Travelsmartplanet

 For some good wholesome family fun you aren’t going to want to miss the 73rd Annual Howard County Fair. An American tradition,  the fair is a celebration of Howard County’s farming past and present.

The Howard County Fair offers something for all ages including: interactive exhibits, livestock exhibits, agricultural displays, petting zoo, contests, entertainment, amusement rides and games, food and loads of family-oriented fun.

Featured events at the fair are: horse shows, pony rides, Antique tractor pulls, and livestock competitions, 4-H shows/exhibits, Demo Derby, Rodeo, Horse-Pulling Contest, Antique Automobile Show, Pie Eating Contest, Pig Races, Bingo, AG Displays and Farm produce. Enjoy some of the area’s best live music, from rock and country, to bluegrass.

Schedule of Some Featured Events:
Pig Races – 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, & 8pm
Bingo Hall – Opens Daily at 6pm
Pony Rides – 10am – 10pm
AG Displays – Daily
Farm Produce – Daily

Mule Pulling Contest First Sat @ 9am
Coon Mule Jump – immediately after the Mule Pulling Contest
Horse Pulling Contest – First Sat- @ 10am
Antique Tractor Pull – First Sat @ 4pm
Draft Horse & Mule Show – Sun @ 8:30 am
Pretty Animal Contest – Sun @ 11am
Pie Eating Contest-Sun @ 12:30
Sheep Dog Demonstrations – Sun – 4, 6, & 8pm.

Kids and Critters – Barn Hours @ 10:30 am – 2pm & 4pm – 8:30pm
Parade of Floats -Sat, Aug 11 @ 5pm

Auto Demolition Derby#1– Wed, Aug 8 @ 7pm
Auto Demolition Derby#2 – Sat, Aug 11@ 6pm

For a complete schedule of events: HowardCountyFair.org

Family time that’s  so much fun and affordable. Parking for the Howard County Fair is always FREE!

Location: Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Rd, West Friendship, MD 21794
Date: Aug 4th – 11th, 2018
Time: daily from 8am – 11pm
Tel: 410-442-1022
howardcountyfair.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visithowardcounty.com

Tags: 4-H, agricultural, American, amusement, antique, automobile, bingo, bluegrass, competition, contest, country, Demo Derby, display, drive i-95, entertainment, fair, family, family fun, family-oriented, farm, farming, floats. Demolition Derby, food, fun, games, horse, horse show, Howard County, Howard County Fair, interactive. exhibit, live music, livestock, Maryland, parade, petting zoo, pie, pie eating, pig, pig race, pony, pony ride, produce, pulls, race, Richmond, rides, rock, rodeo, show, tractor, tradition, West Friendship, wholesome

Love ocean sports? Why not soak up the beach vibe as Daytona Beach hosts the Pan American Masters Championship – the largest ocean swim competition to be held in Daytona Beach to date.

Swimmers from all over the world – from youth to adult and novice to Olympian – will descend upon the white sand beaches and the inviting waters of Daytona Beach to compete in the Open Water (1.5K and 5K).

Starting and finishing at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, check out the map and schedule for the best vantage points along the coast to watch the event. Admission FREE.

Discover Daytona Beach, where you have a 500-foot sandy backdrop to unplug, unwind and reconnect with one another.

Location: Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, 100 North Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Date: Sun, Aug 5, 2018
Time: Starting at 7am
2018panammasters.com
For Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: daytonabeach.com

Tags: 1.5k, 5k, adult, American, beach, championship, Coast, compete, competition, Daytona, Daytona Beach, drive i-95, event, Florida, Hilton, masters, novice, ocean, oceanfront, Olympian, Open Water, Pan American, Pan American Masters Championship, resort, sand, sport, swim, swimmwer, water, world, youth

The fifth annual Wild Vibes Festival, featuring a full day in nature It takes place at Spring Hill Farm in South Berwick, Maine which is just a short drive away from Portsmouth. It’s nestled in the lush landscape of the Seacoast on a family-run farm, with over 60 waterfront acres of rolling hills and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.

