March
2 - 4,
2006 Golden Shears Sheep Festival - Masterton, New Zealand
The World's premier Shearing and Wool handling Championships takes place in New Zealand's Wairarapa district.
From the dreams and inspirations of a few enthusiastic young farmers many years ago, the greatest shearing competition was born.
Starting in 1961, through years of fierce, uncompromising annual competitions, the Golden Shears name has become an icon of the shearing and wool handling industry.
The Golden Shears logo has become an internationally recognised trade-mark that symbolises both quality and excellence in the skillful art of shearing and wool handling.
The three day event shall encompass novice, junior, intermediate, senior and open shearing competitions along with junior, senior and open wool handling events, also the pairs & singles wool pressing competitions and the triathlon award.
March
3 - 5,
2006 Fiery Foods Festival - Albuquerque, NM
The country's largest gathering of hot and spicy foods occurs each March in Albuquerque, NM at the annual National Fiery Foods and Barbeque Show. Prepare to heat things up with all kinds of hot food from hot sauces and salsas to soups, snacks, candies and ketchup. Over 150 exhibitors bring their best to numb your tastebuds.
March
4,
2006 Bal Rat Mort (Dead Rat's Ball) - Belgium
The Bal du Rat Mort masked ball, held in the Wellington Hippodroom, offers the opportunity to cast inhibitions to the winds and dress up in an outrageous carnival outfit. Though the tame can opt for evening dress, there's incentive to dress up, with a prize for the best dressed. The theme for 2006 is "The Incas".
The Dead Rat Ball has been going strong for over a century. The fund-raising event was dreamed up by the royal society Cercle Coecilia, whose members, including artist James Ensor, had been inspired by Parisian cabaret during a trip to Montmartre in 1896.
Maslenitsa (Pancake week) is the only purely Russian Holiday that dates back to the pagan times. For seven days Moscow jingles with bells, sings with garmoshkas and glares with gaily-painted dresses. The people are letting the long-annoying winter out and the long-awaited spring in.
The counters in the Maslenitsa town are groaning with various dainties. There are the paunchy samovars with mellow tea, bunches of sweet-scented barankas, nuts and honey pies with different signs: "Whom I love - to those I give", "A present of the sweet-hart is the dearest". Salted foods, various fish, caviar - choose and eat anything however much you like!
But the essential elements, of course, are pancakes (blini). Pankacke is a symbol of sun. It is as round, gold and warm as the sun. Pancakes are served hot with either butter, or sour cream, or caviar, or mushrooms, or sturgeon - to any exquisite taste.
Where else can you take a horse-drawn sleigh ride that will take your breath away? Or take a jaunty slip down an enormous ice slope? Or go round on a giant carousel? The Great Maslenitsa will reel you round in a dancing fairy-circle and your feet won't be able to keep still to the sprightly chastooshkas (gaily songs) and byword. Clowns and skomorokhs (histrions) will make you laugh to tears. The show goes on and on in the balagans (Punch-and-Judy shows) and theatres. And those who will not want to be simply a spectator can take part in the masquerade: to dress up beyond recognition or to muffle in a long fur coat and to drink a glass of vodka with a bear.
On the last day of the Great Maslenitsa the feasting and drinking ends up by burning down the scarecrow symbolizing winter thus saying goodbye to winter till the next year.
For the Russians Maslenitsa is like a carnival for the Italians, especially because the initial sense of festivals is the same: the Italian word "carnival" (carne-vale) means "farewell the beef!", and Maslenitsa that precedes the Great Lent, in old time was called "Myasopust" because it was forbidden to eat meat during this week.
The last day of Maslenitsa is called the Forgiveness Day. Everybody ask one another for forgiveness in order to redeem themselves from their sins before the Great Lent. They bow to one another and say, "God will forgive you". Maslenitsa is over and so is the winter giving way to the spring.
Everybody knows what the Russian Soul is! This is prowess, dare-devilry, and, of course, the famous Russian hospitality. Everybody is welcome to Moscow to see the Russian winter off!
March
9 - 11,
2006 Idaho Aviation Festival - Boise, ID
More than 500 aviation enthusiasts are expected to gather in Boise for the 13th annual Idaho Aviation Festival, sponsored by the Idaho Transportation Department Division of Aeronautics. The Idaho Aviation Festival attracts aircraft owners, pilots, mechanics and aviation business leaders, aviation enthusiasts and the general public. The three-day event includes workshops for teachers and children, seminars, IA renewal and 135 training, a flying companion seminar, AvSwap (a swap meet), a trade show, keynote speakers, and an aviation career forum for students. Some of the speakers include Jared Aicher with The Eagle Flight, who will be attempting a solo flight around the world beginning in May 2005 with hopes of becoming the youngest solo pilot to circumnavigate the globe, and Alan Klapmeier, co-founder and CEO of Cirrus Design. Please visit the website for more information or to register for the Festival.
