April 2003

Editor: Deb Thompson deb@lightpatch.com

Festivals for Travelers, Sites of the Month, Special Feature, Archives, Opinions, Rants, Praises.

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The Artsy Site Of The Month: Email Effects Shareware to create and email ASCII art--both PC and Mac versions available.		Handy Site Of The Month: World Health Organization: Publications They provide research papers and other health information.
Just Fun Site Of The Month: Today's Front Pages More than 200 front pages from world newspapers in 29 countries.		Scientific Site Of The Month: NOAA's Operational Significant Event Imagery Satellite imagery of storms, fires, iceberg events and more.

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April Events

For April Travelers

April 2-6, 2003 North Carolina Azalea Festival various venues, Wilmington, North Carolina.	Clyde-Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus, garden tours, historic home tours, horse show, designer showcase, parade, street fair, coin show, tours of battleship USS North Carolina, Coastal Carolina Air Show, appearance by festival queen-- actress Tracey Bregman. This the the 56th year of the event. Further Details: Call 910-794-4650.
April 3-6, 2003 Mule Day Maury County Park, Columbia, Tennessee.	Checkers contest, Mules On The Loose statues display, pancake breakfast, Gaited Mule State Championship, Mule Day Pageant (that's for humans!), flea market, arts and crafts, liars' contest, Mule Pulling competitions, knife contest, and plenty of food. More: Call 931-381-9557.
April 4-6, 2003 The Big Squeeze Juice Festival unknown venue(s), Palm Bay, Florida.	This festival promotes the state's juice production, and began 3 years ago. There is free juice tasting, educational booths, entertainment, a carnival, crafts and food. Further Details: Call 800-276-9130.
April 5-6, 2003 Big Hat Days Old Town, Clovis, California.	Everyone is encouraged to wear a big hat to shelter them from the sun while they enjoy 350 food and crafts booths, an boat and auto show, Home and Garden Show, music, a beverage garden, and carnival rides. Details: Call 559-299-7363 or 559-299-7273.
April 5-6, 2003 Bloomin Festival St. Bernard Prep School, Cullman, Alabama.	The event is in its 19th year, and features more than 150 booths of juried arts. There is entertainment, and there will be children's activities and plenty of Southern foods. There is an admission fee for those 6 and older. Further Details: Call 800-722-0999.
April 5-6, 2003 Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival Westside Park, Bodega Bay, California.	Boat parade and a blessing of the fleet, entertainment, artisans and vendors, wine tasting, face painting and games for kids, llamas on parade, golf tournament, raffle, and foods such as roast lamb and veggie burgers. This is the event's 30th year. There is an admission charge for those over age 12. More: Call 707-522-0526.
April 5-6, 2003 Maple Syrup Festival Brady's Run Park, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.	Pancake breakfast, tours of maple-syrup making, arts and crafts and entertainment, historical presentations, pony rides. Additional Details: Call 724-774-7090.
April 5-6, 2003 Corpus Christi Festival Of Arts 100 Shoreline Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas.	Juried art show with entertainment, food, silent auction, and children's art area. There is an admission charge for those over age 11. Additional Information: Call 361-884-6406.
April 5-6, 2003 Scandinavia Festival Catholic Lutheran University, 60 West Owen Road, Thousand Oaks, California.	This is the festival's 30th year, and events include a Scandinavian marketplace, music, Viking Living History presentations, children's activities, arts and crafts, Tivoli Gardens, and foods such as gravlax sandwiches, Swedish pancakes, lefse, potato salad and Danish pastries. There is a separate smorgasbord for which you must reserve a seat at 805-493-3203. Details: Call 805-493-3151.
April 6-12, 2003 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia various venues, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.	Trolley tours of cherry tree areas, kite festival, tea ceremonies, martial arts demonstrations, origami workshop, bonsai exhibit, taiko drums, sake tasting, kimono exhibit, Japanese story hour, silent auction, anime film showing. More Information: Call 215-790-3810.
