EVENTS :

    Vancouver:  Tall Ships Festival
On August 8. 2002, more than 20 Tall Ships will parade into historic
Steveston harbour, in Richmond, British Columbia to begin a five-day
maritime-themed festival. This will be the largest gathering of tall
ships and sail training vessels along the British Columbia coastline in
over 100 years.  The event is more than ships - there will be music,
art, food and family entertainment during five days of maritime-themed
fun from August 8 to 12.

The festival will feature two main stages and three secondary stages,
plus street performers; the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will provide a
free concert Saturday night.  An Artist Market will offer jewellery,
pottery, decorative glass, furniture, painting, photography and First
Nations art.  Multicultural food kiosks will emphasize reasonably priced
family fare.
http://www.richmondtallships.ca/

Silver Star Mountain Resort.
The 1st Annual Okanagan Summer
Wine Festival, taking place  Thursday August 8 - Saturday August 10.
For more information, contact the Okanagan Wine Festivals at
www.thewinefestivals.com  or 
Tel: 250-861-6654

Santa Fe Fiestas: 
August 31 to September 8 -  Part history, part

religious ceremony, part party, Fiestas is a multi-faceted cultural

event featuring the burning of Zozobra (a 45 foot paper effigy nicknamed

'Old Man Gloom' on 9/5), music, food and dance on the Plaza, an arts and

crafts show, the Children's Pet Parade, a melodrama spoofing the city's

politicos, the Historical Hysterical Parade, a court of reigning

royalty, and more.

Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta: 
September 25-29 -  Features wine

tastings, gourmet dinners, wine seminars, the Big Bottle Auction,

cooking classes by local and national chefs and 'The Big Event' food and

wine tasting with signature recipes served from 80 Santa Fe restaurants

and wines poured by more than 60 national vineyards. Price varies per

event, 505-438-8060  

 New York City:
The first annual NYC Run to Liberty 10K will be announced shortly by event organizers, New York Road Runners, NYC & Company and NYC Sports Commission. 
 This inaugural people's run through the streets of Lower Manhattan will take place the morning of Saturday, Aug. 31. 5,000 runners are expected to participate in the Labor Day weekend run which will wind around some of New York's most  famous downtown landmarks.  For more information visit www.nyrrc.org or
www.nycvisit.com .

Kodak Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: 
October 5 to 13 - This is the largest event of its kind in the world with over

800 hot air balloons participating in 8 days of events, competition, and

mass launches.  888-422-7277

DEALS:
(EX UK)

FLIGHT ONLY Italy for £99 Flights to Verona, departing on 7 August, from London Gatwick, costs £99 with Bargainholidays.com (www.bargainholidays.com; 0870 888 1111).

29 August is the start of a festival at Vilafranca del Penedes in Spain
when the town celebrates the Major Feast of Saint Felix.   A highlight is on
30 August when groups of men compete to build the tallest human tower.  This
occurs in the town's plaza, with 'towers' reaching up to seven human stories
high.  Further highlights include traditional Gypsy music and dancing plus
firework displays.  Canvas Holidays (01383 629000) has 12-night holidays at
nearby Vilanova costing £448.  This applies to arrivals on-site on 23 August
and is the total for a family of two adults and up to four children
including return Dover/Calais ferry crossing for car and passengers and
accommodation in a fully equipped tent.

What do the French cities of Angers, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille,
Montpellier, Nantes, Nimes, Rennes, and Toulouse have in common?  They're
all accessible by train from Waterloo - with a simple change at Lille - and
they are just a few of the new rail-inclusive short break destinations
featured by Leisure Direction 
(0208 324 3030).  Three-star city centre hotel
prices range from just £154 (Angers) to £209 (Toulouse or Marseille)
including return midweek train travel from Waterloo or Ashford and two
nights' accommodation (twin share) with breakfast.  Prices are valid to 31
October.

SUN HOLIDAY Greece for £275 Seven nights in Agia Maria, departing 9 August costs £275 with Bargainholidays.com (www.bargainholidays.com; 0870 888 1111). Price includes self-catering accommodation at the Apollo Apartments and return flights from Manchester.

CITY BREAK Miami for £319 Three nights in Miami, for departures in November, costs £319 with A2btravel.com (www.a2btravel.com; 0870 888 1710). Price includes two-star accommodation at the Calalina Resort South Beach and return flights from a London airport

  TENERIFE FOR £289pp. Seven nights in Los Cristianos, departing on 30th August, costs £289pp with Holiday.co.uk (www.holiday.co.uk; 0870 040 2400). Price includes three-star self catering accommodation in the Aguamar Apartments and return flights from Luton.

MAJORCA FOR £299pp. Seven nights in Alcudia, departing on 30th August, costs £299pp with Holiday.co.uk (www.holiday.co.uk; 0870 040 2400). Price includes three-star self catering accommodation in the Bellvue Village and return flights from East Midlands Airport