HOME | FESTIVALS & STUFF | QUICKSHOTS | CONTACT US

FESTIVALS & STUFF

AfroTrek recommended events

JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL (May 16 - October 18) Miami, New York, The Hague, Chicago, Newport, Concord, Los Angeles, and Paris host the greatest series of Jazz Festivals in the universe. Talent includes legends such as Herbie Hancock, Sergio Mendes, Maceo Parker,Al Jarreau, Tower of Power, Paul Simon, Etta James, Chaka Kahn, Bootsy Collins, Joe Jackson, and Buddy Guy. Also look for Alicia Keyes Youssou N'Dour, Von Freeman, Pat Benatra, Yoruba, Raul Midon, Ledisi, Ravi Coltrane, Wycliffe Gordon, David Sanborn, James Ingram, Boney James and others. Different artists in different cities.

OKTOBERFEST (September 19 - October 4, Munich) The worlds biggest festival originally celebrated the marriage of King Ludwig 1 in 1810 and the party never stopped! Ludwig organized a horse race and invited all the people of Munich. The royal party drew about 40,000 guests back then a major event but only a small fraction of the 8 million people it draws now. Now there is a crossbow competition, amusement rides, parades with funky floats and grandiose horse draw beer wagons and gi-normous tents with beer, beer, bier!

INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL (October 2-4 Jopnesborough TN) The festival, now in its 36th year is acclaimed as one of the Top 100 Events in North America. Featured events include Ghost Story concerts, Midnight Cabaret and At Exchange Place, which explores the diversity of American storytelling in this program featuring tellers new to the National Storytelling Festival stage. A revered festival tradition where specially invited storytellers from across the country share their finest tales.

INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA (October 3 - 11, Albuquerque) For nine days the New Mexico skies are painted as hundreds of balloons lift off from Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta Park. Whimsical special shapes and Balloon Glows create a magical landscape for spectators to wander. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will leave you awestruck and wanting more.

CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (October 8 - 21) North America's oldest competitive international film festival. Founded in 1964 by award winning filmmaker and graphic designer Michael Kutza, the Festival's goals were the same then as they are now: to discover and present new filmmakers to Chicago, and to acknowledge and award these filmmakers for their artistry. The festival has introduced innovative directors such as Martin Scorsese, John Carpenter, Susan Seidelman, Victor Nunez, Gregory Nava (United States); Wim Wenders, Rainer Werner Fassbinder (Germany); Bertrand Tavernier (France); Peter Weir (Australia); Dariush Mehrjui (Iran); Mike Leigh, Alan Parker, Michael Apted, Peter Greenaway (Great Britain); Vincent Ward (New Zealand); Krzysztof Kieslowski, Krzysztof Zanussi (Poland); Dusan Makavejev (Yugoslavia); Victor Erice (Spain); Jan Troell (Sweden); and Maria Louisa Bemberg (Argentina), to name just a few! The Chicago International Film Festival is a competitive event with categories for feature films, first and second time directors, documentaries and short films (including animation and student productions).

PLEASURE ISLAND SEAFOOD, JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL (October 10 - November 21 CA) Now entering it's 16th year, the music performed by nationally recognized Blues and Jazz performers, coastal cuisine, natural beauty and salt air transportS you into another dimensionÖand into a world where your cares and stresses are left behind. It's a world where the weather is warmer, the people are friendlier, the food is tastier, and the music is "blue-sier". This two-day festival takes place along the scenic Cape Fear River at the Fort Fisher Military Recreational Area in Kure beach. Enjoy browsing at the Fine Arts Plaza, shopping for crafts, listening to music, and fine wine tasting. Children will stay entertained for hours as they enjoy magicians, juggling acts, clowns and much more in the Kidz Zone.

SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ FESTIVAL (October 10 - November 21 CA) 27th version of this gigantic festival that stays true to the genre. Every fall the Festival presents a phenomenal array of jazz concerts, from the classic to the avant-garde, gathering the legends of today and the rising stars of tomorrow in premier venues throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. Venues include the Paramount Theatre, The Green Room, The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, and the Herbst Theatre. Originally a small-scale event known mostly in the local community, the Festival has risen to national and international prominence featuring dozens of events, including new work by some of the most creative contemporary artists, unique "Jazz on Film" presentations, family matinee concerts and other programs.

MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE (November 26 Thanksgiving Day) For 82 years the parade has marched down Broadway, but this year the parade takes a different route down 7th Avenue. The nations most famous parade continues with balloons, floats and enough marching bands to make an national Army proud!

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE NEW LATIN AMERICAN CINEMA (December 3 - 13, Havana, Cuba) The Festival sets up an annual competition in Fiction, Documentary and Animation, Opera Prima, Unproduced Script and Poster. Besides that, the programme includes a showcase of contemporary world cinema, the Industry Sector initiatives as well as meetings and seminars on issues of cultural interest, especially cinema. The Festival promotes and awards those works whose significance and artistic values contribute to enrich and reaffirm the Latin American and Caribbean cultural identity.

