3. Giant Balloon Parade Spectacular

The Buzz -- The Giant Balloon Parade Spectacular, held in November to kick off the holiday season, features some 30 giant helium balloon entries. Parading one-by-one down the streets of downtown Stamford, the baloons float above an average crowd of 200,000 people. Most attendees travel from the surrounding area just to catch a glimpse of characters like Gumby waving hello. This small town Connecticut parade is one the largest balloon parades in America. To really get into the spirit, stop by the Inflation Party the night before. This heady event takes place along Summer Street, where the parade actually begins.