April 10-12, 2003 Village Creek Festival unknown venue(s), Lumberton, Texas.	In its 13th year, the festival features a beauty pageant, parade, entertainment, talent contest, crafts, food and carnival rides. Additional Details: Call 409-755-0554.
April 11-13, 2003 French Quarter Festival French Quarter area, New Orleans, Louisiana.	Fireworks, courtyard tours, music, children's activities, Pirate's Alley Art Show, "Guess the Weight of the World's Largest Praline" contest, parades, foods such as Key Lime Pie and Mint Julep Ice Cream. Details: Call 800-673-5725 or 504-522-5730.
April 11-13, 2003 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia.	240 artisans, "Publix & Purina" interactive Kid's village, many musical performances, 24-foot rock climbing wall, Disc Dog Southern Nationals, walking tours of area homes, charitable organizations, and festival foods such as funnel cakes, roasted nuts, pizza, and grilled specialties. Details: Call 404-329-0501.
April 11-13, 2003 History Meets The Arts Festival various venue(s), Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.	The 6th year of this event brings more than 75 artisans to show and, in some cases, sell, their original works. In addition to art depicting the American West and wartime works, there will be aviation art, wildlife art, and an exclusive showing of Harley-Davidson art. All this is set in one of the most historic communities in the country. Additional Details: Call 717-334-6274.
April 11-13, 2003 Poteet Strawberry Festival Festival Grounds on Highway 16, Poteet, Texas.	Carnival, Dances With Texas music, parade, the "Taste of Texas" food show and auction, helicopter rides, arts and crafts show, strawberry judging contest, fireworks, rodeo, festival foods. Please do not bring your pets to the grounds--only service animals are allowed. Additional Details: Call 830-742-8144.
April 11-13, 2003 Terrell Heritage Jubilee Ben Gill Park, Terrell, Texas.	In keeping with the first celebration of the livestock industry, the festival sports a Western theme, with a BBQ competition, a 1930's reenactment, Wild West Show, games, Heritage Trail Tour of Homes, trick ropers, cowboy poets, food and more. Additional Details: Call 1-877-TERRELL or 972-563-5703.
April 11-27, 2003 Dogwood Arts Festival various venues, Knoxville, Tennessee.	Dogwood trail tours, art show, quilt show, photography show, mascot Dogwoody's 16th birthday party (with other area mascots and plenty of children's events), a Dogwood Breakfast, Chef's Showcase, special heritage days on Market Square, parade, cycling race, Rossini Festival, flower show and much more. Some events are ticketed separately. Additional Details: Call 865-637-4561.
April 12, 2003 National Grits Festival unknown venue(s), Warwick, Georgia.	Breakfast at Grits Station, arts and crafts, corn shucking contest, antique tractor show, grits cooking contest, antique auto show, raffle, grits eating contest, "Roll in the Quaker Instant Grits", pony rides, parade, performance by the Marine Corps Ceremonial Band. Additional Details: Call 229-535-6670.
April 12-13, 2003 Big Shanty Festival Downtown Kennesaw, Georgia	Over 30,000 are expected to enjoy entertainment, children's activities, a Civil War Encampment, arts and crafts, general vendors and festival foods. There is no admission charge. Tickets: Call 770-423-1330.
April 12-13, 2003 Spring Fest various Purdue venues, West Lafayette, Indiana.	The Bug Bowl (with an insect petting zoo, insect displays, cockroach racing, and insects as food, including Chocoate Covered Crickets and a cake decorating contest using insects as the motif). There are many other activities centering on Purdue's agricultural departments--but the truth is that most folks are drawn to that Bug Bowl! More: Call 765-494-9061.
April 12-13, 2003 Texas Hot and Spicy Festival Reliant Center, Houston, Texas.	Fire Fighters Cook-Off Challenge, Salsa Competition, cooking demonstrations, farmers market, kids playland, music, arts and crafts, plenty of spicy foods. Additional Information: Call 281-416-0964.
April 12-13, 2003 Stater Bros. Orange Blossom Festival Downtown, Riverside, California.	Parade, music, Children's Grove, Crayola Craft Exhibit, mini carnival, Technology Grove, fireworks, arts and crafts. Details: Call 909-715-3400.
April 12-13, 2003 Chocolate Festival Old Main Street, Washington, Kentucky.	Many chocolate treats, chocolate prizes, contests, trivia contest called "Chocolate Bee", fudge cooking contest. All this is set in the historic town with its antique shops and costumed guides. There is no admission charge. More Information: Call 606-759-7305.
