MARCH

  March 6 - Pharr
A TASTE OF THE VALLEY... Savor the unique recipes and tastes of over 40 different local restaurants as they exhibit their exquisite cuisines at the Pharr Inter-national Convention Center. Don’t miss this wonderful gastronomical culinary event! 6pm-9pm. $12/person. (956) 787-1481.

  March 7-16 - Eagle Pass
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL... This celebrated border festival presents carnival rides at Shelby Park, sporting events, downtown parade, Noches Mexicanas with live entertainment, and a variety of food and other booths. Toll-free 1-888-355-3224.

  March 8-9 - Old Town Spring
11th ANNUAL SPRINGFEST WINE, ART & FOOD FESTIVAL... Stroll through Old Town Spring while sampling a variety of wines, enjoy free entertainment, art demos, fine food, Art Galleries, and 150 permanent village shops and venues. (800) OLD-TOWN.

  March 28-30 - Pharr
PHARR HUB PHESTIVAL... Join us as we celebrate our heritage during the annual Pharr HUB Phestival. Experience this unique cultural presentation of songs and poetry, music, food, and local business. Downtown Pharr. (956) 702-5335.

  March 28-30 - Tomball
8th GERMAN HERITAGE FEST... Celebrate German OktoberFest in March with 150 street vendors, arts/crafts, 3 stages of live music, carnival, fireworks, antique shops, food, beer & more in Old Downtown. Free admission/parking. Sponsored by Tomball Sister City Org. www.tomballsistercity.org. Vendors welcome! Grady Martin (281) 379-6844 or gradsand@yahoo.com.

APRIL

  April 5 - Three Rivers
8th ANNUAL SALSA FESTIVAL... Enjoy an amateur salsa-making competition, two stages of live musical entertainment, over 50 food/arts/crafts booths, commercial salsa manufacturers sample tastings, and street dance. Town Square, 10am-6pm. Hwys 281 & 72 intersection. www.threeriverstx.org. (888) 600-3115.

  April 5 - Weslaco
19th TEXASLocal onion crops are saluted with onion-eating contest, arts and crafts, games, musical entertainment, horse shows, internet Cafe, farmer’s market, children’s events, agricultural displays, onion judging & onion recipe contest at City Park. 10am-9pm. (888) 968-2102.

  April 11-13 - Poteet
61st POTEET STRAWBERRY FEST... Includes 14 areas of continuous family entertainment, featuring Tracy Byrd and Ray Price in concert, nightly dances, specialty acts, rodeo, children’s area, carnival, arts & crafts, delicious food. (888) 742-8144.

  April 11-13 - Lake Jackson
MIGRATION CELEBRATION... Celebrate birding with seminars, nature tours, and a spectacular Birds of Prey show, as more than 600 species of spring-time birds migrate throughout the Brazos-port coastal area. (888) 477-2505.

  April 12 - Alvin
KIWANIS CLUB OF ALVIN ANNUAL CRAWFISH & SHRIMP BOIL... Join in a fun-filled day for the entire family with music, arts & crafts booths, Cajun foods, games and entertainment for all ages at National Oak Park. For information, call (281) 610-0244 or (800) 331-4063.

  April 12 - Alvin
ALVIN FRONTIER DAY FESTIVAL ...Celebrate the history and heritage of south Texas through frontier festivities at National Oak Park. Enjoy arts/crafts, parade, and carnival rides. sgsportweat@sbcglobal.net. www.alvinrotaryclub.org. (281) 331-5499.

  April 17-20 - Portland
WINDFEST... Kitesurfing & flying, miniature yacht demo, sail-fishing contest, wind-related storytelling, wind energy generator display, cook-offs, carnival, horseshoes, petting zoo, basketball, dachshund dash, pageant, live music. www.windfest.org. (361) 673-2475. 

  April 18-19 - “The First Capitol of the Republic of Texas” hosts arts/ crafts,  parade, BBQ Cook-off, carnival, Friday night dance, washers, horseshoes, dominos , Coronation of Belle & Little Belle of the Brazos. Historical tours & militia skirmishes. Rotary Shrimp Boil & Auction. (979) 345-3921 or rita@westcolumbiachamber.org.

