A Taste of Summer: 15 Must-Go Events

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Los Angeles Culture Festival, Hollywood, California, June 28-30  - This Carnival-style celebration of Caribbean culture will feature a colorful parade, arts and crafts and all the musical rhythms the islands have to offer such as soca, reggae, calypso and merengue. Nia Long will serve as Grand Marshall for the first annual event. (Photo: Courtesy Regulaz Entertainment)

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Los Angeles Culture Festival, Hollywood, California, June 28-30  - This Carnival-style celebration of Caribbean culture will feature a colorful parade, arts and crafts and all the musical rhythms the islands have to offer such as soca, reggae, calypso and merengue. Nia Long will serve as Grand Marshall for the first annual event. (Photo: Courtesy Regulaz Entertainment)

Summerfest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 27-July 1, July 3-8 - Milwaukee's Summerfest will host more than 700 bands on 11 stages, including the Marcus Amphitheater, 40 different food vendors and four marketplaces to peruse in between musical sets.(Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT/Landov)

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Summerfest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 27-July 1, July 3-8 - Milwaukee's Summerfest will host more than 700 bands on 11 stages, including the Marcus Amphitheater, 40 different food vendors and four marketplaces to peruse in between musical sets.(Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT/Landov)

Taste of Chicago, Ilinois, July 11-15 - Get a sampling of what the Windy City has to offer at this five-day food festival where a mix of vendors and chefs try to wow your taste buds.(Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Redferns/Getty Images)

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Taste of Chicago, Ilinois, July 11-15 - Get a sampling of what the Windy City has to offer at this five-day food festival where a mix of vendors and chefs try to wow your taste buds.(Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Redferns/Getty Images)

Pitchfork Music Festival (July 13-15) - The outdoor music found all over the city is a "Summertime Chi" tool of seduction and the Pitchfork Music Festival is part of the arsenal. Three-days of indie pop/rock and hip hop with burgeoning underground kings Schoolboy Q, Danny Brown, Big K.R.I.T. and A$AP Rocky is reason enough to cop a ticket. And if you plan to attend, make sure to check out Pitchfork’s Book Fort for independent books, Chirp’s Record Fair for rare vinyl, Flatstock for a cool collection of music posters and Coterie to get a sneak peek at up-and-coming designers. Click here, for information. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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Pitchfork Music Festival, Chicago, Illinois, July 13-15 - The Pitchfork Music Festival showcases over 40 indie bands as well as crafts, artwork, a vinyl record fair and poster sales. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

Exit Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia, July 12-15 - Experience new bands in new lands at the Exit Festival and then get a taste of home when Guns N Roses and Erykah Badu take the mic. (Photo: EPA/BALAZS MOHAI/Landov)

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Exit Festival, Novi Sad, Serbia, July 12-15 - Experience new bands in new lands at the Exit Festival and then get a taste of home when Guns N Roses and Erykah Badu take the mic. (Photo: EPA/BALAZS MOHAI/Landov)

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Follow the Rules - Always keep your head, hands, arms, legs and feet inside the ride at all times. Additionally, don’t reach toward fences or barriers, which can cause damage to the ride or yourself. (Photo: The Plain Dealer /Landov)

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Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio - If you're looking for the top rides, head to Cedar Point Amusement Park as it's been voted "Best Amusement Park in the World" by Amusement Today for the past 14 years.(Photo: The Plain Dealer/Landov)

Nicki Minaj - Nicki made a big splash in the reggae market when she dropped a remix of Gyptian's hit single "Hold Yuh" last year. She performed her "Bad Gyal Edition" of the song live at reggae Sumfest. (Photo: Radcliffe Roye/www.royephotography.com)

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Reggae Sumfest, Montego Bay, Jamaica, July 15-21 - Reggae Sumfest will feature a list of hot artists like Trey Songz, R. Kelly, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer. (Photo: Radcliffe Roye/www.royephotography.com)

