Press Releases

The Holidays Shine Brighter in the San Juan Islands

Tree lightings, artisan fairs, and an Island Nutcracker bring good cheer to the San Juan Holiday Season

Friday Harbor, WA… Son of a nutcracker! Take Buddy the Elf’s advice this holiday season, and don’t be a cotton-headed ninny-muggins. Instead, escape the mainland’s mad rush and discover island time with a winter forest hike or walk on a stormy beach, a great meal fireside, and holiday spirit with friends new and old. Small-town traditions, locals greeting each other on the street, and time to reflect on what really matters; a San Juan Islands holiday will make smiling your favorite, too.

Lake of the Ozarks, MO - It was announced on Friday, Oct. 12 that the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation, Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks, was voted the second-best "Destination for Fall Foliage" in America, according to a recent USA Today readers poll.

The survey, conducted by USA Today and www.10Best.com, asked readers from across the country to choose their top spot for viewing the stunning colors of fall. Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks finished in the polling behind Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but beat out eight other destinations, including the Pocono Mountains, Door County in Wisonsin, the White Mountains in New Hampshire and others.

The Old State House Museum in Little Rock has reopened one of its most popular exhibits, "First Ladies of Arkansas: Women of their Times." The newly renovated exhibit, which first opened in the 1950s, is known for having the largest display of first ladies’ gowns outside the Smithsonian.

October Happenings:

• Haunted Argenta Ghost Tours
• Ballet Arkansas presents Dracula
• Buy Tickets to see Puddles, "The Sad Clown with the Golden Voice"
• Carnival Bizzare
• R&B (Rhythm & Blues, Ribs & Butts) BBQ Competition

...and so much more!

There will be a new Orange County Southern Branch Library, to be located in Carrboro. Currently the project is dubbed: The 203 Project (as in 203 S. Greensboro Street, Carrboro). Current plans have the new library building also housing Carrboro’s parks and recreation offices, radio station WCOM and potentially the ArtsCenter. The architect chosen for the design is Perkins+Will Global. Architectural Record has ranked Perkins+Will number 2 on its list of Top 300 U.S. Architecture Firms for 2018.

For a 32nd consecutive October the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival will be held…26 miles across the Sea. In the historic 1929 Avalon Ballroom, looking out to sea. High Up inside the Casino, built by chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley in 1929.

For 2 decades the most famous Big Bands in America played the Ballroom stage through the 1930’s and 1940’s. Now JazzTrax has presented the most famous names in contemporary  smooth jazz annually each October from that same stage for 3 decades plus.

Another incredible Island Hopper Songwriter Fest closed last night on Fort Myers Beach. Despite the water challenges our community continues to face, this fifth annual celebration of singer-songwriters included 10 days of impressive attendance on the beach, Captiva and downtown Fort Myers. 

Want to know the latest about Arkansas’s fall color? Or attractions to visit for the best viewing? You’ll find all this information – and more – on Arkansas.com. You can also receive updates via email at bit.ly/arfallcolor.

Updated fall color reports are sent to email subscribers and posted to the Fall Attractions page each Thursday. Using social media, the department browses hundreds of visitors' photos each day and hand-selects the most stunning shots to be displayed on the site. This information is then summarized into the report that is posted each week. The gallery on the site is updated throughout the week.