Celebrated as one of New England’s favorite Yoga, Music, & Arts Festival, Wild Vibes features a diverse line-up of teachers, presenters, and performers. Experience a jam-packed day of live music, inspiring workshops, unique yoga classes including SUP yoga and paddle boarding, local artisans, Roots Village for tasty treats and refreshing beverages, and you can drop off your kids at Wild Vibes Kids Camp.

Enhance your natural state with the ultimate day of creativity, movement, music, art, wellness and community in this serene setting. Venture in the dreamers den, practice yoga on the water, and get your groove on under the open sky. Check out the schedule for amazing and inspiring workshops: wildvibes.org/workshop

A kid-friendly event, Wild Vibes Festival offers something for everyone. A portion of festival proceeds benefit Puresa Humanitarian Foundation and Yoga & Cancer SATYA. Kids ages 12 & under FREE.

Location: Spring Hill Farm, 117 Pond Rd, South Berwick, ME 03908
Date: Sat, July 28th, 2018
Time: 12pm – 8pm
wildvibes.org
For regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: portsmouthnh.com

Tags: acre, art, artisan, arts, Berwick, beverage, camp, community, countryside, creativity, drive i-95, event, family-run, farm, festival, kid-friendly, kids, landscape, live music, Maine, movement, music, Nature, New England, paddle boarding, performer, Portsmouth, presenter, retreat, seacoast, South Berwick, Spring Hill Farm, SUP, SUP yoga, teacher, treats, view, Waterfront, wellness, Wild Vibes, workshop, yoga —

Professional and amateur anglers and those looking for a fun, family event gather for The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament (GJKT), a contest fishing for king mackerel that spans six days every July in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, known as one of the largest kingfish tournaments in the Southeast,  is now entering its 38th year and goes way beyond the tournament itself. In addition to the General Tournament, this fishing extravaganza also includes a Junior Angler Offshore Tournament,  live entertainment, food festival, and more.

The event benefits Jacksonville Marine Charities, an organization that has proudly made an impact over the years for the local community and its economy. The grand tournament prizing structure grants cash prizes for 10 places with 1st Place Big Fish prize valued at over $86,000.

Location: Jim King Park & Boat Ramp at Sister Creek, Jacksonville, 32226
Dates: Jul 16 – 21, 2018
Time: Various – see schedule above
Tel: 904-251-3011
kingfishtournament.com
For Regional Accommodations, Rstaurants & Attractions: visitjacksonville.com

Tags: amateur, angler, benefit, cash prize, charity, community, contest, drive i-95, economy, entertainment, event, family, festival, fishing, Florida, food, fun, Jacksonville, junior, junior angler, King, king mackerel, kingfish, live entertainment, local, mackerel, marine, offshore, organization, prize, professional, Southeast, tournament

The Going to the Dogs Band is hosting a Car Show  to benefit Friends of the Colleton County Animal Shelter (FoCCAS), an organization very close to the band’s heart.

Going above and beyond with their commitment to animal groups and other deserving causes, Going to the Dogs Band is a 100-percent charity and benefit band. All members of the band refuse to accept any payment for their time and talent. They are dedicated to donating all money earned to Animal Shelters and Rescues, oxygen masks for animals for fire stations, bullet-proof vests for K-9 Police Units, as well as other charities including human, environmental, and other worthy causes.

Tags: animal, Animal Rescue, animal. shelter, art, balloon, band, benefit, bike, bullet-proof vest, car, car show, causes, charity, chatity, colleton, Colleton County, commitment, county, dog, donate, entertainment, environmental, family, family fun, fire station, FoCCAS, friend, Friends of the Colleton County Animal Shelter, fun, Going to the Dogs Band, group, human, K-9, K-9 Police, live, live entertainment, mask, member, organization, oxygen, payment, police, rescue, ride, shelter, show, South Carolina, talent, time, trophy, vehicle, vest, volunteer, Walterboro, Wheels for Paws

It’s the inaugural Mystic River Day, a day celebrating the Mystic River Community.