April 12-13, 2003 Fine Arts Festival (formerly Fiesta at Laguna Gloria) Republic Square Park, Austin, Texas.	This event is in its 53rd year, and includes children's hands-on art activities, music, food and juried arts. Additional Details: Call 512-458-6073.
April 12-13, 2003 Good Old Days Celebration Downtown area, Pacific Grove, California.	Parade on Pine Avenue, more than 200 arts and food vendors, entertainment, California Police Motorcycle Competition, old-fashioned games and contests. . Additional Details: Call 831-373-3304.
April 13, 2003 Rivers of Chocolate Festival The Mountain Winery, Saratoga, California.	This event benefits Santa Clara County Social Advocates for Youth, and features tastings by chefs, wineries and chocolatiers. There are also cooking demonstrations, silent aucions and more. This year's theme area is Florence, Italy. Space is limited. Tickets: Call 408-253-3540.
April 13, 2003 Avocado Festival Downtown area, Fallbrook, California.	Pageant, Avocado 500 (a race of cars built of avocados), Culinary Contest, Flower show, Avo Olympics (includes avocado pit-spitting), tours of Del Rey Avocado Company, antique aircraft display, avocados for sale, plants and trees for sale, vendors, many foods. Additional Information: Call 760-728-5845.
April 18, 2003 Marshmallow Drop Elizabeth Park, Trenton, Michigan.	Not a festival in the true sense of the word, this event still qualifies as celebration. 20,000 marshmallows will be released from the Easter Bunny's helicopter at 9am. Kids collect the marshmallows and trade them for prizes. More: Call 734-261-1990.
April 18-19, 2003 Easter Festival & Chili Classic Flat Rock Lake Park, Kerville, Texas.	Easter egg hunt, chili cooking competition, Armadillo races, music and food. Further Details: Call 830-792-3535.
April 18-19, 2003 Totally Texas Festival Jimmy Burke Activity Center, 500 W. 13th Street, Deer Park, Texas.	Hot Dog eating contest, beauty pageant, carnival, musical entertainment, anvil throw, Kids Go Country Contest, Skillet throw, wagon rides, petting zoo, food, classic cars, parade. Additional Details: Call 281-479-CITY.
April 19-20, 2003 Mainsail Arts Festival Straub Park, St. Petersburg, Florida.	For the 28th time, over a total of over 200 artisans show and sell their wares, accompanied by musical entertainment and plenty of foods and beverages. Please, do not bring pets or coolers into the park. Further Information: Call 727-892-5885.
April 22-27, 2003 Festival Of The Arts unknown venue(s), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.	Visual artists, entertainment on 4 stages, street performers, Children's ArtField, sculpture park, windscapes, Creation Station, talent show for children, food and more. Details: Call 405-270-4848.
April 22-27, 2003 National Trout Festival various venues, Kalkaska, Michigan.	Flea market, carnival, parades, concerts, community dinner, fishing contest, car show, events for kids and more. More: Call 231-259-9103.
April 25-27, 2003 National Cornbread Festival Downtown area, South Pittsburgh, Tennessee.	5K road race, jam band contest, arts and crafts, Cornbread Alley with many foods such as Sweet Potato Cornbread. (My talented friend Joan Garnand usually takes part in this event. Joan is well-known for her arts and crafts items and her imaginative face painting!) More: Call 423-837-0022.
April 25-27, 2003 Stockton Asparagus Festival Oak Grove Regional Park, Stockton, California.	Got Milk Gravity Tour, recipe contest, Great Spear-It Run, Mayor's Celebrity Spear-Throwing competition, classic car show, hole-in-one golf contest, tech zone, over 100 arts and crafts booths, home and garden displays and vendors, entertainment, and foods such as deep-fried asparagus and asparagus pasta. There will be wine at this event. No coolers are allowed, and no pets. There will be a pet-sitting service available. There is an admission charge for visitors over age 12. Information: Call 209-644-3740.
April 26, 2003 Sugar Festival City Park, Clewiston, Florida.	Food booths, entertainment, arts and crafts, old-fashioned cane grinding. Additional Information: Call 863-983-7979.
April 26, 2003 International Ramp Festival Executive Plaza, Elkins, West Virginia.	Cooking contest, taste testing, entertainment, food vendors, crafts, traditional ramp dinner. More: Call 304-636-8046.
