SeaWorld plans float for Macy's parade

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment will present a float called "A Sea of Surprises" in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year, the company announced Tuesday.

A rendering shows the unit with scenes incorporating ocean waves, sharks, sea turtles, penguins, angel fish and a centerpiece of the parks' iconic Shamu, which will top out at 27 feet high. The float will be 32 feet long.

"It's actually a kind of see-through float. It's got some airiness, with a bridge on top and some space underneath it," said Dennis Wirzman, SeaWorld's vice president of entertainment "It will feel very open and under sea."

Onboard will be an celebrity performer who will be identified soon, Wirzman said. The Macy's format has a parade stop in front of the flagship store in Manhattan. There, a song will be performed for the television audience.

Walking alongside the float will be children and adults in aquatic costumes, includes some folks on stilts who will walk the 2-mile parade route.

It will be the second time SeaWorld has participated in the Macy's parade, and the first since 1986 when it featured a baby Shamu helium balloon in 1986. 

“With its diverse and majestic depictions of sea creatures transformed into larger-than-life form, the A Sea of Surprises float is sure to inspire millions of children and adults to learn more about, appreciate and enjoy all forms of aquatic life,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

SeaWorld worked with the Macy's Parade Studio, who constructs all the floats for the event, on the design of A Sea With Surprises. The units are built in New Jersey and are made to  partially collapse to fit through the Lincoln Tunnel before the parade.

The parade, set to air on NBC at 9 a.m. on Nov. 28, will lead into SeaWorld's 50-year celebration that will be marked next year in theme parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio.

"We hope this festive float represents the fun, inspiration and surprises that guests will find during a visit to SeaWorld,” said Jim Atchison, president and CEO of Orlando-based SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.

The Macy's parade has longstanding relationships with Orlando parks. Walt Disney Co. first participated with a Mickey Mouse balloon in 1934 and has marked many milestones with special entries. Most recently, a "Sailor Mickey" balloon has appeared to celebrate the expansion of theDisney Cruise Line, and Pixar characters such as Buzz Lightyear and Muppets including Kermit the Frog have floated down New Yorks' Fifth Avenue.

For years, Universal Studios has hosted balloons from the event for its Macy's Holiday Parade, which begins in the theme park annually in December.

Grand Rapids Giant Quacker Parade!

Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts 2013

Attention creative types of the Valley: If you happen to have a project brewing that's of a particularly interesting, unusual, or exotic nature that's gonna be finished in the next six weeks or so, then Sahar Afi Mitchell and Stephen Strage want to hear about it. And possibly showcase it at the Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts.

The couple, who star in Strange Family Circus sideshow troupe and have organized the wildly vibrant downtown Phoenix-based procession and cavalcade, recently announced this year's version will happen on Saturday, November 9, and boast the theme "Weird, Wild West." And they're hoping that all sorts of participants and artsy endeavors get involved.

See also: The People of the Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts: 11 Animated GIFs

Mitchell says that includes more than just participants for the parade portion of PAPA, which has previously featured a variety of art cars, modified or decorated bicycles, unique DIY floats, mobile installations, huge papier-mâché creations, and many people in costume.

Since its founding in 2006, the event has always had a festival component that's served as the starting and ending point for the two- to three-mile procession (which traipses around parts of downtown) and featured vendors, art displays, and food trucks, as well as a stage manned by bands, dance troupes, and performance artists. Like with the past few PAPA's, this year's event will be based around the Downtown A.R.T.S. Market along Roosevelt Row, which will be the departure/arrival point and epicenter of everything else.

Mitchell says they're eager to include as wide a variety of art works as possible in both the parade and festival portions of PAPA 2013.

"It gives you a chance to let people know what you've been doing lately. If it's a giant advertisement for whatever art project you're working on or whatever costume you spent a lot of time making for Halloween but don't want to wear just once," she says. "We want the to people to be able to proudly show off the things they've created."

Mitchell says they also hope to potentially offer workshops and other participatory aspects at PAPA this year.

"We're trying to get the community involved with doing more than just the parade and want to open it up to be more of a collaborative event," she says. " So we are already asking members of the community to spearhead their own areas. Like juggler Chase Archer is putting together juggling workshops instead of having performing juggling. Basically, we're sort of reaching out to people to see what they would like to happen."

