Recently in Festivals Category

The NYC Japan Street Fair is back this summer with a new name: JapanTown! Uniting a diverse array of local Japanese businesses and household brands, JapanTown is a series of three festivals held in the East Village, Midtown, and the Upper East Side, focusing on Japanese "cool" culture, Japanese healthy food, and Japanese soul food, respectively. Introducing distinct Japanese products and attractions, JapanTown welcomes everyone to experience the rich culture of Japan and learn more about the New York Japanese business community.

Starting off JapanTown on July 17th, 2010 is the Cool Japan festival in the East Village, NYC's unofficial Japan Town. Highlighting the popular elements that make Japanese culture "cool," this festival offers Japanese robots to antiques to favorite snacks such as yakimochi and okonomiyaki. Visitors are also invited to participate in a Japanese street fashion contest; winners receive a prize from a JapanTown sponsor.

The Healthy Food & Green festival on August 22nd in Midtown enlightens visitors about select wholesome Japanese foods. Look for macrobiotic specialties from Souen Noodle restaurant, pesticide-free Japanese produce from Suzuki Farm, miso beef from Marukome, and soy products from Kikkoman.

The Soul Food festival on September 26th in the Upper East Side is all about Japanese soul food--the authentic dishes unique to specific regions of Japan. Visitors can sample such eats as Kyushu grilled tonton pork, Japanese curry, fried soba and gyoza, and konjac. The agricultural government of Kyushu, Japan's southernmost island, is to showcase its regional products as well.

JapanTown began in 2009 and was enormously successful, with an estimated 80,000 visitors browsing the wares of 30 vendors, which sold a massive quantity of items and distributed up to 10,000 product samples within six hours and 450 food samples within four hours. It is estimated that 200,000 visitors are to visit the three JapanTown festivals this year.

JapanTown is still accepting vendor and sponsor applications. For more information, please visit www.nyjapantown.org.

Chicago's Magnificent Mile Lights Festival(R) presented by Harris kicks off the 2009 Holiday Season, November 21-22

Plain White T's, Mitchel Musso of Disney Channel's 'Hannah Montana,' and Deborah Roberts of ABCs '20/20' and 'Good Morning America,' and Ashley Greene of 'Twilight' among those in the celebrity line-up

CHICAGO, Nov. 10

    WHO:   The 18th Annual Magnificent Mile Lights Festival® Presented
           by Harris...

    WHAT:  ...will mark the official start of the 2009 Holiday Season with
           more than one million people traveling from all over the U.S. to
           enjoy a weekend filled with free holiday activities along the
           world class Magnificent Mile®. Offering something for everyone,
           the event will feature a variety of celebrity entertainers,
           appearances by beloved Disney characters, interactive booths and a
           mile filled with holiday offers at North Michigan Avenue's famous
           shops, restaurants and hotels.

           The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by Harris procession
           will commence on Saturday, November 21 at 5:30 p.m. The procession
           will feature more than 30 spectacular floats, marching bands and
           other performers, with Mickey Mouse from Disney Parks as the grand
           marshal who will illuminate more than one million lights on 200
           trees along The Magnificent Mile.

           Deborah Roberts of ABC's "20/20" and Good Morning America will be
           among the hosts of an hour-long nationally televised ABC 7 Chicago
           special on The Magnificent Mile that will air on Saturday, November
           21 from 6-7 pm CST.  In addition to showing highlights of the day's
           entertainment and the entire procession, special celebrity
           greetings will also be featured as part of the program.

           This year's Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Presented by Harris
           also marks the launch of the first annual The Extra Mile: Acts of
           Kindness to Start the Holiday Season program. The program allows
           patrons of participating shops, restaurants and hotels to give to
           a variety of local, regional and national charity organizations
           through a host of day-long activities and deals. For a complete
           list of participants, visit www.themagnificentmile.com.

