SEPT. 10-11
SAN FRANCISCO
Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Festival: This isn’t just the 16th annual chocolate festival; it’s a chocolate festival for a good cause. This year, the cocoa fest benefits Project Open Hand, which gets food to people living with AIDS, senior citizens, and the critically ill. Vendors include Kara’s Cupcakes, which has gluten-free treats and a banana cupcake that sounds heavenly, and Reuschelle’s Cheesecakes, which describes its products as “heaven on a fork.’’ The schedule appears to include an ice cream eating competition and an all-day offering of chocolate tea. $20 for 15 samples. www.ghirardellisq.com/events
SEPT. 15-18
BROOKLYN, N.Y.
Brooklyn Book Festival: Boston’s book lovers are beaten to the punch by a month. It’ll be a huge day with a list of authors that includes Russell Banks, Chuck Klosterman, Terry McMillian, and Joyce Carol Oates. We’re looking forward to the appearance by Brooklyn resident Touré, a Rolling Stone contributing editor, essayist, and novelist (and Milton Academy grad) who will be releasing “Who’s Afraid of Post-Blackness?: What It Means to Be Black Now.’’ 718-802-3852, www.brooklynbookfestival.org
SEPT. 23-25
WARRENS, Wisc.
World’s biggest cranberry festival? It should be in Massachusetts, right, on the South Shore? According to the folks in Warrens, they have the largest cranberry party on the planet with 850 craft booths, admission to the Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center (which has a kitchen and ice cream parlor), a cranberry parade, and cranberry cream puffs. Attending doesn’t mean you love Massachusetts cranberry growers any less. You are just checking out the competition. Locations vary. Booths open each day from 7 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. 608-378-4200, www.cranfest.com
SEPT. 26-OCT. 2
TELLURIDE, Colo.
Telluride Photo Festival: If you are an aspiring photographer, this week will make you better. Workshops with specialists will focus on shooting video, landscapes, portraits, and conservation photography, a seminar that will allow students to help collect photos for a real campaign. Of course, if you would rather watch than do, there will be plenty to see. There are exhibitions and an art walk, and mixers for social shutterbugs. Passes are $50 to $350. Classes and locations vary. 970-728-6875, www.telluridephotofestival.com
PLAN AHEAD
FEB. 9-12
SANFORD, Fla.
Love Your Shorts Film Festival: Those with short attention spans can make quick work of this festival, which features movies that are, in most cases, just a few minutes long. No word on next year’s program yet, but as a teaser - and a salute to last year’s inaugural festival - the festival will screen “God of Love,’’ this year’s winner of the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film. Specifics will be posted soon. Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, 201-203 South Magnolia Ave., www.loveyourshorts.com
MEREDITH GOLDSTEIN
Events are sometimes canceled, rescheduled, or sold out; check online. Meredith Goldstein can be reached at mgoldstein@globe.com. 
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