Marvel at the thunderous spectacle of Niagara Falls in northern New York, or seek an antidote to urban chaos amidst the flat farmland of the Midwest. Then there are the black hills of South Dakota, the dramatic mountain and ocean landscape of California’s Pacific Coast Highway and the world-famous Grand Canyon.

The third-largest country in the world (after the Russian Federation and Canada), the USA has an enormous diversity of geographical features, including mountains, plains, and coastal zones. Though there are many cities that are densely populated with more manmade features than natural ones, there are also vast rural areas that are far more sparsely populated. The climate ranges from subtropical to arctic, with a corresponding breadth of flora and fauna.

Electricity

120 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs have two flat pins with or without a third round grounding pin.

2020

New Year’s Day: 1 January 2020
Martin Luther King Day: 20 January 2020
President’s Day: 17 February 2020
Memorial Day: 25 May 2020
Independence Day: 3 and 4 July 2020
Labor Day: 7 September 2020
Columbus Day: 12 October 2020
Veterans Day: 11 November 2020
Thanksgiving Day: 26 November 2020
Christmas: 25 December 2020

All information subject to change.

Taking place in the morning of the Saturday prior to MLK Day, which is usually the Monday closest to January 15, this event commemorates the late Dr. King’s legacy. The parade brings floats, bands, community, civic and church groups together in a march through downtown Dallas, past the MLK Community Center to Fair Park.

The North Texas Irish Festival brings about 60,000 guests to celebrate each year. It is the second oldest Irish festival in the United States and the largest in the southwest, and the largest cultural event held in Fair Park, Dallas, with food and music, dance and music.

The Deep Ellum Arts Festival is a vibrant, eclectic and fun festival with the character of a street party. It is the biggest weekend of the year for the Deep Ellum Entertainment District and is free to the public. It features four outdoor stages with non-stop performances by over 65 national, regional, and local original bands and more than 100 top-notch juried decorative and visual artists. There is also a pet parade, a 5km (3 mile) run and a Rock Art Show, as well as abundant food and drink at this adult-oriented festival.

Food lovers convene for a gastronomic adventure over a full weekend in assorted locations in Dallas and Irving. Programs are offered all over downtown and in the Arts District, including a wine stroll in the Dallas Museum of Art, the Meyerson Symphony Center and the Nasher Sculpture Center; various wine seminars; and a grand tasting, at which you can sample dishes from some of the great restaurants around the city.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico. Dancers, artists and performers gather to celebrate the city’s rich Mexican heritage.

The ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ series provides entertainment under the stars throughout the summer. Don’t expect the same old productions, however: Sometimes you’ll catch something like The Taming of the Shrew as an 1850s cowboy western. Bring a blanket and a picnic.

The annual Greek Food Festival at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas is a lively festival offering a wonderfully succulent taste of Greek Dallas, featuring signature dishes from the best Greek restaurants in the city. There is also live entertainment and demonstrations of traditional Greek music and folk dancing. The focus of the festival is food, and there are cooking demonstrations by local chefs, but it also gives visitors a contextual understanding of Greek food traditions through offering a good grounding of Greek culture and history.

Arguably the biggest, loudest and most diverse fair in the region, the annual State Fair of Texas is an eagerly-awaited event that’s a firm favourite amongst locals. Primarily an agricultural show featuring numerous displays and exhibitions, the fair also includes a whole host of other events and entertainment ranging from live music and sporting contests to an auto show and eating competitions. Even back when the fair was first held back in 1886 the event attracted 100,000 visitors; now the fair entertains in excess of 3.5 million visitors each year.

The BMW Dallas Marathon is the race with the longest history in Texas. Being lined with many iconic landmarks its course takes the thousands of runners on a sightseeing tour through Dallas as it crosses popular neighbourhoods and entertainment districts.  The beneficiary event has managed to raise more than $3.9 million for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children up until today.