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What started out as a family get together has turned into a great community event. The  12th annual Uncle Gary’s Rock & Rib Fest is a labor of love. Uncle Gary’s lost his 3-year-old daughter 14 years ago to cancer and Started this BBQ event in her honor and to benefit the Kids Cancer Foundation.

This feel good festival has fun for the whole family including: great live music featuring three live bands throughout the day, dancing, bounce houses, kid’s Fun-zone, face painting, balloon artist, playgrounds, grab bags, games and prizes for the kids and adults, raffles, auction, Pet Rescue Puppies petting zone, princesses and super heroes.

Don’t forget the delectable BBQ foods: yummy baby back ribs, smoked pork tenderloins, burgers, chicken, hot dogs, side dishes and cold beverages.

Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, sunblock and kids to this  admission free event that is so much more than just a chance to have fun with the family, eat ribs and barbecue and listen to local bands. All proceeds will be donated to the Royal Palm Beach-based Kids Cancer Foundation.

Location: Wellington Amphitheater. 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, FL 33414
Date: Sat, April 1, 2017
Hours: 2 – 9pm
unclegarysrockandribfest.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: palmbeachfl.com

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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 competition 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

Tags: activity, association, band, barbecue, BBQ, Boston, butt, certified, chicken, colleton, competition, contest, cook-off, cooking, county, entry, evaluate, event, food, fun, judge, kids, music, novice. level, Participant, participating, prize, public, sample, sanctioned, SCBA-certified, seafood, Smoke in the ‘Boro, South Carolina, statewide, tasting, team, Walterboro, wings, winner

Did you ever Rumba on the Lumber? If not, you gotta get there. The whole weekend is geared towards the entire family. 

The Rumba on the Lumber Festival features  live music, Rumba Games Exhibition – a battle between local fitness fanatics, Family Fun Ride/Rodeo, vendors, arts and crafts show, and the Lumbee River EMD Free Kidz Zone –  with rock climbing, inflatable bouncer/slide, children’s basketball game, a spinner mechanical ride, trackless train and a high-striker.

The annual Rumba on the Lumber Festival officially kicks off at 9 am with the Southeastern Health 5K, 10K run described as  very flat, fast, and fun, and the Family Fun Mile starts at 10am in downtown Lumberton.

Front and center is the Bud Light North of the Border Chili cook-off.  Crowds gather from 11 – 2pm, Saturday in downtown Lumberton to get a taste of what teams are cooking. About 30 teams compete in categories like Best Tasting, Spiciest, Strangest Ingredient, Best Chili Name and Best Cooking Outfits. Costumed participants find unique ways to set themselves apart from the competition.

Schedule of Events:-

Saturday – March 4th:

9am – Southern Eastern Health 5K and Southeastern Health 10K

10 – 5pm – Lumbee River EMC KidZone activities at the Courthouse Plaza

10 – 5pm – Business, Craft and Food Vendors Galore

11am – Southeastern Health Family Fun Run/Walk

11 – 2pm – Bud Light North Light of the Border Chili cook-off with music by the Goldrush Band

TBA – The Rumba Games Fitness Competition

2 – 5pm – Concert at the Courthouse Plaza with the Blackwater Rhythm and Blues Band

Events on Sun March 5th:(starting at Northeast Park)

12 Noon – Yamaha of Lumberton Metric Century ( 100K Cycling Race)

1:30 – Cruzbike 20-Mile Adventure Ride

3:30 – Family Fun Ride/Rodeo

Go out and join the Lumberton community at this  FREE weekend hugely packed with entertainment and family fun.

Location:Downtown Plaza – 200 N. Elm Street, Lumberton, NC 28358
Date: Sat March 4 – Sun March 5, 2017
Time: Sat 9 – 5pm. Sun 12 – 4pm
Tel: 910-671-3876
lumberton-nc.com/event/rumba-on-the-lumber-2017
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: lumberton-nc.com

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It’s been a local favorite for almost 25 years, Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival still has legs; frog legs that is. Bring your family and friends and enjoy live music, crafters, midway rides, games, bull riding, petting zoo, pony rides and the main event – the Frog Legs and Gator Tails. 

