ARIZONA
Yuma Lettuce Days
March 9–10 —Celebrity chef Ben Ford, who runs a restaurant, Ford’s Filling Station in Culver City, California, and is the son of actor Harrison Ford, will conduct cooking demonstrations during this annual event at Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park in Yuma. Lettuce Days celebrates Yuma’s agricultural success, which includes production of 90 percent of the nation’s leafy vegetables during the winter. Activities will include cooking contests, a giant salad bar and a tasting event showcasing specialties from local restaurants. For information, visit yumalettucedays.com.
Festival of the West
March 21–24 — Western music, cowboy poetry, appearances by western film and TV celebrities, a chuck wagon cooking competition and a blacksmith exhibit will be among the attractions at this festival at WestWorld in Scottsdale. Country music star Chris Cagle will perform Saturday night. Celebrities scheduled to appear include Robert Fuller, Joe Lando, Bruce Boxleitner and Michael Dante. More than 200 exhibitors will offer western merchandise. There will also be special activities for children. For information, visit festivalofthewest.com.
Scottsdale Culinary Festival
April 9–14 — The 35th anniversary of this festival will have 20 events, including gourmet dinners, cooking demonstrations and cocktail parties, culminating Saturday and Sunday in the Great Arizona Picnic amid the gardens and fountains of the Civic Mall in downtown Scottsdale. The picnic will include food from 50 restaurants and music on two stages. Admission to the picnic will include access to the Epicurean Expo in the Center for Performing Arts, featuring cookware and cooking demonstrations. For information, visit scottsdalefest.org.
Country Thunder
April 11–14 — Lady Antebellum, Toby Keith and Eric Church will be among the country music performers at this music and camping festival at Country Thunder West in Florence, midway between Phoenix and Tucson. For information, visit Arizona.countrythunder.com.
Marana Bluegrass Festival
April 13–14 — Bluegrass bands from Arizona will play at Ora Mae Harn Park in Marana from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day of this festival. Admission is $7 per day or $12 for both days, with children under 12 admitted free with an adult. Dry camping is free with a weekend pass. For information, visit maranafestival.com.
CALIFORNIA
Redwood Coast Jazz Festival
March 21–24 — Traditional Dixieland jazz, swing, calypso, zydeco and other kinds of music will be played at five venues in Eureka during this festival that will include dancing, dance lessons and concerts. For information, visit redwoodjazz.org.
High Desert Music Festival & BBQ Showdown
April 20–21 — Top grillers will barbecue beef brisket, pork ribs, chicken and pork in competition, and there will be pop, rock, country, soul and blues music played on two stages at the High Desert Event Center in Victorville. For information, visit highdesertmusicfestival.com.
Stagecoach
April 26–28 — Billed as California’s Country Music Festival, this event at the Empire Polo Club in Indio will be headlined by Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum and the Zac Brown Band. Other performers will include Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Trace Adkins, Lonestar, Dwight Yoakam and actor Jeff Bridges and the Abiders. For information, visit statecoachfestival.com.
Sacramento Music Festival
May 24–27 — Now in its 40th year, this traditional Memorial Day weekend event in Sacramento will present music at 24 venues ranging from cozy clubs and luxury hotels to a giant lot in Old Sacramento where 1,500 people can party. Music styles will include New Orleans jazz, swing, blues, Latin, country and bluegrass. For information, visit sacmusicfest.com.
Morgan Hill Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival
May 25–26 —This two-day family event across several city blocks in Morgan Hill will include arts and crafts, strolling musicians, street performers, entertainment on two stages, gourmet food and mushroom education. The festival will offer the chance to taste locally grown mushrooms. Admission and parking are free. For information, visit mhmmg.com.
IDAHO
Sun Valley Film Festival
March 14–17 — Actress and filmmaker Jodie Foster will be the featured guest at this festival that will screen 50 films, TV premieres and children’s programs in Sun Valley. The festival will include a screenwriters lab, parties and coffee talks with people in the film industry. For information, visit sunvalleyfilmfestival.org.
Dogwood Festival
April 1–30 — A car show, a dog show and a quilt show will be among the activities during this month-long festival in Lewiston. The signature event is Art Under the Elms, a three-day fair with artists’ booths, food vendors, family attractions and entertainment at Lewis-Clark State College from Friday through Sunday, April 26-28. For information visit lcsc.edu/dogwood.
Car d’Lane
June 14–15 — Cars and trucks from 1975 and earlier will be on display in downtown Coeur d’Alene during this annual event sponsored by the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association. Vehicles will cruise on Friday night, and trophies will be handed out to the winning entries on Saturday. For information, visit cdadowntown.com.
MONTANA
Moscow Renaissance Fair
May 4–5 — East City Park in Moscow is the site of this two-day celebration of spring that includes crafts, food and entertainment. Admission is free to this family event. For information, visit moscowrenfair.org.
Strawberry Festival
June 8 — You can start the day with a pancake breakfast, spend the day exploring 100 arts and crafts booths and eat lunch at a food court at this event in downtown Billings. There will be free entertainment all afternoon on two stages. For information, visit strawberryfun.com.
