The “2016 Virginia International Tattoo 20th Anniversary Celebration” in Norfork, Va. and Québec Canada’s “Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Québec Holy Door” were picked by judges as the leading events in 2016 to take passengers on a motorcoach trip.

The U.S. and Canadian events being highlighted are the two most prominent festivals, but the annual ABA publication has 98 other events that tens of millions of motorcoach passengers will visit and have a great time during 2016.

Beginning April 21-24, 2016 Norfolk, Va.’s Scope Arena will be home to the largest, most patriotic performance in the U.S. The region will welcome tens of thousands of visitors and more than 1,500 performers from around the world. Featured performers on display include military bands, pipes and drums, drill teams, Celtic Dancers, choirs and many others. For more information, visist vatatoo.org or call (877)741-2787.

In 1664, the Canadian parish of Notre-Dame de Québec was founded, making it the oldest Catholic Church in North America, that’s north of the former Spanish colonies. The historic church celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2014. Notre-Dame de Québec Cathedral has only one of the seven Holy Doors in the world, and the only one in North America. The other six are in Europe. In the Catholic faith, typically Holy Doors remain closed and locked. They can only be "opened at the will of the Pope." Passing through a Holy Door is a symbolic act of a person’s religious faith, going from the outside world into the presence of God, according to officials.

Pope Francis announced that a Holy Year of Mercy will begin on December 8th, 2015 (the day of the Immaculate Conception), with the opening of the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. With this Jubilee, the six other Holy Doors around the world will be opened, including the one at Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Québec.

The event begins Dec. 8, 2015, and continues until Nov. 20, 2016. For more information, visit www.notredamedequebec.org/en/ or call (418) 692-2533.

“The 2016 Virginia International Tattoo 20th Anniversary Celebration and Canada’s Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Québec Holy Door are great examples of motorcoach-friendly, family-friendly events. Tens of thousands of people will enjoy the experience of visiting Norfork, Va. where they will enjoy the music, and the amazing performances. In Québec the people who visit the Cathedrale will be inspired by this act of spiritual undertaking,” said ABA President/CEO Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS.

The American Bus Association is releasing the entire list of Top 100 Events in North America, in its annual announcement for group travel in the U.S. and Canada. It's published as a guide for travel professionals and the general public when planning group tours and vacations. Each spring, the Top 100 Selection Committee, which is comprised of group travel professionals, selects the winners from hundreds of nominated fairs, festivals, parades, exhibits, theaters and shows based on their broad appeal, accessibility to large groups, and other criteria.

The Top 100 Events will be published as a special supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations magazine. You can also find a full listing of the winners at http://www.buses.org/News-Publications/Top-100.