Anyone interested in potentially getting involved or providing ideas should e-mail her at sahar.mitchell@gmail.com

An animated GIF of a juggler at PAPA 2012

And while PAPA's attendees usually include a great deal of the sort of, um...colorful individuals making up the crowd at an average First Friday, Mitchell says that its an "all-inclusive sort of thing" that's open to anyone and everyone, regardless of their age or social sphere, whether its suburban families, makers, ravers, or geeks.

"We love that it can bring together people from all these different local communities, which might be sort of insular in and of themselves but will get out of their comfort zone and bring their creativity with them," she says.

And Mitchell is hoping that PAPA's "Weird, Wild West" theme this year, which she says could potentially include everything from steampunk to Day of the Dead-style works and costumes, will help spark some of that creativity.

"We figured it would attract everyone, like cowboys, [people] who want dress up like mariachis to steampunks," Mitchell says. "It seemed like in previous years we'd gotten kinda complex with the themes. So we wanted one that is sort of easy to follow and is distinctly Arizona, but could also be something that people could easily throw together a costume for."

While she wants PAPA participants to be inspired by the theme, no one is beholden to it.

"It's always encouraged, but you don't have to have a costume or work that is part of the theme," she says. "We've had some amazing, amazing floats and costumes that weren't theme-related and we loved that. But if people just need a little bit of a boost as to how they could celebrate, the theme's there to help them out."

Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts 2013 will take place on Saturday, November 9, at the Downtown A.R.T.S. Market. Admission is free.

Sun Valley Trailing of the Sheep Festival!

Each fall, a century-and-a-half-old tradition is celebrated in the Sun Valley area as the sheep which spent summer grazing in the surrounding mountains are herded back into the neighboring desert lowlands. The 17th Annual Trailing of the Sheep festival honors this tradition, offering up a robust weekend of fun and cultural activities for everyone from the foodie to the history buff to the curious visitor October 10-13, 2013.

This annual migration ushers in the start of fall with an actual herding of over 2,000 sheep through the streets of downtown Ketchum. This anachronistic parade is just a small part of an amazing weekend which features the Sheepdog Championship Trials, the Fiber Festival, the Folklife Fair (sheep sheering demonstrations, traditional dancing and musical performances, spinning and weaving demonstrations, and story telling competitions to name a few), culinary events, art and photography exhibits, and more all celebrating the colorful history, heritage, and cultures of Idaho and the American west.

Named by MSN Travel as one of the Top 10 Festivals in the World, the Trailing of the Sheep has been a recipient of the Governors Award for Cultural Heritage and has been named as one of the Top 100 Festivals in America.

This rich and rewarding experience will leave an impression which will last a lifetime offering a glimpse into a way of life which is threatened around the world.

For the complete schedule of events and more information on the Trailing of the Sheep Festival visit Visit Sun Valley.

Carnaval Latino Kicks Off Hispanic Heritage Month

New Orleans means parades and festivals for many locals, including those who organize Carnaval Latino. The 2013 celebration begins on Friday (Sept. 13) with the Parade of the Americas and continues on Saturday and Sunday with music, food and dancing at Mardi Gras World, which serves as the venue for the weekend gathering.

“I think of Carnaval Latino as a chance to take a mini-tour of Latin America’s food, music and people — and to do it in a fun New Orleans setting,” said event chairman Romi Gonzalez. “Our culture is so diverse, that it’s sometimes a surprise, even for Hispanics.”

It’s the 14th year for Carnaval Latino, which celebrates the Latin American presence in New Orleans — and the community’s long history. The festival website reminds New Orleanians that the city once was designated “Gateway to the Americas” — a label conceived by civic leaders promoting Latin American trade links in the 1950s.

For those seeking fresh perspectives, Carnaval Latino is a smart way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month. But, of course, it’s also about fun.

The Parade of the Americas is scheduled to roll Friday at 7 p.m. The route was announced in an email from the Krewe of Quetzal, which is organizing the parade.