  April 18-20 - Harlingen
RIOFEST… Enjoy mariachi and jazz band concerts, conjunto, Tejano, and rock ‘n roll bands, student and juried art displays, plus crafts demonstrations, carnival rides, clowns, jugglers, and more.  Great food, fun, and entertainment. Bring the whole family! 1-800-RIOFEST. www.riofest.org.

  April 18-20 - Port Aransas
12th ANNUAL TEXAS SAND SCULPTURE FEST... One of the largest Master Sand Sculpting Competitions in the USA! Amateurs & families participate in open competitions. Enjoy the invigorating sun & surf and spend the week-end enjoying great food, accommodations, entertainment and island shops of all kinds. 1-800-45-COAST. www.texassandfest.com.

  April 18-20 & April 25-27 - Old Town Spring
22nd TEXASA grand Cajun heaven with “tons” of crawfish served up with a wide variety of musical entertainment, carnival rides, games, arts/crafts, & 150 permanent village shops & venues. “Let the good times roll” at Old Town Spring & Preservation Park, 20 miles north of Houston. (800) OLD-TOWN. www.oldtownspringtx.com.

  April 19 - Anhalt / San Antonio
CAJUN FRENCH MUSIC ASSOCIATION’S GUMBO COOKOFF & CAJUN DANCE... Enjoy three Cajun bands and Dance Lessons on a big Wooden Floor at Anhalt Hall, plus great Cajun food.

  April 24-25 - San Antonio
BATTLE OF FLOWERS PARADE & BAND FESTIVAL...Celebrate Fiesta San Antonio - 2008: Band Festival - April 24, 7:00-9:00pm, Alamo Stadium, For tickets: (210) 832-9284. Battle of Flowers Parade - April 25, 12:45pm, for tickets: (210) 822-2929. www.battleofflowers.org.

  April 23 - May 4 - Corpus Christi
BUCCANEER DAYS 2008... Come help us celebrate our 70th Anniversary! Fun & festivities for everyone. Pro PRCA Tour Rodeo, BBQ Challenge, Carnival, Parades, and more! Visit us at www.bucdays.com for more information, or call (361) 882-3242.

  April 26 - La Porte
52nd ANNUAL SYLVAN BEACH FEST & CRAWFISH JAM... Experience arts & crafts, cook-off competitions, carnival rides, pageants, a parade, live entertainment & kid’s events. Historical Sylvan Beach Park on scenic Galveston Bay. Park opens 9am. (281) 471-1123. www.laportechamber.org.

  April 26 - Bishop
OLDE TYME FAIRE... Bishop Chamber of Commerce hosts games, arts/crafts, sporting events, food, silent auction, and musical entertainment as a wonderful welcome to springtime at Bishop City Park. Come join in the fun! www.bishoptx.org. (361) 584-2214.

  April 26 - Carrizo Springs
BULL-NANZA 2008... Experience great bull riding thrills, a calf & boots scramble for kids, and dancing with music by Grupo Vida / Electric Cowboys ($10 or kids under 10 free). Carrizo Springs Rodeo Arena, 7pm. (830) 876-5205.

  April 26 - Castroville
RENAISSANCE FAIRE... Free live entertainment, quilt raffle, silent auction, children’s games & rides, petting zoo, food & vendor booths, Princess Tea Party, Pirate Adventure, plant booth, art show, hot air balloon rides. Free admission/parking. 10am-4pm. Medina Valley United Methodist Church, 1108 Country Lane. www.medinavalleyumc.org. (830) 931-3533.

MAY

  May 3 - Alvin
CINCO DE MAYO... Share in our cultural richness that makes our community so special! Enjoy music, food, children’s events and much more! Booth spaces and sponsorships available! 9am at Ruben Adame Park.  cramirez761@houston.rr.com. 281-474-4471 or 281-824-9612.

  May 8-10 – Conroe
LONE STAR STAMPEDE RODEO & BBQ COOK-OFF... Nightly PRCA Rodeo competitions nightly, musical entertainment, Texas State Championship Pitts & Spitts Stampede of Pits BBQ Cook-Off, and Stick Horse Rodeo. Held at Lone Star Exp Center. www.conroerodeo.com. (281) 413-5961.

