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US: Lumberton, NC – Fast Races, Hot Chili, and Fun at the Rumba on the Lumber Festival
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
US: Cape Neddick, ME – Whoooo’s There?: Owl Prowl
Bring the whole flock out to the Center for Wildlife’s Owl Prowl; a fun, nature adventurous event and learn a bit about these amazing and mysterious birds of the night.
Meet under the education pavilion to learn about native owl species, their ecology, adaptations, hunting techniques, their amazing powers of sight and hearing, learn how to call owls and meet local representatives up close.
Following the presentation, take a short walk into the surrounding habitat to call for owls and listen for whooo might call back.
Owl prowlers of all ages are welcome, but patience and a quiet atmosphere are crucial for owl prowling. There is a $7 suggested donation per person for this event, and reservations are required. Take the Owl Prowl, it’s sure to be a hoot! 
Location: Center for Wildlife, 385 Mountain Rd., Cape Neddick, ME 03902
Date: Fridays, Feb 24, 2017 (also: Mar, 31, Apr, 28, 2017)
Time: 4 -5:30pm
Tel: 207-361-1400
thecenterforwildlife.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions:yorkme.org portsmouthchamber.org
US: Fellsmere, FL: Hop on over to Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival Jan. 19 – 22
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
US: Newburyport, MA – Xmas Tree Bonfire Party with Music, S’mores & Flashlight Treasure Hunt
This is no ordinary Bonfire, it’s a 3-story community bonfire where Greater Newburyport’s residents burn their well-loved Christmas trees, and boy can those babies burn and it gets hot, real hot! 
In honor of the original purchase of Newbury, MA in 1701, It’s the 6th Annual Christmas Tree Burn Fundraiser/ Old Newbury Bonfire to benefit the Newbury Volunteer Fire Department. Why not support this community and enjoy the local entertainment with music, games, food and fun at an event that is becoming a Greater Newburyport Winter tradition.
In addition to the bonfire, there will be tours of the 17th century stone and brick manor house at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, and you can participate in a flashlight treasure hunt and other children’s activities. Enjoy great food and drinks from local businesses, roast marshmallows or make S’mores. At 5 PM there’s an auction to be one of the two official bonfire lighters. Other prizes include a ride to school on a fire truck, cords of wood, local art and other surprise. Admission FREE, food and drinks available for purchase. Parking: $5 at Spencer Peirce Little Farm.
Location: Spencer Pierce Little Farm – 5 Little’s Lane, Newbury, MA 01951
Date: Sat, Jan 14, 2017
Time: 3 pm – 9 pm w/ Bonfire Auction at 5 pm, lighting to follow – See more at:
newburyport.com/old-newbury-bonfire/
Tel: 978-462-2282, 978-462-2634
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: newburyportchamber.org
newburyport.com
Canada – Ontario Weekend Getaway: Low Fat Donuts, Fair Trade Coffee, Chainsaws and Friendly Alpacas
Why not get away with your family to Almonte, ON, just west of Ottawa . The very first reason is that Ed Atwell of Healthy Food Technologies (hft) has figured out how to make low-fat donuts that are scrumptious. He “tricks” the donuts by frying them (in zero trans fat oil) for 1/2 the time and then baking them at the same temperature. Watch the video to see him explain the process he invented.
Now take a walk around the corner and pick up your to-go-with coffee at fair trade high quality Equator Coffee Roasters. They roast the beans right there, having bought them from small-scale farming communities and paid the farmers well. Do not miss the Oh-so-Canadian maple-flavored latte. It’s worth driving there just for that! Kids can enjoy the hot chocolate.
Next you can pick up snacks for the car or yummies to take home at Dandelion Foods co-op before a 45 min. drive to Wheelers Pancake House and Maple Sugar Camp. D
andelion Foods co-op sells whole, local and organic foods and some for specialty diets. Here you can buy the famous Hummingbird chocolate bars favored by Prime Minister Trudeau. Note the PB & Joy (with peanut butter) and the spicy Mayan. Please bring back the Empire Cheese caramelized onion cheddar cheese for me.
