Big events for March
Source: Chicago TributeDate: March 3, 2013
Byline: Margaret Backenheimer, Special to Tribune Newspapers - See more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-trav-0303-big-events-march-travel-20130303,0,1720033.story#sthash.vX321Xnf.dpuf
Big events for March
Sports fans, there's athletic action on the calendar, with a sumo tournament in Japan, a cross-country ski race in Norway and a rowing regatta on the Thames.
Through March 17: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Australia, melbournefoodandwine.com.au. Fill up at 300 events, including "World's Longest Lunch."
March 8-10: Yuma Lettuce Days, Yuma, Ariz.; 800-293-0071; yumalettucedays.com. "World's Winter Lettuce Capital" gets chopping with celebrity chef Ben Ford.
March 8-10: American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, New York, crosswordtournament.com. 36th edition goes down and across, with Will Shortz presiding.
March 8-17: South by Southwest, Austin, Texas; 512-467-7979; sxsw.com. Crest of the wave for musicians, filmmakers, technophiles and thinkers.
March 9-May 27: "American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell Exhibition," Bentonville, Ark.; 479-418-5700; crystalbridges.org/exhibitions/rockwell. Rockwell retrospective covers early days of the Saturday Evening Post.
March 10-24: Osaka Sumo Tournament, Japan; 212-757-5640; japan-guide.com/e/e2080.html. Traditional wrestlers throw their weight around.
March 15-24: International Cherry Blossom Festival, Macon, Ga.; 478-751-7429; cherryblossom.com. Spring blooms at the "Pinkest Party on Earth."
March 16: Birkebeinerrennet, Rena to Lillehammer, Norway; 212-885-9700; birkebeiner.no/english/rennet. Backpacking Nordic skiers by the thousands take on a 54-kilometer course.
March 16: St. Patrick's Day Parade, New York; nycstpatricksparade.org. A quarter-million marchers turn the Big Apple green.
March 20-24: Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival; 800-990-FEST; tennesseewilliams.net. French Quarter hosts poetry slam, writing marathon and one-act play contest.
March 21-April 6: Savannah Music Festival, Savannah, Ga.; savannahmusicfestival.org. Breaking the sound barriers with Daniel Hope, Masters of Bluegrass and fado star Ana Moura.
March 21-April 20: Festival of Houses and Gardens, Charleston, S.C.; 843-722-3405; historiccharleston.org/festival. Elegant private properties invite public inspection in "a city set in a garden."
March 22-24: Denver March Powwow, denvermarchpowwow.org. 39th intertribal gathering of Native American drummers, dancers, singers and flag bearers.
March 23: Head of the River Race, London, horr.co.uk. A tidal wave of rowers tests the Thames.
Dates may change; always check in advance to confirm.