Time to make the guacamole

OCT. 3-5

CARPINTERIA, CALIF.

22d Annual California Avocado Festival: Crowd-pleasers at this yearly celebration of the good-fat fruit include a "best guacamole" contest, an avocado rock-climbing wall (the rocks look like avocados), and a "best-dressed avocado" contest, where people dress up their avocados to look like people. Not only will you be able to taste a number of recipes featuring the celebrated ingredient, you'll be able to see the winner of the Avocado Festival poster contest, which has artists from around the area designing an avocado-themed print for the event. The winning art, which is usually an abstract illustration of something round and green, winds up being a collector's item. You can see a gallery of the cool posters from years past online. Free. Linden and Carpinteria avenues, Carpinter- ia, Calif. 805- 684-0038. avofest.com.

OCT. 3-5

JONESBOROUGH, TENN.

National Storytelling Festival: This weekend of yarn spinning, which was started by a local journalism professor 36 years ago, has storytellers performing under tents around Jonesborough. Featured talent at this year's event include Elizabeth Ellis, who says that growing up, many of her friends were imaginary. She will probably talk about those friends in October. If you register ahead of time, you'll be able to tell your own story at the festival's "Swappin' Ground." Individual events and family packages run $10-$515. US Highway 11-E, Jonesborough, Tenn. 800-952-8392. storytellingcenter.com.

OCT. 11-12

WAYNESVILLE, OHIO

The Ohio Sauerkraut Festival: Even if you don't like this hot dog topping, you'll be entertained at the festival thanks to a live music lineup that includes bluegrass, folk, and locals performing historical songs. There will also be plenty of dishes with 'kraut, including sauerkraut pizza, which locals claim is surprisingly delicious, and "German sundaes," which are a pile of potato, cheese, sour cream, and sauerkraut. If those plates sound appealing, you can leave with a recipe book. Main Street, Waynesville, Ohio. 513-897-8855. sauerkrautfestival .com.

OCT. 30-NOV. 2

ST. LUCIA, WEST INDIES

Food and Rum Festival: Perhaps more appealing than an avocado or sauerkraut festival is this event designed to showcase Caribbean cuisine and rum. There will be chef demonstrations and tastings under the "rum tent." The live music is all calypso, reggae, and jazz, and includes a performance by Arrow, best known for the song "Hot, Hot, Hot," which was later made famous by David Johansen, also known as Buster Poindexter. Rodney Bay Village, St. Lucia. 758-452-4094. foodand drumfestival.com.

PLAN AHEAD

DEC. 12-14

TUCSON

The Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair: As Boston begins to freeze, warm Tucson hosts its seasonal shopping event, which gives visitors the chance to browse 400 arts and crafts booths. Besides pre-holiday shopping, there are 35 food vendors serving everything from funnel cakes to Thai, street performers, live music, and activities for kids. Up to 400,000 people have attended the event, so expect people-watching. Fourth Avenue and 7th Street, Tucson. 520-624-5004. fourth avenue.org.

MEREDITH GOLDSTEIN

Events are sometimes canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; call or check online to confirm. Contact Meredith Goldstein at mgoldstein@globe.com.