ROCK ON More than
150 tribute artists
go to Wales to pay
homage to the King.
Viva La Wales Some of the
world’s most hard-core Elvis
fans can be found in... Porthcawl?
The coastal town in southern Wales
is the site of the largest European
Elvis tribute event. From September
25 through 27 watch Elvis wannabes
in sequined jumpsuits strut their
stuff in more than 200 shows, while
other participants sport their best
bouffants and black eyeliner as they
vie for the title of Priscilla (Presley),
Queen of the Festival. Plus, if you win
the Best Festival Elvis singing contest,
you’ll headline next year’s program
(011+44-7711-419736; elvies.co.uk).
Poe’s life proved more tragic than his
stories. “From Out of the Shadow: The
Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe,”
at the University of Texas at Austin’s
Harry Ransom Center from September
8 through January 4, 2010, examines
the writer’s short life, showcasing
his personal letters and handwritten
manuscripts (512-471-8944; hrc
. utexas.edu).
Wurst-Case Scenario Oktoberfest
without beer seems a bit like Halloween without candy. Yet for more than
30 years folks in Cullman, Alabama—
a dry town since before Prohibition—
have celebrated their German
heritage suds free. Yes, they wear
lederhosen, eat bratwurst, and dance
the polka from October 3 through 10;
they just do it while drinking sparkling
apple cider (800-533-1258; cullman
oktoberfest.com).
Model Citizens While many Iowans
have cast the first votes in presidential primaries, that’s not the only way
they’ve shown their patriotic duty. In
1944 some Cedar Rapids residents
posed for a series of Election Day
paintings by Norman Rockwell. Explore
the Americana artist’s visit through
“Norman Rockwell: Fact and Fiction,” at
the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art from
September 12 through January 3, 2010
(319-366-7503; crma.org).
Woe Is Poe It’s a tale too sad to tell:
an orphaned boy grows up to become
a talented yet impoverished writer
who succumbs to alcohol and later
dies a mysterious death. Edgar Allan
Guacamole, Olé! Americans eat 46
million pounds of avocados on Super
Bowl Sunday alone, so no wonder the
fruit has its own festival in Carpinteria,
California, from October 2 through 4.
See the biggest avocado (last year’s
winner tipped the scales at nearly four
pounds) before dipping your chip in
the world’s largest vat of guacamole,
weighing more than a ton (805-684-
0038; avofest.com). —Chai Woodham
