No matter what your summer plans call for, a vacation is always made better with good planning and special events on the itinerary. Knowing when events are taking place makes planning your trip a breeze. When a must-experience event catches your eye, make reservations for a nearby rental first thing to avoid the sold-out woes.

British Columbia offers a couple of great festivals that you’ll be excited to check out like Vancouver Island Musicfest 2019. An annual summer event at the Comox Valley Fairgrounds, thousands of folks come together each year for a fun music festival with talent from all over the world. Three days and six stages house everything from bluegrass and blues to reggae, folk, rock, country and more! Vancouver Island Musicfest is July 12-14, 2019 so mark your calendar and book a room.

If you’re looking for one of the most popular cultural festivals in the Northwest, then Bumbershoot may be for you! Each year, thousands of people from across the country flock to Seattle Center to attend this acclaimed festival.  Bumbershoot is a multi-disciplinary arts festival showcasing the best of comedy, dance, film, literary arts, music, performing arts, theatre, visual arts and more.

Also, in British Columbia, look for Crankworx Whistler 2019—a celebration of elite-level mountain biking founded in 2004. Just north of Vancouver in the mountain town of Whistler, outdoor enthusiasts will gather for a week-long, world-famous event of epic proportions. August 9-18, 2019 is the date for this event featuring racing, slope style competitions and Kidsworx races. When not on a bike, guests enjoy area lakes, live entertainment and getting back to nature.

Perfect for summertime is the Throw Back Summer and Lavender DAZE Festival in Mt. Hood, Oregon on July 2-3, 2019. A 12th annual event, this year will bring a great line-up of arts and crafts vendors along with food and live music. Grab a souvenir Lavender DAZE t-shirt and enjoy all that is lovely on the lavender farm.

Leavenworth, Washington offers a unique event—Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival—held at Canyon Wren Recital Hall. The 25th annual festival attracts world-class artists to create magical musical experiences. Festival Concert dates are July 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, 2019 at 7 p.m.  Young Artist Concert dates are July 7, 14 and 20, 2019 at 2 p.m.

The 39th annual Teton Valley Balloon Rally is July 4-7, 2019 from 6 to 9:30 a.m. and is a community tradition. Enjoy four mornings of hot air balloon flights from the Teton County Fairgrounds in Driggs, Idaho. A bucket list item for many folks, you’ll want to make reservations early for the best accommodations.

Grand Teton, Wyoming is the site of the 32nd annual Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival from August 9-11, 2019. Since 1988, this festival has been a cornerstone for Bluegrass fans with both national and international artists in this genre. Stage performers and artists also host a unique camp with music-teaching experiences during the week leading up to the festival. Book your Grand Teton rental and prepare for a festival that’s been entertaining the masses for two decades.