5. National Harvest Festival

The Buzz -- Giving due reverence to our American heritage, this six-week festival (three festivals, actually: a food festival, a cowboy festival, and an art festival) honors the country's venerable traditions. As a result, visitors encounter heartfelt music, accomplished craftspeople, and entertainers of all sorts. Cowboy/girl culture is given a strong promotion, as seen in rodeo events, Western art, and old-fashioned barn dances. The food is just as robust as you'd expect, courtesy of barbecued ribs, fried fish, chili, beef stew, Southwestern fare, and apple dumplings.