Festivals in April add sparkles to the calm nature of the month as itโs when winter finally sleeps and spring awakens. With its beautiful flowers and warm skies, all warmly welcome April.
โSpring will not let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again.โ
As rightly quoted by Gustav Mahler, an Austro-Bohemian late-Romantic composer, Springtime is never the time to stay at home; it is to explore the beauty the Earth presents to you.
The April month may be for spring break and easter travel. But it is beautifully adorned with festivities, too, for one to enjoy the spring fun to the utmost.
The chances that you know about the festivals in the US, no matter where you are, look pretty high, especially like the โtrick or treatโ Halloween and 4th of July, the American Independence Day.
Commonly, the festival calendar of April includes the Easter celebrations, the National Cherry Blossom Festival and multiple cultural, arts and music festivals.
The Top Festivals in the US During Springtime You Cannot Miss Out On!
1. Easter
What Is It About?
For the people in the US, Easter is a religious holiday that marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. But often, non-religious people celebrate it, too.
Easter is more of a seasonย of the church year, for about 40 days than just a day of celebration. Starting on Palm Sunday, people contemplate the Biblical significance these days.
Christians worldwide celebrate Easter with different traditions and customs, including church services, music, candlelight, flowers, and the ringing of the church bell. People also give each other chocolate Easter eggs and Easter bunnies.
There are non-religious activities, like egg painting, egg rolling, egg hunts, etc. Easter baskets are also a crucial easter tradition. They are often filled with candy and toys.
Brunches and family get-togethers are also a part of Easter. The most popular food would be roasted lamb, Simnel cakes and chocolate eggs. Flowers often adore the tables- daffodils, tulips, and yellow-gold decorations.
2. National Celery Blossom Festival
What Is It About?
The National Cherry Blossom Festival, another of the famous festivals in the U.S. in April, truly marks the arrival of spring in the capital city of Washington, DC. It is a three-week-long celebration, from March 20 to April 14, 2019, held in honour of the close bond between America and Japan and the merging of their cultures.
It began with the Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozakiโs gift of the cherry trees in 1912. Initially, the trees were of twelve varieties, but now the Yoshino and Kwanzan varieties dominate the Tidal Basin and the East Potomac Park. The trees open their pink blossom during the blossom, drowning the city in an ocean of pink.
Rather than just a celebration, itโs a cultural festival complete with a grand opening ceremony in late March and a parade display in mid-April. It often attracts more than 100,000 visitors from all around the world. The parade includes giant decorated helium balloons, floats, marching bands, celebrity performances, dancers and music.
3. Earth Day
What Is It About?
Founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970, Earth Day is observed to show support for the protection and conservation of the environment and focus on current issues like pollution, deforestation, climate changes, energy conservation, overpopulation, protection of flora and fauna, and spread awareness on the same. There is an Earth Day anthem, with lyrics setting the tone of Ludwig van Beethovenโs โOde to Joy.โ It also ranks right at the top regarding the bestย festivals in the U.S. in April.
Today, Earth Day is a worldwide event, with more than 170 countries and 17,000 environmentalist groups. Communities gather to clean up public places and parks and raise money for charitable causes.
Cities in the US have festivities like concerts, lectures, and exhibitions. Washington, DC, is known for putting up the biggest Earth Day concerts in the nation, as well as awareness activities and other such events, which include parades, protests, and so on.
4. Arbor Day
What Is It About?
โArborโ means alcove or a pavilion. So, as the name suggests, Arbor Day is a day to plant trees to create one. When J Sterling Morton and his pioneers moved to Nebraska, they noticed a lack of trees, which were a requirement to prevent soil erosion and provide shade. So, he planted trees and encouraged others to do the same. He proposed a day to plant trees, which was later made an official holiday on April 22, his birthday. In Nebraska, it falls on the last Friday of April, a public holiday, and schools and businesses often remain closed.
Today, people get into the soil and care for plants, trees, and the environment. Though elaborate concerts and festivals are not conducted, tree planting, exhibitions and fairs, and music and dance performances are some events organized on this day.
5. Wine and Food Festivals
What Is It About?
April is a month of food and film festivals, along with spring. From the foodies to the connoisseurs, itโs time to lavish. Miami Food and Wine Festival and Vidalia Onion Festival are just some of them.
5.1. Miami Wine and Food Festival
It often takes place in the third week of April. The cityโs top chefs gather to create food samples for the people to taste, along with a wide variety of beer and wine. There would be many events โfrom brunch to late-night parties.
Miami is famous for the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, a five-day event, usually in mid-February. Other foods and wine festivals include Coconut Groove and Wine Festival, Little Flower Food and Wine Festival, Las Olas Wine and Food Festival, etc.
5.2. Vidalia Onion Festival
Itโs another spring special event, where people celebrate the harvest of the Vidalia Onion, Georgiaโs official state vegetable. The four-day celebration includes the Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant, a Culinary extravaganza, and a carnival. Street dance, sales, and fireworks are the Friday features. There would be the Kiwanis Onion Run, the Arts and Crafts Festival, the Vidalia Onion Eating Contest, the recipe contest and so on on Saturday.