  May 9-10 - Pearsall
PEARSALL POTATO FESTIVAL... There’s festival fun for the whole family with a carnival, car show, washer pitch contest, Battle of Bands, arts/crafts and foods. (830) 334-9414.

  May 16-18 - Pasadena
35th PASADENAEnjoy three days of fabulous fun at the Pasadena Fairgrounds with dozens of attractions, carnival rides, musical stage entertainment, pageants, children’s activities, cook-offs, foods & much more. RV hook-ups & camping available. (281) 991-9500. www.strawberryfest.org.

  May 17-18 - Houston
37th HOUSTON SCOTTISH HIGH-LAND GAMES & CELTIC FESTIVAL ... Experience sights, sounds & foods of Scotland. Men’s athletics, highland dancing, bagpipes & drums, pipe band competitions, Scottish harp, children’s games, Celtic vendors,  Gaelic/genealogy/Robert Burns workshops. Rain or shine! Houston Farm & Ranch Club @ Bear Creek. (713) 871-0061. (713) 774-7179. www.houstonhighlandgames.com.

  May 24-25 - Rockport
12th FESTIVAL OF WINE & FOOD... The Texas Maritime Museum hosts wine tasting, wine seminars, fine foods, and entertainment on the Museum grounds. 4-11pm both days. (866) 729-2469. 1-866-729-AHOY.  Visit www.texasmaritimemuseum.org or www.texasfestivalofwines.com.

JUNE

  June 6-7 - Yoakum
80th ANNUAL TOM-TOM FESTIVAL ...Celebrating with a downtown parade, polka in the park, BBQ cook-off, arts/crafts, CPRA rodeo, country & western evening dance, Miss Yoakum pageant, games, tomato-growers salsa contest, biergarten, carnival. (361) 293-2309.

  June 8 - Alvin
TOUR DE BRAZ BIKE RIDE... 7am start at Alvin Community College. Ride through Brazoria County. Five scenic ride routes avail-able. 281-585-3359. alvincvb@alvintexas.org. www.alvintexas.org. 1-800-331-4063.

  June 13-15 - San Antonio
TEXAS FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL... In its 37th year, the Institute of Texan Cultures and citizens from across Texas present the crafts, foods, folkways, music, cultures and arts of our state on the expansive grounds of the Institute. (210) 458-2390. www.texasfolklifefestival.org.

  June 14 - East Bernard
KOLACHE-KLOBASE FESTIVAL... Come to Riverside Hall for polka dancing, arts & crafts, sausage & barbecue chicken, kiddie games, dancers, raffle and cakewalk. (979) 335-4827 or (979) 335-7907.

  June 20-22 - Texas City
FUNFEST... There’s fun for everyone in Texas City! Enjoy musical entertainment, dancing, arts & crafts, antique & classic car cruise, amusement rides, Star Search, barbeque cook-off, “Run By the Bay” 5K run/ walk, sports activities & children’s events. Nessler Park. Free admission. (409) 935-1408. www.texascitychamber.com. 

  June 28-29 - Sealy
21st ANNUAL SUMMER POLKA FEST ...Enjoy German polka dancing and music. Texas Sound Czech Band on Saturday evening. Urazels’ Polka Band & Bobby Jones Czech Band on Sunday. Polka Mass and home-cooked meal at KC Hall. (979) 885-3222.

AUGUST

  August 29-31 - Alvin
ALVIN 'S ALL-AMERICAN FESTIVAL... Sock Hop at Knights of Columbus Hall on Friday. Parade, motorcycle show, arts & crafts, tractor & train show, run/walk, and evening fireworks on Saturday. BBQ cook-off, concerts, vendors and arts & crafts on Sunday. www.alvintexas.org. (281) 331-3944.

OCTOBER

  October 4 - Castroville
CASTROVILLE TOUR OF PIONEER HOMES... Tour four historic homes at Castroville’s early French settlement, plus enjoy a quilt show at the Landmark Inn. 1pm-5pm. chamber@castroville.com.  (800) 778-6775. www.castroville.com.  v