Special Report

The Best Fair, Festival, or Event in Every State

Grant Suneson

Published: February 23, 2018 5:09 pm

Last Updated: February 25, 2020 12:05 pm

For much of human history, people in the same community have gotten together regularly to honor the past and look ahead to the future. Summer and winter solstices and harvest festivals have been celebrated for thousands of years — many of which evolved into modern holidays and festivals.

The tradition has carried on to modern times in the United States. All 50 states have their own identity, culture, traditions, and celebrations. Communities will often come together to celebrate holidays, historical figures, music, art, and other aspects of the area that give it its own identity.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed state tourism websites to determine the best fair, festival, or event in every state.

Many of the events honor the cultural heritage of the people who immigrated to the state en masse. Home to a large German-American population, Cincinnati, Ohio, hosts one of the largest Oktoberfests in the world. New York and New Jersey hold feasts for Catholic saints, keeping alive the traditions of Italian immigrants who first came to the U.S. generations ago.

Other states hold festivals to celebrate the state’s natural resources and agricultural products. Traverse City, Michigan, holds the National Cherry Festival each summer since the state is the largest producer of tart cherries in the U.S. And with miles of coastline, Virginia holds the annual Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach, where people can surf, build sand sculptures, and enjoy the beach.

Some of these events aren’t exclusive to the state, but their size and importance really separate them from the pack. For instance, horse races are held in many states, but none can compare to the Kentucky Derby. There are massive music festivals all across the nation, but they just don’t have the cultural significance of Coachella in California or the sheer size of Wisconsin’s Summerfest.

Click here to see the the best fair, festival, or event in every state.

In order to determine the best fair, festival, or event in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed lists of events from state and local tourism organizations as well as other sources. Events were selected based on a number of criteria, including attendance, viewership (if the event is televised), originality, and how well the event represents the state. Events have taken place continuously since the year listed, with some exceptions such as World War II or extreme economic hardship.

Attendance figures come from various media and festival sources and are based on the most recent available data. Figures represent the total combined attendance figures of all days of the festival or event. The dates for the event are for 2018.

Source: TurkReno / Flickr

1. Alabama: Mobile Mardi Gras
> Where: Mobile
> When: Jan. 13 – Feb. 13
> Attendance: 1,050,000
> Held since: 1703

Mardi Gras carnival celebrations are often associated with New Orleans, but Mobile, Alabama, actually began holding a Fat Tuesday celebrations 15 years earlier. Over 1 million people flock to Mobile to celebrate, wearing masks and attending parades in the weeks leading up to the holiday.

[in-text-ad]

Source: Troy B. Thompson / Flickr

2. Alaska: Fur Rondy
> Where: Anchorage
> When: Feb. 23 – March 4
> Attendance: 30,000
> Held since: 1935

The Fur Rondy, shortened from Fur Rendezvous, started as a diversion to pass the time during the long Alaskan winter. The festival’s founder timed it to coincide with fur trappers and miners returning to town after working all winter. The 10-day winter festival includes sport events like ski races, ice hockey, sled dog race, and even a race of outhouses with skis strapped to the bottom. There is also a snow sculpture contest.

Source: Katie Moore / Flickr

3. Arizona: La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros
> Where: Tucson
> When: Feb. 17-25
> Attendance: 200,000
> Held since: 1925

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, which translates to “Celebration of the cowboys,” is just that — a week-long celebration of livestock and their herders. The fiesta centers around the Tucson Rodeo, one of the top rodeo events in the nation. The Tucson Rodeo Parade, which bills itself as the world’s longest non-motorized parade, draws an estimated 150,000 spectators.

Source: Bob Simmons / Flickr

4. Arkansas: Riverfest
> Where: Little Rock
> When: May 25-27
> Attendance: 125,000
> Held since: 1978

After 2017’s Riverfest, it looked like the event was going away for good due to rising costs and slumping attendance. But a new company stepped in, and Arkansas residents will still be able to rock out by the river Memorial Day Weekend.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Jason Kempin / Getty Images

5. California: Coachella
> Where: Indio
> When: April 13-15, 20-22
> Attendance: 198,000
> Held since: 1999

Among the many summer music festivals across the U.S., few have the cultural cache of Coachella. Held in Indio, California, since 1999, Coachella has become a phenomenon and a mecca of bizarre fashion choices. Besides, how many other festivals could get Beyoncé to headline?

