ARIZONA
Southeast Arizona Wine Growers Festival
April 12–13 — The Sonoita Wine Trail is Arizona’s original and oldest wine-growing region. Featuring 20 Arizona wineries in one location, the festival will be filled with new wine releases, fabulous winemakers, great wine, food vendors, a professional two-day chili cook-off and live music. It is hosted by Kief-Joshua Vineyards in Elgin. Tickets are $20 per person. The event includes 12 wine tastings and a souvenir glass. Gates open at 10 a.m. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, visit kj-vineyards.com or call 520-455-5582.
Scottsdale Culinary Festival
April 8–13 — The longest running event of its type in the nation, this 36th annual festival draws more than 40,000 visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun and festivities. No matter what kind of culinary experience you crave, there’s something for everyone! If you love great food, fine wine and boutique brews, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival is a priority on your itinerary. This six-day celebration of the culinary arts has something for everyone, from exquisite multi-course meals and wine-and-chocolate pairings to the Great Arizona Picnic, which features 50 restaurants, chef demonstrations, live bands and specialty tasting venues. The Culinary Festival is located in the heart of Scottsdale, known for its superior winter climate and superb art. Ticket prices vary. (scottsdalefest.org)
Tempe Festival of the Arts
March 28–30 — Attracting more than 200,000 visitors to the Mill Avenue District over a three-day weekend, this festival has as many as 400 artists present unique and hand-made artwork for a distinctive shopping experience. While the Tempe Festival of the Arts focuses on visual art and the artists who create it, there also are a wide variety of other activities for guests to enjoy. Live entertainment provides fun for festivalgoers. Performances throughout the venue keep audiences in high spirits throughout the day. In addition to the Festival Stage, street performers, food and beverage vendors, sponsor exhibits, and entertainment booths are set up for the amusement of festival visitors. Visit the Arizona Wine Festival for tastings and sales by the glass, bottle or case, and enjoy The Art of Beer featuring local microbrewery sampling and sales. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 5:30 pm daily. (tempefestivalofthearts.com)
CALIFORNIA
Stagecoach 
April 25–27 — This three-day country music festival will feature more than 60 acts with headliners Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Crystal Gayle, Duane Eddy, Brenda Lee, Asleep at the Wheel, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Wailin’ Jennys, Jennifer Nettles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hunter Hayes, Eric Church, and so many others. Venue passes vary in price. Children 10 and under are free. Festival parking is free. Although on-site camping is unavailable, there are a number of RV parks within a few miles of the venue. (stagecoachfestival.com)
Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee
May 15–18 — Fun for the whole herd, the Jubilee held in Angel’s Camp is one of the longest running events in California, going back to 1893. It is a blend of live entertainment, exhibits, livestock, a Destruction Derby, horse events, great food and the signature event, the International Frog Jump. The top 50 frogs qualify for the Grand Finals held on Sunday afternoon. The current world’s record is 21 feet, 5 3/4 inches set back in 1986. There is a whole host of campgrounds and RV parks in the area for easy access. (frogtown.org)
Sacramento Music Festival & Jubilee
May 23–26 — It’s one Giant Party as Old Sac and surrounding hotel ballrooms pulse with the rhythms of jazz, swing, blues, Cajun and zydeco, rockabilly, bluegrass, Latin music and more. There will be dancing in the street during this annual Memorial Day weekend event. Music will be running morning, noon and midnight. Specialty concerts and events, evening lineups of dance and party bands, and a Memorial Day “Salute to Service” will give everyone plenty to do all weekend long. Kids 12 and younger are admitted free. (sacmusicfest.com)
Artichoke Festival
May 31–June 1 — Artichokes will be serve fried, sautéed, grilled, marinated, pickled and creamed in soup at the Monterey County Fair and Event Center in Castroville. Two days of live music will include everything from swing to mariachi, country to 50’s rock and roll. There will be wine tasting from the area’s award winning producers, artichoke cooking demos, arts and crafts, and a farmers market. A sanctioned parade is one of the largest and most colorful of its kind. And there will be opportunities to take a field trip to an artichoke patch and talk with growers. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Please no pets. (artichoke-festival.org)
NEVADA
Blues & Brews Festival
April 4–6 — Held outdoors in Colorado Belle’s Center Circle in Laughlin, the 16th annual Blues & Brews Festival will feature four great blues bands, an excellent assortment of beer and great food. Memphis bluesman, guitarist and soulful vocalist Preston Shannon, the reigning “King of Beale Street,” returns to Blues & Brews, bringing Southern “deep soul” to the blues—hoarse, gritty vocals and brassy arrangements. Also returning this year is Las Vegas bluesman John Earl & The BoogieMan Band and Chris Hiatt and his band, Cold Shot. All entertainment is free. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. to midnight; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. (visitlaughlin.com)
OREGON
Hood River Blossom Time