April 26-27, 2003 Spring Jonquil Festival Village Green, Smyrna, Georgia.	More than 150 artisans, events for children, and food. Additional Details: Call 770-431-2842 or 770-423-1330.
April 27, 2003 Jewish Festival Oak Park, Santa Barbara, California.	Musical entertainment and Israeli dancing, book fair, Park Halom for children, raffle, arts and food. Additional Details: Call 805-957-1115.
April 29 - May 11, 2003 Contraband Days Festival Civic Center, Lake Charles, Louisiana.	Pirate costume contest, food booths, petting zoo, music, parade, tennis tournament, classic car show, Sink-O De Mayo contest, fishing tournament, Tour Lafitte bike ride, 5 mile run, sailboat regatta, arm wrestling, fireworks, egg drop contest, beach volleyball tournament, lumberjack competition, water wars, climbing wall, displays, carnival rides and more. Additional Details: Call 337-436-5508.
March Somethings! Brief, bare-boned last-minute festival listings:
Apr. 4-5 John Chisum Roundup Days, Love Civic Center, Paris, Texas, 903-783-9310 Apr. 4-5 St. Johns River Catfish Festival, Crescent City, Florida, 386-698-2847 Apr. 4-5 Hawaiian Scottish Festival, Kapiolani Park, Waikiki, Hawaii, 808-235-7605 Apr. 5 Quilt and Garden Festival, Kitchen Kettle Village, Intercourse, Pennsylvania, 800-732-3538 Apr. 5-6 Jewish Community Fair, Boca Raton, Florida, 561-852-3159 Apr. 12-13 Warner Park Art Festival, Woodland Hills, California, phone unknown Apr. 12-13 Sebastopol Apple Blossom Festival, Sebastopol, California, 707-823-3032 Apr. 12-13 Rose Festival, Tombstone, Arizona, 888-457-3929 Apr. 12-13 Strawberry Festival, Loxley, Alabama 251-964-5091 Apr. 12-13 Chain of Parks Art Festival, Downtown, Tallahassee, Florida, 850-222-8800 Apr. 12 Cherry Blossom Festival, Barnes Park, Monterey Park, California, 626-307-2541 Apr. 17-19 Big Thicket Texian Days, Kountze, Texas, 409-246-3413 Apr. 19 Ramp Festival, Glendale Lodge 78, Charleston, West Virginia, 304-342-2464 Apr. 19-20 Strawberry Festival, Placer County Fairgrounds, Roseville, California, 916-781-7066 or 877-742-7066 Apr. 19-20 Topaz Chili Cook-Off and Craft Fair, Reno, Nevada, 775-266-3468 Apr. 19-26 International Wildlife Film Festival, various venues, Missoula, Montana, 406-728-9380 Apr. 24-27 Geauga County Maple Festival, Chardon Square, Chardon, Ohio, 440-286-3007 Apr. 25-27 Crab & Seafood Festival, Astoria, Oregon, 503-325-6311 Apr. 25-May 3 Spring Festival, Townsend, Tennessee, 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834 Apr. 30-May 4 Mesquite Days, Recreation Center, Mesquite, Nevada, 702-346-8732
Other March 2003 Events You Might Enjoy
Mar. 1-2 Model Train Show, Maude Cobb Convention Center, Longview, Texas, 903-237-1231 Apr. 2-4 Arts & Crafts Show, The Orchards Mall, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 269-927-4467 Apr. 4-6 An Arts & Crafts Affair, Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, 402-331-2889 Apr. 5 Spring Art & Craft Show, Helena, Montana, 406-449-4790 Apr. 5-6 Antique Show & Sale, Civic Center, Traverse City, Michigan, 231-922-4818 Apr. 11-13 President Grant's Grand Birthday Celebration, Galena, Illinois, 815-777-9129 Apr. 12 Thunder over Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 502-584-6383 Apr. 12-13 Tallahassee Orchid Show, 3125 Conner Blvd., Tallahassee, Florida, 850-878-3278 Apr. 15-16 Five Colleges Book Sale, Hanover High School, Hanover, New Hampshire, 603-448-1920 Apr. 18 Cruise Night, Fairway Chevrolet, Las Vegas, Nevada, 702-643-0000 Mar. 8-9 Depression Glass Era Show & Sale, Concord Plaza, Northlake, Illinois, 630-734-9912 Mar. 9 Calle Ocho, Southwest Eighth St., Miami, Florida, 305-644-8888 Mar. 8-9 Buffalo Home and Garden Show, Convention Center, Buffalo, New York, 716-631-2266 ext. 213 Apr. 23-27 Cincinnati Flower Show, Lake Como at Coney Island, Cincinnati, Ohio, 513-872-5194 Apr. 25-27 Eastern National Antique Show, Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 717-787-5373 Apr. 27 Taste of Marietta, Town Square, Marietta, Georgia, 770-429-1115 Mar. 21-23 Bagwell Antiques Show & Sale, Fairgrounds, Jackson, Mississippi, 662-231-9654 Mar. 22-23 Used Book Super Sale, Marin Center Exhibit Hall, San Rafael, California, 415-892-0238
It's always best to call ahead to verify festival information. Please tell them you saw the information in Deb's Monthly Review. Please don't write and ask for personalized information on upcoming festivals, (unless you want to hire me for personal research!)