Source: John Moore / Getty Images

6. Colorado: Cinco de Mayo “Celebrate Culture” Festival
> Where: Denver
> When: May 5-6
> Attendance: 400,000
> Held since: 1988

Cinco de Mayo celebrations are common across the U.S. as many Mexican-Americans take to the streets in celebration of their heritage. But Denver, Colorado, may have the largest Cinco de Mayo festival nationwide, with more than 400,000 attendees eating, drinking, and watching traditional Mexican dancing.

[in-text-ad]

Source: CJ Oliver / Flickr

7. Connecticut: Sailfest
> Where: New London
> When: July 13-15
> Attendance: 300,000
> Held since: 1978

New London, Connecticut, is taking full advantage of its coastline with Sailfest. During the three-day festival, ships line the docks, as festival goers enjoy free music, over 200 food vendors, amusement rides, and a fireworks display.

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images for Firefly Music Festival

8. Delaware: Firefly Music Festival
> Where: Dover
> When: June 14-17
> Attendance: 360,000
> Held since: 2012

Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware, combines big name artists with the wooded background of a camping trip. Firefly attendees can take a break from the music to hang up a hammock or grab a beverage at the craft beer bar.

Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images

9. Florida: Daytona 500
> Where: Daytona Beach
> When: Feb. 18
> Attendance: 101,500
> Held since: 1959

For NASCAR fans, no day is more anticipated than Daytona Day. Over 100,000 racing fans flock to Daytona Beach, Florida, to watch it every year. The Daytona 500 is the first race of the NASCAR season and is considered the most prestigious in the sport.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: mikehipp / Flickr

10. Georgia: Yellow Daisy Festival
> Where: Stone Mountain
> When: Sept. 6-9
> Attendance: 200,000
> Held since: 1968

Georgia’s Yellow Daisy Festival brings together artists and crafters from the Southeast and many other areas. Thousands of people come to Stone Mountain Park during the four-day festival to see the wide range of arts and crafts, and much of the proceeds go to a good cause. Early ticket sales go to help people with disabilities.

Source: Kanaka Rastamon / Flickr

11. Hawaii: Aloha Festival
> Where: Various
> When: Sept. 9-30
> Attendance: 100,000
> Held since: 1991

Since Hawaii used to be its own independent kingdom, it has a culture that is much different than any other state. During the Aloha Festivals, native Hawaiians celebrate their heritage with music, dance, and history. In 1946, the tradition of Aloha Week began, and it has since morphed into the modern Aloha Festivals in 1991. Though the main celebrations take place on Oahu, each island celebrates in its own way.

[in-text-ad]

Source: Laura Gilmore / Flickr

12. Idaho: Western Idaho Fair
> Where: Boise
> When: Aug. 17-26
> Attendance: 250,000
> Held since: 1897

Idaho has fairs for the eastern and western halves of the state, but the Western Idaho Fair is the clear favorite with 250,000 annual attendees. Originally started in 1897, the fair served as a way to link Boise and communities that are farther away. Many of the original exhibits featured livestock and agriculture, a tradition that continues to this day.

24/7 Wall St.
Best NFL Players of All Time From Every State

Source: Brian Kersey / Getty Images

13. Illinois: St. Patrick’s Day
> Where: Chicago
> When: March 17
> Attendance: 400,000
> Held since: 1955

There are many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations worldwide, but Chicago really goes all out by dyeing the Chicago River green to celebrate the Emerald Isle. A local plumbers union uses 45 pounds of dye to turn the river on March 17 to a flashy shade of green. Hundreds of thousands of revelers later line the parade route.

Source: Jamie Squire / Getty Images

14. Indiana: Indianapolis 500
> Where: Indianapolis
> When: May 27
> Attendance: 350,000
> Held since: 1911

The Indianapolis 500 is one of the great traditions in sports, dating back over a century. About 350,000 people pile into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway each year to watch drivers compete for IndyCar’s top prize and celebrate with a bottle of milk, as tradition dictates.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

15. Iowa: Iowa State Fair
> Where: Des Moines
> When: Aug. 9-19
> Attendance: 1,130,071
> Held since: 1854

The Iowa State Fair may not be the largest in the country, but it is probably the best place to snap an embarrassing photo of presidential candidates trying to eat messy fair food. The fair is one of the biggest draws in the Midwest, as over 1.1 million people turn up. That’s more than a third of Iowa’s state population.

