ARIZONA
Ostrich Festival
March 12–14 — Ostriches ridden by jockeys will race at this annual festival at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. There will also be music on two stages, a petting zoo and games for children at this celebration of Chandler’s heritage as a center for raising ostriches. The festival will be open from 2 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. For information, visit ostrichfestival.com.
Scottsdale Culinary Festival
April 13–18 — More than 40,000 visitors each year attend this series of cooking demonstrations, dinners and other food events. The festival culminates Saturday and Sunday in the Great Arizona Picnic, with live entertainment and a sampling of food from more than 50 restaurants. The picnic is held at the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza. For information, visit scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org.
Yuma Birding & Nature Festival
April 15–18 — Its desert, mountain and riparian habitat and its location along the Colorado River flyway make the Yuma area home to more than 400 species of birds. The Yuma Visitors Bureau takes advantage of that fact with an annual festival that includes seminars and field trips. For information, visit yumabirding.com.
McDowell Mountain Music Festival
April 23–25 — Bluegrass, reggae, jazz and rock music will be represented at this annual festival that will be held this year at a new location on an outdoor stage at Scottsdale 101 Plaza, next to the Compound Grill in Phoenix. For information, visit mmmf.net.
CALIFORNIA
Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
April 16–18 — More than 130 acts, including Jay-Z, Devo, Sly and the Family Stone, Gorillaz and Muse, will perform at the three-day festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Camping areas are located on grass fields next to the concert area. An RV camping spot is $250, and campers must also purchase festival tickets. For information, visit Coachella.com.
Stagecoach Country Music Festival
April 24–25 — Keith Urban, Sugarland, Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, the Oak Ridge Boys and Brooks and Dunn will be among the performers in this event at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Actors from the ABC soap operas “General Hospital,” “One Life to Live” and “All My Children” will introduce musical acts and interact with fans. Ticket prices start at $99 for two-day passes. A variety of camping and RV packages are available. For information, visit stagecoachfest.com.
Tributefest
May 1 — The Beatles, U2 and Bon Jovi won’t be there, but tribute bands will be playing their music at Santa Clarita Central Park in Santa Clarita. Tributes to Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones and the Dave Matthews Band also will be included in this event from noon to 9 p.m. Admission is $30. For information, visit drinkeatplay.com.
Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee
May 13–16 — The Calaveras County Fair includes a rodeo, entertainment, livestock exhibits and a carnival at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp. Frog jumping is always part of the event, inspired by the Mark Twain short story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Admission is $8. For information, visit frogtown.org.
Sacramento Jazz Jubilee
May 28–31 —A parade Friday morning starts this annual Memorial Day weekend event that has been drawing jazz fans to Sacramento since 1974. All sorts of jazz, blues and gospel music are presented at venues in Old Sacramento, the Convention Center and midtown hotels. For information, visit sacjazz.org.
Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
June 4–6 — You can book a hot air balloon flight at this event, which includes entertainment, wine tasting and an arts and crafts fair at the Lake Skinner Recreation Area in Winchester. Camping is available at Lake Skinner and other nearby locations. For information, visit tvbwf.com.
IDAHO
Big Water Blowout River Festival
June 5 — Experienced outfitters and guides will offer discounted raft trips on the Salmon River through rapids in the second deepest gorge in North America. The festival site is Riggins City Park in Riggins on Highway 95, midway between Lewiston and Boise. The family event will include live musical entertainment in the evening. For information, visit bigwaterblowout.com.
Car D’Lane
June 18–19 —This year marks the 20th anniversary of this event that brings classic cars to Coeur d’Alene. Vehicles from 1972 and earlier will be cruising the streets Friday and on display downtown on Saturday. The event will include a street dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. For information, visit.cdadowntown.com.
NEVADA
Wings & Wildlife Festival
March 11–15 — Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine, will be the keynote speaker at the Wings and Wildlife Festival in Laughlin. The event will include field trips, nature walks and seminars. Activities will be held at several sites, including the Riverside Hotel and Casino Resort and the Aquarius Casino Resort. For information, visit snbwtp.org.
Boulder City Fine Arts Festival
April 17–18 — Artists from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming will display their work in Boulder City’s Bicentennial Park. Artwork will range from woodcarvings and sculptures to oil paintings and water colors. Food and beverage booths will be open at this annual event that draws as many as 15,000 people. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. For information, visit bcfineartsfestival.com.
Reno Jazz Festival
April 22–24 — The Bill Holman Big Band and Ingrid Jensen and the Collective will present concerts at the Reno Jazz Festival at the University of Nevada, Reno. The event will bring jazz students and educators to Reno for music seminars and competition. For information, visit unr.edu/rjf.
Las Vegas Jazz and R&B Festival
April 24 — Smooth jazz will be featured at the 18th annual Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz and Rhythm & Blues Festival at the Government Amphitheater near downtown Las Vegas. The festival will run from 1 to 10 p.m. with scheduled performers including vocalist Will Downing, saxophonists Euge Groove and Everette Harp, jazz band Fattburger, and Karen Briggs’ Soulchestra with Lao Tizer. For information, visit yourjazz.com.