For lunch and fun, at Wheelers Pancake House you can visit the Maple Museum and the Chainsaw & Logging museum and the kids can have fun in the playground. Handy men and women will be mesmerized by Mark Wheeler’s dad Vernon’s collection of hundreds of chainsaws. Everyone will enjoy his “largest collection of pure maple syrup artifacts” which help explain the history of the maple sugar industry. From First Nations wooden spigots to the plastic lines of today, syrup pour-ers, molds, pails, and everything else related to this sweet topic, it’s all here at this 38-year family business. Don’t forget to leave room for the freshly made pancakes and delicious syrup right from their trees.
For the grand finale, we visited Keith and Elizabeth Adam’s alpacas and llamas at their Serendipity Farm. For retirement they decided to raise alpacas for the fun of it. The couple exudes their enjoyment of spending their golden years with these elegant, fluffy friends. They’ll chatter about the little quirks of each of the animals as well as the work associated with raising them.
Alpacas produce fiber that is as fine as cashmere, soft, silky and much warmer than sheep’s wool, while also wicking moisture away from the body.
In their little shop you can buy scarves, gloves, purses, as well as fiber felted sheets, alpaca and fiber rovings and handspun yarn.
Leave some time too for the local shops which wind their way along the downtown streets. Yes there’s plenty to do in Lanark County for a low-key interesting getaway weekend. We are not sure how this area attracted so many hippie/free trade/entrepreneurial types who seem to care for the planet. You can feel virtuous spending time and money in this town.
Equator Coffee Roasters, 451-A Ottawa St, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0, Tel: 613-256-5960
www.equator.ca
Dandelion Foods, 541 Ottawa St, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0, Tel: 1-613-256-4545
www.dandelionfoods.ca
Healthy Food Technologies, 25 Industrial Rd., Almonte ON Tel: 613-256-9900
(HFT) https://www.facebook.com/HFTinc
Wheelers Pancake House and Maple Sugar Camp, 1001 Highland Line, McDonalds Corners(Lanark Highlands), ON K0G 1M0 Tel: 613-278-2090
www.wheelersmaple.com
Serendipity Farm Alpacas & Llamas, 929 South Lavant Rd, Lanark, ON K0G1K0 Tel: 613-259-3304 or 613-222-6303
www.serendipityalpacas.ca
US: Annapolis, MD – Binge on Chocoholic Sushi with Chocolate Martinis at Annapolis Festival
Under the warm glow of lights you’ll be served a FREE toasty cup of hot chocolate while you enjoy listening to music. Indulge in some family-fun, there is something for everyone including shopping, art, drinks, food, prizes, and fun for kids of all ages and did I mention chocolate.
Take a chocolate tour along West Street with a dozens of vendors selling various chocolate specialties , including chocolate caramels, bars, truffles, fudge, cookies, rice crispies, fondue, chocolate fountain, candy apples, chocolate sushi, and even chocolate martinis. Chocoholics, get ready to binge!
Entertainment includes: Moon Bounce, Balloon Sculptures, Face Painting, Meet Santa, McGruff the crime fighting dog, and Sparky the fire department dog, Music performances, Comedy, Ugly Sweater Contest, holiday shopping, the lighting of the West Street Light Canopy. You can roast marshmallows and make s’mores at the fire pit in the middle of West Street sponsored by the Annapolis Fire Department.
Chocolate, holiday vendors, music, family friendly entertainment and holiday light canopy. All this makes for a great street party in Annapolis. Support the local arts and and We Care and Friends . Suggested $5 donation to the Annapolis Arts District-Kids are free with a paid parent donation.
Location: West St and Calvert St (Intersection) ,Annapolis, MD 21401
Date: Sun, Dec 4th, 2016
Time: noon-5pm
Tel: 410-858-5884
annapolischocolatefestival.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitannapolis.org
US: Dunn, NC – Watch a Working Cotton Gin
November is peak season for cotton farmers and downtown Dunn was once known as the largest wagon cotton yard in the country. During the festival, the local cotton gin, that until recent years was located in downtown, offers free tours through the gin so that everyone can see cotton production unfolding before them. Shuttles are offered from the festival site to the gin and back every half hour. 
The Festival has two stages for entertainment: featured bands take the Main Stage throughout the day and festival goers also enjoy dancing and karaoke on the second stage. Highlights also include food and craft vendors, Kiddie Land, Petting Zoo and Antique Tractor Show . The event also coincides each year with the Dunn Shriner’s Car Show, where over 100 antique and custom cars compete for best in show.