The floats and marching groups will form at Washington Square Park on Elysian Fields Avenue and proceed down Decatur Street, past Jackson Square. After crossing the French Quarter, the parade will follow Tchoupitoulas Street to Julia Street where it will turn back along Convention Center Boulevard to Harrah’s Casino. There will be a free, post-parade party at Harrah’s Masquerade Lounge.

Carnaval Latino presents music on two stages — one indoor and one outdoor.

Saturday’s music roster features two Mexican groups — Mariachi Jalisco and Los Mismos (who extend the musical legacy of Los Bukis). Other acts include the Cuban-American singer Juan Esteban, and Orquesta Canela, an all-woman brass, percussion and vocal ensemble from Cali, Colombia. Luz Roja also is scheduled to appear.

Mariachi Jalisco will return on Sunday, part of a lineup that includes Rio Grande and the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican merengue singer Elvis Crespo.

“The crowd moves around a lot at Carnaval Latino,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not like Jazz Fest where people camp out at certain stages all day. Instead, people are up and dancing, heading inside to cool off, and wandering from vendor to vendor, tasting the range of food.”

Ten restaurants are represented at the festival. Among the best known are Pollo Campero, which specializes in Central American chicken dishes, and Garce’s, which focuses on Cuban fare. Both of those restaurants are based in Kenner, but vendors come from across the area, dishing up everything from roast corn to Salvadoran pupusas.

“Sometimes it seems that you have to go to Gretna for a good pupusa, but not during Carnaval Latino,” Gonzalez said.

One-day general admission tickets for Carnaval Latino are $15 (advance purchase), $20 at the door. Two-day passes are available in advance only. To purchase, go to the event website at carnavalatinola.com. Children 12 and under are admitted free if accompanied by an adult. Gates open at 2 p.m. both days and the music starts at 3. On Saturday, the fiesta continues until 2 a.m. On Sunday, the party winds down at 10 p.m. Mardi Gras World is located in the Lower Garden District at 1380 Port of New Orleans Place.

World Famous Clydesdales In Arnold Days Parade

The World Famous Clydesdales Will Be At The Arnold Days Parade

Arnold Days Festival

Friday, September 20, 2013 from 5:00 PM-11 PM
Saturday, September 21, 2013 from 10 AM-11 PM
Sunday, September 22, 2013 from Noon-6 PM

Enjoy a weekend of live bands, carnival rides, car show, children's fishing tournament, children's crafts and children's archery and BB Gun Shooting, helicopter rides, concessions, games, crafts, and much much more! The weekend is loaded with activities for people of all ages and will incorporate more youth/adult rides this year. So come celebrate Arnold Days Festival with us!

Additional details will be posted as they become available.

Only service animals allowed – no pets of any kind.

No gate fee.

No personal fireworks.
No alcoholic beverages or glass containers.

Arnold Days Festival Craft/Activity/Product Booth 2013

We will have a variety of Craft/Activity/Product booths from jewelry, sports clothing, handbags and purse, face painters, henna tattoos, health therapists, home and remodeling vendors and more! Something for everyone!

Arnold Days Festival Food/Beverage

Our food selections for Arnold Days will include bratwursts, pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, (all kinds!) pizzas, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, ribbon fries, chili, fresh fruit cups, rib-eye sandwiches, snow-cones, kettle corn, fried rice, crab Rangoon, egg rolls, shish kabobs, Philly cheese steak sandwiches, blooming onions, funnel Cakes, toasted ravioli, and various products from Chick-fil-A. Many beverage choices available including, tea, lemonade, soda, water, and beer. There will definitely be something for everyone!

For Details, click here!

Mermaid Splash Makes Waves At Pirates Fest!

This year, the Haunted Pirate Fest will be expanding its horizons on Saturday, October 26th with the first ever Mermaid Splash. To kick off Mermaid Splash, event goers will participate in a free walking parade starting at 5:00 PM at 129 E. Ocean Avenue, next to the Schoolhouse Children's Museum. Participants will travel to the Boynton Harbor Marina and then back to Ocean Avenue and get an opportunity to encounter live mermaids and much more.

