Deb's Monthly Review

April 2010

Editor: Deb Thompson deb@lightpatch.com

Festivals for Travelers, Sites of the Month, Archives, Selected Links and more.

Bringing you festivals and other fun since 1997!

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	The Artsy Site Of The Month: Midwest Art History Society Exhibitions Exhibition dates for several Midwest venues		Handy Site Of The Month: Restaurant.com Purchase gift dining coupons for friends in other areas.
	Just Fun Site Of The Month: Last Second Deals US travel opportunities in the next few days		Scientific/Technical Sites Of The Month: Cheese Making Milk, salting, coagulation, curing, cheese varieties

 April 2010 Festivals and Events

Books to help you make more money for travel fun or make the most of the money you already have! Making Your Money Count Buy It, Sell It, Make Money The Naked Truth About Your Money Gold: The Once and Future Money Your Money After the Big 5-0 Show Me the Money Make Your Money Make Money For You

Scroll down for April Festivals and other events for travelers in the U.S.

April 1-30, 2010 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Various venues, Mount Vernon, Washington	Tulip Pedal (60, 40, 20-mile routes) April 17, scrapbook swap meet, antique appraisals, wine tasting, street fair Downtown, store open houses, Anacortes Quilt Walk, Tulip Run (2-mile and 5-mile courses) on April 10, 1980s party, dense plantings of tulips, salmon barbecue, art activities for kids, tours of historic homes, nursery trees and roses for sale, alpaca farm open house, PACCAR Open House, tulip bike tours, wildlife tours, boat tours, flights over tulip fields, US Bank Parade April 10 at 2pm on 8th Street (feel free to bring a chair), World Tulip Summit, woodworking show. There will also be a Chili, Chowdah and Chocolate Cookoff. Learn More: Call 360-428-5959
April 3, 2010 Dogwood Days McCurtain County Fairgrounds, Idabel, Oklahoma	Arts and crafts, entertainment, 5K run/walk, merchant specials, festival foods and more. Get details: Call 580-286-3305
April 7-11, 2010 North Carolina Azalea Festival Across from courthouse, Wilmington, North Carolina	It's the 63rd anniversary for this event. Current plans include the Azalea Children's Tea, variety show, horse show, food vendors, concerts, boxing tournament, parade on Saturday morning, pageant, garden tours, circus acts, Azalea Cake Challenge, historic home tours, juried art show and sale, visiting ships. Questions? Call 910-794-4650
April 8-11, 2010 Bloomin' Temple Festival Downtown, Temple, Texas	The carnival only is on April 8. Then we add in a car show, entertainment from Kevin Fowler, Pride and Joy, Hotel California and others. You can also enjoy commercial vendors, arts and crafts, 5K run/1-mile walk, Bloomin Temple Tour (bicycle), activities for kids. Please, no pets and no outside beverages or food. Further Information: Call 254-773-2105
April 9-11, 2010 French Quarter Festival French Quarter neighborhood, New Orleans, Louisiana	Jazz Brunch with Bone Tone Brass Band, Liberty Stompers, Higher Heights Reggae Band, Honey Island Swamp Band, Soul Rebels, Loose Marbles and others. Food choices include pizza, calzone, Po Boys, egg rolls, wings, baked beams, red beans and rice, Cajun meat pies, stuffed bell peppers, coleslaw, BBQ, fresh sorbet, bananas foster, strawberry shortcake, red velvet cake, strawberry crepes. There is usually a parade, plus art and extra activities for the kids. This is the 27th anniversary of the festival. Get The Facts: Call 504-522-6730 or 800-673-5725
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April 9-11, 2010 Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival North 6th Street area, Ponchatoula, Louisiana	For a 39th year the festival offers fun such as sack races, a strawberry eating contest, talent show, egg toss, food booths, music, strawberry baking contest, carnival games and rides, farmers' strawberry judging and auction, parade on Saturday at 9:30am, Strawberry Strut (1-mile and 10k). Questions? Call 985-370-1889 or 800-917-7045
April 9-11, 2010 Founders Day Festival Mercer Street area, Terrell, Texas	The festival marks its 23rd season in 2010. Enjoy music on two stages, arts and crafts, parade at 6:30pm on Friday (bring lawn chairs), washer pitching tournament, commercial booths, carnival, cooking contests for fajitas (plus BBQ, chili, beans and for salsa), plenty of festival foods such as grilled fresh ears of corn and hot dogs. There is no admission charge. Details: Call 512-858-4725-AT-CLARE
April 9-11, 2010 Floral Strawberry Festival Festival Grounds on Highway 16 at Amphion Road, Poteet, Texas	Plans for this 63rd year include Taste of Texas Food Show, arts and crafts, Alamo Attractions Carnival, musical and other entertainment, strawberry judging and auction, rodeo events, commercial exhibits, activities for kids and more. Please leave pets safe and comfortable at home as you come to enjoy the festival. More: Call 830-742-8144 or 800-742-8144
April 10, 2010 National Grits Festival Downtown, Warwick, Georgia	Grits Breakfast 7:30-9:30am, Quaker Grits Eating Contest, Quaker Grits Rolling in the Grits Contest, grits cookoff, arts and crafts, corn shelling contest, festival merchandise, entertainment. It's the event's 13th year of fun. Further Info: Call 229-947-0023