Location: Downtown Dunn , NC 28334
Date: Sat Nov 5, 2016
Time: 10 – 4 pm
Tel: 910-892-3282
nccottonfestival.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions:
dunntourism.org
US: Bridgeville, DE – Pumpkin Launchings Test Pumpkin Physics
Pumpkins have many uses…as jack-o’-lanterns , for baking muffins or pies and believe it or not as a projectile at the signature pumpkin-launching event held each year since 1986. The World Championship Punkin Chunkin is where “backyard engineers” test the limits of pumpkin physics, fueling innovative engineering and science-based ideas all through a three-day festival in Bridgeville, drawing thousands of visitors to the area and is aired on the Discovery Channel every Thanksiving. 
Teams compete in divisions such as air cannon, centrifugal, catapult, human power, trebuchet, theatrical and torsion. The competition is divided into three classes: Adult (18 and older), Youth (11 to 17) and Youth (under age 10).
Each category shoots 1 of their 3 competition shots each day. The firing of machines starts at 8am each day and continues until dusk. There will be a Cookin’ contest, a Punkin Chunkin Pageant, an Outlaw Punkin Chunkin Chili Cookin Competition and awards ceremony, also local bands will provide live music on stage throughout the 3 days of the festivities.
Location: The Woodlands, 18598 Rd 591, Bridgeville, DE 19933
Date: Nov 4- 6, 2016
Time: Gates open at 7am until dusk
punkinchunkin.com
US: Columbia, MD – Stop for a Broadway Show in Columbia
Wow. Instead of a night with the boob tube while you travel, why not get energized by a live musical production. Located in the heart of Columbia, Toby’s Dinner Theatre offers award-winning Broadway and original musicals with a tasty buffet-style dinner.
The featured production is Sister Act: A woman hiding in a convent helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she rediscovers her own. Sister Act is the feel-amazing musical comedy based on the smash hit 1992 film that has audiences jumping to their feet. Featuring original music by TONY and 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Newsies, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of Horrors), this uplifting musical was nominated for 5 TONY Awards including Best Musical. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, Sister Act is a reason to REJOICE! 
The quality of the performance would make New York proud. The dinner buffet offers: turkey, ham, baked fish, chicken, roast beef, onion/pepper mashies, spinach phunque, fresh salad bar and “Make-your-own” ice cream Sundae bar for dessert. Keep an eye on your servers, for they become the performers.
Location: Toby’s Dinner Theatre,5900 Symphony Woods Rd, Columbia, MD 21044
Dates: running until Nov 13, 2016 (Tues – Sun)
Hours: Tues – Sat Evening – Doors open 6pm, Buffet Served 6:15-7:30, show starts 8pm, Sunday Evening – Doors open 5pm, Buffet Served 5:15-6:30, show starts 7pm
Wed & Sun Matinee Brunch Doors open 10:30am, Buffet 10:30-11:50, Matinee 12:30
Tel: 1-800-888-6297
tobysdinnertheatre.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visithowardcounty.com
US: New Smyrna Beach, FL – Calling All Harmonica Lovers…if You Love Great Blues Harp…Don’t Miss This Show!
Looking for something different? If you love blues harp, 
this show is for definitely for you. Harmonica players from throughout the state will battle at the 11th Annual Florida Harmonica Championships. Every October the Florida Harmonica Championships combines performances from more than 20 great harp players with internationally known guest stars. Each year, music lovers from all over the country travel to beautiful New Smyrna Beach to witness what has become a signature Florida music happening.
This combination of raw new talent, a show oriented format, great backing band and internationally renowned guest stars has made the Florida Harmonica Championships and New Smyrna a music destination for fans from Florida, the US and the world. Anyone can compete.
Other activities include a master class, a harmonica repair 
clinic and a “harmonica orchestra” performance open to all spectators with a harmonica.
Location: Beachside Tavern, 690 E. 3rd. Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
Date: Sun Oct 16, 2016
Time: Noon – 9PM
Tel: 386-314-5718
floridaharmonicachampionships.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: nsbfla.com