(FORTUNE Small Business) – Nov. 21 to Dec. 30: Wonderland of Lights Who's afraid of an energy crisis? Not the citizens of Marshall, Texas, who decorate their town with about 900 miles of Christmas lights each year, seven million bulbs in all. Convenience bonus: Marshall's on two interstates; it's also an Amtrak stop. marshall-chamber.com; 903-935-7868.

Dec. 1-2: Indio, Calif., near Palm Springs, hosts the world's largest International Tamale Festival. Chow down on one of 70 varieties of the Mexican delicacy--a filling of meat or sometimes fruit, coated in corn dough, wrapped in a husk, and steamed. You can work it off in the festival's 5K or 10K runs. tamalefestival.org.

Dec. 28 to Jan.13: TOTAL-DAKAR RALLY The Dakar rally is one of the most grueling sports events in the world--a 6,500-mile race from northern France to the seaside capital of Senegal. Only a third of the drivers typically finish, and at least 26 have died in the rally's 23-year history. Less adventurous spectators might want to watch from the sunny Languedoc region of southwestern France--the race passes through around New Year's. www.dakar.com.

--SASHA SMITH