All - Leep Calendar

The annual Chincoteague Pony Swim and Roundup in Chincoteague, Virginia, captures national and local interest as it continues to be a unique spectacle since 1925. Marguerite Henry's popular children's novel "Misty of Chincoteague" details this event. Chincoteague ponies, also known as Assateague horses, are wild horses that inhabit Assateague Island, a 37-mile-long barrier island off the coast of Virginia and Maryland. The pony roundup serves as a population control mechanism and a fundraiser for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, which manages the herds on the Virginia side of the island. Beginning on Saturday in the lead-up to the swim, Saltwater Cowboys, a group of local volunteers, guide the wild ponies from the various parts of Assateague Island into a central pen. The roundup takes place over several days, with the actual swim occurring on the Wednesday of the event. At slack tide (the calm water between tides), the Saltwater Cowboys guide the ponies to swim across the channel from Assateague to Chincoteague Island. The quarter-mile-long swim (10 laps in an Olympic pool) typically takes the ponies about five to ten minutes to complete. Spectators gather to witness this spectacle, and the first foal to touch land is named the "King" or "Queen." This foal is given away in a raffle later in the day. On the day following the swim, an auction takes place. Many of the foals born that year are sold to bidders from around the world, which helps manage the herd population and raises funds for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Several ponies receive a "buyback" designation. A bidder can win the auction for a buyback pony, earning the privilege of naming the pony, but the pony itself is returned to Assateague to live out its life in the wild, helping to replenish the herd. The event concludes with the ponies swimming back to Assateague on Friday, where they are released to roam freely until the following year's event. For Chincoteague and its visitors, the pony swim and roundup is more than a local custom — it symbolizes community spirit, a celebration of history, and a unique wildlife management strategy. It also provides a considerable economic boost, affectionately referred to as "Chincoteague Christmas," to the local vendors. Three strategically placed webcams allow international visitors to watch the pony swim live as it happens. Access those here: https://www.chincoteague.com/webcams.html. PLEASE NOTE: Treat all televised and venue-specific events (sporting, concerts, trade shows, etc.) as estimated. Several factors can cause an event to move dates at the last minute, including weather, strikes, natural disasters, political upheaval, conflicting programming, pandemics, and current events. Because of this, always verify the event with the promotor before committing resources. LEEP often estimates dates based on the previous year's schedules, as the final dates are only a few months, weeks, or days before the event. If the date is known to be estimated, you will see an (est) following the date in the title.

Africa

Jul

Chocolate Day, World: July 7

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World Chocolate Day is one of three significant days to celebrate chocolate. Chocolate beans have been used since around 1900 BC by the people of Central America, usually as a bitter drink, often alcoholic, or with red peppers. Tip: If you've never tried hot chocolate with red peppers using hot water instead of milk, it is quite a treat! It would take Christopher Columbus, on his fourth voyage, to bring this delicious bean to Europe. He noted the encounter in his ship's log on August 15, 1502. A few decades later, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés would bring the bean back in bulk (he was only 17 when Columbus found it). But in its Central American form, it wasn't the sweet treat we see today. That required several inventions, including: 1) John Baker's process of grounding between millstones cocoa beans to create a powder in 1764. 2) Conrad Van Houten developed a method for extracting the cacao liquor from the fat in the cocoa bean in 1828, which made chocolate affordable. 3) Finally, Swiss chocolatier Rodolphe Lindt developed conching in 1879. The rest is sweet history. There are several different types of cocoa beans. Though native to the Americas, nearly two-thirds of cocoa production today occurs in Africa. The Ivory Coast is the largest producer.

Africa

Jul

Chocolate Wafer Day, Ntl.: July 3

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National Chocolate Wafer Day celebrates one of America's favorite treats, the chocolate wafer. A chocolate wafer is often used like bread to create a sandwich-style dessert with ice cream or cream between two wafers. Nabisco introduced the Chocolate wafer in 1924.

Africa

Jul

Civil Disobedience Thoreau, Intl. (1817): July 12

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International Civil Disobedience Day (sometimes called "Simplicity Day") marks the anniversary of the birth of Henry David Thoreau on July 12, 1817. Thoreau was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, and historian. His most famous work, "Civil Disobedience," was published in 1849. One of the most lauded writers in history, Thoreau's work has influenced generations of leaders and writers, including Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Martin Buber, Leo Tolstoy, John F. Kennedy, Marcel Proust, Ernest Hemingway, Upton Sinclair, Sinclair Lewis, and William Butler Yeats.

