January
1,
2008 Coney Island New Year's Day Swimmers - Brooklyn, New York
Come join New York's Coney Island Polar Bear Club for their annual dip into the frigid waters at Coney Island. The event will be held at the southernmost tip of Brooklyn, home of the former New York Aquarium. The bathers meet at Stillwell Ave and the Boardwalk on Coney Island, down the block from Nathan's.
And if you find you enjoy this type of bizarre ritual, you can join the Polar Bear Club every Sunday from October to April, where they constantly have wrinkled toes and chattering teeth.
January
5,
2008 Red Crab Migration - Christmas Island, Australia
Be a part of the annual breeding season of the red crabs on Christmas Island in Australia, where there are 100 million specimens and they outnumber the humans 40,000 to one. The spawning normally occurs October-January. It's quite a sight to see!
January
6,
2008 Oshogatsu Festival - West Palm Beach, FL
Come celebrate the Year of the Mouse at the Oshogatsu Festival, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens' traditional New Year celebratory festival, includes games and entertainment throughout the museum and its gardens.
During the Oshogatsu festival, families are invited to ring in new beginnings Japanese-style with traditional and unique pastimes, games and customs. Some of the featured events include the pounding of the rice and making of mochi, New Year's card-making, Japanese fortune telling, and tea ceremonies.
Admission is $5 all ages, FREE for museum members and children 6 and under.
January
8,
2008 Elvis Presley Birthday Month - Graceland, Memphis, TN
Born on January 8, 1935, Elvis Presley is known in the hearts and minds of people everywhere as an iconic music legend. Every January at his home, Graceland, there are celebrations throughout the month to mark his birthday. Check on the official Elvis site for more information and specific dates.
See the centuries-old tradition of setting the grass alight on Wakakusa Hill in Nara, Japan. The dangerous fire is set by monks dressed as warriors, and over 100,000 people turn out for the blaze.
January
17,
2008 Icebox Days XXVIII - International Falls, MN
If you happen to be near International Falls, MN, Jan. 17-20, don't miss the four-day winter festival, Icebox Days.
Featured events in this cold weather festival include frozen turkey bowling, snow sculpting, smoosh races, snowshoeing in Voyageurs National Park, and the now famous "Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run," a 10K and 5K race. So put on your mittens and get ready for the fun!
January
19,
2008 Returning Sea Lions @ Pier 39 - San Francisco, CA
San Francisco's Pier 39 K-Dock once again celebrates the annual return of hundreds of sea lions to the SF Bay. The event takes place between 12pm - 4pm, where visitors can view the mammals up close, bathing in the sun and lounging on the docks. Sea life experts from the Marine Mammal Center will also be there to discuss the animals with viewers.
For more information, call the SF Bureau of Tourism at +1 (415) 391-2000.
January
20,
2008 Polar Bear Jumpoff Festival & Ugly Fish Toss - Seward, AK
If you've ever dreamed of throwing an ugly, slimy salmon back and forth with a partner or making the "Plunge" into the glacially freezing waters of Resurrection Bay, then you're in luck. Seward, AK, hosts the annual Polar Bear Jumpoff weekend, which includes a variety of unique competitions, such as the waitress & waiter contest, goofy golf, and a bed-making contest. The festival has continued to grow and prosper since 1986, and all proceeds go to the Alaska Division of the American Cancer Society.
January
27,
2008 Barkus Mardi Gras Parade - New Orleans, LA
Devised from an idea born at a bar (in between a few drinks) in 1992, N'awlins' wonderfully colorful Barkus parade celebrates the canine companions in the ever-partying city. The parade this year will take place at Armstrong Park, and all doggies and owners will meet at 10:30am for the 2pm parade start. This event has become one of the most beloved in the Carnival celebration, among the many parades and general debauchery.
January
29,
2008 Lerwick Up Helly Aa - Lerwick, Scotland
Lerwick Up Helly Aa is a festival of fire; it encompasses burning a Viking galley and a parade of 1000 torch bearing "Vikings" and other costumed folk. It is said to be an ancient Viking celebration for spring and a sacrifice to the sun.
