Events January 2010

Jan. 6 to Feb. 16
Mardi Gras Season

NEW ORLEANS
The six-week celebration, which includes lots of parades, eating, drinking, plastic beads and general revelry, officially begins on Twelfth Night (the end of the 12 days of Christmas), when the krewe of Phunny Phorty Phellows cuts a ribbon, announces “It’s Carnival time!” and rides a decorated streetcar through New Orleans. www.mardigras.com

Jan. 8-Feb. 21
Glorious!

KANSAS CITY
“American Idol” auditions are nothing compared to hearing Florence Foster Jenkins, the “worst singer in the world.” This musical, showing at American Heartland Theatre, is based on the true story of the enthusiastic yet inept soprano, who attempted to sing everything from arias to folk songs—but still managed to sell out Carnegie Hall. www.ahtkc.com

Jan. 9-24
Florida Renaissance Festival

MIAMI
Get your fill of knights jousting and jesters joking at the only renaissance festival in South Florida. Its first-ever Miami stop (it moves to Deerfield Beach next month) will feature more than 100 costumed performers, 20 stage acts and hearty food eaten right off the bone (giant turkey legs, anyone?). www.ren-fest.com

Jan. 11-18
Martin Luther King Jr. Week

ATLANTA
Many of this year’s events honor the late Civil Rights leader through the arts: Learn about the changing roles of photographic portraiture at the Atlanta History Center (through Feb. 1) and celebrate MLK’s legacy through music at a concert by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (Jan. 14). www.mlkmarchaaar.org

Jan. 15-31
Ice Wine Festival

NIAGARA, NY
Ice wine is produced from grapes that are picked frozen from the vine. Their frozen water and highly concentrated sugars are extracted and turned into a sweet, fruity dessert wine. This festival (now in its 15th year) toasts the cool beverage with evening galas, ornate ice bars, chestnut roasts and winery tours. www.icewinefestival.com

Jan. 21-24
The Planets – An HD Odyssey

HOUSTON
Science writer and producer Duncan Copp, who has worked for both PBS’s science program “NOVA” and the BBC, will present high-definition images from NASA’s space explorations to accompany Gustav Holst’s The Planets, a seven-movement orchestral suite based on all of the planets except for Earth. www.houstonsymphony.org

Jan. 26-31
Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships

BRECKENRIDGE, CO
During this 20th annual competition, 16 teams of sculptors from nine countries carve their most fanciful designs out of 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of machine-made snow. Maybe they’ll inspire you to take your snowman-building to the next level. www.townofbreckenridge.com

Jan. 31-June 6
“Ansel Adams: Discoveries”

PHOENIX
You’ve likely seen reprints of Ansel Adams’ work, like Aspens and Autumn Moon, but you haven’t seen anything like this. A major retrospective at the Phoenix Art Museum, the exhibit features 120 photographs, video footage, photographic equipment and rare archival materials. www.phxart.org

ANNIVERSARY PARTIES

Break out the hats and noisemakers for these birthday celebrations.

It’s a big year for Mark Twain: Not only is it the 175th anniversary of his birth, but it’s also the 125th anniversary of his most famous work, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (and the 100th anniversary of his death, but that’s not really something to celebrate). Visit the website for events across the country. www.twain2010.org

On July 9, 1610, the city of Hampton, VA, was founded, making it one of the first cities in the US. Events are planned all year, starting with the opening of a photography exhibit, “The City of Hampton: Through the Lens of Reuben V. Burrell and James Van Der Zee” (Jan. 29 through September), at the Hampton University Museum. www.hampton400.com

At 75, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the youngest of this bunch. Honor the creation of the longest road planned as a single unit in the US by taking a drive from Asheville, NC to Milepost 420.2. The 6,214-foot-high Black Balsam Knob, known for its almost treeless mountaintop, offers a variety of scenic hikes. www.blueridgeparkway75.org