COMING UP QUICK, FAST AND IN A HURRY!

NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW (January 11 - 24, 2010 Detroit) With the auto industry in deep doo-doo time may be running out on this showcase of American cars. The NAIAS 2009 featured more than 50 vehicle debuts; with over 30 of those being worldwide introductions. Nearly 5,500 journalists attended NAIAS 2009 from nearly 50 countries (nearly 30 percent of the journalists were international, thus helping to spread automotive news made at NAIAS 2009 to the world). More than 650,000 visitors passed through the doors during public days. NAIAS is uniquely positioned to be four shows in one - a media preview, an industry preview, a charity preview and a public show with a 9-day run..

BARBADOS JAZZ FESTIVAL (January 1 - 17, 2010) Bringing some of the best local, national and international jazz performers to the stage at various venues in Bridgetown, this annual event is popular with jazz aficionados and attracts music fans from all over the world. Concerts take place at various venues in or close to Bridgetown and past performers have included big names such as Lionel Richie, Jill Scott and Boney James.

SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL (January 21 - 31, Park City UT) The seen-and-be-seen event that attracts movie stars and wannabes the world over. And though regular Janes and Joes may have some trouble getting into the celeb-studded parties around town, anyone can purchase tickets to screenings and discussion panels for as little as $10. The festival's reputation for bringing independent films to mainstream audiences is well-founded ñ Reservoir Dogs, Sex, Lies and Videotape, and Little Miss Sunshine are but three of recent note. Between screenings you can always hit the slopes of Park City ñ which is a mecca for ski bums all winter long.

JAMAICA JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL (January 24 - 30, 2010) This festival puts together each year, a mix of musical genre which come together to create one musical work of art. While jazz and blues remain as the inspiration for the tone and the feel of the event, the performers are deliberatly chosen from a variety of genre, and arranged in a way that they appeal to a variety of music lovers. R & B, soul, alternative, reggae and other complementing genre come together to create the final masterpiece.

RIO DE JANEIRO CARNAVAL (February 2 - 5, 2010) Now that they have secured the 2016 Olympics Rio will really let it's hair down... if that is possible! annual celebration attracts revelers from the world over, and although the partying starts weeks prior, Carnaval is actually only a four-day event that ends the day before Ash Wednesday (known as Fat Tuesday). Dancers in exotic itsy-bitsy costumes, scantily clad bathing beauties, and carousing Cariocas (as the locals are known) hit the streets, particularly so Praca General Osorio, just two blocks from Ipanema Beach, where the Banda de Ipanema puts on its famous drag-queen parade. The culmination of Carnaval ñ the official Samba Parade that takes place at the Sambodromo downtown ñ is the celebration's highlight.

MARDI GRAS (February 2 - 5, 2010, New Orleans LA) Don some beaded necklaces (exactly how you acquire this accessory is up to you) and hit the party of all parties in the French Quarter, where colorful parades with enormous floats full of bead-tossing mascots in crazy costumes ñ and all that jazz (literally) ñ are just part of the draw. Though its reputation brings to mind shirtless debauchery (which is likely found on Bourbon Street), locals celebrate ñ fully clothed ñ along parade routes near Charles Avenue and in uptown bars. Regardless of where you party, the celebratory spirit is palpable throughout the city.

WINTER & PARA OLYMPIC GAMES (February 12 - 28, 2010 & March 12 - 21, 2010 Vancouver) Your next opportunity to purchase tickets for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will take place in mid-2009. An open invitation for everyone to share in the Olympic and Paralympic journey, to find and step up to their own podium. Whistler is the Host Mountain Resort of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains offer world-class skiing facilities, including new Olympic and Paralympic venues, an intimate, pedestrian-friendly village and a community pride that welcomes spectators, skiers and lovers of winter activities.

BUENOS AIRES TANGO FESTIVAL (February 27 - March 7, 2010) Talk about hot! Intense, moody and undeniably sexy, tango is the emblematic dance of Buenos Aires and the annual Buenos Aires Tango Festival is a great place to see it at its best. The finest practitioners in the world join the peerless local artistes in a programme of tango concerts, dancing displays, exhibitions, classes and a one-minute film festival. Together they fill the city with endless possibilities to watch, listen, learn and to take part in a range of events all dedicated to this passionate dance form. This officially-organized tango-fest recognizes the cultural importance of this home grown dance form, and aims to both celebrate and promote this rich component of the city's social scene.

WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES (September 25 - October 10, 2010) It almost seems eerie that with all the horse history Kentucky has, this is the first time the games have been played there (or anywhere on North America). The Games are held every four years, two years prior to the Olympic Games, and are governed by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI); comprised of the world championships for eight equestrian sports. Finishing touches are being made on an array of Hospitality Packages carefully crafted to accentuate the grace and grandeur of the 2010 Games. Your opportunity to purchase tickets for the 2010 Games will take place September 25, 2009.

HOME | FESTIVALS & STUFF | QUICKSHOTS | CONTACT US