music genres, like alt country, indie folk, bluegrass, and more. (Rhode Island)
July 22-31—The world’s largest outdoor rodeo is Cheyenne Frontier Days, where festivalgoers appreciate more than just rodeos—parades, free pancake breakfasts, horse-drawn carriage rides, carnivals, and more.
July 23—If you are a fan of mangos, then we have the festival for you! The International Mango Festival brings the world’s largest display of locally grown mangos to Coral Gables (Fl.) for mango tree sales, tastings, activities, and island music. Don’t miss the smoothies and snacks at The Veranda Restaurant!
July 23-October 2—See the official residence of The Queen, including the treasured State Rooms with paintings from famous artists (Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Rubens), plus sculptures, fine English and French furniture, and a special exhibition celebrating The Queen’s 90th birthday at the Buckingham Palace Tour: Summer Opening 2016.
July 28-31--Lollapalooza originally began as a farewell tour for Jane’s Addiction before growing to multiple acts for years, and now is a festival in Chicago with indie rock bands, a Kidzapalooza, and a food festival. Celebrating its 25 years, this festival has more than 170 musical performances over four days.
July 29-31—See balloons shaped as Darth Vader, Yoda, animals, and even the American flag at the 34th Annual QuickChek Festival of Ballooning in Association with PNCBank at Solberg Airport in Readington, N.J.


August 2016 EventsAugust--During the August Bank holiday, Notting Hill Carnival brings steel bands, Calypso music, and food stalls to West London for Europe’s biggest street festival.
August 3-7--East Cape Offshore offers three days of deep sea fishing in Los Cabos, starting at 7 a.m. and all lines out of the water by four. With a kick-off cocktail party and an award’s celebration, this tournament is great for a guys weekend getaway.
August 5-7--Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco is a music and arts festival also showcasing food, wine, and comedy, and has welcomed such legendary acts as Elton John, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Mumford & Sons, Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more.
August 6-7—For more than 25 years, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York has wowed guests, and this year, enjoy the U.S. Dragon Boast Open Championship Race, an opening day parade at noon on Saturday, and several races, including the Hong Kong SAR Family Invitational and the HSBC 150th Anniversary Invitational.
August 5-21--The Games of the XXXI Olympiad will bring the best athletes from around the world to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for spectacular competitions in 42 sports for 306 sets of medals to be awarded. More than 10,500 athletes will represent 206 countries in the first Olympic Games to be hosted in South America.
August 6-October 2—Celebrate the days of olde at the New York Renaissance Faire on Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. Don’t miss the jousts, pipers, maypole and peasant dance, falconry, knife throwing, storytelling, and more, plus check on the website for specific themes, like Pirate Weekend, Romance Weekend, Celtic Weekend, and our favorite, Time Traveler Weekend (with Steampunk Sunday).
August 8-14--The ATP World Tour comes to Los Cabos for the first time, following a change of venue from Bogota. Solaz Los Cabos is said to be hosting the tournament, but the hotel is not slated to open until 2017.
August 8-14—Back for its 76th year, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, S.D. welcomes with motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world for rides through town and the Black Hills, plus concerts, saloons, and stunt demonstrations like the “Longest Motorcycle Ride Through a Tunnel of Fire” and the Wall of Death.
August 10-16--Elvis Week returns to Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., with the Candlelight Vigil on the evening of Aug. 15; concerts by impersonators; panels by Elvis “insiders;” and more.
August 12-15—More than 20,000 people attend the ¡Latin Food Fest! for a kick-off party, two days of endless tastings, culinary demonstrations, an iron mixologist competition, and private chef dinners in San Diego, Calif.
August 13—Imagine winding through 13.1 miles of vineyards and breathtaking farmland for a half-marathon. See for yourself at the Wine Country Half Marathon in Willamette Valley, Ore., which starts at Stoller Family Estate and ends in Carlton at the Wine and Musical Festival.
August 15-16--The 7th Annual San Francisco Street Food Festival takes over the city’s Dogpatch neighborhood, where Transbay Tunnel was built, with 100 local vendors. Check out the Chef’s Counter for specialties like Taco Island, Dumplings, and Seafood. Don’t miss the Saturday Night Spit Roast.
August 15-16—Go back in time to the Prohibition Era with the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island in New York City with dance lessons from the 1920s, original recordings replayed on antique gramophones, a vintage portrait gallery, 1920s motorcar exhibition, a Charleston dance contest, and the High Court of Pie contest. (Don’t forget your costume.)
August 18--Noe Valley Wine Walk takes over 24th Street (from Diamond to Chattanooga) in San Francisco, offering special treats and wine samples from local vineyards. (Note: This is a cash only event.)
August 21--San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz, part of the Tri-California Events, challenges athletes with a 1.5 mile in the San Francisco Bay, a 20-mile bike ride through the San Francisco Hills, and a seven-mile run along oceanview trails.
August 25-28—Back with Grand Tasting events, a Taco Knockdown with Tequila, and a Sunday Brunch is the Eat Drink SF with more than 35 restaurants, 100 chefs, and 70 beer, wine, and spirit makers converging on San Francisco’s Fort Mason for one of the premier food festivals in the nation.


