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Other stories in "Summer"

• On the road in Wisconsin
  Happy discoveries: art pottery, burgers, bike trails and lighthouses.
• A zeal for zip lines
  There's a boom in zooming over the tree tops.
• Snorkeling the Namekagon
  Face down in the swift, clear Wisconsin river, you'll see why it's a national treasure.
• Take a break on a lake for less
  Penny pinchers, start your engines.
• Watch out for wild parsnip
  This flowering weed may look pretty, but it bites.
• Try a new bike trail
  In Minnesota, fresh stretches of trail invite bicycle tourists.
• For football fans, a preview
  Watching is free and festive at team training camps.
• Blast from the past
  Train aficionados offer special excursions.
• Fourth of July weekend
  There's a celebration everywhere.
• Steaming down the Mississippi
  Fall-color excursions pulled by historic locomotive.
• The buzz on bugs
  Summer is here, and so are the pests.
• Plan ahead to get Wisconsin guides
  Wisconsin welcome centers are closed.
• Where to find mosquito-free camping
  Breathe a sigh of relief in southeast Minnesota.
• Free weekend in Minnesota and Wisconsin
  Take the chance to visit parks, trails, historic sites and fishing spots.
• Loving Mr. Wright
  Tours, anniversary events and inns cater to the many fans of Frank.
• In Pipestone, an era ends
  After 60 years, town says goodbye to 'Song of Hiawatha' pageant.
• Step out on National Trails Day
  The time is ripe for a hike.
• Sightsee and learn on Lake Superior
  For a different kind of cruise, hop a research vessel.
• Calling all Elizabeths
  A village near Galena plans to set a new world record every year.
• Tourist bait
  Dinged by disaster, Wisconsin sweetens the pot.
• On the road/A brewery in Potosi
  After a 36-year hiatus, taps flow again.

The best of the fests

Plan a weekend around a festival.

Every festival is a good festival. There's lots of see and do, and most everything is free.

For a list, see Great summer festivals. For food festivals, see A feast of festivals. For ethnic festivals, see Celebrating roots. For outdoor arts fairs, see Art al fresco. For dragon-boat festivals, see Waking the dragon. 

Here are 10 festivals worth planning a trip around.

National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Mich. This town on Lake Michigan attracts half a million people to events that include many contests and the Cherry Royale Parade at 11:15 a.m. July 11. July 4-11.

Great Circus Parade Festival in Milwaukee. Circus performances and animal rides on the lakefront feature Circus World Museum of Baraboo (pictured). The big parade starts at 2 p.m. Sunday. July 8-12.

Winnipeg Folk Festival in Winnipeg. For many people, this easy-going, family-friendly festival is the highlight of summer. Many camp on-site at Birds Hill Provincial Park. July 9-12.

Aquatennial in Minneapolis. Highlights are the Nicollet Mall block party, Lake Calhoun milk-carton boat races, Hennepin Avenue Torchlight Parade and Mississippi River fireworks show. July 17-25.

Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wis. You can't see this kind of thing just anywhere: cut-throat log rolling, boom running, springboard chopping and speed climbing. July 24-26. For more, see Hayward's lumberjacks.

Nordic Fest in Decorah, Iowa. Ole and Lena host this friendly, authentic, very fun and very large festival of Scandinavian culture. The parade, one of the region's best, is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. July 23-25. For more, see Nordic nirvana.

Folklorama in Winnipeg. This Manitoba prairie town celebrates its heritage with pavilions representing 44 nationalities, offering music, dance and food at many venues. Aug. 2-15.

Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, Wis. The fair in this Milwaukee suburb features lots of contests, including hog-calling, cookie-stacking and cream puff-eating. Aug. 6-16.

Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. See a diaper derby, outhouse races and mullet contest and don't miss the butter sculptures. Aug. 13-23.

Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. It's the annual extravaganza of competitions, concerts, carnival rides and food on a stick. Aug. 27-Sept. 7.

Last updated on June 17, 2009