by Lisa Marie Mercer

Created on: April 12, 2009   Last Updated: May 05, 2009

This year, as festival season approaches, why not try something different? Here are five to consider:

Kingdom Days: Breckenridge CO
June 20-21 2009
http://www.breck150.com

Back in the 1800s, a careless cartographer neglected to put Breckenridge on the map. Until the mistake was corrected in the 1920s, Breckenridge was known as Colorado's Kingdom. As such, every year, the town time travels back to its Victorian mining period to celebrate Kingdom Days. Visitors can walk through the streets of Breckenridge, and listen to echoes of its illustrious past. Stop by the Briggle House for a Victorian tea party, or grab a slice of birthday cake at the Edwin Carter Museum. Explore your "inner miner" and try your hand at gold panning.

Events include:

*Walking Tours
*Mining Tours
*Gunfights
*Old Time Photos
*Living History

*Outhouse Races

This is a profitable event for vendors skilled at making Victorian clothing and jewelry.

Greyhounds Reach the Beach: Dewey Beach, DE
October 8-11 2009

http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/Dewey/

Every year, over 500 greyhound owners and their families come to Dewey Beach Delaware to celebrate the Greyhound Gathering. It's a dog lovers dream! The event features a greyhound ice cream social, a group walk on the beach and a variety of workshops about greyhound care. There's also a greyhound fashion show, with prizes awarded for the best hat, jewelry and coat. Greyhounds are natural show-offs, so it's fun to watch them flaunt their stuff. A large tent is available for vendors. If you know how to make distinctive greyhound hats, leashes, jewelry and coats, this is the place to sell your stuff.

Fiddler's Festival: Union Grove, NC
May 22-24 2009
http://www.fiddlersgrove.com/

If you're trying to decide between a camping trip and a music festival, consider the Fiddler's Grove Ole Time Fiddler's and Bluegrass Event. Winner of Library of Congress Local Legacy Award, the event features a variety of performances and workshops. Camping is available on the grounds, so there's no need to worry about daily transportation. There are plenty of food vendors. Once you taste authentic southern grits, you'll never go back to that packaged stuff!

Roswell UFO Festival: Roswell, NM
http://www.roswellufofestival.com/
July 2-5 2009

The truth is out there, and you can discover it at the Roswell UFO Festival. This year, the vent kicks off with a Jefferson Starship concert. There's a UFO parade, and an alien animal pet costume contest.

Burning Man: Black Rock City, NV
http://www.burningman.com/
August 31 to September 7, 2009

The Burning Man is a New Age festival is dedicated to radical self-expression and communal effort. The burning of a large wooden effigy is the highlight of this event. Some people display their "mutant vehicles," which can be described as art on wheels. Various theme camps are set up throughout the site.

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