EVENTS: SEPTEMBER

KENTUCKY

Bourbon by the barrel in the bluegrass

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Sept. 17-21 in Bardstown, celebrates Nelson County’s longtime livelihood. There will be barrel relays (where contestants roll 500-pound bourbon barrels), bourbon tastings and cook-offs, barrel making by master coopers, tours of historic Bardstown, a self-guided distillery trail and country-western dancing.

Contact Kentucky Bourbon Festival, 107 E. Stephen Foster Ave., Bardstown, KY 40004; (800) 638-4877, www.kybourbonfestival.com.

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NEVADA

Look up in the sky -- it’s a plane!

At the 40th annual National Championship Air Races and Air Show, Sept. 11-14 outside Reno, the country’s best pilots will compete in several categories. The Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds will do their aerobatics, and there will be displays of military aircraft.

Contact Reno Air Racing Assn., P.O. Box 1429, Reno, NV 89505; (775) 972-6663, www.airrace.org.

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NEW YORK

Everyone’s Italian at this historic festa

The 76th San Gennaro Feast and Street Fair, Sept. 11-21 in Manhattan’s Little Italy, will pay homage to the patron saint of Naples with three street processions. Many restaurants will set up tables on the closed streets. Adding to the fun will be the cannoli-eating contest and musical entertainment.

Contact Most Precious Blood Church, 109 Mulberry St., New York, NY 10013; (212) 226-6427, www.geocities.com/mpbchurch.

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NORTH CAROLINA

Feel Mayberry’s country charm

Mayberry Days, Sept. 25-27 in Mount Airy, expects legions of “The Andy Griffith Show” fans. Griffith renamed his hometown of Mount Airy as Mayberry for the series. Highlights will include bluegrass music, clogging, a pork-chop eating contest and a discussion with Earle Hagen, who wrote the show’s music. A sellout last year was the look-alike revue, a celebration of all the show’s quirky characters.

Contact Surry Arts Council, P.O. Box 141, Mount Airy, NC 27030; (800) 286-6193, www.surryarts.org.

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OHIO

Civil War history comes to life

Cavalry reenactors will gather in Meigs and Vinton counties Sept. 3-7 to relive Morgan’s Raid and the Battle of Buffington Island, the only Civil War battles fought in Ohio. The southeast Ohio countryside remains much as it was in 1863. Other events will include a dress parade, encampment, Civil War ball, Victorian tea and lectures.

Contact Meigs County Convention and Visitors Bureau,

238 W. Main St., Pomeroy, OH 45769; (877) 634-4726, www.meigscountytourism.com or www.morgansraid.org.

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OREGON

At the roundup,

a rodeo and more

The Pendleton Round-Up, Sept. 11-13, is one of the largest rodeos in the country, with more than 650 professional riders and ropers. There will also be a children’s rodeo, concert, pageant reenacting Western history and parade featuring non-motorized forms of transportation, such as mules, oxen, Mormon carts and surreys.

Contact Pendleton Round-Up, P.O. Box 609, Pendleton, OR 97801; (800) 457-6336, www.pendletonroundup.com.

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VIRGINIA

Colonial crafts

at Mount Vernon

At the Mount Vernon 18th Century Fair, Sept. 13 and 14 at George Washington’s home, 60 craftspeople, all in Colonial attire, will demonstrate their crafts (baskets, wood, tin, iron, leather, weavings, furniture) without resorting to modern machinery, staples or glue. Rounding out the weekend will be Colonial music, puppet and magic shows, fire eaters, sword swallowers and mischief makers, which were popular at fairs in the 18th century.

Contact Mount Vernon Ladies’ Assn., P.O. Box 110, Mount Vernon, VA 22121; (703) 780-2000, www.mountvernon.org.

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