March Must-Attend Festivals: Events Worth Traveling For
Spring is finally here after a busy winter storm season. With temperatures warming up, if you are looking to travel - calling it a spring break is up to you - these are the most worthy events across the country.
The Florida Strawberry Festival
Feb. 27 – March 9
This is the most attended fair in Florida, which is shocking considering it's unlike the other events on this list. The family-friendly festival features a concert series including Reba McEntire, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Boys II Men, Nelly, John Fogerty and many more. Visitors won't want to miss the midway with all the classic fair activities such as games, amusement rides and food booths. There's also a neighborhood village where items handcrafted by people in the community are sold and a youth livestock show. Also worth considering: while around 90% of the domestic strawberry crop comes from California, the persistent rains this year have diminished harvesting, and a strawberry festival like this might be one of the best ways to get strawberries this year.
Mardi Gras
March 4
While Mardi Gras (often called Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday or simply Carnival), the last day before Lent, is celebrated in numerous Catholic countries around the world, the best place to celebrate the gluttonous holiday in the U.S. is in New Orleans. Every year, some one million tourists take over the city, according to The Associated Press, filling Bourbon Street with beads and spirits. Revelers won't want to miss the famous parade with Krewes and marching clubs. While this year the forecast is for high 70s and scattered thunderstorms, none of that will chase off the crowds, who will be celebrating rain or shine, and packing local bars to occupancy. Don't forget your King Cake!
South By Southwest (SXSW)
March 7 – 15
What originally started as a Southwestern music seminar in 1987 has exploded into a one-of-a-kind multimedia conference that is part music festival, part film festival, part comedy festival, all-around interactive experience that sees thousands visit Austin, Texas, in early March. Between countless official acts during the weeklong fair, as well as countless unofficial events throughout the city, there is something for everyone — if you can afford the prices and already sold-out tickets. With temperatures forecast to be in the 70s, this will also be a significant respite from the intense winter storms of February.
Saint Patrick's Day
March 17
While St. Patrick's Day officially falls on a Monday this year, there will be celebrations across the country the preceding weekend. New York, Chicago and Boston have the biggest and most well-known parades, but cities like Holyoke, Massachusetts, Dublin, California, and Savannah, Georgia, see thousands of guests flock to their events as well. If you can't make it to a major parade or celebration, check your local area's Irish bar, check the weather as mid-March can see anything, wear green and Sláinte!
National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 20 - April 13
Celebrating the friendship between Japan and the U.S., this three-week-long festival sees the stunning pink flowers bloom across the Capitol. With parties, kite events and a parade, there are plenty of events tied to the festival, but the best part is just being able to walk through Washington, D.C., and experience this alongside our national monuments. Local businesses also get caught in the spirit, including hotels and restaurants that are worth visiting. If you can't make it to D.C., there are other festivals around the country, including Macon, Georgia, described as 'The Cherry Blossom Capital of the World.'
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