Big names to perform at New Orleans Jazzfest

New Orleans — Harry Connick Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Smokey Robinson, Branford Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck and B.B. King are among scores of acts — some widely known, others with small but faithful followings — set for this year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Others set for appearances during the festival’s 35th anniversary run — from April 23 through May 2 — include the Neville Brothers, Shaggy, Emmylou Harris, the Steve Miller Band and Irma Thomas.

Most of the acts perform on any of a dozen stages during the festival’s Louisiana Heritage Fair at the Fair Grounds Race Course.

The Heritage Fair also includes three crafts fairs — folk, contemporary and African-influenced — and booths serving more than 100 kinds of Louisiana foods.

There are also concerts scheduled at various venues in New Orleans during the festival.

Visit www.nojazzfest.com for details and tickets, or call (888) 432-9870 for information on booking package deals.

More couples choose Hawaiian weddings

Honolulu — The number of visitor weddings in Hawaii has increased nearly 31 percent in the past five years, according to data from the state Department of Health.

Last year, visitor weddings increased 7.4 percent from 2002 to more than 18,500 ceremonies, comprising a third of all weddings in the state.

Hawaii was recently named America’s top romantic destination in a poll conducted by Yahoo Travel and National Geographic Traveler magazine.

Wyoming bike tour registration under way

Laramie, Wyo. — The eighth Tour de Wyoming — a six-day, 360-mile bicycle trip on the state’s western edge — will be July 18-23.

Registration by mail and online opened Monday and tour officials expect the slots to fill quickly.

The entry fee is $140 for adults and $90 for youth. It covers a continental breakfast each morning, rest stops with snacks, luggage transport and support if riders need a lift.

Overnight accommodations will be at community facilities such as schools, where participants may camp in gyms or on sports fields.

The route begins and ends in Kemmerer. The first day is a 72-mile trip into the Green River Basin, ending at Big Piney. Day Two covers 90 miles through Daniel and Bondurant before wrapping up at Jackson.

Day Three involves a climb over Teton Pass before circling into Idaho and returning to Wyoming for a night in Alpine. Day Four covers 33 miles to Afton. After a climb over Salt River Pass, Cokeville will be the destination on Day Five. The cyclists will return to Kemmerer on Day Five by way of Nugget Canyon.

For more information, visit www.cyclewyoming.org.