April 10, 2010 Franklin Parish Catfish Festival Historic Downtown, Winnsboro, Louisiana	Cooking contest, festival merchandise, arts and crafts booths, educational booths, festival foods, commercial vendors, musical entertainment. 2010 marks the festival's 24th season. Details: Call 318-435-7607
April 10, 2010 World Catfish Festival Downtown, Belzoni, Mississippi	Carnival rides, entertainment catfish eating contest, pageant, arts and crafts, Catfish on Parade (large figerlass figurines throughout village), 5K run/walk (plus 1-mile fun run for kids), festival foods. Please leave Fido at home. General hours are 10am-5pm. About 20,000 are expected to attend this 35th event. Learn More: Call 800-408-4838
April 10-11, 2010 Baldwin County Strawberry Festival Municipal Park, Loxley, Alabama	Car show, antique tractor show, drawing for prizes, arts and crafts, food booths, strawberry shortcake, fresh berries, musical entertainment. 2010 marks the festival's 23rd year. Questions? Call 251-550-2003
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April 10-11, 2010 Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival Lions Club Fairgrounds at 455 School Street, Moulton, Alabama	Now in its 6th year, this event offers fun such as a wing eating contest, Guitar Hero competition, geocache opportunities, ag photo contest, activities for kids, old-fashioned craft demonstrations, Bantam chickens on display, music on 2 stages, motorcycle run, antique tractors on display, chicken clucking contest, Egg Drop for future engineers, Egg Roulette (in which contestants get 6 eggs, 5 of which are hard boiled and one raw. The eggs are smashed on the forehead until, well...you guessed it. Politicians are the contestants and the proceeds go to charity.) You can also enjoy an egg eating contest and plenty of festival foods. Hours are 10am-10pm on Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday. Further Details: Call 258-974-1658 or 800-974-1658
April 10-11, 2010 Good Old Days Celebration Downtown, Pacific Grove, California	Good Old Days celebrates 53 years of fun with games and contests, food vendors, mini-golf at Caledonia Park, dog agility events, puppet shows, dunk tank, rock climbing wall, Kiwanis pancake breakfast at Jewell Park on Saturday from 8-11am, parade down Pine Avenue on Saturday at 10am, arts and crafts, plus 5 stages of entertainment, classic cars, California Police Motorcyle Competition. Questions? Call 831-373-3304
April 10-11, 2010 Big Hat Days Old Town, Clovis, California	The festival is being held a little later this year in order to avoid clashing with Easter weekend. Enjoy music, merchant specials, commercial vendors, carnival, beer garden, more than 400 arts and crafts booths, food vendors, pony rides for the kids, home and garden show. Put on your big-brimmed hat to shield you from the intensity of the Central Valley sun. Hours are 9am-6pm on Saturday and 9am-5pm on Sunday. It's the 70th year for this one. Additional Facts: Call 559-299-7363
April 15-17, 2010 Magnolia Festival Civic Center, Gardendale, Alabama	Flower show (Thursday and Friday), carnival, food, entertainment, cookie eating contest, art activities for kids, arts and crafts. Further Details: Call 205-631-8789
April 16-17, 2010 StarDaze Festival Downtown, Star City, Alabama	Arts and crafts, car show, motorcycle point run, carnival, entertainment, food. It's the festival's 7th year. Learn More: Call 870-628-6400 or 870-628-9943
April 16-17, 2010 Baxley Tree Fest Across from courthouse, Baxley, Georgia	For a 20th year this festival offers fun such as children's games and rides, a car show, street dance, arts and crafts, Tree-tography Contest, antique tractors on display, motorcycle show, festival foods. Additional Facts: Call 912-367-7731
April 16-17, 2010 Riverfest Historic Downtown, Vicksburg, Mississippi	10,000 are expected to show up for the fun this 42nd year. Plans include street performers, classic cars, games, festival merchandise, arts and crafts, activities for kids, food. Friday night is music night with entertainment from Jason Michael and Carroll J. Blackfoot. Questions? Call 808-221-3536
April 16-17, 2010 Totally Texas Music Festival Jimmy Burke Activity Center at 500 West 13th Street, Deer Park, Texas	Bar-B-Q Cookoff, commercial vendors, parade on Saturday at 10am, festival foods, arts and crafts, music, face painting, costume contest, plenty of music. Get Further Details: Call 281-478-2050
April 16-17, 2010 Magnolia Festival Magnolia Park on Hwy 96 at Hebo Street, Kirbyville, Texas	The carnival opens the evening of April 15. Then the festival adds the fun of entertainment, door prizes, art activities for kids, festival foods, commercial vendors and more. 2010 marks the event's 25th anniversary. Learn More: Call 409-423-5827
April 16-18, 2010 Atlanta Dogwood Festival Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia	It's the 74th year for this one. High School art exhibit, comedy, food, activities for kids, festival merchandise, sponsor booths, non-profit displays, disc dogs, musical entertainment. Info: Call 404-817-6642