September 2016 EventsSeptember 2-4—If you’re a fan of Hatch chile peppers, then we’ve got the festival for you. Hatch Valley Chile Festival lures more than 30,000 visitors to Hatch, N.M., for chile, jalapeno, and watermelon eating contests, a carnival, a beer garden, and concerts all day long.
September 2-October 31--Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party transforms the Magic Kingdom into a Halloween festival with trick-or-treating, a special fireworks spectacular, and the Boo-to-You parade, from 7 p.m. to midnight. (See Disney’s new costume guidelines before attending!)
September 2-4--Bumbershoot, one of the biggest contemporary festivals in North America, presents live music, comedy, theater productions, films, visual, and more, all in the shadow of the Space Needle; recent events have included Pearl Jam, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Foo Fighters, and Paul McCartney. (Seattle Center, Wash.)
September 3--The Great River Race sends teams more than 21 miles past some of London’s famous sites in a water marathon from London Docklands to Surrey.
September 10 and 11—The annual Chocolate Festival at Ghirardelli Square welcomes local dessert companies, including Ghirardelli Chocolate, with chef demonstrations, ice cream eating contest, and more, benefiting Project Open Hand. (San Francisco)
September 14-November 14—Back for an unpresented 63 days, Epcot International Food & Wine Festivalpresented by Chase serves global marketplaces with delicious dishes to taste and drinks to savor, as well as concerts, fine dining options, and grand tasting events.
September 16-October 31—“It’s never too soon to start panicking.” Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights frightens guests with haunted houses (movie-set quality), scare zones, and the exciting rides of the park.
September 17-18--Open House London offers more than 700 free guided tours, cycle rides, and activities at the city’s iconic landmarks, private homes, and government buildings. Some of the sites include 10 Downing Street (the prime minister’s residence), the Georgian home of Benjamin Franklin, and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. While admission and tours are free, some venues might require advance bookings.
September 30-October 2--Scott Tinley’s Triathlons, part of the Tri-California Events, take over Lopez Lake in San Luis Obispo (Calif.) with five different courses, including a long course, international course, on-road sprint distance, kids’ race, and off-road sprint distance.


October and November 2016 EventsOctober--Los Cabos Gran Fondo was Bicycling Editors’ Choice 2015 and featured two courses, the 100-mile Gran Fondo and the 65-mile Medio Fondo. Both routes included breathtaking vistas and beautiful oceanfront paths as well as an amazing post-race party.
October 1-31—Experience all of the best food in The Smoke at the London Restaurant Festival with special menus, foodie tours and trails, and food-focused activities.  
October 3-9--London Cocktail Week welcomes guests to see more than 200 bars, restaurants, and vendors, plus incredible cocktail deals at the special Cocktail Village.  
October 3-10—Be amazed by the United States Navy Blue Angels plus a family-friendly festival with a humanitarian village and numerous marine vessels, including carriers, destroyers, and cruises, from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Card, and the Canadian Navy at the San Francisco Fleetweek.
October 1-9—The world’s premier balloon event is back—the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Gape at morning and evening glows, the start of America’s Challenge Gas Balloon Race, mass ascensions, flying competitions, and even a chainsaw-carving competition.
October 9—Celebrate Columbus Day in Miami with the Miami Broward Carnival, starting at the Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds and attracts more than 50,000 lovers of the Caribbean culture. Don’t miss The Parade of Bands with more than 20 masquerade bands marching six miles through the city, including steelbands, music trucks, and more.
October 14-16--Los Cabos Offshore offers two days of deep sea fishing to Los Cabos, starting at 8 a.m. and all lines out of the water by five. With a kick-off cocktail party by the lighthouse and an award’s celebration on the beach, this tournament is great for a guys weekend getaway.
October 18-21--Black & Blue Offshore offers three days of deep sea fishing to Los Cabos, starting at 8 a.m. and all lines out of the water by five. This annual tournament features an opening ceremony with flag honors, a fire dance, and the lighting of the tournament torch; and an awards celebration with a dinner and big-screen presentation.
October 28-29--Museums at Night across London opens more than 30 venues for a second weekend in 2016 and offers new exhibitions, expert speakers, special performances, live music, even torch-lit tours. Some venues include the Horniman Museum and Gardens, Bethlem Museum of the Mind, and the Bank of England Museum.
November--Los Cabos VIP Summit brings travel partners, hotelier, and industry professionals from Mexico, the US, Russia, Canada, Brazil, and more to the tip of Baja California for its 10th anniversary. 
November 2-5--The Cabo Tuna Jackpot is back for its 18th year, offering a welcome party; a Costa Shotgun start at 7 a.m. at the famous arch; and an awards dinner on the malecón.
November 5--Known as Bonfire Night, Fireworks’ Night, and Guy Fawkes Night, this night celebrates the arrest of the treasonous Guy Fawkes who conspired in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 with fireworks and bonfires throughout London.
November 9-13--Los Cabos International Film Festival returns to the shores of Banderas Bay, and this year, the festival has joined forces with the Cannes Film Festival. Los Cabos Film Festival chose four Mexican films to participate in the famous Cannes Festival!
Did we miss your favorite event? Let us know in the comment, and we’ll add it!