Mermaid Splash takes place at 3 locations : 400 Ocean Ave., 640 Ocean Ave. (Ocean Plaza) and the Boynton Harbor Marina and includes the following activities: 

• Two stages of continuous live music throughout the evening located at 4th & Ocean and 640 Ocean Ave. (Ocean Plaza)
• Local artists selling one of a kind art at 640 Ocean Ave. (Ocean Plaza) and 400 Ocean Ave.
• Incredible food options ranging from a quick bite to a full meal will be available from local restaurants in tents along Ocean Avenue.
• A craft table sponsored by Resource Depot where children can make their own pirate or mermaid.
• The Black Sparrow Pirates ship will be located at the Boynton Harbor Marina with pirate reenactments.
• Live mermaids in a tank and a Mermaid Pageant.

The Mermaid Splash is the latest addition to the CRA's signature Haunted Pirate Fest, a family-friendly maritime themed festival hosted in Downtown Boynton Beach. The Haunted Pirate Fest is free to all and will be located along E. Ocean Avenue between Seacrest Blvd. and NE 1st Street, and held from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th.

The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) encourages everyone attending to participate in the “pirate/mermaid, nostalgic maritime” theme to make this event Boynton Beach’s signature event of the year. Last year over 5,000 people came out to enjoy the Haunted Pirate Fest festivities. This year the CRA hopes the extended hours of Mermaid Splash will benefit the business community of East Boynton Beach.

More about Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency:
The Boynton Beach CRA is committed to serving the community by guiding redevelopment activities and stimulating economic growth within its 1,650 acre district. The CRA focuses on creating a vibrant downtown core, providing affordable housing, and revitalizing neighborhoods.

For more information on the CRA programs, projects and free special events, call (561) 737-3256, or visithttp://www.catchboynton.com

Plan Now to Create New Family Traditions

Thanksgiving family traditions have the potential to bond generations nurturing love and creating lasting memories. The short recess from mandatory tasks and complicated schedules is an opportunity to bridge generational gaps but to maximize its value takes planning.

Traditionally, it is a time to enjoy a meal surrounded by loved ones, and maybe stroll through the woods or along a boardwalk. It is the season to sip hot cider and taste luscious gingerbread. But is that all?

According to Nancy Nelson-Duac, Curator of the Good Stuff for the popular travel planning website, “It is not too early to make a plan and create new family traditions, after all for children anticipation is a big part of the experience.”

She goes on to say, “With a little planning, Thanksgiving is a great opportunity to share quality time together creating family memories. It is all about blending the good stuff.”

Thanksgiving provides the chance to slow down and find time to give thanks for what is good and worthwhile. The ideas featured include traditional iconic locations and simple celebrations as well as quirky options ideal for a family gathering.

From the Hometown Thanksgiving Parade and Celebration in Plymouth, Massachusetts to Philadelphia’s awesome Thanksgiving Day Parade the season promises to be lively. Join a harvest dinner at Plimoth Plantation or talk with colonists preparing a 17th century feast at Jamestown Settlement. Go on a walnut hunt at Woodloch Pines Resort in Pennsylvania or dine with lumberjacks in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Spend the day at Monterey Bay Aquarium and dine by the sea or sample bison meatballs at Terry Bison Ranch near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Wave at Teddy the Turkey during Chicago’s launch of the holiday season or look for larger than life cartoon characters keeping pace at Houston’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Thanksgiving holiday suggestions are part of the “Away for the Holidays” vacation planning folder which includes hundreds of family vacation ideas to inspire parents and family members to getaway together and share the good stuff.


More terrific family vacation ideas may be viewed at theFamilyTravelFiles.com or for the latest family travel news follow The Family Travel Files on Twitter (@FamTravelFiles) straight from the homepage.

About theFamilyTravelFiles.com
Founded in 1998, theFamilyTravelFiles.com researches and posts the good stuff making it easier for parents or grandparents to plan great family vacations. The top-rated online family travel resource offers more than 1000 pages of family vacation ideas and trip planning information. The website specializes in destination and planning information, family travel advice, and family travel deals. The site features a number of vacation idea folders including the newest – Ren Faires, and popular favorites - Secret Places, All Inclusive, Reunions, SnowPlaces, and Away for the Holidays.

