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New Zealand: Cambridge – All Ages Gather to Sing in New Zealand
We were lucky enough to be invited to a Maori cultural group to mingle with women and children. We learned the craft of making instruments. And then we enjoyed singing along (with song sheets) with everyone from kids to their grandparents. All ages joined together to sing – and the kids knew all the words! People are wonderfully inviting all over the world.
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. 
US: Seattle, WA – Seattle’s Pike’s Place Public Market
Not many public markets have quite the view as Seattle’s. It’s a warren of corridors, be prepared to get lost and have lots of yummy adventures amongst the fishmongers, produce stalls, craft stands and specialty food shops. This 108-year-old farmers’ market has become a Seattle tourist attraction which draws in more than 10 million visitors annually.
US: Newburyport, MA – Scarecrows Decorate Lampposts in Downtown Newburyport
One of the most fun parts of the Newburyport Fall Harvest Festival is the Annual Scarecrow Contest. This year will be the 17th annual scarecrow contest and the goal of this creative competition is to create a gallery of fun, inventive scarecrows throughout Market Square.
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Schedule:
- Kids’ Entertainment – Market Square | Sunday & Monday from 10:30-11:30 am
- Craft Show | Sunday & Monday 10 am-5pm
- Food Vendors | Sunday & Monday 10 am-5pm
- Scarecrow Contest | Sunday 12pm – Monday 2pm
- Live Music in Market Square | 1pm – 4pm
Location: Downtown Newburyport, Market Square, Newburyport, MA 01950
Date: Sun & Mon, Oct 7 & 8
Time: 10am – 5pm
Tel: 978-572-1494
facebook.com/events/2003581069655826
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: newburyportchamber.org
US: Fredericksburg, VA – Stogies, Whiskey, Craft Brews Galore at The Cigar, Bourbon and Brew Festival
If you are an aficionado of cigars, bourbon and local craft beer you are going to want to head to Fredericksburg Fairgrounds on August 18th for an amazing day at the Cigar, Bourbon and Brew Festival.
The festival features 20 craft beers from local Fredericksburg Breweries, bourbons from all across the country and some homegrown, produced in Virginia, and a select number of Virginia Wineries and Cideries, and a notable selection of cigars.
Known as Fredericksburg’s premier cigar event, this festival features an impressive selection of cigar brands including: Drew Estate, Perdomo, Fartello, Romeo Y Julieta, Montecristo, Miami Cigars and Esteban Carreras.
If you have a passion for bourbon, you will appreciate the extraordinary representation of spirits being showcased from all across the country. Over 30 different samples from 20 different distilleries including: Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Belmont Farm Distillery, Virginia Sweetwater Distillery, KO Distilling, Catoctin Creek, Copper Fox Distillery, Filibuster Distillery, Maker’s Mark, Basil Hayden, River Hill Distillery, Reservoir Distillery, A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Booker’s, Bulleit Bourbon, Jefferson’s, Baker’s and Knob Creek.
Craft brewers from the around the Fredericksburg area will be on hand with 20 craft beers for sampling of some of their award winning beers. For those of you who prefer a glass of wine or hard cider there will be a select number of Virginia Wineries and Cideries sampling their award winning beverages as well.
Whether it’s stogies, whiskey, craft brews, wine or hard cider, there’s something for everyone including food vendors serving up some great festival style foods and craft expos as well as live music from Redneck Pool Party and Kingbolts on the main stage. This event supports Community Outreach Inc. For Tickets: community-outreach-14908279529
Location: Fredericksburg Fairgrounds, 2400 Airport Ave, Fredericksburg VA 22401
Date: Sat, Aug 18, 2018
Time: 4pm – 9pm
Tel: 540-373-1294
cigarbourbonbeer.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitfred.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: Lumberton, NC – Chili, Music & Exercise: Two Days of Fun in Lumberton
Rumba on the Lumber 2018, a festival of food, movement, music and the arts, consisting of two days of events in historic downtown Lumberton with over 4000 people in attendance.
Many wonderful annual events will once again be front and center, including: The Rumba on the Lumber Festival with live music, vendors, Rumba Cross fit Games Exhibition, and the Lumbee River EMC Free Kidzone, 5K, 10K, fun run/walk, 100K ride, 20-Mile adventure ride, Chili Cookoff and a bicycle rodeo.
Many festival-goers agree, it’s all about the chili. More than two dozen teams bring their most coveted recipes. Teams prepare a minimum of 10 gallons of chili and dole out free samples of their creations. The teams will be competing for prizes including the best tasting, Spiciest Chili, Strangest ingredient and Best chili cooking outfits. Don’t miss the fun!
