Category: Holidays Page 11 of 14

Stories about the occasions that matter most.

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5 Fun Ways To Celebrate Oktoberfest

On October 1, 2018

Oktoberfest may be synonymous with beer, but there’s more to this German festival than pilsner-fueled revelry! Here are some great ways to join in the merrymaking—alcohol completely optional.

Dine at a German restaurant.

Oktoberfest is the perfect time to explore German cuisine. Fill up with your favorite German grub like pretzels, spätzle, currywurst, sauerkraut, and schnitzel. Wash it down with your favorite bier for a great time.

Attend an Oktoberfest celebration.

Oktoberfest is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world. Several major cities throw their own parties, with the original Oktoberfest in Munich topping the list. You don’t even have to be a beer drinker to have fun as most celebrations have attractions like live music, carnival games, parades, and more. Check out some Oktoberfest celebrations here!

Tour a beer brewery.

Mankind has been brewing beer since time immemorial. Learning what goes into your favorite ale would be a great way to spend an afternoon. This is an activity that even non-drinkers would enjoy!

Learn some German words.

Celebrate Oktoberfest the practical way by brushing up on your German, starting with “O’Zapft is” (“it is tapped”), the phrase traditionally used to start the festivities. Go beyond “Guten Tag” and “Danke,” and impress everyone by knowing the difference between a “Pilsner” (a light, hoppy beer) and a “Schwarzbier” (a dark malted lager). Don’t forget to toast to your friends’ health by saying “Prost!”

Take lots of photos!

Document your Oktoberfest experience by snapping all the photos you can take! Display your images on your Nixplay Seed 8” Wi-Fi Digital Frame so you can always look back at the fun times you had. Get up to 25% off on your Nixplay Seed 8”, only until October 9!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

Friends with giant pretzels in Bavarian beer tent for nixplay oktoberfest promo

6 Oktoberfest Celebrations Around The World

By Mars Salazar

On September 21, 2018

In Holidays

No doubt about it: Oktoberfest is one of the world’s most enjoyable festivals. Several days of games, dancing, live performances, and an unending supply of good food and beer—what more could a mere mortal wish for?

That said, here’s a list of some of the biggest Oktoberfest celebrations around the world. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures to capture the Oktoberfest spirit! Display them on your Nixplay Seed 8” so you can always look back at the fun times you had. Get up to 25% off on your Nixplay Seed 8”, only from September 24 to October 9!

1. Munich, Germany

Date: September 22 to October 7, 2018
The Germans don’t joke around when it comes to beer. This is especially evident in the city of Munich, which is known for throwing the grandest Oktoberfest celebration in the world. Munich will be celebrating their 185th Oktoberfest this 2018, and you can expect the festivities to be grander than ever.

2. Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada

Date: October 5 to 13, 2018
The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest is one of the largest Bavarian events in the world, drawing around 700,000 visitors annually. The 2018 celebration promises to be especially grand as it marks the festival’s 50th anniversary. Fun fact: The city of Kitchener was formerly named Berlin!

3. Cincinnati, US

Date: September 21 to 23, 2018
Oktoberfest festivities start early in Ohio, with some cities celebrating as early as August. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is the grandest party in the state, attracting over 500,000 visitors. Don’t forget to take photos of the Running of the Wieners, where 100 dachshunds will race while wearing hot dog bun costumes.

4. Qingdao, China

Date: July 20 to August 26, 2018
Unlike the other places on this list, Qingdao celebrates Oktoberfest a bit early—two months before October, to be exact. This is the largest annual beer festival in Asia, with over 200 beer brands participating. While you’re there, don’t miss the chance to visit the Tsingtao Brewery Museum, China’s first beer museum named after its namesake lager.

5. Blumenau, Brazil

Date: October 3 to 21, 2018
Did you know that the biggest Oktoberfest celebration outside Munich is held in Brazil? You read that right: Brazil’s surprisingly large German population marks Oktoberfest with 17 days of ale-fueled revelry. The highlight of each night: Chope em Metro, where contestants chug beer from a meter-long glass.