March
13,
2006 Moomba Waterfest - Melbourne, Australia
Moomba was, and still is the largest free community festival held in Australia. It began in 1954 and Melburnian’s will celebrate Moomba’s 50th birthday in March 2005. The festival was created by Melbourne City Council to inject new life into the city and to provide Melburnian’s with an opportunity to celebrate its vitality. The festival was seen at the time as a progressive and innovative idea to attract tourists and increase visitation into the heart of Melbourne.
The origins of the word ‘Moomba’ came from an Aboriginal word meaning 'Lets get together and have fun'. Along with a new name the festival also needed a symbol, something the public could identify with, so in 1955 a competition was held to find a symbol representing the Moomba Festival. The winning symbol depicted a smiling clown’s face sitting above 2 Boomerangs and was designed by Ronald Kirk. Moomba was born and thousands of people came into the city to experience technicolor fireworks that lit up the sky, the city's gardens came alive with music and entertainment, water skiers on the Yarra River, buskers, clowns, face painters, stilt walkers, not to mention the Grand Parade. These events traditionally made up Moomba and are still a strong vision of the festival today.
The traditional Moomba festival, has been re-invented and launched as Melbourne Moomba Waterfest in 2003 to bring the festival of old into the 21st century. The vision is to create a fresh and innovative community event of international significance that has intrinsic connections with Melbourne’s waterways. The inaugural event program will feature innovative free public events adjacent to and on the water. The festival provides the people of Melbourne with the opportunity to establish links with, and celebrate the city’s waterways. It offers the opportunity to showcase and confirm Melbourne’s position as one of the worlds most livable cities.
The Elephant Festival is a unique event held annually in Jaipur, the capital of the north Indian state of Rajasthan. Groomed to perfection, glittering in gold, row upon row of elephants catwalk before an enthralled audience. The elephants move gracefully in procession, run races, play the regal game of polo, and finally participate in the spring festival of Holi. It is festival time for the elephants.
There are deadly and fierce elephant fights in the Jaipur Chaugan or polo field, the venue of the Elephant Festival. During Holi, the Chaugan is brought alive with elephants, dancers, musicians, and onlookers from the entire globe. The festival starts with an impressive procession of the majestic animals lovingly painted and tastefully attired with glittering ornaments and embroidered velvets.
The echoing sound of the bankiya (trumpet) fills the atmosphere. A ceremonial procession is recreated with caparisoned elephants, lancers on horses, chariots, camels, cannons, and palanquins. The large beast is the center of attraction in the many races and beauty pageants.
Strangely, most of the participants are female elephants. The mahouts (elephant keepers) take great care to decorate the elephants-painting their trunks, foreheads, and feet with floral motifs and adorning them from tusk to tail with interesting trinkets. The mahouts were employed in the Phil Khana, the department of elephant in the royal administration. They played an important role until the princely state was incorporated into the Union and the department because redundant. They, however, have continued their association with the elephants.
The game of polo forms the highlight of the festival. Dressed in saffron and red turbans, the teams try to score goals with long sticks and a plastic football.
Finally, the tourists are invited to mount the elephants and play Holi. Participants dance with great vigor-the excitement rising to a crescendo.
March 16 -
April 15,
2006 59th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens - Charleston, SC
Explore the interiors and gardens of some of the finest private residences in America during the 59th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens March 16 - April 15, 2006. Daily tours feature the interiors and gardens of nearly 150 historic private houses in 12 colonial and antebellum neighborhoods during the peak of the city's blooming season.
The Festival kicks off with the 2006 Charleston International Antiques Show March 17-19. The month-log festival schedule of events also features several Plantation Oyster Roasts and Picnics at Drayton Hall Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, c. 1738, and daily walking tours through the Old and Historic District. Included again this year will be a delicious and entertaining luncheon lecture series, as well as plantation and harbor tours.
March
17 - 26,
2006 Macon Cherry Blossom Festival - Macon, GA
Delight in the splendor of hot-air balloons, breath-taking air shows, a heart-pounding marathon, colorful parades, historic tours, an unforgettable bengal tiger show, dazzling fireworks displays, and amusement rides that thrill all ages. Nightly concerts feature top national and regional recording artists from every musical genre, and military bands. From stylish fashion shows and gala balls to dancing in the streets of Macon at the street party, the Cherry Blossom Festival features fun and adventure!
