Events: January : An Art Deco Fest, Cowboy Poetry and Other Winter Activities

Florida

Miami Beach’s 17th annual Art Deco Weekend, Jan. 7-9, is a three-day revel of all things Deco, Moderne and Streamline. There’s plenty to look at, plenty to buy. Venerable band leader Cab Calloway is parade grand marshal. There are big-band and jazz-era concerts in Lummus Park, a street festival and guided tours of the Art Deco district by foot, bicycle and trolley. A film fest features movies shot with Art Deco ambience, including “Stormy Weather” and “Casablanca.” Last year’s weekend drew almost 500,000 people. For more information, contact the Miami Design Preservation League, P.O. Bin L, Miami Beach, Fla. 33119; telephone (305) 672-2014.

Nevada

The Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko is the granddaddy of the genre, having spawned more than 150 gatherings all over the West. The Elko festival celebrates its 10th year Jan. 25-30, with a program that features Hawaiian paniolos, Australian drovers and Western buckaroos reciting their own work. There are workshops in silversmithing, song writing and ranch cooking; dances with live music; performances by Riders in the Sky and others, and plenty of cowboy gear for sale. Elko is in northeast Nevada; the nearest major airport is Salt Lake City. For a schedule of events, contact the Western Folklife Center, P.O. Box 888, 501 Railroad St., Elko, Nev. 89803; tel. (800) 748-4466.

Rhode Island

To lure visitors to the island in winter, Newport holds its sixth annual Winter Festival Jan. 28-Feb. 6. Dozens of events are scheduled. There’s dog-sled racing, an ice sculpture competition, a “polar bear” plunge, a city-wide scavenger hunt, progressive dinners at top restaurants, hayrides, horse-drawn carriage tours and a fancy ball. For a complete schedule, contact the Newport Winter Festival, 28 Pelham St., Newport, R.I. 02840; tel. (800) 326-6030.

Wisconsin

The World Championship Snowmobile Derby takes place Jan. 14-16 in the small resort town of Eagle River, in the northeast corner of the state. More than 250 competitors are expected for what many consider the most important snowmobile race in the world. It takes place not on snow but on a specially constructed oval ice track where speeds reach 100 miles per hour. Other festivities include a torchlight parade, sky-diving and hockey games. Contact the Eagle River Information Bureau, P.O. Box 218, Eagle River, Wis. 54521; tel. (715) 479-8575.

England

Famous for its historic occasions, London will kick off the new year with a brand-new event: the London Parade, beginning at noon on Jan. 1. The procession will include most of London’s lord mayors; bands from Thailand, Germany and the United States; carnival-style floats; vintage cars, and hundreds of clowns and acrobats. It begins at Parliament Square, making its way through Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus to Berkeley Square. For more information, contact the British Tourist Authority, 350 S. Figueroa St., Suite 450, Los Angeles 90071; tel. (213) 628-3525.

Mexico

The second annual Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo Billfish Classic, Jan. 19-22, is a newcomer in the sportfishing tournament world--but the prize money is already an impressive $150,000. Anglers from all over the world head out in 80 to 90 boats every day. Non- angling tourists can watch end-of-the-day weigh-ins on docks in both towns, when catches (marlin and sailfish) are noted on toteboards. For information, contact J.D.’s Big Game Tackle, 406 S. Bay Front, Newport Beach 92662; tel. (714) 723-0883.

Philippines

The Feast of the Black Nazarene begins in the late afternoon of Jan. 9, when a life-size statue of the kneeling Christ is brought out of Quiapo Church and--escorted by barefoot men--begins a frenzied six-hour procession. The streets of the Quiapo neighborhood, in the heart of downtown Manila, are lined with huge crowds eager to touch the statue (said to have miraculous powers) as it passes. This procession, which includes bands, often grinds to a halt as it accommodates the faithful. For more information, contact the Philippine Department of Tourism, 3660 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 216, Los Angeles 90010; tel. (213) 487-4525.

Events appears monthly.