Labor Day Parade in Charlotte to honor unions

Labor unions, political candidates, bands, car clubs and even Razzles the Clown are expected to participate Monday morning in the 14th annual Labor Day Parade in uptown Charlotte.

Organized by the Labor Day Parade Committee in conjunction with local labor unions, the 11 a.m. parade will honor the accomplishments of organized labor locally and nationally, planners say.

This year, the event returns to its traditional parade route. Last year, the parade was moved to another part of uptown because it took place during the Democratic National Convention.

The parade is scheduled to begin at Ninth and North Tryon streets, moving down Tryon Street, then east on Third Street. It will end on College Street.

Some of the groups expected to participate include the National Association of Letter Carriers, the Queen City Cruisers Car Club, United Auto Workers, Sky High Steppers, Democratic Women of Mecklenburg County, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the Charlotte Green Party.

“Always remember those who fought, suffered, and died for our worker rights, the 40-hour week, vacations, health care, grievance structure, and the never-ending fight against discrimination, intimidation and harassment,” organizers said in a statement.

“Please never take it for granted.”

September is Festival Parade Month in Italy

As the annual August vacation period for Italians winds down, festival and party time in Italy gears up. September is a beautiful month to tour the country by train. Temperatures are more comfortable and tourist crowds dissipate. Here is a rundown of the most popular festivals in Italy during September. Visit one, or take the train to attend all of them:

Regata Storica, Venice, September 1, 2013

This unique and historical gondola race has been taking place in the waters of Venice for hundreds of years. Before the races begin, there is a magnificent water pageant that features boats and gondolas of the 16th century variety. Gondoliers are dressed in colorful period costumes as the shore-bound crowds cheer them on. The boats on parade carry representatives of prominent Venetian officials in true celebration of the majesty of this venerable city. Train fares from Rome to Venice start at $72, and from Florence to Venice at $63.*

Festa della Rificolona, Florence, September 7, 2013

Also known as the Festival of Lanterns, this is one of the largest and most traditional festivals in Florence. To celebrate the eve of the birth of the Virgin Mary, locals parade on foot with mostly hand-made lanterns in a gorgeous display of lights. There is also a boat parade along the Arno River as well as a large fair that boasts street performers, delicious food and lots of fun.Train fares from Rome to Florence start at $55, from Milan to Florence at $69, and Naples to Florence at $83.*

Juliet’s Birthday, Verona, September 8, 2013

Many ages ago, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet made Verona famous. Now, this year, on September 8th, the celebration continues. Revelers roam the streets of Verona, dressed in romantic costumes, to celebrate the heroine’s birthday. Festivities include parades of the infamous Courts of Montagues and Capulets, dancing, street artists, musicians and lots of food. Train fares from Rome to Verona start at $ 104, and from MIlan to Verona at $31.*

The Festival of San Gennaro, Naples, September 19, 2013

This famous public holiday in Naples is emulated in many Italian communities throughout the US. On this day in Naples, however, the blood of Saint Gennaro, which is solidified and hermetically sealed in a tomb under Il Duomo, will supposedly liquefy signifying a prosperous year for Neapolitans. Scientists have long tried to understand the phenomenon to no serious conclusions. Festivities kick off with a morning mass at Il Duomo led by the Cardinal. Train fares from Rome to Naples start at $41, Florence to Naples at $55, and Milan to Naples at $69.*

Availability for travel on the dates of these festivals will be limited, and the stations will be busy with festival attendees, so it is recommended to book your tickets as far in advance as possible for arrival a day or two prior to the commencement of the events, and with a stay at nearby accommodations.

*Fares are samples, subject to availability and can change based on exchange rate.

About ItaliaRail
ItaliaRail are the experts on Italy train tickets and passes. In cooperation with Trenitalia, Italy's national railway, ItaliaRail provides a direct connection to Trenitalia's reservation system allowing rail travelers access to the most routes at the best prices. Travelers are able to book in multiple currencies and knowledgeable customer service agents are available to answer questions and give advice on train travel throughout Italy. ItaliaRail was launched in 2005 and is a division of International Rail, LLC.