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12 Fun and Unusual Fall Festivals and Events

By U.S. News & World Report

Fall is a great time to plan a fun and frugal getaway, with plenty of festive and affordable seasonal events taking place across the globe. From checking out a surfboard art festival in California to admiring vintage cars in Telluride, Colorado, these quirky annual traditions are sure to pique your interest. Here’s a look at standout seasonal events that celebrate fitness, food and fall fun.

[See: 10 Places to See Golden Aspens This Fall.]

Telluride Festival of Cars and Colors
Telluride, Colorado

Telluride features one of Colorado’s flashiest foliage displays. From Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, the Telluride Festival of Cars and Colors brings a variety of vintage cars and exotic vehicles to the golf course and downtown. When you’re not checking out the cars, you can take in groves of shimmering gold aspen on display along the historic San Juan Skyway. What’s more, you can score tickets to a special appearance by Neil Young and Promise of the Real. Young, as well as designer Ralph Lauren, are among the many celebrity residents of this legendary mountain town.

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Sonoma, California

Now in its 42nd year, the Sonoma County Harvest Fair celebrates California’s bounty. More than 150 wineries featuring 500 varietals and a competition among professional chefs guarantee food and wine lovers will be pleased. Plus, tickets only cost $55 and you can win $1500 by excelling at the World Championship Grape Stomp, a three-day team competition to produce the most juice.

Pirate Fest
Tybee Island, Georgia

Buccaneers can sail into Tybee Island from Oct. 6 to 9 for Pirate Fest. Bring an eye patch or bandana for the “I Walked the Plank Pirate Pub Crawl,” plus join a Victory Parade, dance to The Brigands, explore Little Matey’s Cove or shop in the Thieves Market. Admission costs $15 for a Saturday pass and $25 for a weekend pass; children 11 and under can join the fun for free.

North American Wife Carrying Championship
Sunday River, Maine

The 17th annual North American Wife Carrying Championship on Oct. 8 pits couples against each other on a 278-yard, obstacle-filled track as part of the Fall Festival in Sunday River, Maine. Aside from the quirky contest, you can take part in the New England Cornhole Championship on Oct. 11 or the pumpkin pie eating contest, or just kick back in the wine tasting tent.

Greet Reindeer
Champaign, Illinois

Visitors to the Champaign County countryside will find farm-to-table dining, organic farmers markets, wineries and even reindeer. Open through December, the Hardy Reindeer Ranch hosts a herd of Alaska reindeer and features tours ($4 per person) and photo ops. Mingle with 10 reindeer in their pen; then, head out to the 10-acre corn maze or pumpkin patch. More reindeer arrive in November, which is also the best time to admire the 5,000 trees scattered across the farm.

[See: 7 Family-Friendly Fall Trips You Can Afford.]

Elephant Retreat
French Lick, Indiana

Indiana’s turn-of-the-century mineral springs resort town of French Lick has unusual events year-round. If you’re an animal lover, go on an Elephant Retreat, available regularly in October. Pamper three female circus elephants who retired to Wilstem Ranch during a two-hour Spa Experience. If that’s not your speed, the Indiana Wanna Go Fast ½ Mile Runway Shootout Oct. 15 to 16 welcomes 135 cars daily to race each other on the French Lick Airport runway. This lovely region is famous for historic luxury hotels, including French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs, which offer nightly rates for less than $150 in fall.

Morro Bay Surfboard Art Festival
Morro Bay, California

From Oct. 15 to Dec. 3, surf up the California coast to the Morro Bay Surfboard Art Festival. At this time of year, handpainted surfboards are displayed in the hip shops and cafes around town. Proceeds from sales benefit community groups working to beautify this beach town.

Galveston Island Oktoberfest
Galveston, Texas

Fans from Texas and beyond spend Oct. 21 to 22 at the Galveston Island Oktoberfest. With plenty of German food and beer, the family-friendly festival has kids’ activities galore, a rodeo and live folk dancing. Plus, Galveston is a popular cruise port and beach getaway year-round, and attendees can win an island-themed golf cart in the Oktoberfest raffle.

New Ulm Oktoberfest
New Ulm, Minnesota

Another way to celebrate Germany’s heritage is at the annual New Ulm Oktoberfest Minnesota, which takes place in several venues over the first two weekends in October. The event kicks off with a Germanic American Day Parade on Oct. 8 and ends with a bang at Schell’s Brewery, which has produced more than 100 varieties of German craft beer since its founding in 1860.

American Royal World Series of Barbecue
Kansas City, Missouri

Before Halloween, the American Royal World Series of Barbecue brings more than 500 chefs, pitmasters, grillers and sauce makers from eight countries to the Kansas City Speedway from Oct. 26 to 30. Consider it dessert for the three-month-long American Royal, an autumn event celebrating Missouri agriculture with rodeos, museum exhibits, equine and livestock shows, veterinary and scholarship programs since 1899.

The Bahamas National Trust Wine and Art Festival
Nassau, Bahamas

On Oct. 29, Nassau overflows with seasonal wines and the works of top Bahamian artists at the Bahamas National Trust Wine and Art Festival. Book the Fall All-Inclusive Deal at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort through Dec. 16; nightly rates start at $299 per adult, and reduced rates are available for teenagers, tweens and toddlers and include all meals and beverages at more than 24 dining spots and access to Aquaventure Water Park, open-air marine habitats and aquariums.

[See: 11 Can’t-Miss Hiking Trails in the USA.]

Or… Trade a Festival for a Tea Party Tradition
Boston

Are you tired of harvest festivals? The Boston Tea Party, celebrated each year on Dec. 16, attracts reenactors commemorating the night 243 years ago when revolutionaries dumped 220 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor to protest taxation. Join them onboard the replica ship to throw bales of authentic East India Company tea overboard. The Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum features several lodging specials starting from $274 per night for a harbor-facing family room and event tickets, as well as a list of local High Teas and mixologists working on tea-infused cocktails.

More from U.S. News

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9 Affordable Shoulder Season Destinations Worth Planning a Trip Around

America’s Top 7 Scenic Fall Road Trips Under $500

12 Fun and Unusual Fall Festivals and Events originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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