Festivities include: children’s activities and games on the Mystic River Park green, discover Mystic River history,  many local non-profits, animal encounters, meet the Mystic Mermaid in the park – photo op, Sharkfest Swim, Kayak and SUP races down the Mystic River.

Cheer on the Mystic Sharkfest Swimmers from  8:30 am – 11:30 am, on their 1500 meter swim from Middle Wharf at Mystic Seaport, down the Mystic River, under the famous Bascule drawbridge, finishing at Dock A at Seaport Marine.

This swim will give you the perfect excuse to visit a classic New England seaport on Long Island Sound. The swim course will take you past the fully restored whaling ship, Charles Morgan and around the Mystic Harbor lighthouse and down river through the picturesque village that is steeped in shipbuilding history.

Participating downtown shops, restaurants, and bars will offer specials, discounts and extended happy hours throughout the day.

Location:Mystic River Park, Cottrell Street, Mystic, 06355
Date: Sun, July 8, 2018
Time: 9am – 2:30pm
Tel: 860-572-9578
thisismystic.com/event/mystic-river-day
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: mysticchamber.org

Tags: activity, animal, bars, children, community, Connecticut, course, dock, downtown, drawbridge, drive i-95, encounter, game, green, Happy Hour, Harbor. lighthouse, History, inaugural, kayak, local, Long Island Sound, marine, mermaid, meter, Mystic, Mystic River, Mystic River Day, Mystic Seaport, New England, non-profit, park, photo, photo op, race, Restaurant, restored, river, Seaport, Sharkfest, ship, shipbuilding, shop, SUP, swim, swimmer, village, whaling

Music and fireworks will once again fill the air as part of Boston’s legendary July 4 celebrations attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors to the birthplace of American independence.

Deemed one of the most popular Massachusetts summer events,  the Pops will once again throw one of the country’s largest Fourth-of-July parties. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular concert is FREE and open to the public.

Entering their 133rd season of entertaining audiences in Boston and beyond, feature Conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston POPS Orchestra will take the stage at the Hatch Shell, on the Esplanade, performing the identical concerts on July 3rd and 4th, and on July 4th when the concert wraps up, a stunning half-hour display of pyrotechnics.

The headliner for the 2018 Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, is American singer/songwriter Rachel Platten, whose mega hit “Fight Song”  topped the charts, will headline the 2018 Boston POPS Fireworks Spectacular Concert. The event will also feature 2 Grammy Award-winning artists, Rhiannon Giddens from The Carolina Chocolate Drops and Folk-Rock Duo Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls.

The legendary singer/actor/dancer, Academy Award Winner Rita Moreno will make a special appearance on the July 3 and 4 performances in honor of the Leonard Bernstein centennial tribute.

Event Schedule:

Celebrate America with this amazing concert and 4th of July fireworks extravaganza.

Photo Credits: Michael Blanchard

Location: DCR Hatch Shell, 47 David G. Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02108
Date: July 3- July4, 2018
Time: July 3rd, concert 8pm -10pm, July 4th, concert  8pm – 10:30pm, fireworks display 10:30pm – 11pm.
bostonpopsjuly4th.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: bostonusa.com

Tags: America, American, artist, audience, birthplace, Boston, Boston Pops, celebration, concert, conductor, country, display, drive i-95, entertainment, event, extravaganza, fireworks, fourth of July, Hatch Shell, independence, July 4, Keith Lockhart, legendary, Massachusetts, music, orchestra, party, POPS, public, pyrotechnic, Rehearsal, spectacular, stage, summer, visitor

Looking for something completely different to do on a Sunday, tired of the same old, same old…how about brunch and a drag show? Join a fabulous all-star cast of Drag Queens for a Drag Diva Brunch. The hysterical all-ages drag brunch takes place Sundays at noon at The Queen Wilmington.

Each general admission ticket includes not only the hilariously entertaining show but also your entree and first mimosa or Bloody Mary  (21+ only for alcohol).

Seating begins at noon and while you are being seated the cast of queens will mingle with you making sure you are ready to have a great time. The show starts at 1 pm and runs about 90 minutes. Each show has about 11 performances of pure fabulousness.

