Ride Free in the Outer Banks During the Labor Day Bike Show

Rev up the Harley, don your leathers, and strap your best buddy into the sidecar. The Outer Banks aren't just for summer vacation, and the Labor Day weekend is proof. For the last seven years, motorcyclists and enthusiasts have gathered in the Currituck area of the OBX to celebrate the rip-roaring two-wheelers that line the main roads annually. At the Outer Banks Bike Show, you don't have to own a motorcycle to have fun, but it helps to have a ride.

The Outer Banks Bike show is held in Grandy, North Carolina, with the Walnut Island Restaurant and Barry's Bar taking on the majority of hosting duties. Proceeds from the event go to benefit the Victory Junction Gang, a camp designed for children with special needs, founded by NASCAR driver and North Carolina native Kyle Petty, in honor of his late son Adam. Starting normally on the Friday of Labor Day, bikers can enjoy live music and dinner specials at the restaurant, while vendors from the around the country display their wares - T-shirts, bike accessories, and other fun items of interest.

Saturday kicks into high gear with a specially priced biker's buffet, followed by games and contests worth cash prizes. There may be poker competitions, contests for the best, fastest, and oldest bikes, and other related events. An auction and live music cap off the night, followed by a Sunday of camaraderie, food, and award presentations.

The only restrictions to attending the Outer Banks Bike Show are the prohibition of dogs, gang colors, and weapons. Otherwise, this event promises to bring together bikers from around the United States. If you're looking for a good time this fall and want to appreciate some beautiful motorcycles and connect with other riders, make the Outer Banks one stop for Labor Day.

Ever Considered Christmas In Hawaii?

Mele Kalikimaka is the traditional Hawaiian greeting of Merry Christmas. Native Hawaiians had some difficulty with their pronunciation of the English version and nowadays Mele Kalikimaka is bandied about with delight every December, accompanied by popular Christmas carols and an original blend of Hawaiian style Christmas decorations. Santa is frequently spotted in Hawaiian gardens lounging about in an outrigger canoe, cocktail in one hand and toy sack in the other.

Palm trees are decorated with tinsel and Christmas stars, restaurants play Christmas songs and offer Christmas fare on the menu, and locals celebrate the festive season as they celebrate everything else in life, with enthusiastic abandon and faultlessly stylish hospitality.

Christmas only arrived in the islands along with the Europeans. Prior to that time, around December, Hawaiians gave their traditional thanks to mother earth for providing them with food (Makahiki) so Christmas festivities became an extension of their own celebrations. In those days the party lasted for around four months, which was quite useful as during the festivities wars were strictly prohibited and islanders minded their p's and q's somewhat. Sort of a friendly Hawaiian version of an ASBO.

With the arrival of other nationalities at Christmas, Hawaii began to include guests' traditional delicacies and treats in the Christmas menu, adding sushi, lumpia, tamales and even coconut pudding to the selection.

At Christmas you might find yourself invited to a lu'au in your neighbour's backyard, where they might offer imu – a pig roasted in an underground pit – not the sort of thing you would serve on toast one supposes! Imus continue far into the night, lit by the Hawaiian version of Christmas lights and rocking to the sound of ukuleles and guitars.

Sounds great doesn't it. And the best thing about Christmas in this part of the world is the clement weather, so the kids can still spend time on the beach, the sand and surf is still on offer and there are still loads of things to do during the day. In Hawaii, Santa arrives in a canoe, barefoot, sun lotion in hand, and with his trousers rolled up. Well why not?