etting the Stage:
If you are reading this book, you are in driving distance of a festival or fair happening this month. Some of the very best are the quirky local bashes, and the US alone is a hotbed of these colorful local celebrations. From Moose Days and the International Accordion Celebration in Washington State to the Underwater Music Festival (ever heard Jimmy Buffet underwater?) and the Hemmingway festival in the Florida Keys and anything in between such as the Pumpkin fest in Keene NH, The Mama Guava Fest in Tampa, the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair and Oxnard Strawberry days.

Sure those big Renaissance Fairs get all the press, but they can be pricey and over-hyped. It's so much more fun to go local, get a slice of your world and your culture. This date has all the innocent charm of the forties or fifties when Johnny took Betty Lou to the 4—H barn dance or Church Fair. Avoid the heat of the day and take your date in the late afternoon between 3 or 4 o'clock. You'll have enough time to get in some good sunlight, but also to take the date into nighttime, so you can enjoy the special fireworks and concerts that are often a part of such events.

Festivals near you should be wildly publicized, but if you want to know what's coming up ahead, try these excellent sites: festivals.com, artsandcrafts.about.com (for fairs featuring artists and artisans) and festivalnet.com. Here is a chance to show you're "game," that is up for anything. The locals are splitting wood in a contest? Enter and have your date cheer you on. Make sure you get some of the pie that the church ladies are invariably selling. Have a magical night taking a step back in time.

Dress to Impress:
Go a little James Dean today with your slightly faded jeans, black t—shirt and boots. After all, you're going to try to win your gal a prize.

Either a cute mini dress or sundress, or perfectly tight jeans and a sweetly see thru top. Girl next door makeup and sexy shoes you can walk in.

Devil's in the Details:
This date is all about food, so absolutely indulge in the specialty. This isn't the date to roll out a list of your food allergies, or to explain all the tenants of your strict cleansing diet. This date is guilt free.