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New Zealand: Cambridge – Maori Neighborhood Gathering
Just like all over the world, people of similar backgrounds form social circles to keep their heritage intact. In Cambridge, NZ, we were invited to this Maori gathering to make our own poi balls. The balls are attached to long strings and swung rhythmically, one in each hand. Today, the women dancers perform the Maori poi. Men used it for strength and coordination and they were also used as a weapon during a battle. It is really hard to spin those balls. 
New Zealand: Rotorua – We Join with the Maori People
Whakarewarewa, NZ, you can watch a Maori cultural performance. Afterwards, audience members can join the talented cast for a photo op.
New Zealand: Rotorua – Maori Cultural Show
On the North Island of NZ, In Rotorua, there are a few communities which re-create living historic village life of the Maori people. This cultural show highlights dancing, singing, and facial expressions.
New Zealand: Whakarewarewa – Maori Cultural Show
After absorbing the historic past of the Maori people in the living village in Whakarewarewa, NZ, you can watch the next generation perform the traditional music and dance.
New Zealand: Gordonton – Sculpture of Famous Tea sage in Gordonton, NZ
It was a surprise to us to learn that there were tea sages. Here’s a sculpture of Lu Yu who performed this work way back in 733-804. Since he lived to 71, unusual back in those days, perhaps the tea is anti-aging?
US: Kennett Square, PA – Jaw-Dropping Fountains Dance with Colors and Music
Located only 12 miles from Wilmington, Delaware, Longwood Gardens attracts visitors from around the globe to its 11,000 varieties of plants spread out across more than 1,000+ acres of gardens, meadows, woodlands and elaborate horticultural displays.
Longwood’s celebration of the Main Fountain Garden, which returned in 2017 after a $90 million, more than two-year revitalization. Renowned for its spectacular Festival of Fountains, the astonishing shows gather attention from far and wide, and are a favorite among visitors of all ages.
Watch in awe when the fountains dance to stirring music and water jets shoot up to 175 feet high. You don’t want to miss Longwood’s Illuminated Fountain Performances where you’ll see an infinite mix of color, sound and music. The fountains perform daily at 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:15 and extended hours for illuminated fountain performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:15.
In addition, the wildly popular Fireworks & Fountains return with new shows: September 29 at 8:15 pm: Solid Gold ’70s – Take a bell-bottomed step back in time to the disco decade featuring iconic music from The Bee Gees, Kool and the Gang, Donna Summer, and more cool cats you’ll really dig. For Tickets: Fireworks & Fountains 2018 
Festival of Fountains also features the Gardens in their summer splendor. The refreshed garden design invites guests to wander and discover new garden gems, including the Grotto, Pumphouse Plaza, and Historic Pumphouse display. Flowering annuals and perennials abound plus a breathtaking Waterlily Display that showcases aquatic plants from all over the world.
Take a hike in the expansive Meadow Garden or enjoy a shady stroll among Longwood’s historic trees. The outdoor Children’s Corner offers younger guests a garden designed just for them, while the Idea Garden is a showcase of plant combinations, innovative vegetable gardens, and unusual plant varieties to inspire guests to try at home.
Longwood Gardens allows a limited number of visitors per day, so purchase Tickets in advance to guarantee admission.
Illuminated Fountain Performances continue through October 27 and Daytime Fountain Performances continue through October 28 during Autumn’s Colors.
Photo Credit: Daniel Traub
Location: Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348
Dates: until – September 30, 2018 (check website for later schedule)
Time: Sun–Wed 9am–6pm, Thurs–Sat 9am–10pm
Tel: 610-388-1000
longwoodgardens.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitwilmingtonde.com
US: Connecticut – June 21- Connecticut is Joining Make Music Day Around the World
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
US: St Simons Island, GA – African American Musical Traditions (even Gullah Geechee), Crafts and Food
For over 40 years the Georgia Sea Islands Festival on St. Simons Island, Georgia has celebrated the African American musical traditions, crafts, and food of the coastal barrier islands.
Each year the highlight of the festival are the musicians – young, old, and some “with an old heart” — who perform traditional spirituals, work songs, and plays handed down by their ancestors. Live entertainment includes The Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters.
There will be cuisine such as smoked mullet, fried fish, sweet potato pone, homemade ice cream, and demonstrations of traditional Gullah Geechee knitting cast net and sweet grass baskets.
The Georgia Sea Islands Festival is FREE and filled with fun and entertainment for the whole family.
Location: Gascoigne Bluff Park, 1000 Arthur J Moore Dr, St Simons Island, GA 31522
Date: Sat, June 2, 2018
Time: 11am – 6pm
Tel: 912- 634-0330
ssiheritagecoalition.org/2018/02/16/georgia-sea-islands-festival-2018
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: goldenisles.com
US: Smithfield, NC – Eat Like Pigs at Smithfield’s Ham and Yam Country Festival
Downtown Smithfield is the place to be on Saturday, May 5th for the much anticipated 34th annual Ham & Yam Festival, which occupies several blocks and attracts thousands of people.
With pig races, inflatables, vendors, entertainment, and ham and yam foods, it’s a fun day for the entire family. Craft and commercial vendors line the streets, food vendors offer a variety of fair foods and menu items featuring country ham and sweet potatoes, and local bands and dance groups perform on the festival’s three stages throughout the day.
The festival features a barbecue cook-off, rubber duck race, 5k, a petting zoo and the always popular “What’s That Yam Thing?” contest; where children are encouraged to play with their food by turning sweet potatoes into works of art. As well as the Sweet Potato Pie Eating Contest where 10 participants will eat like pigs, competing to be the fastest person to eat their sweet potato pie without using their hands.
Get to Smithfield and enjoy the Ham & Yam Festival, packed with delicious homemade ham biscuits, barbeque pork, and sweet potato pie.
Location: Neuse River Amphitheatre, 200 S. Front Street, Smithfield, NC 27577
Date: Sat, May 5, 2018
Time: 9am – 9pm
Tel: 919-934-0887
hamandyam.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: johnstoncountync.org
US: Walterboro, SC – A Fun-Filled Family Weekend in the Lowcountry of South Carolina
The 43rd annual Colleton County Rice Festival is a celebration of the rice planting heritage that helped found Colleton County.
Enjoy a fun-filled week of family activities in the warm Carolina sun that includes a fireworks display, live musical entertainment, arts and crafts, 5k run, food concessions, corn-hole tournament, a BMX bike show with riders performing tricks and acrobatics, a crowd favorite DockDogs® a sport in which dogs compete in distance or height while jumping from a 40 foot dock into water, as well as cultural displays and performances depicting their local heritage.
They also claim to show off the worlds largest pot of rice along with a rice cooking contest. Best of all Admission is FREE.
BMX Bike Shows – 3 shows daily
Rice Festival Parade – Saturday, April 28 @11am
Rice Festival Dog Show– Saturday, April 28 @2pm
Palmetto Dock Dogs –April 27 & 28: Competition all day and finals on Saturday afternoon
Rice Run/Walk– April 28 @ 8am
Chad Gainey Sculpture –Chainsaw Art by Chad Gainey -April 27 & 28: Hampton Street
Biggest Pot of Rice -April 27 & 28
Corn Hole Tournament– Saturday, April 28 @4pm
Live Entertainment – throughout the 2 days
Fireworks – Saturday, April 28, 2017 8:45pm: Rice Festival finale
Location: Downtown Walterboro, Walterboro, SC 29488
Dates: Fri, Apr 27 – Sat, Apr 28, 2018
Times: Fri 10am -10pm, Sat 10-7pm
Tel: 843.549.1079
ricefestival.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: walterborosc.org