April 16-18, 2010 World Grits Festival Near Hwy. 15 and Hwy. 78, St. George, South Carolina	Parade at 11am on Saturday, grits samples, grits eating contest, grits dinner, Rolling in the Grits Contest (divisions for ages 15 and older and for ages 6-14), carnival rides and games, corn toss, basketball contest, wheelbarrow races, business and civic booths, food booths, clothesline art, Hula Hoop Contest, grits grinding demonstrations, grits breakfast. The festival celebrates 25 years in 2010. Further Details: Call 843-563-7943
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April 17, 2010 Spinach Festival Downtown, Alma, Arkansas	Arts and crafts, entertainment, activities for kids, plenty of spinach and other festival foods. Plans are still being finalized at this writing. It's the 24th year for this one. (Alma is home to Allen Canning Company, which produces Popeye brand spinach.) Get The Facts: Call 479-632-4127
April 17, 2010 Cotton Gin Festival Museum at 307 North Main, Burton, Texas	Plans for this 21st year include a children's bicycle parade plus a grand parade, crafts, music, folk life demonstrations, bubble gum blowing contest, historic baling of cotton, tractor pull, tours of the Wehring Shoe Shop, pie eating contest, museum displays, antique machinery on display, auction. When you get hungry you can browse the food concessions for baked potatoes, burgers, fried fish, BBQ, sausage, funnel cakes and root beer floats. Questions? Call 979-289-3378
April 17-18, 2010 Bloomin' Festival St. Bernard Prep School, Culman, Alabama	More than 140 arts and crafts booths, drawings for prizes, Southern specialty foods, musical entertainment. General hours are 9am-5pm. There is an admission charge for those age 6 and older. Please, no pets. (Assistant dogs are always welcome, of course.) Details: Call 256-739-6682 or 800-723-0999
April 17-18, 2010 Fisherman's Festival Westside Park on Westshore Road, Bodega Bay, California	For a 37th year you can enjoy fun such as the boat parade and blessing of the fleet, Wooden Boat Challenge, wine tasting, kite flying, raffle, activities for kids, music and other entertainment, parade of llamas and pets, arts and crafts, BBQ and other festival foods, golf tournament. Kids under age 12 get in free. Hours are 10am-5pm. Additional Facts: Call 707-875-3866
April 17-18, 2010 Cherry Blossom Festival Barnes Park at 350 South McPherrin Avenue, Monterey Park, California	Japanese music and dance, activities for kids, Asian food festival, martial arts demos, taiko drums, commercial vendors, games, Japanese tea ceremony, civic and business vendors. Hours are 11am-6:30pm Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sunday. There is no admission charge. It's the festival's 13th season. Further Information: Call 478-751-7429
April 17-18, 2010 Mainsail Arts Festival Vinoy Park (Bayshore Drive and 7th Avenue NE), St. Petersburg, Florida	Celebrate 35 years with 250 artisans showing and selling their work, school art on display (Young at ART), music ranging from jazz to country to rock and more, art demos. Need something to eat to give you energy for all the fun? How about fajita wraps, sweet potato fries, Cuban sandwiches, BBQ, burgers, grilled Portabello mushroom sandwiches, blackened salmon, pizza, spinach pie, sweet potato pie, bread pudding, fruit smoothies, bananas foster over ice cream. Mingle with some 100,000 other festival-goers. Learn More: Call 727-892-5885 or 727-893-7734
April 17-18, 2010 Bradford County Strawberry Festival Downtown, Starke, Florida	It's the 12th year for this one and plans include classic cars, arts and crafts, entertainment, fresh berries for sale, activities for kids, berry products for sale and more berry treats. General hours are 9am-7pm on Saturday and 9am-5pm on Sunday. Get the Facts: Call 904-964-5278
April 17-18, 2010 Big Shanty Festival Main Street of Downtown, Kennesaw, Georgia	Entertainment from Great Gig Dance Studio and others, parade on Saturday at 9:30am, more than 200 arts and crafts vendors, commercial vendros, festival foods. General hours are 10am-6pm on Saturday and noon-5pm on Sunday. Some 50,000 are expected to attend this 34th year. Questions? Call 770-423-1330
April 17-18, 2010 Terrell Heritage Jubilee Ben Gill Park, Terrell, Texas	Carnival (opens April 15 at 5pm), activities for kids, gunfighter demos, arts and crafts, library book sale, quilt show, BBQ cooking contest, entertainment, motorcycle show and games, pig races, classic cars and trucks, cobbler baking contest, all-breed dog show, trick roper, cowboy poetry, petting zoo. Details: Call 972-542-5703 or 1-877-TERRELL
April 18, 2010 Springfest Street Fair Main & South Broadway area, Nyack, New York	Circus acts, arts and crafts, merchant specials, music in the Veteran's Memorial Park gazebo, festival foods. Hours are 10am-5pm. Questions? Call 845-353-2221
April 20-25, 2010 Festival of the Arts Downtown, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Festival Idol, face painting, Creation Station (where you can create your own art), Young At Art Mart (with kids-only shopping), art showcase, more than 140 arts and crafts booths, Pottery Place, entertainment, festival foods such as burritos, stacked enchiladas, soft pretzels, turkey legs, waldorf salad, bread pudding, brownies and ice cream. There is no admission charge. More: Call 405-270-4848