Source: dodgecitydays.com

16. Kansas: Dodge City Days
> Where: Dodge City
> When: July 26 – Aug. 5
> Attendance: 100,000
> Held since: 1960

Dodge City is known for its Western heritage largely thanks to the Errol Flynn film bearing the town’s name. The town’s Wild West spirit comes alive during Dodge City Days, a festival with dozens of events, including a parade, craft fair, and, of course, a rodeo.

[in-text-ad]

Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images

17. Kentucky: Kentucky Derby
> Where: Louisville
> When: May 5
> Attendance: 158,070
> Held since: 1875

The Kentucky Derby is perhaps the most famous horse race in the world and the first jewel of the sport’s famed Triple Crown. But for residents of the Bluegrass State, Derby Day is so much more than a horse race. It’s a chance to drink mint juleps, wear big, floppy hats, and revel in all things Kentucky.

Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images

18. Louisiana: Mardi Gras
> Where: New Orleans
> When: Jan. 6 – Feb. 13
> Attendance: 1,400,000
> Held since: 1781

Before it evolved into an internationally known party, Mardi Gras was the last chance for Christians to have a big meal before Lent. Nowadays, Mardi Gras celebrations last more than a month in New Orleans, with parades, beads, and booze. More than a million people come out to the Big Easy to have a good time and indulge their wild side.

Source: Coast Guard News / Flickr

19. Maine: Maine Lobster Festival
> Where: Rockland
> When: Aug. 1-5
> Attendance: 30,000
> Held since: 1947

Maine’s identity is inextricably linked to the lobster. Fisherman caught more than 130 million pounds of the crustacean in 2016. The people of Maine celebrate their big export every summer with the Maine Lobster Festival. There are parades, a Maine Sea Goddess coronation, lobster crate races, and lots of lobster. About 20,000 pounds of lobster is consumed during the five-day festival.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Patrick Smith / Getty Images

20. Maryland: Preakness Stakes
> Where: Baltimore
> When: May 19
> Attendance: 140,327
> Held since: 1873

Opened in 1870, the Pimlico Race Course has hosted some of the most famous horses in racing history, including Seabiscuit, Secretariat, and Man o’ War. The Preakness Stakes, Pimlico’s most famous race, still draws well over 100,000 cheering fans each year.

Source: Tom Sartain / Flickr

21. Massachusetts: The Big E
> Where: West Springfield
> When: Sept. 14-30
> Attendance: 1,525,553
> Held since: 1917

The Big E, also known as the Eastern States Exposition, is a celebration of the six New England states. For over a century, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island showcased what makes them unique from one another during the Big E. The Big E also offers entertainment for everyone with music, parades, and agricultural shows.

[in-text-ad]

Source: janelle / Flickr

22. Michigan: National Cherry Festival
> Where: Traverse City
> When: June 30 – July 7
> Attendance: 500,000
> Held since: 1925

As the self-proclaimed national cherry capital, Traverse City goes all out to celebrate cherries. The National Cherry Festival hosts just about every cherry-related event you can imagine, including a cherry pit spitting contest, cherry pie eating contest, a cherry queen competition, and orchard tours. It also holds the record for the largest ever cherry pie at a whopping 28,350 pounds. The event has even drawn visits from several presidents.

24/7 Wall St.
States With the Best and Worst Diets

Source: Jon DeJong / Flickr

23. Minnesota: Minneapolis Aquatennial
> Where: Minneapolis
> When: July 18-21
> Attendance: 800,000
> Held since: 1940

Each year, Minneapolis residents gather around the Mississippi River to celebrate their city. The Aquatennial, an annual celebration that has taken place since 1940, includes a torchlight parade, water skiing show, and fireworks over the river.