Fellsmere has been proclaimed Frog Leg Capital of the World and The Frog Leg Festival holds 2 Guinness Book World Records for The Most Frog Legs served in the course of one business day and the Largest Frog Leg Festival in the world. With over 80,000 attendees serving over 7,000 pounds of frog legs and 2,000 pounds of gator, the Frog Leg Festival has come a long way from its humble roots of 400 dinners.

There’s something for everyone. Money raised at this event goes towards the recreational needs of the children of Fellsmere.

Free Admission. Free Parking. Free Shuttle Parking at MESA park Saturday 1pm – 11:30pm and Sunday 1pm – 6:30 pm.

Location: Fellsmere City Complex, 22 South Orange St., Fellsmere, FL 32948
Dates: Jan 19th – 22nd, 2017
Hours: Thurs, Fri 4pm – 11pm, Sat 10am – 11pm, Sun 11am – 6pm
Tel: 772-571-0250
froglegfestival.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: indianriverchamber.com
sebastianchamber.com

Tags: annual, attendee, book, bull, business, capital, crafter, dinner, event, family. friend, Fellsmere, Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival, festival, Florida, frog leg, game, gator, Guinness, Guinness Book World Records, live, local, midway, money, music, petting, pony, record, recreational. children, ride, root, serving, tail, tradition, world, zoo

Treat your dog to Dogapalooza, a very popular, dog-friendly afternoon at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. Revel in the joyful family-friendly celebration of the human-animal bond throughout the museum, the gardens and parking lot, giving dogs trees, shade and lots grass to roll around on.

This festival features tons of fun dog activities including FREE puppy photo experience, doggie art project -where your dog creates the art,  FREE dog nail clipping, obedience demonstrations and some fun music mixed by DJ.

There will be a canine costume contest which includes categories: best in Show, Best Pop Culture Reference, Best Duo (Dog + his human),  and Best Ensemble (more than 1 Dog). Don’t forget to take advantage of doggie babysitting that will be offered for short-term visits to check out the art in the museum.

Enjoy delicious food, drinks and a great casual dog-themed afternoon with dogs and dog lovers alike that will have you begging for more.

Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome as are their human companions.  All proceeds benefit  Sophie’s Circle pet food pantry. Admission is a $2 donation.

Painted by Daytona Beach Artist Amy Holzer

Location: Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, 78 East Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176
Date: Sat, Jan 7, 2017
Hours:  2  – 4 PM
Tel: 386-676-3347
ormondartmuseum.org/event/dogapalooza/2016-10-22_200pm
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: daytonabeach.com

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The  23rd Annual Nights of Lights festival turns the city of St. Augustine into a dazzling holiday display, glowing with holiday magic – from the ground to the rooftops. Selected by National Geographic in 2011 and 2012 as one of the ten best holiday lighting displays in the world, St. Augustine’s Night of Lights features three millions tiny white lights that create a magical atmosphere in the Nation’s oldest city.

Tracing its origins to the Spanish tradition of displaying a white candle in the window during the Christmas holidays, the spectacular lighting reflects the city’s 450-year history and illuminates the beautiful setting for lasting holiday memories.

Many historic landmarks and locations are beautifully ablaze during Nights of Lights. The waters of Matanzas Bay glow from the nightly reflections of lights strewn along the bay walk and displayed on the Bridge of Lions. The Plaza de la Constitucion shines from the top of trees and throughout the famous center of St. Augustine’s historic district. The Guilded-Age Hotel Ponce de Leon, now the campus of Flagler College, is outlined in lights. And the Lightner Museum, once a resort hotel also built by Flagler, is lit so brilliantly that it is a favorite among visitors.

The trains and trolleys offer special seasonal tours that take you through the best areas of Nights of Lights, and there are also a variety of specialty tours; everything from walking to horse-and-carriage tours, and even tours to see the lights from the water and from the air. This holiday season don’t miss St Augustine’s Night of Lights.

Photos Courtesy of FloridasHistoricCoast.com

Location: Plaza de la Constitucion, 106 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Dates: Daily until Jan. 31, 2017
Tel: 800-653-2489
floridashistoriccoast.com/nights-lights
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: floridashistoriccoast.com

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The Wilson Whirligig Festival is a community celebration of people and art in motion held the first weekend in November, where everyone comes together for an energetic street festival focusing the whimsical North Carolina Folk Art, Vollis Simpson’s Whirligigs.

