The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: June fourth, putting Kutztown on your calendar.

This time of year, the green hills and valleys of Berks County in south central Pennsylvania resound with country festivals, but if you're interested in the Pennsylvania Dutch mark June 29 in red letters. That's the start of the nine day Kutztown German Festival, a downhome event dedicated to both entertain visitors and teach them about the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. Festival amusements are decidedly non-electric, sing-alongs and hay mazes, craft and folklife demonstrations, music and clogging, handmade quilts and table after table of homemade pies. Simultaneous with the celebration is the seminar stage, where various presenters explore a wide range of Pennsylvania Dutch culture, from covered bridges to burial customs.

Kutztown is one of the offbeat items highlighted in the calendar of top events around the world detailed in each issue of magazine National Geographic Traveler, a supporter of our program. For example this weekend, there's the Goombay Festival in Miami, the Balloon Rally in Telluride, Colorado and the Lilac Festival on Mackinac Island, Michigan, which runs through the 16th. That's the date the Battle of the Flowers takes place in Ventimiglia, Italy, where flower festooned floats flow through the streets and participants pelt each other with rose blossoms and carnations. On June 22, 20th annual Mermaid Parade struts through Cony Island, New York. July 2 is when Boston's Harborfest Independence Day celebrations kick off, while the Just Laughs Festival, a chaotic convergence of comedians, takes place in Montreal July 11 through 21.

FMI. Mentioned festivals:

Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival 888-674-6136 or www.kutztownfestival.com

Miami/Goombay Festival 305-567-1399 or www.tropicoolmiami.com

Lilac Festival 800-454-5227 or www.mackinac.com

Mermaid Parade 718-372-5159 or www.coneyisland.com

Telluride Balloon Festival 970-728-4769 or www.telluride.com

Boston Harborfest 617-227-1528 or www.bostonharborfest.com

Just for Laughs 888-244-3155 or www.hahaha.com

Back to June 2002 Main

Look through the list of fascinating places and off-beat features we’ve covered. Search text versions of past episodes and articles in our archives.