Source: deltabluesms.org

24. Mississippi: Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival
> Where: Greenville
> When: Sept. 15
> Attendance: 15,000
> Held since: 1978

With its deep roots in the South, it isn’t surprising that the world’s oldest, continuously operating blues music festival is held in the Mississippi Delta. The blues offers “ways of dealing with pain and suffering that transcend time,” festival organizers note on the site. Though it isn’t among the most popular music genres, this festival helps keep blues music and heritage alive for future generations.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: John / Flickr

25. Missouri: St. Patrick’s Day
> Where: St. Louis
> When: March 17
> Attendance: 250,000
> Held since: 1968

St. Patrick’s Day in St. Louis, Missouri, start the evening before the holiday with a “Meet the Irish” Dinner.” The next day, more than 8,000 runners participate in the annual St. Patrick’s Day run. The run is followed by a parade in the afternoon with over 5,000 marchers and more than a quarter-million spectators.

Source: Shannon Brinkman Photography / Rebecca Farm / Facebook

26. Montana: Event at Rebecca Farm
> Where: Kalispell
> When: July 18-22
> Attendance: 10,000
> Held since: 2002

While the name may seem vague, the Event at Rebecca Farm actually comes from the sport of eventing. For the unfamiliar, eventing is a combination of equestrian events like show jumping, cross country, and dressage. Hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators come out to Kalispell to watch the best horse and rider combinations the nation has to offer.

[in-text-ad]

Source: Kool-Aid Days / Facebook

27. Nebraska: Kool-Aid Days
> Where: Hastings
> When: TBD
> Attendance: 20,000
> Held since: 1998

Invented in Hastings, Nebraska, in the 1920s, Kool-Aid is a point of pride for the town. To this day, residents hold an annual fair to celebrate the now ubiquitous drink and how it helped shape the town with a parade, a Miss Kool-Aid Days Pageant, and, yes, plenty of Kool-Aid.

24/7 Wall St.
Best Hotels in Every State

Source: Burning Man / Facebook

28. Nevada: Burning Man
> Where: Black Rock Desert
> When: Aug. 26 – Sept. 3
> Attendance: 67,290
> Held since: 1986

Burning Man ranks as Nevada’s best festival, though organizers may take issue with that. The Burning Man website says it is not a festival, but rather a “community. A temporary city. A global cultural movement.” The gathering encourages participants who gather in the desert to tap into their creative powers and do what they like. Together, they aim to create a community dedicated to art, self-expression, and self-reliance. The event ends with the burning of a towering wooden effigy.

Source: NH Pumpkin Festival / Facebook

29. New Hampshire: New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival
> Where: Laconia
> When: Oct. 12-13
> Attendance: 40,000
> Held since: 1991

New Hampshire certainly takes its pumpkins seriously. The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival has set nine world records for most lit Jack o’ Lanterns. Initially hosted in Keene, the festival was denied a permit after nearby riots disrupted the festival in 2014. The event moved to Laconia the following years and drew over 40,000 people to its 2017 celebration in the fall.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: St. Ann's Italian Festival / Facebook

30. New Jersey: St. Ann’s Italian Festival
> Where: Hoboken
> When: TBD
> Attendance: 90,000
> Held since: 1910

New Jersey has one of the highest percentages of Italian-Americans of any state. St. Ann’s Italian Festival is the premiere celebration of Italian heritage in the state. Festival goers can enjoy classic Italian food while raising money for St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

Source: A. Messerschmidt / Getty Images

31. New Mexico: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
> Where: Albuquerque
> When: Oct. 6-14
> Attendance: 839,309
> Held since: 1972

Thanks to favorable wind conditions in the fall, New Mexico has become the hot air balloon capital of the United States. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people come to Albuquerque to watch ballooners lift off into the sky. There is also entertainment for those staying on the ground, such as fireworks displays and laser lights shows.

[in-text-ad]

Source: Chris Hondros / Getty Images

32. New York: Feast of San Gennaro
> Where: New York City
> When: Sept. 13-23
> Attendance: 1,000,000
> Held since: 1926

Based in New York City’s famed Little Italy neighborhood, the Feast of San Gennaro aims to keep alive the “spirit and faith of the early Italian immigrants.” More than 1 million visitors turn out for several days of parades, cannoli-eating contests, and celebration of Italian heritage.

