Spring festivals take the season of spring and turn it into a holiday. Local people and folks from New York, California, and other states, travel to visit some of these iconic spring festivals. People gather in various places to celebrate flower blooms, seasonal fruits, and more. While there are many spring festivals celebrated around the world, we’ve put together a list of 4 spring festivals in the United States that are family-friendly and of course, fun!
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Photo: wamu.org
Many people visit Washington D.C. during the National Cherry Blossom Festival to take in the beauty of 3,000 blooming cherry trees. Unlike most festivals, the Cherry Blossom Festival is unique in that the spring festival dates depend on when peak bloom for Cherry Blossom trees is anticipated. Even so, event staff plan for the Cherry Blossom Festival to span four weeks in the springtime between late March and early April.
Families will love the plethora of events planned each year during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Over the years, there have been many family-friendly events such as parades, family bike rides, kite fly events, firework shows, music, food, and more. The National Cherry Blossom Festival is also pet-friendly, so families can enjoy bringing their fur babies.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Events: Parade, family bike ride, kite fly, fireworks show
When: Between late March and early April
Atlanta Dogwood Festival
Photo: ajc.com
At the Atlanta Dogwood Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, families can visit the Fine Artist Market. This market showcases paintings, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, and photography, among other art collections. In addition to viewing art, families can walk over to the Kids Village where children can get their faces painted and enjoy all things arts and crafts. There are even some interactive activities that kiddos can bring home with them.
Of course, it’s not a festival without live music and tasty eats! At the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, a wide variety of bands and artists will play each festival day. When it comes to festival foods, you can expect to see classics like funnel cakes and kettle corn in addition to less common eats like crab cakes and gyros!
Location: Atlanta, GE
Events: Kids Village, Party in the Park, music shows, Mimosa 5K
When: April
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Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Photo: seattleschild.com
Love flowers? Then you will absolutely love the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Mount Vernon, Washington. According to the Washington State University’s Skagit County Extension, Skagit Valley grows 75% of the country’s tulips. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is unique in that there are various tulip farms (so various festival locations) that families can visit. Keep in mind that each tulip farm requires a paid ticket to enter.
To see the most tulips on one farm, visit RoozenGaarde which boasts 50 acres of beautiful tulips and daffodils. Interested in taking the kids on a trolley ride? Head to Tulip Town! You can also visit Garden Rosalyn and Tulip Valley Farms while in the area. Stop for a bite to eat at the Chuckwagon Drive-In (a model train runs through the diner). End the trip at Snow Goose Produce where farm-to-cone ice cream is readily available.
Location: Mount Vernon, WA
Events: Various events may take place on each farm
When: April
Georgia Peach Festival
Photo: exploregeorgia.org
As the third-ranked state in the US for producing peaches, it’s obvious that the Georgia Peach Festival should be on your must-go list if you love juicy and sweet peaches. Each June, the Georgia Peach Festival is held in Byron and in Fort Valley. There are a variety of events held throughout the month including a car show, live music, a laser show, and more. You may even get the chance to take a helicopter ride!
As for family-friendly festival staples, there are tons of food vendors and arts & crafts booths. The “World’s Largest Peach Cobbler” may be the highlight of your Georgia Peach Festival visit. Don’t forget to stop by the Big Peach Chair for some photo ops. Maybe someone in the family can enter the “Eat a Peach Contest” too!
Location: Fort Valley, GA, and Byron, GA
Events: Eat a Peach Contest, music shows, car show, laser show, helicopter ride
When: June
How to Plan for a Spring Festival
Photo: Brett Sayles
Before making your way to any spring festival with children, there are a few things to consider to help ensure your visit will be fun and memorable for everyone. First, do your due diligence by checking the festival’s website for ticket prices, hours, parking information, and vendors. You will want to plan accordingly and not be surprised when you arrive. For example, some spring festival entry tickets may be cash only!
Check the weather
It’s also helpful to check the weather forecast. Spring weather can be iffy with the sun shining one moment and rain falling down the next moment. If you’re unsure of the weather, bring along an umbrella and some raincoats just in case. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
Prepare for food restrictions
Does your family have any food restrictions? Not all spring festivals will offer foods that are safe for everyone to eat. There may not be enough information on the festival’s website to tell. To play it safe, pack some appropriate snacks or meals that your family can enjoy if they can’t eat from a vendor at the park.
Bring a stroller or wagon
Finally, make sure you bring along a stroller or wagon for your little ones. It’s inevitable that at some point, their legs will be tired and they will want to rest. Don’t have a stroller or wagon? Consider renting what you need instead of purchasing gear. Renting baby equipment is convenient and gives families more freedom to travel without worrying about how to pack all the big baby gear items.
Now that we have shared some of our favorite family-friendly spring festivals and some tips to know before you go, we hope you are excited about visiting some festivals this spring! With plenty of music, food, activities, and events, everyone in the family will be asking to go again next year. Mark your calendars for the first day of spring and start working on your spring festival bucket list!
Morgan French is a wife, mom of two, writer & editor. After traveling for 3 years with her family, she now lives back in her hometown of Dayton, OH. She makes frequent stops for coffee, enjoys the outdoors, and loves board games.
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