
Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing heavy or too thought-provoking.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
Today’s question is:
Are there any cultural events that your State/Country is known for?

The reason I ask is that yesterday was the start of The Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaii. This popular hula competition has been entertaining locals and visitors from all over the world for the last 40 years. The week-long festival includes art exhibits, craft fairs, demonstrations, performances, a parade that emphasizes the cultures of Hawaii, and a three-day hula competition that has received worldwide recognition for its historic and cultural significance.












27 Comments on “Aloha Friday - Week 26”
4:55 am
nah, cowboys don’t have no culture!
But they are sure trying to find some.
Renee’s last blog post..How does she do it all?
6:05 am
Hey, this is California, an extremely diverse state with TONS of different cultural events and celebrations.
This past Monday was Cesar Chavez Day, for instance.
Here in the Lodi area, we have many different events throughout the year, including Oktoberfests, the Obon Festival, the Greek and Jewish food festivals, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, etc. You can ALWAYS find a cultural celebration somewhere within driving distance if you just look for one.
JHS’s last blog post..Life in Lodi: The Pickle Makes Small Town News
10:20 am
I’m not sure about culture… “Yah, you betcha”…
but Minnesota is the State of Hockey…. go WILD!
Jessica’s last blog post..4:44 a.m.
11:22 am
I have to agree with JHS being that California has many different cultures and celebrations.
My valley in particular has the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival every year.
http://www.tvbwf.com
I’ve only been twice both times as a volunteer. We enjoy watching the balloons which are visible from the entire valley. I do love cultural events and county fairs. The San Diego County Fair and the Orange County Fair are two of my favorites. I haven’t been to the LA county Fair but NY says it’s huge. My kids have shown their pigs at the Riverside County Fair & Date Festival in Indio where they even have camel races.
When we lived in Florida, the Winter Equestrian Festival was just down the street from our home. This festival is the largest horse show in the world and brings in celebrities from all walks of life. Horse season also increases the population of the village. We had several neighbors who only resided in their Wellington home during horse season.
Cathi’s last blog post..Aloha Friday
11:39 am
We have food festivals (garlic, wine, tomato). We have Indians who pay a tribute of a turkey to the president each year and who have a POW-WOW event or two each year. And we have lots of historical events that go on here (reenactments from Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and several state parks set up around the history of the glorious Commonwealth of Virginia).
12:01 pm
We have the Apple Blossom Festival and lots of seafood festivals. Also winter events in the region.
witchypoo’s last blog post..Hubris, it Bites Your Hind End
1:18 pm
We have Artsfest, which is where officials block a historic area full of art galleries and people can walk down the street and not visit the gallery, but see all sorts of outdoor artists’ work as well. I’ve never been, but I hear it’s quite good.
We have Firefall for 4th of July (which has gotten HUGE), a Watercolor USA exhibit at the art muesum, Music festival in Branson, and an Ozark Auto show come to mind.
1:36 pm
I live in Houston Texas and I think a BIG cultural event for us is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!!! It brings people into Houston from all over! It’s GREAT fun if you’ve never been!
http://www.HLSR.com
Jeannie’s last blog post..Who needs a face lift?
1:37 pm
HORSES, HORSES, HORSES!!!
Kentucky Horse Park
Keenland Race Track
The Kentucky Derby
Home of the 2010 World Equestrian Games
and
part of the Highway 127 Yard Sale - World’s longest yard sale (630 miles)
Kristen’s last blog post..Te-he
1:53 pm
[...] sure to check out An Island Life for other fun Aloha Friday questions and to play [...]
1:59 pm
[...] it’s Friday! My fun question for you today is this: Has your child - or do you remember your own from childhood - ever come up [...]
2:09 pm
That’s the greatest anti-spam word ever - “coffee”!!
Anyway, here in Central Oregon, the biggest things going on are the Sisters Rodeo, the Sister Quilt Show (seriously it draws thousands and thousands), and…way back about a hundred years there was a large potato festival. This area was known for growing tons of potatoes, but not anymore. I think there’s only one major potato farmer left and he’s my neighbor. Great question, Kailani!
Jennifer in OR’s last blog post..Five Year Old’s Solution to Hell
2:23 pm
The ones that come to mind offhand in West Michigan are the Tulip Festival in Holland, and the downtown arts Festival in Grand Rapids. Up north, there’s also the Cherry Festival in Traverse City, and Detroit has the Internation Jazz Festival every year as well. Oh and there’s the Ann Arbor Film Festival too.
Deb - Mom of 3 Girls’s last blog post..Aloha Friday #26
3:00 pm
cultural?
Well… last year we had the Waluulapum Warriers Pow WOW (which I blogged about)
Many of the native americans from all over the Northwest and Alaska gathered to dance and pow wow with their elaborate ceremonial dress and drums.
I loved it. (native foods, jewerly, crafts, etc.)
3:00 pm
Dogwood Festival, we have eight Native American tribal nations, Sea food Festivals
I know there is other things, most isn’t widely known about us
natasha’s last blog post..1 Million resuable bag give a way
3:01 pm
Hmmm there are all kinds of festivals here, strawberry, lavendar, tulip and blackberry.
Poulsbo the town I live next to was founded by Norwegians and so there is a viking fest, but nothing as exciting as the Merrie Monarch.
Dee’s last blog post..Aloha Friday
3:13 pm
Southern California is a large producer of dates (the eating kind, of course)… especially in this area. There is an International Date Festival here, but I’ve never gone… isn’t that terrible?
3:42 pm
i’m from colorado and we have a lot of different skiing, snowboarding, and other snow related competitions. we also host the national western stock show every january.
diana/sunshine’s last blog post..a costly mistake
3:50 pm
Well, the citizens of George, WA bakes a humongous cherry pie every year to commemorate President’s Day. That’s probably not cultural, though.
Not the Queen’s last blog post..The Trial of the Century
4:24 pm
In May, we celebrate the Tulip Festavil, I grew up in a large Dutch population. In high school I dressed up in a Dutch costume and wore wooden shoes and danced traditional Dutch dances.
5:26 pm
Here in Arizona, I haven’t gone to see them yet, I really would like to, are the Native American dancers performing from many of the Tribal nations, their different dances.
Christine’s last blog post..Aloha Friday
8:22 pm
Canada… known for… snow and Moose… and saying “eh” and being nice?
Tara R’s last blog post..Sunshine Inside
8:53 pm
[...] If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at An Island Life. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends! [...]
8:58 pm
I’m just learning what Queensland’s cultural events are…I’ve been here a year. My in-laws took me to last years EKKA…Australia’s version of what I know as a State Fair. It was great fun!
Deborah’s last blog post..Aloha Friday
1:36 am
In Wisconsin we have a lot of beer and music and/or fishing festivals, and fairs, LOL! Summer is so short here, it’s one party after another. The biggest music festival is Summerfest in Milwaukee.
Kila’s last blog post..Thursday…
2:38 am
I’m not sure you’d call it “cultural”, but our state is known to be the stomping ground for Billy the Kid. *lol*
Sher :)’s last blog post..March Book Giveaway ~ I Love You So?..
12:12 am
Missouri is known for being the Show Me State!
(I'll take good care of it.)