24/7 Wall St.
50 Most Popular Video Games of All Time

Source: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Inc.

33. North Carolina: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
> Where: Linville
> When: July 12-15
> Attendance: 30,000
> Held since: 1956

For over 60 years, North Carolina has hosted one of the nation’s premiere events honoring Scottish culture, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. The event focuses on traditional Scottish games like the Caber Toss, where the strongest attendees try to flip a heavy log. For those who just want to relax, the event offers whisky tasting, bagpipers, sheep herding, and plenty of people in kilts.

Source: Bobbie DeHerrera / Newsmakers / Getty Images

34. North Dakota: United Tribes Powwow
> Where: Bismarck
> When: Sept. 7-9
> Attendance: 20,000
> Held since: 1970

The United Tribes Powwow of North Dakota has become one of the largest Native American gatherings in the nation, with more than 70 tribes participating. The powwow includes singing and dancing contests. All people are welcome and more than 20,000 attend each year.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Mike Simons / Getty Images

35. Ohio: Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati
> Where: Cincinnati
> When: Sept. 21-23
> Attendance: 500,000
> Held since: 1976

Oktoberfest is celebrated across the world, but few places can compare to Cincinnati’s version. Over half a million people come to the city’s downtown for the festival each fall, making it the largest Oktoberfest in the U.S. During the most recent event, festival-goers reportedly ate 80,500 bratwurst, 23,004 pretzels, 56,250 sausages, and 3,600 pounds of sauerkraut.

Source: Tulsa International Mayfest / Facebook

36. Oklahoma: Tulsa International Mayfest
> Where: Tulsa
> When: May 17-20
> Attendance: 350,000
> Held since: 1973

Tulsa International Mayfest started in 1973 as a way to celebrate coinciding anniversaries of the city, its Junior League, and its Philharmonic Society. The festival has continued to thrive and is now a four-day celebration of art, music, food, and fun.

[in-text-ad]

Source: Natalie Behring / Getty Images

37. Oregon: Pendleton Round-up
> Where: Pendleton
> When: Sept. 12-15
> Attendance: 50,000
> Held since: 1910

Started in 1910 as a “a frontier exhibition of picturesque pastimes,” Pendleton Round-Up continues to live up to its western legacy. The festival is a celebration of the western U.S., with country music concerts, a rodeo, and even an old-timey wagon train ride.

Source: Jeff Swensen / Getty Images

38. Pennsylvania: Groundhog Day
> Where: Punxsutawney
> When: Feb. 2
> Attendance: 30,000
> Held since: 1886

Each state has its own unique events, but how many of them can say they’ve inspired a Bill Murray movie? Each year, we hear from Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who tells us if there will be six more weeks of winter. No matter what he says, the town of Punxsutawney has other events during that time, like The Groundhog Ball, a banquet, and even a breakfast with Phil himself.

Source: Robert Easton / Flickr

39. Rhode Island: WaterFire
> Where: Providence
> When: TBD
> Attendance: 1,000,000
> Held since: 1994

WaterFire is one of the most unique annual art installations and is credited with helping revitalize the city of Providence. Artist Barnaby Evans has, over time, installed dozens of braziers on the city’s three rivers. During the festival, each brazier is set alight with a small bonfire, drawing thousands of spectators each year.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Spoleto Festival USA / Facebook

40. South Carolina: Spoleto Festival
> Where: Charleston
> When: May 25 – June 10
> Attendance: 61,000
> Held since: 1977

Billing itself as America’s “premier performing arts festival,” the Spoleto Festival USA brings world-class performances in opera, theater, dance, and music to the people of Charleston, South Carolina. America’s version of the festival was founded as a counterpart to Spoleto, Italy’s Festival of Two Worlds.

Source: Andrew Cullen / Getty Images

41. South Dakota: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
> Where: Sturgis
> When: Aug. 3-12
> Attendance: 500,000
> Held since: 1938

Sturgis, South Dakota, is a town of fewer than 7,000 residents, but it hosts some 500,000 people annually for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sturgis is clearly not your typical festival, with thousands of bikers showing up for concerts, a pub crawl, and even a tattoo contest.

