What do great pumpkins, pig intestines and the world's best-known (and only) 52-foot cowboy have in common? They're all part of the fall fun that's happening across the country. In between leaf peeping and football Saturdays, here are our picks for 10 wonderful and sometimes wacky festivals to check out.


Up Next: Enchanted Maze

Location: Chattanooga, Tenn.
Dates: Oct. 1 - 31, 2008
Scoop: The iconic Ruby Falls becomes a haunted cavern, a train of terror rockets down the rails, and a forest of fear waits at the end of an enchanted maze at Rock City. Even the Tennessee Aquarium gets in the act, with the spooky spotlight on gills that chill and kill.

Up Next: Oompa Bands

Location: Hermann, Mo.
Dates: Weekends in October
Scoop: Each weekend in October, this tiny town along the Missouri River is brilliant with fall color and filled with the sounds of oompa bands. Throughout town are scattered bier gartens serving brats and beer, winery tastings and art and craft shows.

Up Next: 1,223 Pound Pumpkin

Location: Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Dates: Oct. 18 - 19, 2008
Scoop: If Charlie Brown's still looking for the Great Pumpkin, he should head over to Half Moon Bay, the self-proclaimed Pumpkin capital of the world: 2006's weigh-off at the annual Art & Pumpkin Festival weighed in at a whopping 1,223 pounds. The festival includes more than 250 craftspeople and artists, pie-eating and pumpkin carving contests, and specially-produced wine and micro-brewed beer.

Up Next: 52-Foot Cowboy

Location: Dallas, Texas
Dates: Sept. 26 - Oct. 19, 2008
Scoop: Dancing dogs, pig races, a human cannonball -- everything's bigger and brighter in Texas, and the state fair is no exception. With a 52-foot cowboy called Big Tex greeting you at the entrance to the fairgrounds, starlight parades and kids chasing livestock, it's a cornucopia of agricultural wonder.

Up Next: Pork and Swine Wine

Location: Lexington, N.C.
Dates: Oct. 25, 2008
Scoop: Notice how the folks in Lexington say THE barbeque festival -- they're not kidding when they claim bragging rights to being the barbeque capital of the world. (Memphis, Tenn. and Kansas City, Kan. might have a bit to say about that.) In Lexington, there's Pork and Swine Wine (created by NASCAR owner Bob Childress and artist Bob Timberlake), bluegrass music, pig races and a carnival are all part of the celebration of fine swine.

Up Next: Masquerade Ball

Location: Anaheim, Calif.
Dates: Oct. 24 - 26, 2008
Scoop: This long-running fall festival is in Disneyland's hometown. A huge costume contest and parade for children, a midway with rides and games and live music are on tap for the festival, which also includes a masquerade ball, and arts and crafts booths.


Up Next: Catapults and Air Cannons

Location: Bridgeville, Del.
Dates: Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2008
Scoop: A serious sport among the agricultural set, teams will compete in a variety of classes, using a variety of machines including catapults and air cannons, hoping to best the world pumpkin chunkin record of an amazing 4,434 feet and a few inches. In between the chunkin, there's live music, food and a pumpkin cooking contest featuring everything from pumpkin drinks to pies, candies and appetizers.

Up Next: Seafood Galore

Location: Savannah, Ga.
Dates: Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2008
Scoop: There'll be fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, coconut shrimp, shrimp po' boys,... And that's just the shrimp. Indulge in almost any seafood delicacy on Savannah's historic River Street, and then take in the boat races, fireworks and art show.


Up Next: Hundred Balloons

Location: Clear Lake, Texas
Dates: Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2008
Scoop: More than 100 giant hot air balloons will fill the skies around NASA's Johnson Space Center for the annual event, held to celebrate the 200th anniversary of manned flight in America. Balloons are just the start of the high-flying festivities, with exhibitions of skydiving, para- and hang-gliding, and a mass balloon glow; carnivallike games, rides and concerts round out the fun.


Up Next: Pig Intestines

Location: Salley, S.C.
Dates: Nov. 24
Scoop: Pig intestines -- it's what's for dinner? Yep, if you're heading to Salley, S.C., home of the world famous Chitlin Strut. Chitterlings, as they're formally known, are fried pig's intestines. The folks in Salley fry and boil the chitterlings by the ton for this festival. (Trust us on this advice -- go for the fried, avoid the boiled). While the chitlins are digesting, take in the hawg calling contest and Miss Chitlin beauty pageant.

Up Next: More Travel Stories

It's tempting to fill your days with activities and such, but few things feel as fabulous as finding a patch of deck somewhere away from the mel?e of other vacationers and soaking up some sun. Bonus points if you fall asleep ... just don't forget your sunscreen!


Up Next: Don't Do Everything

There's a ton of things to do on a cruise ship, from events and activities to stage shows to contests ... it can leave your mind reeling, especially if you try and cram it all into one trip. And if you try to do that, what will you do on your next cruise?


Up Next: Repeat Trip

Because really, you will want to do another one so you can repeat all the things you loved doing on your first trip and try all the things you didn't get the chance to on your second. Some people love cruising so much they don't ever get off the boat! A bonus? Sometimes if you book when you're on the trip or shortly thereafter, you can score some deals for being a repeat customer!

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