6. Brisbane, Australia

Date: October 5 to 7 and 12 to 14, 2018
Celebrate Oktoberfest in Australia at Oktoberfest Brisbane, the largest German Festival down under! For two weekends, you can enjoy traditional German treats like schnitzels while enjoying live entertainment and fun competitions, all while enjoying authentic German beer.

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

5 Fun Ways To Spend International Friendship Day

By Mars Salazar

On July 20, 2018

In Holidays

We’re all so busy with work, school, our families, and our relationships, that sometimes we completely forget to slow down and enjoy the company of the people who have always been there for you. If this is the case for you, International Friendship Day is the perfect opportunity to rekindle your ties with your closest pals – your second family. You may not be related to them by blood, but they’re your brothers and sisters by choice, and that conscious decision to hold them near and dear makes all the difference.

Your friends have been there for you through good times and bad times, and will be by your side forevermore. Making sure they know how much they mean to you – that’s what International Friendship Day is for. Here are five fun ways to show them how thankful you are to have them in your life.

1. Visit your alma mater.

We’ve met a lot of our most loyal friends during our school days. If your school’s walls could talk, it would probably have so much to say about the crazy shenanigans you and your pals were up to. What better way to celebrate your friendship than to pay a visit to your alma mater, with the whole gang in tow? You can reminisce about your fondest moments and your favorite (and least favorite) teachers, and marvel at the improvements to the campus that were implemented after your graduation.

2. Throw a party.

Gather everyone and celebrate International Friendship Day with an intimate get-together at your place! It could be a fancy dressed-up affair, or a casual pizza night (with some wine to keep the conversation rolling). Better yet, you can enlist their help cooking the food and setting up the party – that’s another bonding experience you can reminisce about!

3. Surprise your friends with a token of your friendship.

Sure, it’s the thought that counts, but a tangible reminder of your bond with your BFFs never hurt. Matchy-matchy shirts are cute, while friendship bracelets are classic. Having a Nixplay Frame, loaded with playlists of all your fun times together, is also a great way to keep the friendship alive.

Get one for yourself and one for your best friend (or one for every member of your circle), and share photos with each other so you’ll always remember the good old days.

4. Travel together.

Going on a trip together is one of the greatest tests of friendship. If you can endure each other’s quirks, habits, and neuroses 24/7 for a few (or several) days in a row, you’ve definitely found a true friend in one another. It doesn’t have to be a grand faraway getaway – even just a weekend at a nearby city can do wonders to rejuvenate your bond with your pal.

5. Tell your friends how much they mean to you.

We don’t see our friends every day, but it surely shouldn’t be an “out of sight, out of mind” situation. If you’re living far from them, mail them handwritten postcards to tell them how much you miss their company. Got a friend you haven’t talked to in a long time? Send her a message on Facebook, ask her how she’s doing, and plan a catch-up. And don’t just limit it to International Friendship Day–keep this sweet habit throughout the year.

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

Young girls at the beach, celebrating the fourth of July - by holding an American flag and fire torches up high

5 Festive Ways To Celebrate the Fourth of July

By Mars Salazar

On July 3, 2018

In Holidays

Light up some fireworks, bring out the flags, and decorate everything in red, white, and blue: The Fourth of July is almost upon us, and it’s definitely one of the most wonderful times of the year! We’re sure you have some ideas on how to celebrate this holiday, but on the off chance that you’re still stumped, well, we’re here to the rescue! Read on to learn how you can make this Independence Day one you’ll remember for a long time.

1. Throw an outdoor party.

Take advantage of the fine weather and have some fun outside this Fourth of July! Have a pool party (don’t forget the giant floats!), or throw a backyard barbecue complete with on-theme food and cocktails. Invite the whole street, or just your closest friends and family. The possibilities of having fun are endless!

2. Get crafty.

Spend the afternoon making some fun red, white, and blue-themed projects the whole family can do. Create a Fourth of July banner to get the party started, and make an American flag backdrop for your Independence Day photo booth. Don’t forget your dining table: Create a patriotic centerpiece using recycled bottles, and put a vase filled with red and blue lollipops somewhere the little ones can easily reach.