April 21-25, 2010 National Trout Festival Various venues, Kalkaska, Michigan	Children's trout fishing contest, flea market, parade, Kalkaska Idol, Ugly Truck Contest, classic car show, bingo, euchre tournament, Wii Bowling Tournament, horseshoe tournament, Shady Belle Food and Entertainment, carnival, dance, youth parade on Friday at 2pm, motorcycle show and swap meet, rummage sale, craft show, grocery cart races, fireworks, horse pull, pizza eating contest and more. Info: Call 231-258-9103 or 800-4-TROUT-O
April 21-25, 2010 Vinton Dogwood Festival Downtown, Vinton, Virginia	It's the 55th year for this one. Enjoy a motorcyle show, auto show, arts and crafts, 5K Dogwood Run Saturday at 8:30pm at the Baptist Church, farmers market, parade Saturday at 2:30pm, carnival, food vendors, activities for kids, music from Blue Moonshine Band and others. Learn More: Call 540-983-0613 or 540-983-0614
April 22-25, 2010 Gold Nugget Days Various venues, Paradise, California	Gold panning, pageant, hoagie lunches, Law Dawgs and Pistoleros holding up stagecoaches, Donkey Derby, bean feed, Dogtown in the Park at Community Park (K-9 demo, rabies clinic, paw painting, dog contests), parade, merchant window dressing contest, Doggone Doggy Contest, tent city. In 1858 a 54-pound gold nugget was discovered in the area and the festival celebrates that golden moment in the history of Paradise. Details: Call 530-872-8722
April 22-25, 2010 Vidalia Onion Festival Various venues, Vidalia, Georgia	Air show, arts and crafts, sidewalk sales and merchant specials, festival rodeo, motorcycle rally, onion eating contest, fireworks, Vidalia Onion Run/Walk (19K, 5K & 1-mile), car show, local grower onion sales, Virtual Army Experience, movie at high school football stadium (bring chairs), children's parade, antiques, music. A carnival and a pageant are also part of the festival and may begin earlier in the schedule. It's the event's 33rd year. Get the Facts: Call 912-536-8687
April 23-24, 2010 Dewberry Festival Wilson Ledbetter Park, Cameron, Texas	It's the festival's 14th year. Plans include a horseshoe tournament, BBQ cooking contest, cake contest and auction, arts and crafts, dewberry cobbler with ice cream, entertainment, rides, classic cars, youth fishing tournament, food vendors. Questions? Call 254-697-4979
April 23-25, 2010 Stockton Asparagus Festival Downtown (Weber Point area), Stockton, California	The festival clebrates its 25th year with staged and strolling entertainment, Sea Lion Encounter, Home & Garden Expo at the Civic Center, 3D sidewalk chalk art, entertainment for kids, Tyson (skating bulldog), festival cookbooks for sale, fresh asparagus for sale, Great Spear-It Run (1-mile, 5k, 5-mile) with both serious and costumed-for-fun competitors on April 24, Rockin' Ray and the Amazing Skyy Dogs, hole-in-one golf contest, arts and crafts, deep-fried asparagus eating competition, food and merchandise vendors, asparagus recipe contest, deep-fried asparagus and other festival foods, Patriot Jet Team. Hours are 10am-7pm. Further Information: Call 209-644-3740
April 23-25, 2010 Nantucket Daffodil Festival Throughout the island, Nantucket, Massachusetts	Daffy Hat Parade, Daffodil Dog Parade, Children's Daffodil Parade, Daffodil Tailgate Picnic, antique car parade on Saturday, garden club show, merchant specials, art, walking tours, many flowers to view--maybe millions! Learn More: Call 508-228-1700
April 23-25, 2010 Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival Various venues, Vermontville, Michigan	Pancake breakfast with maple syrup, children's parade April 23 at 11am, museum displays, maple syrup making demonstrations, pedal tractor pull, arts and crafts, grand parade April 24 at 2pm, food vendors, chicken and roast beef dinners, classic cars, petting zoo, arm wrestling competition, egg toss, flea market, carnival, woodworking demonstrations, princess pageant, entertainment, fireworks. The festival celebrates 70 seasons this year. Questions? Call 517-725-0394 or 517-726-0670
April 23-25, 2010 Astoria-Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival County Fairgrounds on Hwy. 202, Astoria, Oregon	Arts and crafts, seafood dinners, wine competition, beer garden, musical entertainment. There is an admission charge for those age 12 and older. 2010 marks the festival's 28th year of fun. Details: Call 503-325-6311 or 800-875-6807
April 23-25, 2010 Germanest City Park area, Muenster, Texas	The festival celebrates 35 years with 3 stages of music, folk dancing, sausage cooking competition, rib cooking competition, BBQ cooking competition, rock climbing wall, brisket cooking competition, Metric Century Bicycle Rally Saturday at 11am, Nagelshlagen (nail driving) contest, arts and crafts, activities for children, sand art and face painting, 5K and 15K runs Sunday at noon. When you get hungry there are homemade breads, apple strudel, sausages, cheeses, cakes and pies. Please, no pets at the festival. Further Info: Call 940-759-2227 or 800-943-8037
April 24, 2010 Auburn CityFest Kiesel Park, Auburn, Alabama	Face painting, carnival, arts and crafts, art activities for kids, pony rides, SkyRiders, children's art exhibit, stilt walking clown, non-profit booths, Lee County Human Society Mutt Strut 5K (canines welcome to this event), Bama Air Dogs, juried fine art show, Sean Driscoll (storyteller), entertainment. Blankets and lawn chairs are allowed into this event. No alcohol, please. Hours are 9am-4pm and there is no admission charge. Get the Facts: Call 334-501-2963 or 334-501-2930
