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From New Orleans to New Mexico, some special dates

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Louisiana -- Highlights of this year’s Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, March 24-28, include performances of “The Glass Menagerie” and “A House Not Meant to Stand,” workshops for writers, poetry readings, discussions of author Zora Neale Hurston, burlesque and New Orleans cooking. Friends of Williams will reminisce about the playwright. The festival will end with the popular Stella and Stanley Shouting Contests in New Orleans’ Jackson Square. Most events take place in the French Quarter. For more information: Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, (504) 581-1144, www.tennesseewilliams.net.

New Mexico -- The Gathering of Nations Powwow, April 22-24 at the University of New Mexico Arena in Albuquerque, will bring together more than 3,000 traditional dancers and singers from more than 500 tribes across the U.S. and Canada. Before the dancing competitions, the contestants will perform in the spectacular Grand Entry of Dancers. The Indian Traders Market is expected to draw more than 800 artists, craftspeople and traders. For more information: Gathering of Nations Ltd., (505) 836-2810, www.gatheringofnations.com.

South Carolina -- The Spoleto Festival USA, May 28-June 13 in historic Charleston, takes over the city’s theaters, churches and outdoor spaces to offer more than 120 performances of opera, dance, theater and music. This year’s highlights include the 18-hour Chinese opera, “The Peony Pavilion”; Mikhail Baryshnikov in “The Doctor and the Patient”; Eugene Ionesco’s “The Chairs”; soloists from the Bolshoi Ballet; and the Wachovia Jazz series. For more information: Spoleto Festival USA, (843) 579-3100, www.spoletousa.org.

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Texas -- During Fiesta San Antonio, April 16-25, the Flambeau Parade will attempt to break the world record for largest “YMCA” dance. The record is 13,588 people, who danced to the disco song in Nebraska in 2001. Other highlights include German food and polka music, oyster bake, mariachi Mass, square dancing, masked ball, Victorian house tour and two parades. The fiesta commemorates the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. For more information: Fiesta San Antonio Commission, (210) 227-5191, www.fiesta-sa.org.

Virginia -- This year’s Historic Garden Week, April 17-25, will feature three dozen homes and gardens across the state that are rarely open to the public. The settings, from the Colonial era to the 20th century, include the homes of George Washington, Robert E. Lee and Meriwether Lewis; plantations along the James River; a Frank Lloyd Wright design in Virginia Beach; Victorian farmhouses; oceanfront villas; and country estates. Gardens range from boxwood mazes to backyard retreats. For information: Garden Club of Virginia, (804) 644-7776, www.vagardenweek.org.

Washington, D.C. -- The theme of the 38th annual Smithsonian Kite Festival on March 27 is “Kites Around the World,” and kite fliers, from novices to experts, are encouraged to bring and fly kites that reflect the international focus to the National Mall. Japanese rokkaku kites will do battle in one of the festival’s more popular events. Expert kite fliers and builders will answer questions and demonstrate their skills. Rain date is March 28. For more information, contact Smithsonian Associates, (202) 357-3030, www.kitefestival.org.

-- Ellen Melinkoff

Melinkoff can be reached at ellenevent@aol.com.

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