Spud Wrestling Is the Maine Thing

Maine

The potato is one of Maine’s most important crops, and Fort Fairfield celebrates the spud in its 52nd Annual Maine Potato Blossom Festival, July 10 to 18, when potato plants are in full white, pink and purple bloom. Highlights include a parade, fireworks, a potato-picking contest, tractor pulls, a canoe race and mashed-potato wrestling (like mud wrestling). For more information, contact the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 607, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742; telephone (207) 472-3802.

Massachusetts

Boston’s Fourth of July on the Esplanade is one of those festivities in which people arrive 14 hours before the event to claim a good place to sit. Although the Boston Pops concert doesn’t begin until 8 p.m., the gates open at 6 a.m. at the Hatch Shell on the banks of the Charles River. Many concert-goers spend the day picnicking and listen to recorded music in the afternoon. And, of course, there’ll be fireworks, a 30-minute “pyro-musical.” For more information, contact the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, 2 Copley Place, Suite 105, Boston, MA 02116; tel. (888) 733-2678.

New Mexico

The 28th Annual Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Arts and Crafts show, July 17 to 18 in San Juan Pueblo, is a chance to buy arts and crafts directly from the maker or the maker’s family (that’s a guarantee here). More than 1,500 exhibitors will show their jewelry, pottery, drums, clothing and beadwork. American Indian dances are scheduled every half-hour during the event, and there’ll be plenty of traditional pueblo foods such as fry bread. The pueblo is 26 miles north of Santa Fe on the road to Taos. For more information, contact the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos, P.O. Box 969, San Juan Pueblo, NM 87566; tel. (800) 793-4955.

Oregon

The Eighth Annual Basset Hound Olympics, July 25 in Lebanon, is expected to draw hundreds of hounds and thousands of their human fans. The dogs compete in several categories, including synchronized swimming, longest ears, puppy dash, best trick and best costume. The events are held at Lebanon’s River Park, about 80 miles south of Portland. For more information, contact the Emerald Empire Basset Hound Fanciers, 1050 Park St., Lebanon, OR 97355; tel. (541) 451-3647.

Utah

The Festival of the American West, July 30 to Aug. 7 in Wellsville, pays tribute to all aspects of the Old West. Held at the Jensen Living Historical Farm, it will feature re-creations of life among Native Americans, mountain men, pioneers, the military and cowboys. More than 70 artisans will demonstrate crafts of the times, such as lace making, tanning and saddle work. In the evening, an outdoor pageant features a cast of 200 and a backdrop of the Wellsville Mountains. For more information, contact the Festival of the American West, 7700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322; tel. (800) 225-3378.

Canada

This year’s Montreal International Jazz Festival, July 1 to 11, pays homage to the 100th anniversary of the birth of jazz in New Orleans with many Louisiana-inspired happenings, including a parade each evening and Cajun cruises, which sail from midnight to 3 a.m. Top names include Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, the Afro-Cuban All Stars and Caetano Veloso. For more information, contact the Montreal International Jazz Festival, 822 Sherbrooke E., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2L 1K4; tel. (888) 515-0515.

Italy

The Feast of the Redeemer (Il Redentore), July 17 to 18 in Venice, commemorates the end of that city’s plague in 1576. The events begin with pilgrimages to the Church of the Redeemer at the tip of the Giudecca neighborhood, followed by a fireworks spectacular over the canals. For more information, contact the Italian Government Tourist Board, 12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 550, L.A. 90025; tel. (310) 820-0098.

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