April 24, 2010 Sugar Festival City Park area, Clewiston, Florida	Attendance may have been down a little last year, but things are better than ever for 2010, so come and enjoy classic cars and trucks, Sweet Taste of Sugar Country Dessert Contest (7 categories and then desserts are cut up and sold), rodeo events and a dance, bass tournament (actually runs the next day, April 25), arts and crafts, music, activities for children and more. Questions? Call 863-983-7979
April 24, 2010 Derrick Days Downtown, Corsicana, Texas	Shakers & Scrapers Car Show, arm wrestling competition, film on oil industry, washer pitching tournament, art auction and poster contest, carnival at Bank of America parking lot, chili cooking competition, dog agility demo, tug of war, bed races, golf tournament, pony rides, mechanical bull, bounce houses, arts and crafts, Gospel Stage, parade at 9am, pet adoption info, hot dogs in the park, cow patty bingo, musical tribute to Lefty Frizzell (Friday night), food, prizes. Additional Info: Call 903-654-4851
April 24, 2010 Onion Festival Princeton High School, Princeton, Texas	5K run, pageant, arts and crafts, tennis round-robin tournament, festival merchandise, classic cars, festival foods. It's the 6th year for this one. Get the Facts: Call 972-548-2048 or 972-523-6665
April 24, 2010 Ramps and Rails Railroad Avenue, Elkins, West Virginia	This is the former International Ramp Festival with the same fun and maybe even more fun than before. Enjoy festival foods, activities for kids, taste testing, food vendors, ramp cooking contest, arts and crafts. It's the 20th year of celebration and most events take place between 10am and 6pm. Questions? Call 304-636-5358
April 24-25, 2010 Butter & Egg Days Historic Downtown, Petaluma, California	Cutest Chick Contest (costume contest for small children--must pre-register by April 21), inflatables and other activities for children, parade at noon on Saturday, Kid's Parade at 11:30am on Saturday just before main parade, food court, non-profit booths, entertainment, antique faire on Sunday. 2010 marks the festival's 29th year. Get Details: Call 405-270-4848
April 24-25, 2010 Great American Pie Festival Lakeside Park, Celebration, Florida	Art activities and games for children, Never-ending Pie Buffet, pie baking contests, pie eating contest, musical entertainment, cooking demos, craft (and other) vendors. Slices of a 200-pound pie are sold to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank. General festival hours for this 9th year are 11am-7pm on Saturday and noon-5pm on Sunday. Further Information: Call 847-371-0170
April 24-25, 2010 Great Griffin Mayfling City Park, Griffin, Georgia	Local entertainment, festival foods, juried arts and crafts, community and non-profit booths, activities for kids and more. Hours are 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday. More: Call 770-228-8200
April 24-25, 2010 Main Street Festival Historic Main Street, Franklin, Tennessee	For a 27th year Franklin celebrates with 200 juried arts and crafts booths, an area for children, 2 carnivals, 3 stages of music and other entertainment. You'll also find more than 20 food vendors in 3 areas. Enjoy stuffed baked potatoes, corn on the cob, gyros, Mexican dishes Asian specialties, BBQ, burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and funnel cakes (just as an example). Questions? Call 615-591-8500
April 24-25, 2010 National Cornbread Festival Downtown, South Pittsburgh, Tennessee	The festival celebrates 14 years with jam sessions, classic cars, historical tours, carnival (opening a few days early), pancake breakfast Sunday from 7:30-10am at the Cook-Off Tent, cornbread baking competition, arts and crafts, music and more. Further Details: Call 423-837-0022
April 24-25, 2010 Red Poppy Festival Downtown Square, Georgetown, Texas	Gymnastics demonstrations, Red Poppy Bike Ride Saturday (14, 30, 45, 62 or 100 miles), battle of the bands, Safe Place Kids Village, arts and crafts, car show, musical entertainment, food court, Saturday night concert and dance, coloring contest for the kids, Red Poppy Run. The festival marks 11 seasons this year. Get the Facts: Call 512-930-3545
April 30-May 2, 2010 Vermont Maple Festival Main Street area Downtown, St. Albans, Vermont	Maple Buffet Dinner, pony rides and other activities for kids, maple cooking demonstrations and cooking contests, pancake breakfast at City Elementary School on Bellows Street Saturday and Sunday 7am-noon (adults paying $6.50 and breakfast coming with samples of Cabot cheese and also ice cream), Fiddler's Variety Show, carnival games and rides, antiques, Sap Run (8.5 miles), sugarhouse tours, youth talent show, museum displays, staged entertainment, arts and crafts booths, parade at 1pm on Sunday, maple cotton candy, burgers and hot dogs, pizza, onion rings and fries, maple shakes, maple sugar on snow. It's the festival's 44th year. Learn More: Call 802-524-5800
Sorry, festival-goers. I am unable to fulfill requests for personalized festival lists free of charge. You may hire me by the hour for personal research.
