Sedona’s summer temperatures begin to cool off during September but for those who love sizzling festivals, Arizona’s Red Rocks is the place to be this year with these two hot events, Moonlight Madness Street Festival and Sedona Winefest.

The 24rd Annual Moonlight Madness Street Festival is set for September 4 – 6, 2010. Kiss summer goodbye and say hello to autumn with a good old sidewalk sale. But this ain’t no ordinary sale. Free music, live entertainment, activities and food galore spill onto the streets of the Sedona Main Street District, in addition to bountiful shopping bargains. Festivities take place along State Routes 89A and 179 in the Main Street District and kicks off Saturday, Sept. 4 around noon ’til 9 p.m. and continues through Monday, Sept. 6 of Labor Day Weekend.

All the Moonlight Madness Street Festival entertainment and activities are generously hosted by local merchants and property owners and this free community event is coordinated by the Sedona Main Street Program. Make it a family vacation or girlfriends getaway to Sedona. Whatever you make it, bring along an empty suitcase to carry home all the new shopping finds.

Sedona Winefest returns for the second year September 25 and 26, 2010, during the Sedona Community Fair at the Sedona Airport. We’re told the 2010 fair will be modified but will return to its fabulous state in 2011. But wine connoisseurs shouldn’t worry as Sedona Winefest will build on the success of last year’s inaugural event.

We’re told all of the Verde Valley’s wineries will be participating and in total, 10 Arizona wineries will be featured (Alcantara Winery, Arizona Stronghold Winery, Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards, Freitas Vineyard, Kokopelli Winery, Javelina Leap Vineyards & Winery, Jerome Winery, Oak Creek Vineyards and Winery, Page Springs Cellars and Pillsbury Wine Company).

Admission is $12 per person which includes a souvenir wine glass and six taste tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased for $1 each.  Wineries will be staged under a tent along with a healthy pairing of food and music and will offer sales of their fabulous wines, many made with Arizona grown grapes.  In addition to wineries, visitors will learn about winery tours, the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, the latest happenings with Arizona wine growers, and about Yavapai College’s latest offering, a viticulture and enology program.

Sipping red wine while surrounded by Sedona’s stunning red rocks is a simply romantic way to share the weekend with the one you love, or at least the one you kinda like.

Check out affordable Sedona vacation rentals Resort Rentals International has available during the Moonlight Madness Street Festival (Sept. 4 – 6) and Sedona Winefest (Sept. 25 & 26).

Image Source: Courtesy of Sedona Chamber of Commerce

TripAdvisor.com recently announced their Top 10 Girlfriend Getaways in the U.S. which range from dipping toes on sun-drenched beaches to noshing on delicious cuisine. Following is the top 10 list for a gal pal friendly vacation:

1. Dance the night away in Miami, Fla. This was recommended by TripAdvisor travelers primarily for the beach and sun. South Beach (if you’re uber cool, you call it “SoBe”) is the ultimate party gal pal vacation. Sun on the beach and shop Lincoln Road’s boutiques during the day and by night savor tasty cuisine along Ocean Drive before club hopping.

2. Sport and serenity in Sedona, Ariz. There’s an appealing balance of energy and relaxation in Sedona. Hook up with Pink Jeep Tours for off-roading adventures and be pampered in one of many spas. [Check out where to stay in Sedona with Resort Rentals.]

3. Toast to the past in Charleston, S.C. Culture and sightseeing is why this perfectly charming Southern city earned a spot in the top 10. Gal pals can walk through downtown to admire architecture and search for treasures in antique shops. Raise a glass to the past during The Original Pub Tour of Charleston carriage ride.

4.  Paint the town pink in Las Vegas, Nev. Nightlife. Is there any other reason to visit Vegas? Well, yes, there’s shopping, entertainment and visiting the Grand Canyon, to name a few. But Sin City still has a naughty reputation making it a perfect girlfriend getaway to take on the casino tables after a private poker lesson or pole dancing class.  [Check out where to stay in Las Vegas with Resort Rentals.]

5.  Shop ’til you drop in New York City. The Big Apple is the ultimate city break and home to numerous fashion designers and retail stores. Shopping isn’t the only thing to do in NYC, the city boasts world-class restaurants, nonstop nightlife and must-see sightseeing.

6.  Vacation organically in Portland, Ore. This city is an ideal culinary adventure with tasting menus at the city’s top-rated restaurants, wine-sipping in Willamette Valley, and eating your way through on an epicurean excursion with Portland Walking Tours. And don’t miss Voodoo Doughnut!

7. Have a honky tonk’n good time in Nashville, Tenn. The country scene is lively and so is superb dining, shopping and shopping. Giggle through the Nash Trash Tour which is a pink bus offering off-color humor and ability to bring cocktails onboard. A night on the town should include Coyote Ugly to dance on the bar but make sure those pix don’t end up on your Facebook account.

8. Receive the royal treatment in Palm Springs, Cal. Perhaps this is the ideal location for some serious pampering where bathrobes are acceptable daytime attire when lounging around the hotel and healthy food feeds the soul. There’s also plenty of spas for hands-on pampering. For the active types, try a hot air balloon ride or hike in Joshua Tree National Park. [Check out where to stay in Palm Springs with Resort Rentals.]

9. Sun, surf and shopping in Waikiki, Hawaii. It’s not all about romance and honeymoons in Hawaii, it’s a fab place for gal pals to sun on Waikiki Beach, learn to surf with a hunky instructor or exercise some retail therapy in the shops. There’s also a healthy nightlife with bars and nightclubs.

10. Learning with the ladies in San Antonio, Texas. There’s no basement in the Alamo but it’s still worth a visit. And so is a boat tour of River Walk and checking out unique artisan wares in La Villita. Plan a spring trip for the gorgeous wildflower blooms.

“Whatever your gal pals find most appealing, these destinations can deliver an amazing girls-only vacation,” said Christine Petersen, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

Photo Source: TRIPADVISOR

The 19th Annual Red Rock Fantasy promises to dazzle Sedona vacationers with the man-made marvel adding magical sparkle to the area’s natural beauty with more than a million lights. The lighting ceremony is Thursday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. and the festival will run through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010.

Visitors to Sedona can view 23 bright spots participating in the Red Rock Fantasy festival and vote for their favorite. All displays are at the Los Abrigados Resort & Spa. The electrifying holiday displays were each created by families from the Southwest.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, children 4 through 12 are $2 and children under 4 are free. Every evening, when Mother Nature is cooperative, visitors can enjoy the festive display. Sunday through Thursday the display is 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, it’s open 5 to 10 p.m. Wear walking comfortable walking shoes, it takes about an hour to walk the entire display.

Befitting of the season, Red Rock Fantasy benefits local charities and dozens of families. Proceeds are given to such organizations as Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona, Institute of EcoTourism and Verde Valley Sanctuary.

So where are you spending the holidays? Checkout Resort Rentals to book a fabulous Sedona vacation. More information about Red Rock Fantasy can be found on the festival’s Web site.

Photo: Courtesy of Sedona Chamber of Commerce