Events May 2010
This month’s greatest events
Atlanta Jazz Festival
© SPYRO GYRA
May 1-30
Atlanta Jazz Festival
ATLANTA
Cool cats will love the soulful events that make up this free jazz celebration. The month-long schedule includes concerts by Atlanta greats in the city’s most popular restaurants and live performances in area parks. www.atlantafestivals.com
May 1-31
Passport DC
WASHINGTON, DC
Travel the world without leaving DC. Dozens of foreign embassies open their doors to the public for two days (May 1 and 8) to present the music, crafts and cuisine of their nations. Other events include an International Children’s Festival (May 15) and an Asian Heritage Festival (May 22). www.passportdc.org
May 8-9
Cinco de Mayo Festival
DENVER
What started out as a local street fair in 1987 has become the largest Cinco de Mayo fiesta in the US. About 300,000 revelers descend on Denver for live entertainment, art exhibitions, a children’s carnival and 350 exhibitors and food vendors commemorating the Mexican Army’s victory over invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. www.cincodemayodenver.com
May 13-15
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
MEMPHIS
The “Barbecue Capital of the Free World” fires up the competition at this three-day cook-off, where more than 250 teams dish up ribs, shoulders and whole hogs for $90,000 in prizes and the King of Barbecue crown. Things get especially saucy when men don tutus and snouts for the Ms. Piggie contest. www.memphisinmay.org
May 15-16
Great Plains Wood Carvers Annual Show
WICHITA
Whittle away the hours at this gathering for the country’s most talented wood carvers. Artists exhibit and sell original handcrafted work, hold demonstrations and go head-to-head in carving competitions. www.mountainwoodcarvers.com
May 20-31
Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival
ORLANDO
The theme of this year’s festival is “recession-proof entertainment,” so tickets to the 500-plus events—from quirky theatrical performances to playful dance shows to open-mic poetry slams—are either free or cost no more than $10. www.orlandofringe.org
May 25-29
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
NEW ORLEANS
Featuring more than 250 restaurants and wineries, this five-day feast invites gastronomes to get their fill of the Crescent City at culinary seminars, wine dinners, art gallery walks (with wine at each stop) and grand tastings at the Louisiana Superdome. www.nowfe.com
June 4-11
Aruba International Film Festival
ARUBA
Now playing: Aruba’s first-ever film festival. The Caribbean island will provide the backdrop for panels with actors, directors and screenwriters and screenings of world premieres, art-house selections and block-buster studio films from around the globe. www.aiff.aw
May 27 to July 17
World Series of Poker
LAS VEGAS
Card sharks wait all year to ante up at the most prestigious poker tournament in the world. Watch them raise the stakes in games like No-Limit Hold’em and Seven Card Stud for a chance at an expected $174 million-plus in prize money. www.wsop.com
Dance Fever
Get your global groove on at festivals showcasing traditional dances from far away.
MIAMI BEACH Argentina’s dance of love takes over at the Miami Tango Fantasy Festival, a series of performances, seminars, classes for tangueros of all skill levels and nightly milongas (tango parties) that last until 4am. May 26 to June 1; www.tangofantasy.com
NEW YORK DanceAfrica at the Brooklyn Academy of Music choreographs a celebration of African dance with shows by Zambia’s Pamodzi Dance Troupe and several American companies. May 28-31; www.bam.org
SAN FRANCISCO Th e Palace of Fine Arts becomes a United Nations of dance, as 36 of the Bay Area’s most accomplished performers and troupes show off traditional moves from countries such as Spain, Haiti, India and Peru during the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. June 5-27; www.worldartswest.org
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