Caribana Festival, Toronto, Canada, July 17-August 5 - Caribbean-inspired events, classes and parties will fill this three-week festival.  (Photo: Xinhua/Landov)

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Caribana Festival, Toronto, Canada, July 17-August 5 - Caribbean-inspired events, classes and parties will fill this three-week festival.  (Photo: Xinhua/Landov)

Lollapalooza, Chicago, Illinois, August 3-5 - Lollapalooza is a music junkie's nirvana. B.O.B., Frank Ocean, Wale, Santigold and 135 other artists will light up the stage.    (Photo: JIM YOUNG/Landov)

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Lollapalooza, Chicago, Illinois, August 3-5 - Lollapalooza is a music junkie's nirvana. B.O.B., Frank Ocean, Wale, Santigold and 135 other artists will light up the stage.    (Photo: JIM YOUNG/Landov)

Erykah Badu's Name Change - As a youth, Erykah Badu changed her name from Erica Wright, which she considered her slave name. Badu is both her favorite scatting sound and a name used by the Akan people in Ghana. (Photo: Michael Conti/San Jose Mercury News/MCT/LANDOV)

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Outside Lands, San Francisco, California, August 10-12 - All the makings of a hot summer festival (music, food, wine, beer and art) will be present at San Francisco's Outside Lands. Stevie Wonder, Big Boi and Santigold are among the artists on this year's lineup. (Photo: San Jose Mercury News/MCT/Landov)

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New York City International Film Festival, New York, August 10-15 - Watch screenings from budding filmmakers before the movies are judged for Awards Night on the 16th.  (Photo: Courtesy New York City International Film Festival)

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New York City International Film Festival, New York, August 10-15 - Watch screenings from budding filmmakers before the movies are judged for Awards Night on the 16th.  (Photo: Courtesy New York City International Film Festival)

Summer Sonic, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, August 18-19 - How hot would it be to catch Rihanna performing on Tokyo's Summer Sonic stage? Stay tuned for the star-studded lineup. (Photo: REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

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Summer Sonic, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, August 18-19 - How hot would it be to catch Rihanna performing on Tokyo's Summer Sonic stage? Stay tuned for the star-studded lineup. (Photo: REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

The Great New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY, August 23-September 3 - This massive fair in Central New York offers 12 days of entertainment, rides, concerts, agriculture competitions, a petting zoo, a circus and exhibits that'll keep the whole family happy and exhausted at the end of each day.(Photo: Post-Standard/Landov)

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The Great New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY, August 23-September 3 - This massive fair in Central New York offers 12 days of entertainment, rides, concerts, agriculture competitions, a petting zoo, a circus and exhibits that'll keep the whole family happy and exhausted at the end of each day.(Photo: Post-Standard/Landov)

Burning Man, Black Rock Desert, Nevada, August 27-September 3 - More than just a hippie fest out in the middle of the desert, Burning Man is an annual event centered around community, art, self-reliance and self-expression.(Photo: UPI Photo/Terry Schmitt/Landov)

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Burning Man, Black Rock Desert, Nevada, August 27-September 3 - More than just a hippie fest out in the middle of the desert, Burning Man is an annual event centered around community, art, self-reliance and self-expression.(Photo: UPI Photo/Terry Schmitt/Landov)

Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Bardstown, Kentucky, September 11-16 - If you love bourbon, you must head to this six-day festival where you'll sample drinks and learn about the secrets of bourbon-making. Don't miss Friday's Bourbon, Cigars, and Jazz party to get a taste of all three. (Photo: Stephen J. Cohen/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Bardstown, Kentucky, September 11-16 - If you love bourbon, you must head to this six-day festival where you'll sample drinks and learn about the secrets of bourbon-making. Don't miss Friday's Bourbon, Cigars, and Jazz party to get a taste of all three. (Photo: Stephen J. Cohen/FilmMagic/Getty Images)