           Event highlights include:
              -- Lights Festival Lane, an interactive, holiday wonderland
                 on Pioneer Court (401 N. Michigan Avenue).
              -- A festive Culinary Pavilion brought to you by The
                 Signature Room at the 95th, which includes demonstrations
                 by several area restaurants like The Signature Room at the
                 95th and MARKETHOUSE.
              -- Musical performances on the Harris Stage from 11 am - 5 pm
                 featuring Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime
                 Players, Ralph's World, Radio Disney AM 1300 Road Crew,
                 Mitchel Musso presented by Radio Disney and the Plain White
                 T's presented by 101.9 FM THE MIX.
              -- Procession floats featuring Mickey Mouse and his friends from
                 Disney Parks and giant holiday-themed balloons, along with a
                 variety of performers including the famous NOGGELER
                 Guuggenmusig from Lucerne, Switzerland and numerous marching
                 bands. Ashley Greene of "Twilight" and Tony Esposito of the
                 Chicago Blackhawks will be among several of the celebrities
                 appearing in the lighting procession. The procession
                 culminates with Santa's arrival. A spectacular fireworks
                 display marks the grand finale.


           For a complete schedule and a list of activities and holiday
           offers, visit www.themagnificentmile.com.

           Become a fan of The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Presented
           by Harris on facebook and follow real-time event updates and
           special deals on twitter at www.twitter.com/Lightmymile

    WHERE: One of the Great Avenues of the World...
           North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL

    WHEN:  Friday, November 20
           Guests can settle in and begin to take advantage of all of the
           hotel, restaurant and retail holiday deals and offers listed in
           The Magnificent Mile Holiday Activity Guide. The guide will be
           available on site and is also available online at
           www.themagnificentmile.com.

           Saturday, November 21
           11 am - 5 pm: Lights Festival Lane at Pioneer Court is open
           with live entertainment and dozens of family friendly activities.
           5:30 pm: The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival presented by Harris
           lighting procession begins.
           6:55 pm: Fireworks display over the Chicago River at Michigan
           Avenue and Wacker Drive.

           Sunday, November 22
           Day-long shopping and dining deals offered benefiting a variety
           of charities as part of "The Extra Mile" program.

     To prearrange event day interviews and photo opportunities, and for
     a complete entertainment schedule, contact Denise O'Handley at
     847-648-2644.

SOURCE The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association

WHO: Bear Mountain

WHAT: Oktoberfest

WHEN: Weekends, September 26 - October 25 from 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

Monday, October 12 from 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

WHERE: Bear Mountain State Park

HIGHLIGHTS: The festival will feature authentic German food and beer, live entertainment and craft vendors. Visitors can also take advantage of the autumn splendor at Bear Mountain with a boat ride around Hessian Lake, a stroll in the park, or a magical ride on the Merry Go Round.

MUSIC SCHEDULE: September 26 - die Schlauberger (dSb) (www.schlauberger.com)

September 27 - Schwartzenegger Connection

October 3 and 10 - Alex Meixner Band (www.alexmeixner.com)

October 4 - Die Spitzbuam (www.nyspitzbuam.com)

October 11 - Plus Five Orchestra

October 12 - Diamond Chips

October 17 - Adam Barthalt Band (www.adambarthalt.com)

October 18 - Austrian Boys

October 24 - Fritz's Polka Band (www.fritzspolkaband.com)

October 25 - JT Lustiegen Musikanten

COST: Admission is free and parking is $7 per car

Bear Mountain Inn Complex, managed by Guest Services, Inc., offers 24 guest rooms at the Overlook Lodge, four stone cottages with six guest rooms each, and over 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space at the Overlook Lodge, Cliff House, and Merry-Go-Round Pavilion. Activities for all ages and interests abound onsite with boat rentals, playing fields, picnic groves, outdoor swimming pool, nature trails, Trailside Museum and Zoo, Perkins Memorial Tower, and the Bear Mountain Merry-Go-Round.

The historic Bear Mountain Inn is currently undergoing extensive work to bring it back to its original splendor. At the completion of the renovations, the Inn will offer 15 luxury suites, a spa, fitness center, full-service restaurant, and lounge with over 20,000 square feet of meeting and catering space, the Hiker's Lounge offering grab-and-go foods, and the Hudson Valley Store featuring park memorabilia and local crafts.

For more information on Oktoberfest and Bear Mountain please call 845-786-2731 or explore: www.visitbearmountain.com.

SOURCE Bear Mountain Inn