Africa

Jul

Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness-Prevention Month, Ntl.: July

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National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month occurs in July and is sponsored by AmeriFace and CleftcAdvocate. Cleft and craniofacial conditions affect thousands of infants, children, teens, and adults in the United States annually. Some are born with congenital anomalies like cleft lip and palate, others with more complex, life-threatening craniofacial conditions. Some are burned, injured in accidents and animal attacks, or diagnosed with various oral/head/neck and skin diseases. Header Picture: Angieleca Hayahay of the Philippines was born with a cleft lip. She had surgery when she was denied a job as a nurse because of her cleft lip. Today Angieleca works as a nurse, helping others overcome cleft and craniofacial disfigurement. Read her full story and see the pictures on the Smile Train website at: http://www2.smiletrain.org/powerofasmile/stories/trained-a-nurse. For a complete list of participating organizations participating in National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month, go to: http://www.nccapm.org/organizations.html.

Africa

Jul

Clerihew Day, Intl. (UK)(1875): July 10

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Clerihew Day commemorates Edmund Clerihew Bentley on his birthday, the creator of the Clerihew, a form of poetry.

Africa

Jul

Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day, Ntl.: July 21

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National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Awareness Day occurs each year in July. Doctors, nurses, and other clinicians are vital in providing access to HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services and in encouraging patients to get tested for HIV.

Africa

Jul

Coffee Milkshake Day, Ntl: July 26

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National Coffee Milkshake Day is a day set aside each year to indulge in this blended treat. Indulge in commercial versions sold through major chains, or you can make your own with cold-brewed coffee, ice cream, milk, and sugar. Enjoy!

Africa

Jul

Collector Car Appreciation Day: July 10

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Collector Car Appreciation Day (CCAD) aims to raise awareness of the importance of restoring cars and their role in American history. Today, many events are happening throughout the country, including classic car cruises and car shows. Since 2010, a U.S. Senate Resolution requested by the SEMA Action Network (SAN) has marked the second Friday of July as CCAD. This event celebrates the preservation of historic, classic, and specialty cars in the United States. Enthusiasts nationwide are encouraged to show their support by attending or hosting events such as car shows, cruises, or simply driving their unique vehicle to work.

Africa

Jul

Comic-con, San Diego, Intl. (US-CA): July 23-26

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Comic-Con International is a nonprofit educational corporation dedicated to creating awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate comics' historic and ongoing contribution to art and culture

Africa

Jul

Constitution Day (KR)(1948): July 17

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Constitution Day in South Korea marks the anniversary of July 17, 1948, the official date of the proclamation of the nation's constitution. Constitution Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Jul

Constitution Day (US-PR)(1952): July 25

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On July 25, 1952, the island territory of Puerto Rico officially adopted its constitution. Constitution Day is a territory holiday known locally as Occupation Day or Commonwealth Day. Puerto Rico remains a territory of the United States without the same rights as a state.

Africa

Jul

Constitution Day (UY)(1830): July 18

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Constitution Day in Uruguay marks the anniversary of July 18, 1830, the official date of the proclamation of the nation's constitution. Constitution Day is a national holiday.

Africa

Jul

Cooperatives, Intl. Day of: July 4

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A cooperative is a farm, business, or other organization owned and run jointly by its members. All take part in the running of the enterprise, and all share the costs and benefits. Especially in the developing world, cooperatives have provided a means for those with few assets and income to come together and create a company. In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed, in its resolution 47/90 of 16 December 1992, the International Day of Cooperatives to be celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July. International Day aims to: 1) Increase awareness of cooperatives; 2) Highlight the complementary goals and objectives of the United Nations and the international cooperative movement; 3) Underscore the contribution of the movement to the resolution of the major problems addressed by the United Nations; 4) Strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors at local, national, and international levels, including governments.

Africa

Jul

Corn Fritter Day, Ntl.: July 16

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National Corn Fritters Day celebrates this Southern meal of corn kernels, eggs, flour, milk, and melted butter. Patties can be baked or deep-fried and are topped with jam, honey, cream, or fruit.

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