April 12–27 — Hood River Valley is the largest pear-growing region in Oregon, producing 50 percent of the nation’s winter pear crop. It’s also home to an abundance of cherry and apple orchards, translating into hundreds of acres of beautiful fruit blossoms along the Valley roads which are best viewed from the comfort of your car. The gorgeous 35-mile scenic Fruit Loop drive runs along the county’s Scenic Tour Route. Events during the festival will include the Gorge Artists Open Studio Tours (April 11-13), the Blossom Fest and Craft Show (April 19-20), and the Columbia Gorge Winegrowers Barrel Tasting Weekend (April 26-27). There will also be a craft and quilt show, pancake breakfasts, a pansy party, and wine and beer tasting, along with baked goods, preserves, yarn, and fresh produce. There’s something for everyone. (hoodriver.org)
Oregon Garden Brewfest
April 25–27 — A record 65 breweries will be presenting a total of 130 beers and ciders in the historic town of Silverton. The festival will also showcase live music from area bands, locally grown food, beer tasting lessons and a VIP Brewer’s Tasting Dinner on April 24. The Oregon Garden is an 80-acre botanical garden that showcases the indigenous plants of the Willamette Valley and Pacific Northwest. Admission begins at $15 and includes a souvenir tasting glass and five tasting tickets. Three-day and VIP options are available. There are also free shuttles to various locations in town. (oregongarden.org/events/brewfest)
Portland Rose Festival
May 18–June 15 — This month-long festival includes over 15 sanctioned events beginning with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon. Runners rock out to bands along the course that reflect Portland’s diverse music scene. A CityFair, floral fireworks, a starlight parade, a rose cup race, and a milk carton boat race are just a few of the events taking place. The Grand Floral Parade on June 8 will begin indoors at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and follow a 4.2-mile route through downtown Portland. (rosefestival.org)
UTAH
Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival
April 18–May 3 — Welcome spring and enjoy all the colors of the rainbow spread throughout 100 different varieties of tulips displayed in the 55-acre Thanksgiving Point Gardens in Lehi. The festival is an awe-inspiring sight that is redesigned each year to create a new display of over 250,000 tulips. There will be live music, great food and wares of every kind. You can even rent a Segway or a golf cart to take one of the garden tours. Tickets are $12-15. (thanksgivingpoint.org)
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
May 15–19 — Come and connect with millions of migratory birds that enjoy the environs of the world famous Great Salt Lake, one of the best birding areas in northern Utah. Tim Boucher, an expert birder and a conservation geographer for the Nature Conservancy, will deliver the keynote address, guide field trips and conduct a workshop on bird calls during this festival based at the Davis County Legacy Events Center in Farmington. The event will include dozens of workshops and day field trips. All workshops and presentations are free. Prices for day field trips vary. Registration begins March 3. (greatsaltlakebirdfest.com)
Moab Easter Jeep Safari
April 12–20 — Started in 1967, the Easter Jeep Safari consists of trail rides, mostly daylong trips, departing from Moab throughout this weeklong event. Eight new trails were added for 2014, including The Pickle, Deadman Point, Where Eagles Dare, and Hell’s Revenge. The Red Rock 4-Wheelers of Moab officially run 8-10 different trails every day, with “Big Saturday” culminating in the largest ever single trail ride departure happening— 30 groups line up in downtown Moab to head off in every direction for 30 different trails! (rr4w.com)
WASHINGTON
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
April 1–30 — Millions of tulips will burst into bloom in the Skagit Valley north of Seattle, but exactly when is always up to Mother Nature. Designed as a driving tour, acres and acres of vibrant gardens can be seen for miles. The Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair runs Friday through Sunday, April 25-27. The street fair includes concerts, gala celebrations, ethnic food vendors, art shows, a quilt show, and the Kiwanis salmon barbecue. Check the festival’s website to find the best times to view the hundreds of acres scattered throughout the Skagit Valley. (tulipfestival.org)
Lilac Days
April 19–May 11 — Each year thousands of visitors step back in time to discover the 1880s Victorian farmhouse and country gardens that comprise the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens. The national historic site is 30 minutes north of Portland, Oregon, in Woodland. The gardens were the home of Hulda Klager, who was known for her work in creating lilac hybrids. Hulda lived with her parents in the farmhouse until her death in 1960. Hulda’s historic home is only open to visitors during Lilac Days, and lilacs are only sold during Lilac Days, although the gardens are open all year from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (lilacgardens.com)
Apple Blossom Festival
April 24–May 4 — Going strong since 1919, the 11-day festival starts with the Grand Parade, and includes a carnival at Wenatchee Riverfront Park on the Columbia River, a pie-eating contest, and a golf tournament at Highlander Golf Course. Live music, running the entire length of the festival, will take place on the stage in Memorial Park. There will be a food fair in Memorial Park with over 20 vendors featuring ethnic cuisines, sweets, and much more to satisfy the appetite. The Arts & Crafts Fair, held over the first weekend in May, attracts over 140 vendors whose wares are all handcrafted. (appleblossom.org)
Nikki is a writer and editor for Do It Yourself RV, RV LIFE, and Camper Report. She is based on the Oregon Coast and has traveled all over the Pacific Northwest.
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