By Dena Roche

You’re already having an elevated vacation experience at The Ritz-Carlton Club^®, enjoying the service and care offered to you by the Ladies and Gentlemen.

But what makes a vacation unique and memorable is immersing yourself in your surroundings and living life like a local. Whether you're staying in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Aspen, Vail, or St. Thomas, local events^* are happening year-round. These celebrations of local art, food, sports, and culture help make new memories during your stay.

If you’re looking to have a one-of-a-kind experience during your next vacation, check out the list below. There is a Club located in or near each city. Use this list to help pick a city based on the activity listed or find a new city to explore and use these local gems to help decide when to visit.

San Francisco, California

What: Chinese New Year Festival and Parade
When: February
Celebrating the lunar new year in San Francisco is an experience that touches on ancient culture, and, of course, food. The Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is the largest such parade outside of Asia. See dancers in elaborate costumes, bands playing heritage music, and brightly decorated floats. Other celebrations include a flower market fair, community street fair, and a 10K/5K run walk.

What: San Francisco Pride
When: Late June
One of the oldest and largest LGBTQ pride festivals in the United States, San Francisco Pride attracts over one million visitors each year. Festivities include a parade, multiple parties, a brunch, and a golf tournament.

What: Illuminate San Francisco
When: Black Friday through late January
San Francisco sparkles during the holiday season with city-wide illuminated outdoor art installations. During Illuminate San Francisco, acclaimed artists display their glowing installations, including beautiful flower pieces to brilliant and larger-than-life sculptures throughout many neighborhoods.

Lake Tahoe, California

What: SNOWFEST
When: Late February
North Lake Tahoe SNOWFEST is one of the largest mountain festivals in the west. The 10-day, family-friendly festival includes more than 40 events featuring everything from an ice carving competition to a polar bear swim.

What: Classical Tahoe
When: Early July through early August
Classical Tahoe brings together some of the country's top artists for a summer series featuring jazz, chamber music, and orchestral performances. Audiences can enjoy the sounds of acclaimed groups like the Metropolitan Opera and the Los Angeles Philharmonic against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Aspen, Colorado

What: Food & Wine Classic
When: Mid-June
For foodies, the Aspen Food & Wine Classic is a must-attend event. World-class chefs, celebrity cooks, and vintners lead cooking demos, wine tastings, and panel discussions throughout the month. In the Grand Tasting Pavilion, you can sample items from some 150 food, wine, beer, and spirits brands.

What: JAS Labor Day Experience
When: Labor Day Weekend
The last hurrah of summer, the JAS Labor Day Experience is a three-day outdoor musical festival. Featuring a range of performers including Sting, Tim McGraw, and Brandi Carlile, the festival also offers food and beverage vendors, a craft mart, and kids activities.

Vail, Colorado

What: GoPro Mountain Games
When: Early June
Vail welcomes the world's top adventure athletes as well as art and music lovers to the three-day GoPro Mountain Games. The festival showcases sports, concerts, film, photography, and on-site art. The event has a sustainability focus that emphasizes the importance of preserving the natural beauty of Vail.

What: Vail Dance Festival
When: Late July through early August
For two weeks, the Vail Dance Festival celebrates all forms of dance with performances from groups like Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Royal Danish Ballet, and the New York City Ballet.

What: Vail Holidays
When: December
Vail transforms into a Kringle Crossing Holiday Village each holiday season. Enjoy a holiday market, tree-lighting ceremony, ugly sweater fun run, ice skating performance, and other family-friendly activities all month long.

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

What: St. Thomas International Regatta
When: Late March
For 50 years, the St. Thomas International Regatta has sailed away with bragging rights as the top Caribbean race. The three-day event attracts top competitors and features more than 50 yachts vying for the winner's trophy.

What: St. Thomas Carnival
When: Late April through early May
Spring is a time of renewal, and St. Thomas celebrates with its annual St. Thomas Carnival steeped in Caribbean culture, heritage, and music. The week-long festival dazzles with parades, a boat race, and food fair.