Although the Drag Diva Brunch is appropriate for all ages, keep in mind that it’s a Drag Show. The show is described as fun and flirty. The emcees occasionally use adult humor and language, sometimes naughty, but the show is never raunchy, and always fun.

Tags: adult, all-star, Bloody Mary, brunch, cast, comedy, Delaware, diva, drag, Drag Diva Brunch, Drag Queen, Drag show, drink, drive i-95, emcee, entertaining, entree, food, fun, humor, invited, language, mimosa, naughty, party, performance, queen, Queens, show, ticket, Wilmington

Bring your little ones to A Fairy Tale Festival & Adventure, a magical and enchanted festival full of characters from all your favorite fairy tales, benefiting the Sandhills Children’s Center.

Be ready to spend your day dancing with the trolls, princesses, pirates, fairies, elves and mermaids. Maybe join a treasure hunt with the pirates, unless they make you walk the plank. Go to the Mad Hatter’s tea party. There will be horse and carriage rides, hot-air balloon rides, face painting, story telling, tattoos, arts & crafts, food trucks and more.

You can find tickets to additional experiences like the Mad Hatter Tea Party, horse drawn carriage rides and early admission by clicking here

Everyone is encouraged to come dressed in  costumes,  not just the kids but also the kids at heart. Make sure to bring your camera for plenty of magical photo opportunities.

The festival will be fun for the whole family, but especially designed for children 12 years of age and younger. This event will be held rain or shine.  For additional festival information and to purchase admission tickets, you can click here.

Location: Carolina Horse Park, 2814 Montrose Road, Raeford, NC 28376
Date: Sat, June 23, 2018
Time: 11am – 6pm
IndelibleProductions.net
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitfayettevillenc

Tags: Adventure, arts & crafts, benefit, camera, carriage, center, character, children, costume, Cumberland County, dancing, designed, drive i-95, elf, enchanted, face painting, fairy, fairytale, famoliy. family fun, Fayetteville, festival, food, food truck, fun, horse drawn carriage, horse-drawn, hot-air balloon, Mad Hatter, magical, mermaid, North Carolina, party, photo, pirate, Princess, Raeford, ride, Sandhills Children’s Center, story telling, tattoo, tea, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, treasure hunt, troll

The first annual Make Music Connecticut, a free, wild and wonderful mix of over 250 free outdoor musical events, will make its debut on Thursday, June 21.

Modeled after a Parisian tradition (Fête de la Musique) that began in 1982 as a tribute to the Summer Solstice.  Each June 21st Paris is filled with musicians of all kinds performing on sidewalks, lawns, balconies, in parks, etc. for anyone to enjoy at no cost.

Make Music Connecticut is part of Make Music Day, a global music celebration that takes place on the summer solstice each year and brings people of all ages and skill levels together to make music. This year, more than 70 U.S. cities and the entire state of Connecticut will host thousands of Make Music performances across the country as part of the world’s largest annual music event.

Featuring musicians of all abilities and music from any genre.  Sidewalks, parks, front porches, and public spaces throughout the region will become stages for local musicians to perform and for all to enjoy. Each region will have its own ambiance. This will be a day packed with more than 250 free musical events happening with concerts on streets, sidewalks, and parks around the state.

Community Jam Sessions, Dueling Drums, Battle of the Bands are some of the featured events. For a full schedule of events: MakeMusicCT.org

Location: Numerous locations throughout Southeastern CT
Date: June 21, 2018
Time: Various – see schedule
Tel: 860-460-5236
makemusicday.org/southeasternct

Tags: ability, age, ambience, annual, Atlantic, celebration, city, concert, Connecticut, country, debut, drive i-95, event, Fête de la Musique, free, front porch, genre, global, level, local, Make Music, Make Music Connecticut, makemusic, makemusicconnecticut, music, musical, musician, New York, outdoor, Paris, parisian, park, perform, performance, public space, region, sidewalk, skill, Solstice, southeastern, Southeastern CT, stage, state, street, summer, tradition, tribute, U.S., world