6. OโMiami Poetry Festival
What Is It About?
It is an annual celebration which lasts the whole month of April. The festival aims to let every Mimi-Dade County citizen familiarise themselves with a poem. It is more of a community-based festival to Miami. There would be reading, workshops, poetry slams, literary slams, and other poetry-related activities. The poetry artists for the festival would be the citizens themselves. Still, renowned artists were also hosted, like Anne Carson, Kay Ryan, Juan Felipe Herrera, and W.S. Merwin, to name a few.
According to the New York Times, if you havenโt read, recited or listened to a poem while living in Miami, something must be wrong with you!
7. Skagit Tulip Festival
What Is It About?
What is more beautiful than a flower display festival in spring itself? Skagit Tulip Festival is a month-long festival celebrating the beautiful tulip fields of all colours blooming in the Skagit Valley.
RoozenGaarde/Washington Bulb Co., Inc. and Tulip Town own the tulip field crops. Thus, it helps showcase the place and its agriculture to the world.
There would be flower displays and gardens which are photo-worthy, along with multiple events, which include the Art show and Gallery, Washington tulip parade, exhibitions, street fairs, LaConne parade, Bethany Convent Spring Concert Anacortes Spring Wine Festival and so on. Itโs a fun-filled destination event lasting the whole month.
8. Tribeca Film Festival
What Is It About?
Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, and Craig Hatkoff founded the festival 17 years ago in 2002. This New York Cityโs biggest film festival is in the last week of April. Named one of the worldโs best film festivals, Tribeca Film Festival helps showcase the works of independent filmmakers, with a diverse selection too. The showcase includes documentaries, features, and other programs.
The winning films are awarded cash prizes, and original artworks by famous artists are also presented under the Artist Awards program. The festival has drawn renowned celebrities like Oprah and Tom Hanks to the premiers. There are also panel discussions with eminent personalities from the entertainment sector and a music lounge.
This festival attracts more than three million people, including celebrities.
9. Major League Baseball Season
What Is It About?
Major League Baseball (MLB)is a professional baseball league in North America that consists of two leagues: the AL or the American League, and the Nation League, NL; each league is divided into three divisions with five teams each. Of the 30 teams playing, the United Nations has 29, and Canada has just one.
This baseball season starts in April. It is a custom that the President throws the seasonโs first pitch, followed by usually 100 games in April itself. The 2019 Major League baseball season started on March 20 and will continue till the 29th of September.
10. Atlanta Dogwood Festival
What Is It About?
It is also one of the festivals exclusively for the spring. The dogwoods would be in full bloom and become the venue for the annual art and craft festival- the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, held on the weekend of early April. Artists worldwide set up their tents in Piedmont Park for the festivalโs duration.
All possible arts would be displayed at the festival, including sculptures, jewelry, pottery, paintings photographs, and so on, making it a paradise for fine art collectors. The festival attraction includes artist markets, disc dogs, art exhibitions, stage performances, and rides.
There is also a kidsโ village- one of the most fantastic attractions of the festival- with inflatables, crafts for kids, a rock-climbing wall, face painting, and other fun activities. There would be sponsor booths, too, with attractive prizes and games for all.
Music is also an inseparable part of the festival, for the festivities. Food stalls with cakes, rolls, and whatnot spread around Piedmont Park.
11. Houston Childrenโs Festival
What Is It About?
Said to be the largest childrenโs festival in the U.S. in April, McDonaldโs Houston Festival is a two-day, full-on, entertainment-themed festival for all ages, not just kids. There are fourteen Big Family Adventure Zones, music and entertainment stages, circus acts, food and beverages, games and rides, and more than three hundred activities. It also features celebrities. With more than 50,000 visitors and about 100 exhibitors, it would be a bustling place, making it a top candidate for the bestย festivals in the U.S. in April.
Child Advocates created it thirty-one years ago to raise awareness and fund development to help children who are neglected or abused in Houston. Till now, they have been successful in raising more than 5.6 million dollars for their cause.
This year, Anthony Gonzalez, the actor who gave voice to Miguel from COCO, an Oscar-winning animated film, is the prominent celebrity for the festival. He would also perform and give autographs on both days of the festival.
The United States is vibrant throughout the year with festivals and celebrations like the Kutztown Folk Festival in June-July, the Jazz and Heritage Festival in April-May, the Albuquerqueย International Balloon Fiesta in October and many more. These festivals show off the cultures and traditions of America to the world.
But April, with its flower blooms and spring warmth, is a perfect holiday season, suitable for travel, festivities, and fun. The top festivals in the U.S. in April are plenty for one to enjoy the month. Though the weather may be unpredictable across the country, one can enjoy springtime in April with proper planning and precautions. Join the festivities and have fun!
Last Updated on by Sathi
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