While visiting a small town in Marin County California recently, I was prompted to stop by the Marin County Fair. I was told that the fair was famous for it’s ‘world of magic’, with exhibits and interactive experiences, all for the delight of both young and old. Marin County is a wonderful, magical place located in beautiful Northern California, and I always love visiting here. full story »

To give you an idea of my connection to Carnival and what I would prefer L.A. or any other place to experience, let me begin with the fact that when I began playing mass, “Invaders” steel band did not even yet exist; and when the band full story »

There is nothing that can add excitement to an outdoor event quite like professional fireworks displays. Though most fireworks displays happen at the end of an outdoor event, just knowing that there will be fireworks helps set a festive mood for the event from full story »

Since Aspen is a wintertime playground for so many people, it is only fitting that everyone in Aspen during the month of January participates in Winterskol. This is literally a celebration of winter, cold, and snow – which is a great deal of what makes Aspen, well, Aspen! Winterskol is the ultimate Aspen party. full story »

If you want to have a ball this year then consider throwing an Easter egg hunt. There is no better way to get the whole family together and enjoying the holidays like they should. This type of fun will ensure that all of the kids will have more fun than they have ever had before.

If you want to plan the best possible Easter egg hunt you should consider getting everyone that you know involved. Talk to your family members, especially the ones who have kids, along with all of your friends. Try to arrange it so that you can all get your kids to participate in the Easter egg hunt. This will make it a thousand times more fun. full story »

But will they still be popular at Christmas time?

The nominations for best toy for 2006 are already out and what a mixed bunch they are. That is one of the advantages of having the Toy Fair at the beginning of the year. I think the nominations are all to do with advertising more than anything else. The most heavily advertised have more chance of being nominated. That could be because they are probably better known. full story »

Oktoberfest is one of the world’s great seasonal festivals. It is held every fall in Munich, Bavaria, and in other locations around the world.

The first Oktoberfest started as a series of horse races in honour of the wedding of the Crown Prince of Bavaria in 1810. The horse races became an annual event and were combined with the state agricultural fair the following year. By 1818 the folks were setting up booths and serving food and drink. full story »

For the majority people, Christmas time means shopping for gifts, cards and presents for their friends, family, co-workers and many others. Unfortunately, shopping for Christmas often times creates a lot of stress and burden for people due to the fact that they have to go out, fight the crowds and pay retail prices for the Christmas gifts they buy.

Now, you can get all of your Christmas gifts and supplies including ornaments, trees, cards, crafts and cookies at discount prices online and at the same time, same lots of time! Like the bass fishing Christmas card, they are also available online. full story »

If you’re in the market for a great way to spend a day, check out your local birding festivals. Most states have several fairs and festivals going on during the year, and they are an excellent way to get outside, learn something new, make new friends and have fun.

Birding festivals last from a simple one day event to a full month of outings, activities and lectures. The most common are over a weekend, and can range from small local events at a nearby park, to large-scale events that bring visitors from all over the globe, with events spread throughout an entire region. Depending on the specific event, you will have the opportunity to hear knowledgeable speakers, observe live birds up close, take guided walks, get pointers on better wildlife photography, sharpen your identification skills, share experiences with like-minded folks, and even take more exotic outings, such as birding by boat or on horseback. Often there are artists, vendors, children’s activities, and the like.

Many birding festivals center on a specific event taking place in the local area, migration being a particular favorite. Another popular theme is the celebration of specific species found only locally, or perhaps in a particular abundance, such as warblers, shorebirds,cranes or hawks. Many blend other interests with birding, such as butterflies, flowers or even music. full story »

Ring Christmas Bells! Cell Phone Ringtones for Christmas

This is the season to buy gifts for your family, smell the holly and evergreen, and eat lots of seasonal goodies. If you’re in the mood for Christmas, shouldn’t your cell phone be in the mood too? You can get some great Christmas ringtones for your cell phone, and get yourself and everyone around you in the mood of the season. Best of all, more and more of the new ringtones are moving toward the realistic true tones, and the ones that aren’t true tones are mostly polyphonics. No more tinny “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” for you! full story »