OREGON
Crab, Seafood and Wine Festival
April 23–25 — Northwest cuisine, a beer garden, and wine from vintners in Washington and Oregon will be available at this festival at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds in Astoria. The Rotary Club of Astoria will serve its traditional crab dinner all weekend. There will be live music on stage in the exhibit hall. The festival will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For information, visit oldoregon.com.
Portland Rose Festival
May 28–June 13 — Parades, concerts, a carnival and rose show are among the events in this annual spring celebration. The Starlight Parade in downtown Portland will start at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5. The following Saturday, June 12, will bring the Grand Floral Parade along a route from Memorial Coliseum to downtown Portland, starting at 10 a.m. For information, visit www.rosefestival.org.
Wilsonville Festival of Arts
June 5–6 —A parade with the theme “Junk to Funk” will travel through Wilsonville to Town Center Park Saturday morning to launch the Festival of Arts. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the park, which will be filled with the works of 75 to 100 professional artists. There will be music, dancing and storytelling on the Main Stage. For information, visit wilsonvillearts.org.
Medford Cruise
June 12–20 — In 1985, car clubs began with the idea of cruising downtown Medford, and organized an event that was so well received that it has been repeated annually for 25 years. The main event is still a cruise of hot rods, muscle cars, custom cars, restored vehicles and classic cars through downtown Medford Saturday evening, but the week’s activities also include drag racing, drift events, poker runs and concerts and movies at Hawthorne Park. Cars from 1972 and older will be on display at a show and shine at the park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. An unlimited Show & Shine, open to vehicles of all years, including motorcycles and custom and modified cars and trucks, will be held at the park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. For information, visit medfordcruise.org.
UTAH
St. George Art Festival
April 2–3 — More than 110 artists will display work at this festival in the Town Square in the Historic District of St. George. The event will include continuous entertainment on three stages, food booths, and a children’s activity area with craft projects and games. For information, visit sgcity.org/artfestival.
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
May 13–17 — Author and naturalist Terry Tempest Williams will be the keynote speaker at this festival based at the Davis County Event Center in Farmington. The festival includes field trips to birding areas. For information, visit greatsaltlakebirdfest.com.
Scandinavian Heritage Festival
May 27–29 — Snow College in Ephraim will be the site of this festival, which will begin Thursday with a free educational conference. The festival grounds on the north side of the college campus will have craft and food booths and entertainment Friday and Saturday. A gourmet Scandinavian smorgasbord will be served at 6 p.m. Friday at the Greenwood Student Center. For information, visit scandinavianheritagefestival.com.
Moab Arts Festival
May 29–30 — Vendors will sell art, pottery, sculptures, clothing, jewelry and fine art at this festival at Swanny City Park in Moab from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. There will also be food and entertainment. For information, visit moabartsfestival.org.
WASHINGTON
Long Beach Bluegrass Festival
March 26—28 — Bluegrass bands will play 20 sets of music, each 45 minutes long, during this festival at the Chautauqua Lodge in Long Beach sponsored by the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Merchants Association. Admission is $15 Friday, $20 Saturday and free for the gospel show on Sunday. For information, visit www.funbeach.com.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
April 1–30 — Mother Nature determines when the tulips bloom, but the stage is set with a festival that continues through the whole month of April. More than 1,000 acres of tulips, daffodils and irises have been planted in the Skagit Valley by Roosengaarde, a division of Washington Bulb Company, and there are other growers, too. Besides touring the flower fields and demonstration gardens, festivalgoers have a wide choice of other activities, including wine tastings, a street fair, a salmon bake and quilt, art and antique shows. In the outlet stores in Burlington, there will be a Battle of the Bands every Saturday, and there will be an open house April 10 at the 242-acre site in Mount Vernon where PACCAR tests its Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. For a complete list of events and updates on the tulip fields, visit tulipfestival.org.
Lilac Festival
April 17–May 9 — The Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in Woodland stage an annual festival during which unusual and hard-to-find lilacs are available for purchase. The gardens include four acres of lilacs along with exotic trees and vast shrub and perennial plantings. Visitors can tour an 1880s farmhouse that was the home of Hulda Klager, who came to Woodland in 1877 at the age of 13. She established the gardens and created a number of varieties of lilacs through hybridization. The gardens are open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $2, with children 12 and younger free if accompanied by an adult. For information, visit lilacgardens.com.
Apple Blossom Festival
April 22—May 2 — “Cruzin’ through the Decades” is the theme of the 91st edition of the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee. Events include parades, a carnival, arts and crafts fair, square dance, basketball and golf tournaments, car displays and an apple pie bakeoff and pie-eating contest. For information, visit appleblossom.org.
Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival
April 30–May 2 — Hundreds of thousands of shorebirds migrating from as far south as Argentina stop each spring to rest and feed in Grays Harbor estuary. This festival provides an opportunity to view these birds. There will be field trips and lectures during the event, which will be headquartered at Central Elementary School in Hoquiam. For information, visit shorebirdfestival.com.
Maritime Gig Festival
June 5–6 — A parade, fun run, Kiwanis pancake breakfast, food booths, displays of historic boats and music and other entertainment will be included in this festival in Gig Harbor. Activities occur along the waterfront and downtown along Harborview Drive. For information, visit maritimegig.com.
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