Let's Go April!

Spring blooms at Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem, N.C. photo personal collection (Apr. 2022)

April brings flowers (and sometimes, showers) and plenty of festivals. One could reasonably say that this month is the start of the spring festival season.

And those festivals start immediately with the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival, Apr. 3 -6, Mule Day in Columbia, Tenn., Apr. 3- 6, Come-See-Me Festival in Rock Hill, S.C., Apr. 3 - 12, Druid City Arts Festival in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Apr. 4 - 5, Scott (La.) Boudin Festival, Apr. 4 -6, Books Along the Teche Literary Festival in New Iberia, La., Apr. 4 - 6, and Gillioz Jazz Festival in Springfield, Mo., Apr. 4 -6.

The first weekend in April welcomes fetes like the PirateFest in Greenville, N.C., Apr. 5, Hot Slaw and Art Y'all Festival in Cleveland, Tenn., Apr. 5, Sebring (Fla.) Soda Festival, Apr. 5 - 6, and Pendleton (S.C.) Spring Jubilee, Apr. 5 -6.

Sandestin (Fla.) Wine Festival at the Village at Baytowne Wharf Apr. 10-13 photo personal collection (Apr. 2017)

Sip your way through the Sandestin (Fla.) Wine Festival, Apr. 10 -13. The second weekend also sees two strawberry festivals: Poteet (Texas) Strawberry Festival and Ponchatoula (La.) Strawberry Festival, both Apr. 11 - 13. And don't forget about the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, Apr. 11 - 13, too. There's the Balloon Glow in West Plains, Mo., Apr. 12, Worm Gruntin' Festival in Sopchoppy, Fla., Apr. 12, Ripley's (WVa.) Chocolate Festival, Apr. 12, and Big Shanty Festival in Kennesaw, Ga., Apr. 12 -13.

Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival, Apr. 18 - June 8, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. photo personal collection (Apr. 2023)

Dollywood's Flower & Food Festival in Pigeon Forge kicks off on Apr. 18 and runs through June 8. On Apr. 19, there's the Fountain Day in Kansas City, Mo., and the Ramp It Up Festival in Oak Hill, WVa. The Mandarin Arts Festival in Jacksonville, Fla., is slated for Apr. 19 -20.

The Columbia (S.C.) Food & Wine Festival, Apr. 22 -27 and Festival International in Lafayette, La., Apr. 23 - 27, followed by celebrations as the Vidalia (Ga.) Onion Festival, Apr. 24 -27, Double Decker Arts Festival in Oxford, Miss., Apr. 25- 26, Brewgaloo in Raleigh, N.C., Apr. 25 -26, Red Poppy Festival in Georgetown, Texas, Apr. 25 - 27, Flora-Bama Mullet Toss in Perdido Key, Apr. 25 - 27, Pensacola Crawfish Festival, Apr. 25 - 27, and Fayetteville (N.C.) Dogwood Festival, Apr. 25 -27, gives April a strong finish.

For more events, be sure to check out Southern Hospitality Magazine's calendar and Facebook page.