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April Somethings! Brief, bare-boned last-minute festival listings:
Apr. 1-3 Pony Express Sesquicentennial, Patee Park at 914 Penn, St. Joseph, Missouri, 816-279-5059 or 800-530-5930 Apr. 1-30 Bluebonnet Trails Festival (59th), Ennis, Texas, 972-878-4748 Apr. 2-4 Deep Ellum Arts Festival (16th), Entertainment District on Main, Dallas, Texas, 214-855-1881 Apr. 3 Threefoot Festival, 8am-5pm, Downtown, Meridian, Mississippi, 601-485-1944 or 601-693-2787 Apr. 3 Billy the Kid Day (22nd), Downtown on Pecan Street, Hico, Texas, 800-361-4426 Apr. 8-11 Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival (35th), Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas, 817-336-2787 Apr. 9-10 Lebanese Food & Culture Festival,                    10am-9pm, Saint Elias Maronite Catholic Church, Birmingham, Alabama, 205-253-6564 or 205-251-5057 Apr. 9-11 Generation Festival (jazz), Conference Center, Monterey, California, 831-373-3366 Apr. 9-11 Cypress Sawmill Festival (20th),                    Kemper Williams Park/Campground, Patterson, Louisiana, 985-395-4905 or 800-256-2931 Apr. 9-11. 16-18, 23-25 Texas Crawfish & Music Festival (24th), Old Town Springs, Texas, 713-249-3998 or 800-853-8696 Apr. 9-11 Texas Sandfest (14th), Beach Markers 9 & 10, Port Aransas, Texas, 800-452-6278 Apr. 10 Orange Harvest Festival (8th), 9-5, Eaton Park, Orange Cove, California, 550-626-5179 Apr. 10 Pear Blossom Festival (57th), Downtown, Medford, Oregon, 541-734-PEAR Apr. 10 Lewisburg Chocolate Festival, Historic Downtown, Lewisburg, West Virginia, 800-833-2068 Apr. 10-11 Hawaiian Scottish Festival, Kapiolani Park, Waikiki, Hawaii, 808-625-3559 Apr. 10-11 Texas Bluebonnet Festival, 10-6/noon-5, Downtown, Chappell Hill, Texas, 979-836-6033 Apr. 10-18 Cimarron Territory Celebration, Various venues, Beaver, Oklahoma, 580-625-4725 Apr. 15-17 Hillbilly Days Festival, Pikeville, Kentucky, 605-432-5504 Apr. 15-18 Vintage Days (36th), Treasure Island, California State University of Fresno, California, 559-278-2741 Apr. 15-18 Windfest (37th), Community Center, Portland, Texas, 361-643-2475 or 877-643-6475 Apr. 15-24 Come See Me Festival, Rock Hill, South Carolina, 800-681-7635 Apr. 16-17 Crawfish Festival (19th), Faunsdale, Alabama, 334-628-3240 Apr. 16-17 Green Frog Festival, Downtown, Wilburton, Oklahoma, 918-465-2254 Apr. 16-18 Central Valley Pizza Festival, Lemoore, California, 559-924-3421 Apr. 16-18 Pompano Beach Seafood Festival (26th), On the beach, Pompano Beach, Florida, 954-941-2940 Apr. 16-18 National Mayhaw Festival, Spring Creek Recreational Park, Colquitt, Georgia, 229-758-2400 Apr. 16-18 Teche Bear Festival (7th), Historic Downtown, Franklin, Louisiana, 800-256-2931 Apr. 17 Strawberry Festival (24th), 9-5, Downtown, Castleberry, Alabama, 251-966-2422 Apr. 17 Dogwood Days, Diamond B Mall parking lot area, Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas, 870-670-6397 Apr. 17 Picnic Day (96th), UC Davis Campus, Davis, California, 530-752-6320 Apr. 17 Thunder Road Festival, Downtown, Rockwood, Tennessee, 865-250-6717 Apr. 17-18 Spring Fest, Purdue University, West Lfayette, Indiana, 765-456-7649 Apr. 17-18 Wamego Tulip Festival (23rd), 9-5/11-4, City Park, Wamego, Kansas, 785-456-7649 Apr. 17-18 Chocolate Festival (23rd), Old Town, Washington, (Maysville), Kentucky, 606-759-0505 Apr. 17-25 Clarendon Country Striped Bass (31st), Downtown Square, Manning, South Carolina, 803-432-4405 Apr. 18 Spring Bada-Bing, 11-4, Plant Zero on E. 4th St., Richmond, Tennessee, 804-304-4312 Apr. 19-25 World's Biggest Fish Fry , Henry County Fairgrounds, Paris, Tennessee, 731-642-3431 Apr. 22-24 Rose Show & Festival (89th), Downtown & Paradise Park, Thomasville, Georgia, 229-227-3310 or 229-227-7020 Apr. 23-24 Norman 89er Day, Norman, Oklahoma, 