Is Minnesota Home to the Best Cultural Festival in America?

One of the things the United States has thrived on during the nearly 250 years of its existence is the ability to bring people together.

It's a nation that has served as a 'melting pot' for people from different ethnicities to coexist in a common place without abandoning their individual heritage.

That spirit is alive and well in the numerous cultural celebrations that take place from coast to coast every year.

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So where is the Best Cultural Festival?

USA Today's 10 Best is asking you to pick, and there's a Minnesota event among the finalists.

It's the annual Bavarian Blast in New Ulm.

The event is a celebration of the area's German heritage and includes a huge tent and polka hall. There's also food, a beer garden, a parade, dog races, a beer stein-holding contest, barrel rolling, and even a sauerkraut-eating contest.

Vote once per day until voting ends on Monday, March 18 at noon ET. The 10 winners will be revealed on Wednesday, March 27.

CAST YOUR VOTE FOR BAVARIAN BLAST HERE

The precursor to Bavarian Blast, Polka Days, was held in New Ulm every summer from 1953 to 1971. After that, it was replaced by Musikantenfest, which ran for two years before giving way to Heritagefest which ran from 1975 to 2005.

Bavarian Blast was organized in 2006. The 2024 edition runs from July 18-21.

OTHER FINALISTS

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Aloha Festivals - Hawaii
Burning Man - Black Desert, Nevada
Cherokee National Holiday - Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Colombian Fest Internacional - Houston, Texas
Dublin Irish Festival - Dublin, Ohio
Fiesta San Antonio - San Antonio, Texas
Frozen Dead Guy Days - Estes Park, Colorado
Gathering of Nations - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Greek Agora Festival - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Kutztown Folk Festival - Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Little Italy Festival - Clinton, Indiana
Merrie Monarch Festival - Hilo, Hawaii
National Cherry Blossom Festival - Washington, D.C.
National Storytelling Festival - Jonesborough, Tennessee
Rougarou Fest - Houma, Louisiana
San Antonio Day of the Dead - San Antonio, Texas
San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade - San Francisco, California
Yeshi Chinatown Night Market - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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