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New Zealand: North Island – Thermal Geysers North Island of New Zealand

Thermal pits are common in the central area of the North Island of New Zealand. The Maori used them for cooking and bathing. How clever. 

New Zealand: Whakerewarewa – Real Mineral Baths

In Whakerewarewa, New Zealand, the Maori way of life is preserved. The hot thermal mineral baths were an important part of their life. Here these hot thermal pools are designed for easy sitting, entry and exit. You can see the younger generation enjoys them too. This was the young lad who earlier jumped into the freezing water for visitors (see earlier Instagram) so it must have been especially yummy for him to soak in the warm water.

US: Benson, NC – A Celebration For Farmer’s Best Friend – the Mule

The small town of Benson, North Carolina, with a population of around 3500, will swell to approximately 30,000 come September 21-24, 2017 when the 68th Annual Benson Mule Days Celebration, which honors the farmer’s best friend, the mule, is Benson Mule Days 2017-09-13_12-54-40sponsored by the Benson Area Chamber of Commerce.

This festival is filled with family fun and activities for everyone young and old. The weekend is packed with rodeos, a mule pulling contest, arts and crafts, vendors, street dances, carnival rides, camping, parades, bluegrass shows and more.

Friday, visitors can enjoy many events including the Mule Competitions held in the Chamber Park and Arena. They will see mule coon jumping, a mule race, Best of Show and many other events.  If you haven’t seen a mule competition this is a must see for the whole family.Benson_Mule_Days

Saturday is a big day at Benson Mule Days as thousands of spectators grapple for a place to sit or stand to observe the one of the biggest parades in North Carolina. Bands, floats, Shriner units, classic cars, antique tractors, unique entries, beauty queens, and hundreds of horses, mules, buggies, wagons make their way down Main Street of Benson beginning at 10am.

There are three rodeos of which the first begins on Friday night followed by a Saturday night and Sunday afternoon performance. A new event this year are Mule Day Dances. After the rodeos on Friday and Saturday nights, kick up your heels at the Chamber Park.Benson_Mule_Days_ Horses3

Get a complete schedule of events- here

Location: Various – see schedule
Date: Sept 21-24, 2017
Hours: Various – see schedule
Tel: 919-894-3825
bensonmuledays.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: johnstoncountync.org

US: Walterboro, SC – “Butts Only” Contest at Smoke in the ‘Boro BBQ Cookoff

The third annual Smoke in the ‘Boro promises to be a mouth watering event, loaded with fun, live music, kids’ activities, an Anything Butt BBQ Smke in the 'Boro - postercompetition and a Butts Only contest.

The weekend will consist of two separate events. “Anything Butt” will be held on Friday night from 5:30-8 pm.  Cooking teams will prepare anything of their choice, from chicken wings to seafood — anything but barbecue. Local judges from Colleton County will evaluate the entries, and the winner will be revealed and prizes awarded.

The teams will then cook their Boston butts and ribs during the night for “Butts Only” , which means Pork only, as required by the SC Barbeque Association and judged by certified, sanctioned judges from around the Southeast.

The teams  present their entries to the judges on Saturday morning. At 11am the gates will be open to the public for tastings and to  partake until 2 pm.

On both Friday and Saturday, tasting tickets for $1.00 each will be available so that you can sample some heavenly food.  There will be great music both days from The Back Road and Going to the Dogs Bands. Free Admission.

Location: Coastal Electric Outback Building, 2269 N Jefferies HWY, Walterboro, SC 29488
Date: Fri March 17 – Sat March 18, 2017
Time: Fri 5:30 – 8pm, Sat 11 – 2pm
Tel: 843-539-1133
thecolletoncenter.org/events/
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: walterborosc.org/visitingus

US: Fort Lauderdale, FL – It’s 12 Miles of the “Greatest Show on H20”

Christmas is that special time of year when winterfest-parade-fireworkslights illuminate the night sky. In South Florida, they have an annual tradition of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Winterfest Boat Parade where privately owned boats and yachts take over the intracoastal waterway and display all of their Christmas glory.

The Boat Parade sets sail for 12 miles starting in downtown Fort Lauderdale heading North to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. Approximately one million spectators view the parade, along with millions more via television and the internet, bringing national and international recognition to South Florida. The event is the Top 20th Parade in the World and considered the Greatest Show on H2O.

Private boats to the giant showboats and corporate mega yachts will be adorned winterfest-parade-boatswith hundreds of thousands of lights, music, entertainment, decorations, celebrities, musical groups, beauty queens and many other exciting entries. Parade highlights: Grand Marshal Showboat, Galleria Mall Reindeer Barge and the Santa Showboat.

Fun, Family entertainment. Free admission along the Rwinterfest-boat-parade-logo2iverwalk.

Parade Route: Downtown Fort Lauderdale on the New River, heading East to the Intracoastal then North to Pompano Beach
Date: Saturday, December 10, 2016
Time: 6:30PM to 11:00PM
Tel: 954-7670-0686
WinterfestParade.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: sunny.org