Today is #MarketFriday initiated by @dswigle (Denise, that's me!!) I hope you will join me as we share different markets across the globe. I always look forward to seeing what you send me! It is amazing to see so many different markets and different cultures.

Please leave the link to your post on here so it can easily be found by others. They are easier to find in one place. Where else can you take such a quick trip around the globe? Thank you so much!! ❤

Today is @MarketFriday and I want to take you along as I am visiting the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. I discovered my visit would coincide with the Chinese Lantern Festival. It was such a great opportunity to show off the beauty and art of the Chinese culture. They sent workers to build these works of art similar to ones that they craft for the Chinese New Year. Because they are handcrafted, they are never the same, except the dragon who rests upon Symphony Lake - he was a careful redo from last year. He really was quite cool, I hope they do him again next year! I am told that you never know what to expect!

This a real cultural event and a great time! A real treat for these eyes!

I have been to so many new places lately! I love to share and be shared with! I have always and forever liked to see different fruits and vegetables or products that are being sold. Perhaps I cannot get them here. So, yes! I would love to see yours! Don't forget to take photos wherever you happen to be shopping - whether it be the grocery store, the local marketplace or even an art gallery. Wherever money is exchanged for a service or for merchandise. Be different if you wish! It does not have to be a traditional market! We will love it! I promise you! Don't forget to use the hashtag #MarketFriday and @dswigle.

You walk through the colorful entrance, into an amazing display of color. Get ready to be wowed.

Have you ever seen such beautiful lanterns? The hundreds of lanterns have more than 150,000 LED lights. The lanterns light up the path from the parking lot to the entrance to the park. You go so slow it seems like mile!! It's not! I can assure you!

Tunnels of fun! These were wonderful and truly an adventure in color!

According to China's various folk customs, people get together on the night of the Lantern Festival to celebrate with different activities. ... The most important and prevalent customs are enjoying lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, eating tangyuan, and lion dances. "Google"

I would really love you to take a minute and look at one of my good friends on Steemit! Check out @keithboone (Keith! That's him!) and the debut of his new challenge called #FeatheredFriday Challenge! To participate, make your own post and use the tag #FeatheredFriday. Please leave a link to your post in the comments section of his #FeatheredFriday post - that will make it easy for him to find and others will discover your work there as well. This is not a contest, but you will still win by getting upvotes and resteems for your post. Thank you!!! Now go forth and visit! See what Keith is all about.

We must have a flower. Always a flower.

The loveliness of you never escapes me
May I gaze upon you, always and a day?

There was a nightly performance on the amphitheater stage of different forms of traditional dance, an amazing display of martial arts and drums. I missed the acrobats while I went back to some of the displays that were now unattended.

STOP!! BRAIN TEASER AHEAD!!

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I have five fingers, but, I am not alive. What am I?

source

Answer: A glove

The #ColorChallenge was one of the first challenges I tried. It was a lifesaver and kept me going when I first started steemit and didn't know what to post. I dedicate this picture to #FridayBlue #ColorChallenge by @kalemandra.

This is the Panda Paradise. It changed colors every minute or so and was just teaming with Panda Bears. Can you see them all?

There was a rather large pavilion where artists were carving/painting and everything in between, and there were booths set up so you could view their merchandise. I thought it was rather reasonable in price.

I want to thank everyone for visiting #MarketFriday! I appreciate the time it takes to read and respond to these posts. If you made a post and linked it, you know I will make my way over to your place to read it. I hope others will too. That is the joy of having a challenge. Post and share with others. Thank you for taking the time and energy to make a post and I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

¸.♥´¸.•♥¨) Let the sun shine in on your life
So the joy may touch your soul
(¸.•´♥ (¸.•´ ♥

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Don't ever forget what wonderful world we live in, people. Let's hold hands around the globe and make this earth really spin. Some days, it is not as easy to see, so we must try harder to give everyone the proper focus.

Later that night
I held an atlas in my lap
Ran my fingers across the whole world
And whispered,
"Where does it hurt?"
It answered,

"Everywhere"
"Everywhere"
"Everywhere"

- Warsan Shire