You can plan now to attend these weekend events, occurring within a few weeks and within a day's drive of Philadelphia.

1. Pocono Blues Festival. Big Boulder, Pa. July 24-26. Three stages will showcase blues artists in this annual summer event. 570-443-8425; www.jfbb.com.

2. Delaware State Fair. Harrington, Del. July 23-Aug. 1. Marking its 90th year, this 10-day, family-friendly event will include live concerts by Brad Paisley and Kelly Clarkson, demolition derbies, and children's events. 302-398-3269; www.delawarestatefair.com.

3. Peach Festival. Chester, N.J. Aug.1. Sample treats including peach cobbler and peach ice cream, and buy homemade jellies, jams, and preserves. There will also be a vendors' marketplace. 908-879-5091; www.cpcchester.org/peach.

4. Maine Lobster Festival. Rockland, Maine. July 29-Aug. 2. Get some of the more than 20,000 pounds of lobster served during this annual event. While in town, take in some of the local maritime history, see a parade, and browse local galleries. 207-596-0376; www.mainelobsterfestival.com.

5. Blueberry Jamboree. Greenfield, N.H. Aug. 1. A celebration of local agriculture, this fair includes a blueberry bake-off, food, games, and activities for children. www.greenfield-nh.gov/public_documents/index; 603-547-3442.

6. Adams Agricultural Fair. Adams, Mass. July 31-Aug. 2. Live entertainment, livestock displays, tractor pulls, sheepdog demonstrations, knife-throwing entertainers, and a petting zoo. http://aafadams.tripod.com/adamsfair.

7. Taste of the Caribbean & Jerk Festival. Hartford, Conn. Aug. 1. Mortensen Riverfront Plaza is transformed into a Caribbean village where guests can sample food, watch dance performances, and listen to performing artists. 860-713-3131; www.riverfront.org/events/festivals.

8. Fife & Drum Corps Muster. Ticonderoga, N.Y. Aug. 1. Corps from around the United States will perform 18th- and 19th-century military music in uniform on the Fort Ticonderoga grounds. 518-585-2821; www.fort-ticonderoga.org.

9. West Virginia Blackberry Festival. July 30-Aug. 1. Clarksburg, W.Va. A carnival, a pet parade - and lots of blackberry foods to try. 304-622-3206; www.wvblackberry.com.

10. Pony Swim. Chincoteague Island, Va. July 29-30. The annual roundup of wild ponies from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge includes a swim across a channel, followed by handlers herding the ponies down Main Street to the carnival grounds. www.chincoteaguechamber.com/pony-events/ev-pony.html; 757-336-6161.

- Erica Lamberg