THE UNITED STATES OF EVENTS

THE UNITED STATES OF EVENTS
Where to go and what to do
Following are picks for the festivals, fairs and celebrations nationwide in September that are most worthy of planning a trip around. For more events, check www.festivals.com or the comprehensive "Chase's Calendar of Events" (Contemporary Books).
1-2 Wilmington, Vt.: Garlic and Herb Festival. The perfect date activity: a festival for food and crafts created from garlic! There's Garlic Golf as well. Tickets $4. (802) 368-7147, www.festivals.com.
11-14 Grapevine, Texas: Grapefest. Stomp grapes at the Southwest's largest wine festival; for cleaner fun, just hit the wine tastings. Complimentary buses shuttle the inebriatedamong wineries. (800) 457-6338, www.grapevinetexasusa.com.
11-14 Reno, Nev: National Championship Air Races. Air gymnastics performed by champions of the world's fastest sport. Tickets $11-$22 or four days for $60. (775) 972-6663, www.airrace.org.
19-21 Lincoln, N.H.: New Hampshire Highland Games. Kilted golf, Scottish Country dancing, folk music, storytelling and Celtic cheer. Tickets $25. (603) 229-1975, www.nhscot.org.
20 Atlantic City: Miss America Pageant. Here she is, the mother of all beauty pageants. Sure, it's the leading presenter of scholarships to young women, but world peace is what it's really all about. Tickets available through Ticket Master -- (800) 736-1420 -- June to August. (609) 345-7571, www.missamerica.org.
25-28 London, Ky.: World Chicken Festival. You need 300 gallons of cooking oil to fill the world's largest skillet and cook 600 chicken quarters. This festival honors Col. Sanders and his original Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. (800) 348-0095, www.chickenfestival.com.
26-28 Springfield, Ill.: International Route 66 Mother Road Festival. Vintage cars, food booths, road memorabilia and a sock hop. Driver's license not required. (800) 545-7300, www.visit-springfieldillinois.com.
Mid-September (dates to be announced) New York City: San Gennaro Festival. Leave the hot dog, take the cannoli -- this is Little Italy, after all -- and hide from the scarily accurate Weight Guessers at the festival honoring the patron saint of Naples. (212) 484-1200, www.littleitalynyc.com.
Source: Washington Post