Chicago is a city of immense culture and entertainment. Two such events that any music or arts lover should enjoy are Looptopia, going on its second year and Lollapalooza now running its third set as a staple festival in the city.

An all night party called Looptopia will be coming to Chicago in May of 2008. Chicago has become one of the prettiest cities in America with all it’s new planting and flowers but now its time to party. This is going to be one of the best block parties in a city!

The Loop will be bustling with activity from 6 PM Friday till 6 AM Saturday as the city stages its second year for Looptopia multidisciplinary arts festival. Modeled on dusk-to-dawn cultural extravaganzas staged annually in Paris, Rome, and Madrid, the completely free event comprises roughly 75 offerings, including live music, theater and dance performances, film screenings, art exhibits, workshops, and more.

There will be showings by many different artists all through the night. For the inaugural offering, Redmoon staged many sites all over the Loop and MFChicago held a huge dance party with dueling DGs and video projections. Turning the streets into Club Looptopia.

The whole thing culminates in a sunrise celebration in Millennium Park, with music, yoga, and free breakfast.

If this event does not get you to the city I would suggest Lollapalooza 2008. This will take place in Chicago’s Grant Park the first weekend of August. Lollapalooza 2007: 3 days, 8 stages, and 130 bands.

In its third year as a destination festival, Lollapalooza bestowed a musical experience unlike any other to the city of Chicago. For three days, Grant Park will be transformed into a celebration of music, food, arts, technology, and community, where fans gathered from around the world to catch one of the summer’s most powerful line-ups.

After all that is done, enjoy the wonderful shopping and attractions this New York of the Midwest has to offer.

ryannovak Destinations, Events, Travel Lollapalooza, Looptopia

Springtime means festivals in New Orleans, celebrating the trinity of favorite things in New Orleans: food, music and culture.

The French Quarter Festival is a free three-day party in the French Quarter in late April. It’s the biggest free music festival in the South and there’s always great music and great food in a historic setting. There’s music in the streets, on the banks of the Mississippi River, an area for kids behind the St. Louis Cathedral and two largest jazz brunches in the world. Watch the video below for some footage of the 2007 French Quarter Festival opening parade.

Food: There are two areas for food. Jackson Square is lined with food booths from everything from crawfish pasta to alligator sausage. There’s also a line of food booths in Woldenberg Park.

Music: Ten stages are set up in Woldenberg Park, on Royal and Bourbon Street and at the old mint at the edge of the French Quarter. Music ranges from country to Zydeco to classic to jazz. Here are my top picks for music at the 2008 French Quarter Festival.

For the kids: At the Aquarium of the Americas Plaza there’s an area just for kids with face painting, hat making and a chance to play in a Jazz band. There are also several special events for the whole family.

2008 dates: In 2008, the French Quarter Festival will be held from April 11-13th Plan to come! There are great deals available from www.lastminutetravel.com.

mattwhipple Events, Tips, Travel French Quarter Festival

While in Madison Wisconsin visiting some friends I had the opportunity to witness the Polar Plunge. If there is one in your area you have to see this! The plunge is a charity event that gives businesses, organizations and individuals the opportunity to support local Special Olympics athletes. There are two ways to raise money for this charity event:

1) Get Sponsored. Have individuals, organizations or businesses sponsor you to take the plunge.

2) Pledge a Plunger. If you don’t want to take the plunge yourself, you can make a contribution and sponsor a plunger.

The Polar Plunge I saw took place in Olin Turville Park, Madison on frozen Lake Monona. There was a man made dock on the shoreline of a hole cut into the lake that was surrounded by spectators armed with cameras. The plungers get into lines and make there way towards the dock dressed in full costumes and some in bathing suits. The announcers count down and the plungers jump into the freezing water, make their way across the decent sized hole to the ladder and then run to the hot tubs and changing area to warm up.

Here is a promotional video for the state of Wisconsin Polar Plunge on YouTube.

For more information visit Wisconsin’s Polar Plunge website

Erica Fischer Events, Travel Polar Plunge