Don’t forget to check out the Cake Dive, the festival’s MESSIEST event, held on the Courthouse plaza on Sunday at 4 pm.  Participants  “dive” into a large10 ft x 10 ft anniversary cake for a variety of prizes.

With 35,000+ attendees , over 200 vendors, 3 stages of entertainment, arts & crafts
food vendors, FREE! Whirli-Kidz Zone and lots of Special events.

This commemoration is truly family-friendly and kid focused. FREE  live performances all day long with a wide variety of dance and demonstrations, from hip hop to lyrical, from clogging to ballet, from singing to karate. Play carnival games, create a craft, slide down a giant 26 foot slide or bounce in one of the many inflatable activities. Children of all ages can enjoy a variety of activities. Kids shouldn’t have all the fun! Demo’s available for 16 and up. Virtual Reality is not just for gamers anymore, it is everywhere. Learn more about this technology.

Location: Historic Downtown Wilson, 112 Goldsboro E ,Wilson, NC 27893
Date: Sat, Nov 5 – Sun, Nov 6, 2016
Time: Sat 10 – 5pm, Sun Noon – 5pm
Tel: 252-289-9650
whirligigfestivalnc.org

For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: wilsonnc.org

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 The 18th Annual NC Cotton Festival celebrates and brings recognition to one of North Carolina’s prime agricultural products, cotton. The event started in 1998 and has grown each year attracting approximately 12,000 people.   Everything takes place in Dunn’s historic downtown, taking up more than 16 city blocks mainly on Broad Street, Wilson Avenue and Edgerton Street.

Tags: agricultural, annual, antique, band, car, cotton, country, craft, custom, dancing, downtown, Dunn, entertainment, event, farmer, festival, food, gin, historic, karaoke, kiddie, land, local, motorcycle, North Carolina, petting, prime, product, production, season, show, shriner, shuttle, site, stage, tour, vendor, wagon, yard, zoo

Fall is in the air and the Darien Fall Festival is the place to be.  Enjoy the Coastal scenery at this family- friendly event, offering tons to do; food, arts, and entertainment and taking place in the picturesque setting of  downtown Darien.

The Classic Coastal Cruisers of Darien Car Show will be on display in Vernon Square, The rescue group, HART of McIntosh, will hold its Doggie Day Parade along Broad Street where you’ll find costumed participants and their owners, kayakers, canoeists, and paddle boarders will compete along a 2.4-mile course from the Darien River Bridge to Fort King George Historic Site.  Be entertained by the McIntosh County Line Dancers and musical performances while Fine Arts vendors, Craft and Antique Vendors, and  Food and Drink vendors will be set up along the streets.

Spend the day strolling the streets of historic Darien while enjoying the arts, antiques, food, and music or watching a battle re-enactment at FortKingGeorge , the Trailhead Center -Burning of Darien;  Museum will be open and there will be horseback rides for children. Ashantilly Mansion and Print Shop will be open. There will be a Lime Burn with a talk on the history of Ashantilly, and then  a historian led walking tour through historic St. Andrews Cemetery.

Diverse outdoor demonstrations including: yard and garden art, furniture and home decor, jewelry and clothing will take place on the grounds of the Old Jail Art Center during Fall Fest. Come out and celebrate the rich history and heritage of Darien.

Location: Downtown – Darien, GA 31305
Date: Nov 5, 2016
Hours: 8am – 5pm
Tel: 912-617-7299
darienfallfest.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitdarien.com

Tags: activity, annual, antique, art, Ashantilly Mansion, battle, board, burn, burning, burning of Darien, canoe, car, celebration, cemetery, children, classic, clothing, coastal, compete, competition, contest, costume, county, course, craft, cruiser, dance, Darien, decor, demonstration, display, dog, downtown, drink, dsancer, entertainment, event, exhibit, Fall, family, family-friendly, festival, fine art, food, fort, Fort King George, fun, furniture, garden, George, Georgia, ground, heritage, Historian, historic, History, home, jewelry, kayak, King, lime, line, live, McIntosh, McIntosh County, Museum, music, musical, old jail art center, outdoor, owner, paddle, parade, Participant, performance, picturesque, print, race, reenactment, rescue, river bridge, scenery, setting, shop, show, site, St Andrews., stage, street, stroll, talk, tour, vendor, vernon, walking, water, yard