[in-text-ad]

Source: Beale Street Music Festival / Facebook

42. Tennessee: Beale Street Music Festival
> Where: Memphis
> When: May 4-6
> Attendance: 100,000
> Held since: 1977

Nashville may be known as Music City, but it’s another town in Tennessee, Memphis, with the premiere music event in the state. Since 1977, the biggest names in rock n’ roll have hit Beale Street. The Beale Street Music Festival is part of the Memphis in May festival, which hosts cooking and cultural events in addition to the concert.

Source: Robert Hensley / Flickr

43. Texas: State Fair of Texas
> Where: Dallas
> When: Sept. 28 – Oct. 21
> Attendance: 2,250,433
> Held since: 1886

Just about every state has a state fair, but they all pale in comparison to the great State Fair of Texas. The event draws over 2 million people to Fair Park in Dallas, where people can go to concerts, see historical exhibits, and eat just about anything they can imagine deep fried. The fair also features the annual Red River Showdown college football game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns. Another draw is Big Tex, the fair’s 55-foot iconic statue who greets fair goers as they enter.

Source: Travis Wise / Flickr

44. Utah: Sundance Film Festival
> Where: Park City
> When: Jan. 18-28
> Attendance: 71,000
> Held since: 1985

Though it’s hundreds of miles from Hollywood, the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, still showcases the best the film industry has to offer. Founded in 1985 by Robert Redford, the film festival has given moviegoers an idea of the exceptional films that would soon hit theaters. Past entries like Precious and Whiplash went on to win Academy Awards.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Don Shall / Flickr

45. Vermont: Festival of Fools
> Where: Burlington
> When: Aug. 3-5
> Attendance: 10,000
> Held since: 2008

Vermont’s Festival of Fools harkens back to European festivals of entertainment, with street performers that might seem more at home in a circus tent than on a street. The family-friendly entertainment extends for three days, featuring buskers, dancers, and stand-up comedians.

Source: Cathy T / Flickr

46. Virginia: Neptune Festival
> Where: Virginia Beach
> When: Sept. 28-30
> Attendance: 400,000
> Held since: 1973

Virginia Beach’s Neptune Festival makes use of the city’s seaside real estate. It holds a surfing contest, sand sculpting competition, and a beach volleyball tournament. The festival has grown so popular, the beach where it’s held now features a 34-foot statue of Neptune, god of the sea, year round.

[in-text-ad]

Source: Dana / Flickr

47. Washington: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
> Where: Various
> When: April 1-30
> Attendance: 500,000
> Held since: 1984

Washington’s Skagit Valley Tulip Festival stretches for the full month of April because, as its website points out, tulip blooming dates all depend on mother nature. While waiting for the blooms, festival attendees can try any of the other festival activities like the salmon barbecue, bike tours, and parades.

Source: Mountain State Forest Festival / Facebook

48. West Virginia: Mountain State Forest Festival
> Where: Elkins
> When: Sept. 29 – October 7
> Attendance: 125,000
> Held since: 1930

West Virginia’s Mountain State Forest Festival honors the state’s Appalachian heritage with some unique events not likely found at other festivals. Attendees can participate in a muzzle loading competition, a lumberjack contest, and a primitive campground exhibit.

Source: - EMR - / Flickr

49. Wisconsin: Summerfest
> Where: Milwaukee
> When: June 27-July 1, July 3 – 8
> Attendance: 831,769
> Held since: 1967

In 1967, Milwaukee’s then-mayor Henry Maier was inspired by a trip to Munich, Germany, during the city’s Oktoberfest celebration. He wanted to create a festival to bring his town together in the same way. It is safe to say he succeeded. In 1999, Summerfest was named the world’s largest music festival. Though it has later lost the title, Summerfest continues to host hundreds of bands and hundreds of thousands of music lovers each summer.

[in-text-ad-2]

Source: Michael Smith / Getty Images

50. Wyoming: Cheyenne Frontier Days
> Where: Cheyenne
> When: July 20-29
> Attendance: 259,193
> Held since: 1897

Many popular festivals may feel cramped, but with all the open areas in Wyoming, Cheyenne Frontier Days is not one of them. The festival honors Wyoming’s western history with a rodeo that offers over $1 million in cash and prizes. People can also view frontier-themed art, visit an old-timey frontier town complete with a saloon, and a wild horse race.