EVENTS: AUGUST

ALASKA

Take along your biggest cabbage

The Alaska State Fair, Aug. 21 to Sept. 1 in Palmer (an hour north of Anchorage), has some unusual events: earthworm races, slingshot potato bowling, parent/child look-alike contests, amateur pig herding, diaper derby, a husband hollering contest and the cabbage weigh-in, where specimens often top 100 pounds. There will be entertainment, rodeos, fireworks, fiddle contests and a parade.

For information, contact the Alaska State Fair, 22075 Glenn Highway, Palmer, AK 99645; (800) 850-3247 or (907) 745-4827, www.alaskastatefair.org.

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MAINE

Back in time with music and dance

The 65th National Folk Festival, Aug. 22 to 24 along the Penobscot River in Bangor, promises all kinds of traditional dance and crafts along with gospel, mariachi, klezmer, honky-tonk, blues, Irish, French, Russian, West African and Acadian folk music. Exhibits will focus on the Abnaki tribes of New England and the Maritime Provinces of Canada. At the Folk Art Marketplace artisans demonstrate skills in decoy carving, quilting, yarn dyeing, pottery, ironwork, maple syrup making and more.

For information, contact the National Folk Festival, 30 Main St., Suite 220, Bangor, ME 04401; (207) 992-2630, www.nationalfolkfestival.com.

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MARYLAND

Cultivating African roots

The Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival, Aug. 9 and 10 at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds in Crownsville, is named for a character in Alex Haley’s novel “Roots.” More than 75 arts and crafts vendors are expected at the festival, which focuses on African, African American and African Caribbean cultures through music (fusion, gospel, doo-wop, calypso), children’s activities and educational booths and seminars.

For information contact Kunta Kinte Celebrations, 1517 Ritchie Highway, Suite L-5, Arnold, MD 21012; (410) 349-0338, www.kuntakinte.org.

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NEW MEXICO

Early for breakfast at the bat cave

Bats fly into Carlsbad Caverns every morning, and once a year the National Park Service serves breakfast to the people who come to watch them. The Bat Flight Breakfast, which costs $6 for adults and $3 for kids 12 and younger, is on the second Thursday in August (Aug. 14 this year) and typically attracts 300 to 500 people. The Park Service serves breakfast from 5 to 7 a.m., but visitors usually line up an hour earlier in the parking lot near the cave entrance to get the best view of the bats. Then viewers can move into the dark amphitheater to listen to the eerie sounds the bats make.

For information, contact Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 3225 National Park Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220; (505) 785-2232, www.nps.gov/cave/batbreakfast.htm.

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OHIO

A party that’s twin-engined

Twins Days Festival, Aug. 1 to 3 in Twinsburg, is touted as the world’s largest gathering of twins, triplets, quadruplets and more. They will meet in this town south of Cleveland to revel in their twinness, but non-twins are welcome to watch the activities, which include the Double Take Parade and contests (most alike, least alike, oldest).

For information, contact the Twins Days Festival Committee, P.O. Box 29, Twinsburg, OH 44087; (330) 425-3652, www.twinsdays.org.

Events appears once a month.