Skies Not Cloudy All Day Over Cowboy Poetry Fest

Nevada

The annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Jan. 23 to 30 in Elko, grows more ambitious every year. This year’s celebration of the West features a rodeo, dances, lectures, workshops and, of course, performances by leading cowboy poets such as Waddie Mitchell and Baxter Black. Workshops include leather tooling, blacksmithing, ranch photography and cooking biscuits in a Dutch oven. The exhibit “From Head to Toe” features custom Western wear, each piece made by a single craftsman. The Plainsmen, and Don Walser and his Pure Texas Band, play for the evening dances. Book early; accommodations in Elko are limited. For more information, contact the Western Folklife Center, P.O. Box 1570, Elko, NV 89803-0888; telephone (888) 880-5885.

Vermont

The people who planned this year’s Stowe Winter Carnival, Jan. 26 to 31, have gone way beyond the traditional cross-country and downhill races and come up with some very inventive winter pastimes. There’s snow golf at the Stowe Country Club, bowling on a frozen pond and snow volleyball. Also scheduled: a snow sculpture contest, a block party, a chicken pie supper at the Community Church and plenty of skiing. For more information, contact the Stowe Winter Carnival, P.O. Box 1320, Stowe, VT 05672; tel. (800) 247-8693.

Wisconsin

The 36th annual World Championship Snowmobile Derby takes place Jan. 21 to 24 in Eagle River. More than 250 competitors are expected for one of the most important snowmobile races in the world. It takes place on a specially constructed oval ice track outside town, with competitors hitting more than 100 mph. There will be night racing. Eagle River is a small resort town high in the state’s northeast. For more information, contact the Eagle River Information Bureau, P.O. Box 218, Eagle River, WI 54521; tel. (715) 479-8575.

Britain

Londoners celebrate New Year’s Day with an American-style extravaganza of a parade. More than 7,000 musicians, dancers, cheerleaders, acrobats, marching bands, clowns and floats will make their way through the city. The parade begins at noon at Westminster Abbey and moves through Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Lower Regent Street and Piccadilly to Berkeley Square. The Lord Mayor of Westminster will lead the procession. For more information, contact the British Tourist Authority, 551 Fifth Ave., Suite 701, New York, NY 10176-0799; tel. (800) 462-2748.

Bahamas

Junkanoo is much like an early carnival celebration--this one welcoming in the New Year. The major islands--Freeport and Eleuthera--have parties, but the lavish parade on Bay Street in Nassau is always the wildest and most extravagant, with dancers and musical groups that have practiced for months. Parade watchers line up Dec. 31 (bleacher seats are also available for purchase) for the 2 to 8 a.m. parade. Visitors as well as residents don lavish costumes, and the marching bands are strong on cowbells, drums and whistles. For more information, contact Bahamas Tourism Center, 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1204, L.A. 90010; tel. (213) 385-0033.

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