MARCH

  Year Round - Kingsville
KING RANCH NATURE AND BIRDING TOURS... Nature tours available year round, birding tours by reservation. Experience Historic King Ranch through wildlife, tours, photography events & trail riding. Enjoy sports, museums, music festivities & spring’s bird migrations. www.kingsvilletexas.com. 1-800-333-5032.

  March 7-8 - Old Town Spring
12th 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. www.oldtownspringtx.com.

  March 13-22 - 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 & other booths. Toll free 1-888-355-3224.

  March 27-29 - Tomball
9th ANNUAL GERMAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL... Celebrate German Oktober-Fest in March with 150 street vendors, arts/crafts, 5 stages of live music, carnival, fire-works, antique shops, food, beer & more in Old Downtown Tomball. 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 3-5 - Poteet
62nd ANNUAL POTEET STRAW-BERRY FESTIVAL... Includes 14 areas of continuous family entertainment, featuring Mark Chesnutt & Ronnie Milsap in concert, nightly dances, specialty acts, rodeo, arts & crafts, children’s area, carnival, and delicious food. (888) 742-8144.

  April 4 - Three Rivers
THREE RIVERS SALSA FESTIVAL ... Enjoy the 12th anniversary of this amateur salsa-making competition with two stages of live musical entertainment, over 50 food/arts/crafts booths, commercial salsa manufacturers sample tastings, and street dance. Town Square; until 8pm. Hwys 281 and 72 intersection. (888) 600-3115. www.threeriverstx.org.

  April 4 - Weslaco
20th ANNUAL TEXAS ONION FEST... Salutes the Texas 1015 Onion developed in Weslaco. Features an onion-eating contest, musical entertainment, dancing horse shows, arts & crafts, car show, children’s events, farmer’s market, video game tournaments, kiddie rides and an onion recipe contest at Weslaco City Park. 10am-9pm. (888) 968-2102.

  April 16-19 - Portland
WINDFEST... Celebrate the Wind! Celebrate the Fun! Kite-surfing, miniature yacht demo, sail-fishing competition, tall-tales about wind, wind-related storytelling, kite-flying contest, wind-related games, wind energy generator display, carnival, cook-offs, horseshoes, petting zoo, basketball tourneys, dachshund dash, pageant & live entertainment. www.windfest.org or www.portlandtx.org. (361) 673-2475.

  April 17-19 - 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 18 - Alvin
KIWANIS CLUB OF ALVIN ANNUAL CRAWFISH & SHRIMP BOIL... Join in a fun-filled day for the entire family with live music, arts & crafts booths, Cajun foods, games and entertainment for all ages at National Oak Park. For information, email Eileen Jasper@gmail.com, or call (281) 813-2189. 

  April 17-19 - Port Aransas
ANNUAL TEXAS SAND SCULPTURE FESTIVAL... One of the largest Master Sand Sculpting Competitions in the USA! Amateurs and families participate in open competitions. Enjoy the invigorating sun & surf and spend the weekend enjoying great food, accommodations, entertainment and island shops of all kinds. Texas Island Style! 1-800-45-COAST. www.portaransas.org.

  April 23-24 - San Antonio
BATTLE OF FLOWERS (R) PARADE & BAND FESTIVAL... Celebrate Fiesta San Antonio 2009: Band Festival - April 23, 7:00-9:00pm, Alamo Stadium, For tickets: (210) 832-9284. Battle of Flowers Parade - April 24, 12:45pm, for tickets: (210) 822-2929. www.battleofflowers.org.

  April 25 - La Porte / Houston
SAN JACINTO Celebrate one of the most exciting and significant Texas history events. Family entertainment, living history demonstrations, children’s area and Texas-themed vendors. Free to the public. Open 10am-6pm. www.sanjacinto-museum.org.

  April 25 - La Porte
53rd ANNUAL SYLVAN BEACH FESTIVAL & CRAWFISH JAM... Experience arts/crafts, cook-off competitions, carnival rides, pageants, a parade, live entertainment and kid’s events. Historical Sylvan Beach Park on scenic Galveston Bay. Park opens 9am. www.laportechamber.org. (281) 471-1123.

MAY

  May 1-3 -
LEAGUE full weekend line-up of live music, family entertainment in the Kids Zone, carnival rides, a barbeque cook off and much more. Held at Walter Hall Park in League City—halfway between Houston and Galveston. Weekend music headliners: Friday/Boston, Saturday/Kevin Fowler. www.lcvillagefair.com.

  May 2 - 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.

  May 15-17 - Pasadena
36th PASADENA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL... Enjoy 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 16-17 - Houston
SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES & CELTIC FESTIVAL... Enjoy the sights & sounds of Scotland! Festival includes men’s heavy athletics, kid’s games, pipe band & high-land dance contests, Scottish foods, celtic vendors, clan village, geneology, Third Coast Strongman Championships. Entertainment by Clandestine, Jiggernaut, Teribus, Ed Miller. Sat $12; Sun $10. Houston Farm & Ranch Club at Bear Creek. (713) 871-0061. www.houstonhighlandgames.com. 

  May 21-24 - Weslaco
10th ANNUAL DRAGONFLY DAYS... Celebrate chasing bugs, butterflies, dragon-flies, damselflies and birding at a weekend of guided field trips and learning experiences. www.valleynaturecenter.org. 

  May 23-24 - Rockport
13th ANNUAL 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. www.texasmaritimemuseum.org. 1-866-729-AHOY. www.texasfestivalofwines.com.

  May 31 (Rain-day make-over date for original May 16 event) - La Vernia
BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL... Enjoy Sunday, May 31’s carnival, music disc jockey, live auction 1pm, helicopter rides until dusk, volleyball tournament 9am, free xeriscape plants from Calvin Finch 3pm-5pm, Little League games, Little Red Choo Choo for the kiddies, and lots of vendors. Presented by La Vernia Lions Club. www.LaVerniaLions.org (210) 710-3685.

JUNE

  June 5-6 - Yoakum
81st ANNUAL TOM-TOM FESTIVAL ... Celebrating with a downtown parade, polka in the park, BBQ cookoff, arts & crafts, CPRA rodeo, country & western evening dance, Miss Yoakum pageant, games, tomato-growers salsa contest, biergarten, and carnival. (361) 293-2309.

  June 5-6 - Texas City
FUNFEST... There’s fun for everyone in Texas City! Enjoy musical entertainment, arts & crafts, antique & classic car cruise, amusements, Star Search, barbeque cook-off, “Run By the Bay” 5K & 10K, sports activities & children’s events. Nessler Park. Free admission. www.texascitychamber.com. (409) 935-1408. 

  June 12-13 - Seadrift
SHRIMPFEST... Arts/crafts/food booths, carnival, shrimp-eating contest, karaoke contest, washer & horseshoe tournaments, poker run, Ms. Bay Rat con-test, and two fun-filled days on San Antonio Bay. Bands at dances: (Sat night) The Jockers Wild Band and (Fri night) Los IV Del Barrio. All information & vendors: (361) 785-2251, ext #21. www.seadriftchamber.com.

  June 13 - East Bernard
KOLACHE-KLOBASE FESTIVAL... Come to Riverside Hall for polka dancing, arts & crafts, sausage & barbecue chicken, kiddie games, dancers, raffle & cakewalk. (979) 335-4827 or (979) 335-7907.  v