NEVADA
Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz & R&B Festival
April 27–28 — Jazz musicians George Duke and Stanley Clark will be among the performers at this two-day festival at the Clark County Government Amphitheater in Las Vegas. Other scheduled artists include Stephanie Mills, Chrisette Michelle, Roy Ayers and Elan Trotman. For information, visit yourjazz.com.
Genoa Cowboy Festival
May 4–5 — The first ranch in Nevada was in Genoa, and there are still working cattle ranches near the town, so it is a fitting venue for this festival celebrating ranching with words and music. Performers will include Waddie Mitchell, Dave Stamey, Mary Kaye, the Saddle Cats, Riders of the Sky and the Reno Brass Quintet. For information, visit cowboypoetrygenoa.com.
NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque Folk Festival
June 1 — Music workshops, seminars, and entertainment on three stages will be presented at this festival at the Balloon Museum in Albuquerque. Free camping will be available at the festival site from 3 p.m. Friday, May 31, to noon on Sunday, June 2. For information, visit abqfolkfest.org
OREGON
Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival
April 26–28 — Wine tasting, food, musical entertainment and arts and crafts will be available at this festival at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds in Astoria. The event 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.
Art in Bloom
May 11–12 — Mother’s Day weekend is the traditional date for this celebration of fine art and flowers in downtown Medford. More than 120 artists and horticulturists will display their works. There will be beer and wine tasting, musical entertainment and activities for children. For information, visit art-in-bloom.com.
Keiser Iris Festival
May 16–19 — A golf tournament, a parade of bands and classic cars, a pet parade and a carnival will be among the activities at this festival in Keizer. The carnival will be held at Keizer Station. For information, visit irisfestival.com.
Portland Rose Festival
May 19–June 16 — A month of activities during the city’s annual celebration will begin with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Portland Half Marathon on May 19 and conclude with amateur road races June 16. City Fair, offering carnival rides and entertainment at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, will be held on three weekends between May 24 and June 9. The Starlight Parade will be on June 1 and the Grand Floral Parade on June 8. For information, visit rosefestival.org.
UTAH
Great Salt Lake Bird Festival
May 16–20 — Kevin Karlson, an author and shorebird expert, will be the keynote speaker at this festival that will explore birding areas around the Great Salt Lake. The festival, based at the Davis County Legacy Event Center in Farmington, will include workshops and field trips. For information, visit greatsaltlakebirdfest.com.
Moab Arts Festival
May 25–26 — Jewelry, pottery, wood, sculpture, fine art and photography are included in this festival at Swanney City Park in Moab. There will also be music and a food court at the park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For information, visit moabartsfestival.org.
Orem Summerfest
June 14–15 — A craft fair, carnival rides, baby contest, car show, parade and entertainment are all part of Summerfest in Orem. Most events are at Orem City Center Park. For information, visit summerfestorem.org.
Utah Arts Festival
June 20-23 — Performances on five stages, street theater, a film program, and a fine arts exhibition are included in the Utah Arts Festival at Library Square in downtown Salt Lake City. More than 150 artists from across the county will participate in the Artists Marketplace. For information, visit uaf.org.
WASHINGTON
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
April 1–30 — Tulips will be in full bloom in the fields and gardens of the Skagit Valley during this festival, though exactly when depends on the weather. Fields are planted with different varieties, so not all flowers bloom at the same time, but there are always tulips to see throughout the month in the gardens at RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town. Besides viewing tulips, visitors will find a variety of other activities, including a salmon bake, a street fair, an art show, historic home tour, and other events. For a detailed listing, visit tulipfestival.org.
Hulda Klager Lilac Days
April 20–May 12 — You can tour the gardens and an 1880s Victorian farm home during Lilac Days at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in Woodland. The gardens will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lilac plants will be available for purchase. The historic farm home was the residence of Hulda Klager, who was known as “The Lilac Lady” for her work in creating lilac hybrids. For information, visit lilacgardens.com.
Apple Blossom Festival
April 25–May 5 — The Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee will include parades, a carnival, arts and crafts fair, car show, apple pie eating contest, an apple pie and dessert bake-off and a golf tournament. The carnival will be at Riverfront Park, starting April 26 and continuing throughout the festival. The Walmart 37th annual arts and crafts fair will be at Memorial Park May 3-5, and the Les Schwab Classy Chassis Parade & Car Show will be at Eastmont Community Park May 3-4. For information, visit appleblossom.org.
Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival
April 26–28 — This festival presents the opportunity to view some of the hundreds of thousands of shorebirds that stop to rest and feed at the Grays Harbor estuary during their spring migration to the Arctic. The event includes field trips, lectures and a banquet. Festival headquarters is at Hoquiam High School, and the sponsors include the City of Hoquiam, Grays Harbor Audubon Society and the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge. For information, visit shorebirdfestival.com.
Northwest Folklife Festival
May 24–27 — This Seattle festival in its 42nd year offers the opportunity to hear the stories and music of a variety of cultures. A new showcase this year will focus on the traditional dance and music of Asia. Other attractions will include the Bollywood Showcase, Indie Roots music, Balkans Misfits Party and the Norteña Dance Party. A multimedia program called Washington Works will present the folklore of the labor movement and show how jobs have changed over the years. Admission to this event at Seattle Center is free. For information, visit nwfolklife.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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