3. Go shopping!

The week of July 4th is awash with fantastic deals from all your favorite stores. Whether you’re eyeing a new pair of shoes or thinking of upgrading your laptop, now’s a great time to do so. And if you’re thinking of getting a new Nixplay frame, you’re in luck: You can get 20% off a Nixplay Iris or 15% off a NIX Lux from July 4 to 13! Just enter the code FREEDOM20 for the Iris, and FREEDOM15 for the Lux. Don’t just add a frame to your cart–check it out now!

4. Let the kids do the planning.

It can be tiring to wrack your brain for a fun activity the whole family will enjoy. Take away the stress by getting the little ones to list the things they want to do on the Fourth of July, and tick them off one by one. Not only will this foster their creativity, but giving them a say in what you will do for the day will also make them feel like their voice really matters. This way, you’ll give the kids an Independence Day they’ll remember and treasure for a long time to come.

5. Visit an all-American attraction.

Mount Rushmore. The Statue of Liberty. The Grand Canyon. Walt Disney World. What do these locations all have in common? They’re all distinctly American landmarks, seen as symbols of everything our country and its people stand for. And there’s no better time to pay these places a visit than on the Fourth of July, where you can celebrate America alongside your fellow countrymen. If that doesn’t inspire you, just think of all the beautiful fireworks you’re guaranteed to see there!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

man woman jumping into the water summer 2018 summer solstice nixplay seed promo

5 Things You Can Do To Have The Best Summer Ever

By Mars Salazar

On June 20, 2018

In Holidays

Can you believe that summer is already here? With time flying by so fast, there’s really no time like the present to start making and preserving memories with your family and friends. Below, we listed five of the best summer activities you can do with your loved ones this season. Don’t forget to bring your camera or a phone so you can capture all the fun you’ll have!

1. Head to the beach

Summer wouldn’t be complete without a trip to somewhere warm and sunny! Head to the coast for a few days of sun, sand, and surf. Build sandcastles with the little tots, go kayaking with your significant other, and watch the sunset on the boardwalk while having ice cream with your family. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even sign up for diving or surfing lessons!

2. Visit an amusement park

Summer is the best time to visit an amusement park. Since there are no pesky rain showers to literally put a damper on your fun, you can go try out all the rides at the park. Take over the bumper cars, hop on the carousel with the kids, and ride the biggest, scariest roller coaster you can find. You can also try all the fair games—if you’re lucky, you might even get to bring home an adorable stuffed toy. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures, and make sure you have the Nixplay app on your phone so you can quickly upload the photos to your frame back home.

3. Go camping

Set aside one weekend this summer for a camping trip! You don’t have to go far—you can just have it in your backyard, so as long as it’s outdoors. If the kids in your family have never gone camping before, they’re bound to have a blast helping pitch the tent and gathering branches and leaves to build a bonfire. You can also go fishing and try to survive in the “wild” without electricity or gadgets. And in the evening, you can sit around a bonfire and make s’mores, before going to sleep under the twinkling of the stars.

4. Explore the outdoors

Take advantage of the pleasant weather and spend as much time as you can under the sun! Check out a new hiking trail with your loved ones, bust out your bikes and explore your town, or visit a nearby farm and pick your own fruits or flowers. Whichever activity you do, they’re all great ways to stay fit while having fun. Take lots of photos and upload them on your Nixplay frame so you can reminisce about all the fun you’ve had the moment you get back home.

5. Have a picnic

Fill up a basket or a cooler with easy-to-eat food like sandwiches, cookies, and chips, pack it in your car along with a blanket or a mat, and drive off to a park or the beach. If you can have your picnic somewhere with a grill so you can barbecue food on the spot, that’ll be better! Bring a frisbee and frisbee games so the young ones (and the young at heart) can entertain themselves, and snack on fruits like watermelon and pineapple to stay hydrated under the summer sun.

The final ingredient for a picture-perfect summer? A new Nixplay frame that will keep all your memories in one place. Take advantage of Nixplay’s Summer Solstice sale and get 20 percent off the Nixplay Seed 8-Inch Frame from June 21 to 26. Pick a frame in your favorite color, and get set to have a summer you’ll always remember!

Mars Salazar

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.