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 July 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-Aug. 31 Wolfeboro, N.H.: Great Waters Music Festival. The lineup for this festival along Lake Winnipesaukee includes jazz, folk, orchestral music and pop. Season tickets $105-$233. (603) 569-7710, www.greatwaters.org.
4 Boston: Independence Day Celebration. People stake places on the Esplanade in the wee hours of the morning to ensure prime seating for a patriotic evening of fireworks and the Boston Pops. (888) 484-7677, www.july4th.org.
5-12 Traverse City, Mich. National Cherry Festival, Traverse City, Mich. A Cherry Pit Spit Contest, Very Cherry Luncheon and a concert. Tickets $20-$30. (231) 947-4230, www.cherryfestival.org.
5-Nov. 1 Strasburg, Pa.: Cherry Crest Farm Maze Season. "Amazing Maize Maze" covers a five-acre cornfield. Tickets $10.50. (717) 687-6843, www.cherrycrestfarm.com.
5-6, 20-22, 26, 30-Aug. 3 Seattle: SEAFAIR. The largest community festival in the Pacific Northwest, with air shows, Miss SEAFAIR and a Milk Carton Derby, where hundreds of boats crafted from milk cartons are tested for sinkability. (206) 728-0123, www.seafair.com.
9-20 Cleveland, Toledo and other Lake Erie ports: Ohio Bicentennial Tall Ships Challenge. An homage to Lake Erie. (888) 644-6200, www.clevelandharborfest.com, www.ohio200.org.
11-13, 18-20, 25-27 De Smet, S.D: Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant. If skating on Silver Lake is one of your vicarious childhood memories, head to this celebration of Laura's life in the town that provided the setting for five books in the "Little House on the Prairie" series. Tickets $5. (800) 880-3383, www.liwms.com.
11-13 Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival. In 1986, the home town of the late master banjo player was officially designated by Congress as the site of National Championships in Old-Time Banjo, Old-Time Clogging and Old-Time Buckdancing. (800) 716-7560, www.uncledavemacondays.com.
14-17 Waynesville, N.C.: Folkmoot USA. French stilt dancers and Chilean performers join folk musicians in North Carolina's celebration of world heritage. $10 for three performances, $20 for all-day reserved ticket. (877) 365-5872, www.folkmoot.com.
26-Aug. 2 Wellsville, Utah: Festival of the American West. Rendezvous with a mountain man, see a cowboy shootout and sample the goods at a Dutch Oven Cook-Off. Tickets $6-$15. (800) 225-3378, www.americanwestcenter.org.
26-Aug. 10 Abingdon, Va.: Virginia Highlands Festival. Appalachian arts, crafts, music and dancing. Many events free, some workshops $15-$30. (800) 435-3440, www.vahighlandsfestival.org.
31-Aug. 2 Colo.: Telluride Jazz Celebration. Jazz lovers congregate to hear acclaimed artists outdoors during the day and in intimate settings at night. Three-day passes $75 until Jan. 31, after which prices go up. (970) 728-7009, www.telluridejazz.com.
Source: Washington Post