IF THERE’S ONE THING AMERICANS ARE REALLY GOOD AT, it’s celebrating. From Mardi Gras to New Year’s Eve, we never let an opportunity to party pass us by. But if you don’t live near New Orleans or New York City, there are still plenty of festivals within
traveling distance. Some are serious in nature, others are traditional holiday celebrations, and still others exist for no other reason than to have fun.
Eat, drink, and be wary
You surely won’t go hungry or thirsty at these events, and for some, food and beverages are the entire raison d’être.
The name Battle Creek probably rings a bell with cereal lovers; magnates C.W. Post and W.K. Kellogg put the Michigan city on the map as the birthplace of the cereal industry. And the city fathers still are milking it for everything it’s worth. Each June, the town hosts the Battle Creek Cereal Festival, an event that snaps, crackles, and pops with offerings such as the world’s longest breakfast table, the Cereal Fest parade, and even a pickleball competition.
Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest is the largest example of the German celebration this side of the Atlantic. In 2010, attendees scarfed up some 80,500 bratwurst, 64,000 sauerkraut balls, and 3,600 pounds of sauerkraut — washed down with more than 800 barrels of beer. How they had any energy left to do the chicken dance is a mystery.
You don’t have to travel to distant, exotic locales to sample truly unusual fare: A unique gastronomic experience — Bugfest — awaits you down south in Raleigh, N.C., each September. At the festival’s Café Insecta, you can munch on delicacies such as Berry Buggy Bready Pudding and Critter Fritters served with Toasted Cricket and Chili Mole Sauce, followed by some Frozen Chocolate Cricket Cubes for dessert. The event’s purpose is not just to push your culinary boundaries; it’s also to educate kids and adults alike about the insect world. Just don’t eat the displays.
Food floats at the Giant Pumpkin Regatta and Festival in Burlington, Vt., held each year at the city’s waterfront on the shores of Lake Champlain — possibly the only festival where the food serves as a vehicle.
GI Film Festival
May 14-20, Washington, D.C.
www.gifilmfestival.com
Virginia International Tattoo
April 27-29, Norfolk, Va.
www.vafest.org/2011
International Pinot Noir Celebration
July 27-29, McMinnville, Ore.
www.ipnc.org
Battle Creek Cereal Festival
June 8-9, Battle Creek, Mich.
www.bcfestivals.com
Bugfest
Sept. 15, Raleigh, N.C.
www.bugfest.org
FACT:
Festival coordinators plan for 154 tables with bowls of cereal at the 2012 event, representing the age of the city of Battle Creek.
68 MILITARY OFFICER APRIL 2012
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