Far-flung Festivals

5 SPRING CELEBRATIONS WORTH A ROADTRIP

Jordan LaHaye Fontenot

Here in the land of elaborate regional celebrations, we know more than most how to use our hometown’s idiosyncrasies as an excuse for a party (see our event calendar for Frog Festivals, Alligator Festivals, Smoked Meat Festivals, Giant Omelette Festivals, the list goes on …). But the sentiment extends along the highways, to towns large and small across the American South. What better way to travel, to really immerse yourself in a place, than to visit when it is celebrating its most prized qualities? Here are five festivals in nearby states that are worth planning a roadtrip around this spring:

Bluebonnet Festival

April 7–9 in Burnet, TX

For the fortieth year, the small town of Burnet hosts over 30,000 visitors seduced by the show-stopping beauty of Hill Country bluebonnets. Besides the blooms, expect a killer lineup headlined by native son Casey Donahew, parades (including one for pets), the Highland Lakes Birding & Wildflower Show, a biergarten, arts and crafts vendors, shootouts, corn hole and dominoes tournaments, and a carnival to boot. Free except for Saturday night’s concert, which is $20 (plus $5 if you want to bring your own ice chest). bluebonnetfestival.org.

Lavender Festival

April 15–16 in Fredericksburg, TX

When owners of Becker Vineyards Estate Tasting Room were initially dreaming about grapes, they came upon something unexpected: the realization that lavender thrives in climates similar to that of their Fredericksburg vineyard. They planted 10,000 lavender plants in 1998, and for the past twenty-four years have hosted guests for two days of celebrating the decadent flower. Expect luncheons, artisans, wine tastings, and live music at the vineyard. $15–$125. beckervineyards.com/events/24thannual-lavender-fest. Read more about the estate on page 44 in Alexandra Kennon’s travelogue across the Hill Country.

Juke Joint Festival

April 13–16 in Clarksdale, MS

The blues have reigned in this Delta town for over a century, but for the last twenty years Clarksdale has claimed its history as home to icons such as Muddy Waters, Earl Hooker, Big Jack Johnson, Ike Turner, and more in this iconic explosion of blues culture. The many historic venues in town will be filled with an unrelenting slate of over one hundred blues performances, enhanced by real Southern cuisine everywhere you look, plus eccentricities like monkeys riding dogs and pig racing, and all your small-town fair fodder. The main festival is Saturday, with hundreds of adjacent concerts and celebrations taking place Thursday–Sunday; most of them free. jukejointfestival.com.

Delta Roots Music Festival

April 22 in Helena, AR

Drawing together the second and third generations of Delta Roots musicians, this newer festival hearkens back to the songs of Delta icons Johnny Cash, Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Johnson, Conway Twitty, and Levon Helm. This year’s lineup includes Paul Thorn, The Divas on Fire, the Oxford Allstars, Earl & Them, John Mohead, CW Gatlin, Fonky Donkey, and more. Besides the tunes, expect a community bicycle ride, arts and crafts vendors, delicious food, a kids’ area, a harmonica workshop; and a Greens, Beans, and Cornbread Contest. $25, children younger than thirteen are free. facebook.com/deltarootsmusicfest.

Hangout Festival

May 19–21 in Gulf Shores, AL

Think white sand, bright sun, blue water, and some of the biggest names in music—all right there on the Alabama coast. Headliners include Red Hot Chili Peppers, SZA, Calvin Harris, Paramore, Lil Nas X, Flume, Skrillex, and The Kid Laroi. A psychedelic seaside romp through pop culture, this is a highly-curated spring break for music lovers of the dancing-on-the-beach sort, with poolside DJs and Roller Disco, and even a designated spot to get hitched, if you’re so inclined. $349 for three days, with additional VIP options. hangoutmusicfest.com.