For ten days each March, festival-lovers are treated to one of the most extravagant displays of springtime beauty and hundreds of unparalleled events and attractions. Mark your calendars now to join us for the 24th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival March 17-26, 2006!
March
21,
2006 Vernal Equinox at the Pyramid of Kukulcan - Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza's Pyramid of Kukulcan twice a year creates a unique sight during the Vernal Equinox and the Autumn Solstice, when the shadows projected on the temple's stairs resemble a slithering snake, making its way from top to bottom. Inside the pyramid are located the famous Chac Mool sculpture and the Jaguar Throne.
March
25,
2006 Dubai World Cup - United Arab Emirates
March 25th 2006 will see the eleventh running of the world's richest race, the US$6,000,000 Dubai World Cup (Gr.I) at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. Along with the Dubai World Cup, there are a further five Thoroughbred Group races and a Group One for Purebred Arabians, ensuring the day is one of the most significant in global Thoroughbred horseracing.
March
26 - 31,
2006 CONNECT Palm Springs Photo Festival - Palm Springs, FL
Hossein Farmani, the visionary behind the Lucie Awards, the International Photography Awards and Focus on AIDS, has teamed up with master photographer, JEFF DUNAS, to create Connect 06, the first annual Palm Springs Photo Festival taking place on March 26-31. Inspired by The Rencontres D'Arles, Europe's oldest and largest photo festival, and based out of the Moroccan-style Korakia Pensione Hotel in the balmy climate and golden light of the Southern California desert, the Palm Springs Photo Festival is the winter meeting place for the international photography community, doubling as a welcome getaway for snowbound image makers.
The Palm Springs Photo Festival is among the most extensive photo festival in the U.S., offering numerous invaluable opportunities to learn and network led by luminaries in the photography industry:
* Opening night cocktail reception and keynote speaker with introductory speech by RON ODEN, the mayor of Palm Springs, followed by a gallery walk * Daily breakfasts with world renowned photographers * Rock n' Roll night featuring photos from famed rock 'n roll photographers, HENRY DILTZ and JIM MARSHALL * Hands-on, small-group workshops on subjects ranging from Architecture with JULIUS SCHULMAN & JUERGEN NOGAI, Landscape with ROBERT GLENN KETCHUM and ERICA LENNARD, Portrait with FRANK OCKENFELS and The Zone System with WILLY OSTERMAN, to the Fine Art Nude with JEFF DUNAS and The Nude with JOCK STURGES. There will also be two A Day With Workshops with ELIZABETH SUNDAY and GLENN WEXLER and a special workshop for Assistants with ASTOR MORGAN * Ten multifaceted seminars and round-table discussions of interest to photographers of every level, including Silver vs. Digital, The Business ofFine Art Photography, Breaking into Advertising, Getting your Book Published, and Your Photography and the Internet with ROBERT FARBER * Daily portfolio reviews with master photographers and invited curators, art directors and gallery owners * Nightly presentations by master photographers like WILLIAM CLAXTON and others * Weeklong contest for workshop attendees featuring nightly screenings of contest entries and a grand prize of an Epson 2400 printer sponsored by Epson * Closing night party, featuring a live band, a celebratory dinner, an evening presentation and dancing
March 31 -
April 2,
2006 Indian Wells Arts Festival - Indian Wells, CA
The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is also home to the Indian Wells Arts Festival™. Scheduled for March 31, April 1 and 2, 2006, the Festival celebrates its fourth year showcasing artists from throughout the country.
Taking place outdoors on the grass garden plaza, 200 artists will set up their display canpoies and create a unique artisan village with thousands of hand-made, one of a kind creations. The wide variety of both fine art and quality craft makes the Indian Wells Arts Festival™ a favorite for locals and tourists alike. From the first time buyer to those wanting to add to their collection, there is something for everyone. Take an opportunity to meet and talk with the artists as you enjoy a casual stroll finding serendipity around every corner.
From haute contemporary oil paintings to southwestern scenes and images, from glistening jewelry to stately bronze sculpture, fanciful glass creations and demure floral pastels to photography, mixed media and much much more!
Adding to the casual ambiance are beautiful vistas of the surrounding majestic mountain and desert views from the meandering walkways through the manicured concourses with rest areas, children's activities and sidewalk chalk drawing for this 4th Arts Masters event. Wine, refreshments and light musical entertainment is scheduled thoughout each day. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 31, April 1 & 2, 2006, hours will be 9:00 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. Gates will close at 4:30 P.M.