Scrapbooking supplies & more

You know how to barter--all you do is trade Something you have for something you want! Keep more of your cash-- And barter! Check out Santa Cruz Barter!

Once upon a time there was a man with a gentle voice and quiet charm. He made several movies and worked in a TV show playing a character who rode a motorcycle from town to town, touching lives, and singing a little here and there. Then some of us didn't hear much of him for awhile. We wondered if he would ever come to sing for us again.
Michael Parks is singing, and he recorded 17 songs for us to enjoy, including: I'll Never Be Free Basin Street Blues Don't Go To Strangers Easy Street This CD was a long time coming, but it was worth waiting for. Take a trip to Listen Recordings where you can order your copy.

	Above: Metallic Choker Necklace Left: Dreamcatcher Earrings	We're pleased to host the work of artisan Joan Garnand on our little patch of light on the web. Joan's creations are finally finding their way out of her Tennessee community and into the hearts of admirers everywhere. Joan also spends much of her time doing hand-painted stationery and face painting at private events and at Tennessee festivals.

The man in the banner below this text is not your average guy next door.

This man is Scott L. Schwartz. If you ever get into trouble, you'll want him on your side. This guy means business. And his business is playing big and bad. Big may come easy, because he's 6'10" and weighs about 300 pounds. I'm not sure how he pulls off the bad part though, because he actually seems to be very... Well, never mind. Just click on the banner and get ready for some action. www.ultimatebadguy.com Scott played a camouflage wrestler in the highly successful film Spiderman, which is now out on DVD. Scott got to show us his big bad work in the CBS special Return To The Bat Cave, which aired March 9.

It's been 200 years since the Louisiana Purchase, and there's a web site commemorating the event. Louisiana Purchase 2003.
If you're reading this now, it's happening to you. It's called getting older. Find out resources, research and news about aging at the U.S. Administration on Aging website. If you're under the age of 50, you can't be a baseball player in this crowd. So hurray for getting older!		Get some ideas for taste Passover Recipes. German traditions and recipes using Easter Eggs.
Cinco de Mayo is coming next month, and if you'd like to get in on the chile pepper madnesss of hot dishes, check out the Blister Site. You'll find out how to choose mild, medium or hot peppers for your spicy recipes. And if you get the food too hot, there are some tips on how to cool your suffering taste buds!

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