405-366-8095 or 405-217-9611 Apr. 23-24 Red Fern Festival, Norris Park Downtown, Tahlequa, Oklahoma, 918-456-3742 Apr. 23-24 Riverfest, Municipal Park, Freeport, Texas, 979-233-3305 or 979-233-5051 Apr. 23-25 Festival on the River (35th),                    Robert Fowler Memorial Park & Von Braun Center, Geneva, Alabama, 334-684-6582 or 334-684-2485 Apr. 23-25 Panoply Arts Festival (29th), Big Spring International Park, Huntsville, Alabama, 256-519-2767 Apr. 23-25 Santa Maria Strawberry Festival, Fairpark, Santa Maria, California, 805-925-8824 Apr. 23-25 Leesburg Bikefest (14th), Downtown, Leesburg, Florida, 352-365-0053 Apr. 23-25 Fisherman's Festival, Boothbay Harbor, Maine, 207-633-2325 or 207-633-4825 Apr. 24 Double Decker Arts Festival, Oxford Square, Oxford, Mississippi, 662-232-2367 or 800-756-9177 Apr. 24 Eeyore's Birthday Party (47th), 11am-dusk, Pease Park, Austin, Texas, 512-448-5160 Apr. 24 San Jacinto Day Festival, 10-6, One Monument Circle, La Porte, Texas, 281-479-2421 Apr. 24 Bluebird Festival (17th), Willis Point, Texas, 903-873-3111 or 903-560-0156 Apr. 24-25 California Poppy Festival, Lancaster, California, 661-723-6173 Apr. 24-25 Daffodil Festival (32nd), Meriden, Connecticut, 203-630-4259 Apr. 24-25 Apopka Art & Foliage Festival (49th),                    9-5, Kit Land Nelson Park, Apopka, Florida, 407-884-6488 Apr. 24-25 Carrabelle Riverfront Festival (20th),                    10-6/10-4, Marine Street along Riverwalk, Carrabelle, Floria, 850-697-2565 Apr. 24-25 Melbourne Art Festival, Downtown, Melbourne, Florida, 321-722-1964 Apr. 24-25 Spring Jonquil Festival, 10-6 & noon-5, Village Green, Smyrna, Georgia, 770-423-6600 Apr. 24-25 East Maui Taro Festival (18th), Hana Ballpark, Hana, Hawaii, 808-264-1553 Apr. 24-25 Austin Fine Arts Festival, Republic Square Park, Austin, Texas, 512-456-6073 Apr. 24-25 Arbor Daze, 9am-8pm & 2-6pm, City Hall Campus on Ector Drive, Euless, Texas, 817-685-1660 Apr. 24-25 Dirty Dan Seafood Festival, Village Green (and other venues),                    10:30-4:30, Fairhaven, Washington, Email doug@epicevents.us Apr. 25 Festival de la Familia (19th), 10-6, Cal Expo, Sacramento, California, 916-422-2700 Apr. 25 St. Michael Spring Festival, Veterans Hall at 503 Park Drive, Weimar, Texas, 979-263-5251 Apr. 28-May 2 Raisin Festival, Lincoln Park, Selma, California, 559-891-2235 Apr. 30 Apple Blossom Festival, 5-8pm, Presbyterian Manor Grounds, Newton, Kansas, 316-263-5400 Apr. 30-May 1 Mushroom Festival, Downtown, Richmond, Missouri, 816-776-6916 Apr. 30-May 1 Brickfest, Santa Fe Place, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, 405-238-2555
Other April 2010 Events You Might Enjoy
Apr. 1 St. Stupid's Day Parade (32nd), noon,                    Justin Herman/Embarcadero Plaza, San Francisco, California, 510-841-1898 Apr. 2-3 Home & Garden Show (21st), County Expo Center, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 405-372-2540 Apr. 2-11 International Auto Show, Javits Convention Center, New York, New York, 800-282-3338 Apr. 3 Crescent City Classic (32nd), New Orleans, Louisiana, 504-861-8686 Apr. 9 Art Stroll & Chili Feed, Downtown, Sisters, Oregon, 541-549-4979 Apr. 9-10 Big One Spring Art & Craft Fair (19th), State Fair Center, Minot, North Dakota 701-836-9385 Apr. 9-11 Best of the Valley Quilt Show (15th),                    Mcdermont Field House at 365 N. Sweet Brier, Lindsay, California, 550-562-3326 Apr. 9-11 Bloom 'n' Garden Expo (6th), County Expo Center on Long Lane, Franklin, Tennessee, 615-790-5721 Apr. 9-11 Orvis Warehouse Sale,                    9-6/9-6/10-4, Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, Virginia, 888-235-9763 or 800-635-7635 Apr. 10 Prairie Dog Chili Cook-Off (35th), 10-5, Traders Village, Grand Prairie, Texas, 972-647-2331 Apr. 10 Spring Fair to Remember (11th), Fair Pavilion at 3000 Hwy. PV, West Bend, Wisconsin, 262-692-9488 Apr. 10-11 Florida International Air Show, Charlotte City Airport, Punta Gorda, Florida, 941-575-9007 Apr. 11 Spring Breakout Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet, 10:30am-5pm, Ice Time Arena, Newburgh, New York, 807-863-4295 Apr. 11 New York Autograph Show, 9-5, Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, New York, New York, 888-338-4338 Apr. 11 Spring Craft Show, 9am-3:30pm, Simek Recreation Center, Medford, Wisconsin, 715-748-6655 Apr. 14-17 Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association National Championship (7th),                    Paul Battle Arena, Tunica, Mississippi, 480-683-0485 Apr. 16-18 Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con, Convention Center, Anaheim, California Apr. 16-18 Wildflower Show (49th), 10-5, Museum of Natural History, Pacific Grove, California, 831-548-5716 Apr. 16-18 Antique Alley,                    25-mile area, Cleburne (and Grandview and Maypearl), Texas, 817-645-2455 Apr. 16-18 Dallas Guitar Show (33rd), Market Hall on Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas, 972-260-4201 or 972-240-2206 Apr. 16-20 Book Faire Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa, California, 707-545-0831 ext. 541 Apr. 17 Kingsburg Car Show, Kingsburg, California, 559-897-1111 Apr. 17 Southern Kentucky Book Fest (12th), Sloan Convention Center, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 270-745-6016 Apr. 17 Thunder Over Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 502-584-6383 Apr. 17-18 Art on the Lake (49th),                    10-5, Rec Center at 1503 Sunset Drive, Guntersville, Alabama, 256-582-4378 Apr. 22-25 Clovis Rodeo (96th), Rodeo Grounds, Clovis, California, 559-299-8838 Apr. 22-25 Texas International Boat Show, Downtown Marina, Corpus Christi, Texas, 581-842-8808 Apr. 23-25 Connecticut Storytelling Festival (29th), Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut, 860-439-2764 Apr. 23-25 Interstate Mullet Toss, Flora-Bama Lounge, Perdido Key, Florida, 850-492-6838 Apr. 23-25 April Action Car Show, City Park, Moab, Utah, 435-259-5858 Apr. 23-25 Dogwood Arts & Crafts Festival, Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington, West Virginia, 304-696-5990 Apr. 24 Ducky Derby & Carnival (20th), 10:30am-3:30pm, Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz, California, 831-479-4070 Apr. 24 Blessing of the Bikes, St. George's Anglican Church, Helmetta, New Jersey, 732-966-8868 Apr. 24 Weiner Dog Races & Parade, Sulphur, Oklahoma, 580-622-6246 Apr. 24-25 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, UCLA Main Campus, Los Angeles, California, 213-237-7335 or 800-LATIMES Apr. 24-25 Wildflower Show, 10-4, Mission College, Santa Clara, California, 650-691-9749 or 650-941-1068 Apr. 25 Big Sur International Marathon, Big Sur, California, 831-825-6226 Apr. 25 Taste of Marietta (17th), 11-7, Marietta Square, Marietta, Georgia, 770-429-1115 Apr. 30-May 2 New Living Expo (9th), Concourse Exhibition Center at 8th & Brannon, San Francisco, California, 415-382-8300
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It's always best to call ahead to verify festival information. Please tell them you saw the listing in Deb's Monthly Review.

Above: Metallic Choker Necklace Left: Feather Choker Necklace

Joan Garnand creates from her home in Tennessee. Her design styles range from simple elegance to whimsical fun. Joan does hand-painted stationery, uses spare moments at festivals to paint faces, and entertains children at private parties. A sample of her work is illustrated online. Talk to her about what you're looking for!

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Last Updated March 30, 2010

Deb's Monthly Review © copyright Deb Thompson