Saturday- Downtown Plaza/ 3rd Street:
US: Jekyll Island, GA – Treasure Hunt on Jekyll Island
Every winter, throughout the months of January and February, the Jekyll Island Authority hosts a beach treasure hunt known as Island Treasures.
The origin of the event dates back to the early 1900s, when fishermen used glass floats as markers on their nets. Occasionally, the floats would break loose and wash ashore for lucky beachcombers to find and keep. Collecting the rare, highly sought-after glass floats became a hobby in the 1950s.
On Jekyll Island, the tradition continues with the annual Island Treasures event. Artists from across the country are selected to create one-of-a-kind glass floats. Colorful hand-crafted glass floats or globes, similar to the ones once used on fishing nets, are created by glass artisans from across the country. New for this year, treasure hunters will now hunt for clear, plastic globes that can be exchanged for a handmade glass float at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center.
Island Treasures are hidden daily, always in plain view and public spaces. The treasures will never be placed in the dunes, marshes, animal habitats or private property. And, each weekend, double the number of globes hidden around the island.
Inside each plastic globe, lucky treasure hunters will find a card with instructions to take the globe to the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center. Each card will have a number that corresponds to a real, handcrafted Island Treasure. Hunters will be limited to one glass float per household per year, increasing everyone’s chance to find a glass float. Hunters will also receive a certificate of authenticity and artist biography for their one-of-a-kind float. The Guest Information Center will be open daily, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
This Island Treasures event is FREE and lots of fun for all ages and as a bonus you get to explore this beautiful island.
Location: Jekyll Island Guest Information Center, 901 Downing Musgrove Causeway
Jekyll Island, GA 31527
Date: until Feb 28, 2018
Time: Open daily, 9 -6pm
Tel: 912- 635-3636 or 1-877-4-Jekyll
jekyllisland.com/signatureevents/island-treasures
For Regional accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: jekyllisland.com, goldenisles.com
US: Dover, DE – Where Kids Can Shop For Craftsy Xmas Gifts
Join the The Biggs Museum of American Art to kick-off the holiday season with their 2nd annual Happy Holidays Dover celebration. This event, which takes place from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., will coincide with the Downtown Dover holiday celebration and it will end with the start of the Downtown Dover holiday parade.
This all day family fun event offers a Special “Kids Only” Holiday Shop, where children ages 4-12 can purchase gifts (ranging from $1-$10) for their friends and family and decorate their own gift bags/gift cards. Items include handmade ornaments, jewelry, key chains and bookmarks.
Highlights will include: crafts, live artist/craftsmen demonstrations, an expanded gift shop of handmade holiday items, food trucks, performances from children’s choirs, and a special display of miniature holiday themed dollhouses.
Tentative Schedule of Events: TBD – 9:30 -10 AM
Christ Church Dover Children’s Choir – 10-10:30 AM
Smyrna High School Select Group Choir – 10:45-11:15 AM
Smyrna High School Jazz Band – 11:30-12 PM
En Pointe Studio, selections from “The Nutcracker” -12:15-12:45 PM
Smyrna Church of Christ and Christian School Choir – 1-1:30 PM
Campus Community School First State Club “Mummer’s Play”- 1:50-2:15
Campus Community School Choir – 2:30 PM – 3 PM
TBD – 3:15-3:45
TBD – 4-4:30 PM
Free Admission
Location: Biggs Museum of American Art, 406 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901
Date: Sat, Dec 2nd, 2017
Time: 9 – 5 pm
Tel: 302-674-2111
biggsmuseum.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants, & Attractions: visitwilmingtonde.com
US: Dunn, NC – Celebrating Cotton and Importantly, the Cotton Farmers
The 19th annual North Carolina Cotton Festival takes place in Downtown Dunn on November 4, 2017. This family-fun event draws more than 10,000 people each year and is a celebration of the farmer and in particular the cotton farmer and their contributions as well as the cotton farming and harvesting heritage that plays an important role in the Dunn area.
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, allowing you to see cotton production up close and personal. Shuttles are offered from the festival site to the gin every half hour.
The event covers over 16 city blocks and offers entertainment on 2 stage featuring a variety of music, carnival rides and games, a classic car show -where over 100 antique and custom cars compete for best in show, petting zoo, Kiddie Land, Antique Tractor Show, over 125 vendors showcasing commodities like cotton, needle work, fabric, food and crafts.
FREE admission, lots of downtown shopping at some interesting shops, freebies and family fun for all ages.
Location: Downtown Dunn
Date: November 4, 2017
Time:10am – 4pm
Tel: 910-892-3282
nccottonfestival.com
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: dunntourism.org