Top News

Spring is the season for rejuvenation. The weather turns warmer, the sun stays out longer and the land practically comes to life in front of our eyes. It’s a great time to take advantage of unique local activities that showcase the best parts of a region and celebrate the end of winter, whether that’s festivals showcasing brightly blooming flowers or events focused on fresh, seasonal produce. For locals, these are the activities that bring the community together for something that feels truly authentic. For visitors, they are well worth traveling to and experiencing. Below are some uniquely local activities to check out this spring.

Maple Open House Weekend, Vermont

A lot of states make maple syrup, but their production pales in comparison to Vermont’s. The Green Mountain State produces more than 3 million gallons of maple syrup each year, and spring is the perfect time to celebrate the sweet stuff. As the snow melts and the air warms, the sap starts to run and sugarhouses throughout the state open their doors to visitors to experience the maple production process.

As a relatively new Vermonter, I love exploring family-run sugarhouses with my own family and tasting fresh syrup, sugar on snow, pancake breakfasts and maple doughnuts. Maple Open House Weekend typically falls in March, and this is the best time to visit as you’ll find festivals and events all throughout the state. But many sugarhouses open their doors throughout the sugaring season (and beyond), so there’s still plenty of time to go. Plan your visit and bring your sweet tooth.

Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, D.C.

Spring is one of the best times to visit the nation’s capital—not just because the weather is nearly perfect but because the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The month-long National Cherry Blossom Festival, which started in mid-March this year, is a celebration of the blooms. There are some 3,000 cherry trees in Washington, D.C., which were gifts from Japan in 1912.

The ideal spot to see the striking white and pink flowers is along the Tidal Basin, but it’s often quite busy. Other great spots include the U.S. National Arboretum and Hains Point in East Potomac Park. I lived in the DMV (the metropolitan area that encompasses the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) a decade ago, in both Virginia and Maryland, so I’ll share an insider’s tip: You can skip the big city crowds and stroll through neighborhoods in Maryland, including Bethesda, Rockville and Wheaton. Just be respectful of the residents and mindful of parking.

New Orleans Jazz Fest

The Big Easy is a city unlike any other, with a unique blend of Creole and Cajun cuisines, jazz music and the lively French Quarter. Every spring the city hosts the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival or “Jazz Fest,” featuring a mix of local musical artists and renowned performers (the 2026 festival includes the Eagles, Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Lorde and David Byrne, among many others). While there are many spring music festivals throughout the country, Jazz Fest is worth a trip because it also highlights the rich and unique culture of the city, including demonstrations from many Louisiana Native tribes, artist showcases, dancing and, of course, food.

Yes, even if the idea of standing in a large crowd to listen to live music isn’t your thing, the festival is worth the trip for the food alone. The festival celebrates traditional Louisiana cooking and even more modern trends. Sample po’boys, red beans and rice, boudin, muffuletta and gumbo. And save your appetite for beignets, both savory and sweet.

Rochester Lilac Festival, New York

For more than 120 years, Rochester, New York, has played host to a festival celebrating the blooming of the city’s beloved lilacs, the largest collection in the Northeast. The Rochester Lilac Festival takes place in early to mid-May in Highland Park, where more than 500 varieties of lilacs fill the air with their unique floral scent. The 10-day festival attracts more than 500,000 visitors and is a celebration of all things lilacs and central New York.

As a native of central New York, I have fond memories of exploring the festival, especially Art in the Park, which features regional artists and crafters. The festival also hosts a large farmers’ market, a multi-day music festival, 5K and 10K runs, a parade and many food vendors showcasing regional eats. It’s especially wonderful if you love exploring a beautiful park and enjoying the more than 1,200 lilac shrubs.

California Strawberry Festival

Strawberry lovers would be hard-pressed to find a better celebration of the juicy red berry than the California Strawberry Festival in Ventura. While strawberries grow in just about every state, California can easily claim the title of top producer as it accounts for about 90 percent of all fresh strawberries grown in the United States. The festival, held in mid-May, is a celebration of all things strawberries, complete with a Berry Baby Fashion Parade, a strawberry shortcake pavilion, a recipe contest and all sorts of food featuring ripe berries. Some of those unique treats include strawberry chimichangas, berry kabobs, strawberry tamales, strawberry popcorn and even strawberry nachos.

Portland Rose Festival, Oregon

Nicknamed the “City of Roses,” Portland, Oregon, is peppered with thousands of roses and is even home to the International Rose Test Garden. It should be no surprise then that the Portland Rose Festival is a massive event, featuring a fair, fireworks, a rose garden contest, fun runs and boat races and several parades (not to be confused with the Rose Parade held in Pasadena, California). The festival is not just a one- or two-day gathering; rather, it spans several weeks with events throughout the city. If you love roses, head to Portland in late spring to visit the festival and experience thousands of roses in numerous public gardens and parks.

The Kentucky Derby

Billed as “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,” the actual race at the Kentucky Derby is super fast, but the whole event lasts two days and attracts visitors from all over the country. As the first leg in the Triple Crown, the race is known as “The Run for the Roses,” with the winning horse getting draped in roses, but that brief race is only a small part of the fun. It is preceded by the Kentucky Derby Festival, which attracts 1.5 million people and includes a large fireworks display, concerts, sporting events, runs, a historic paddle-wheeler race on the Ohio River and plenty of food. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Derby celebration without extravagant outfits and oversize hats (perhaps the most iconic image of the race, outside the actual horse race) and a mint julep or two. This is an event unlike any other and worth a trip for horse lovers and anyone looking to experience a taste of Bourbon City.

Tulip Time Festival, Michigan

For nearly 100 years, Holland, Michigan, has been the epicenter of all things tulips. The small city on Lake Macatawa hosts the annual Tulip Time Festival, which showcases the more than 5 million blooming tulips across public gardens, city streets and parks. The 10-day festival takes place in May and includes parades, live music, fireworks, a carnival and traditional Dutch dancing highlighting the city’s Dutch heritage.

Come to enjoy the sight and smell and even learn the history of the flower at the Tulip Immersion Garden. There are other cities and areas known for tulips, including Skagit Valley, Washington (which also hosts the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in April), but the Tulip Time Festival is unique in its celebration of the small city’s rich Dutch heritage. You can get tickets for the Dutch Lunch and Dance Performance and sample traditional Dutch foods at the event. It’s certainly the place to be for anyone who loves bright tulips and the feeling of a hometown festival.

Tips for Planning Your Spring Trip

Be sure to check the respective websites for all these spring festivals and events as dates can fluctuate from year to year. Many of these activities take place for multiple days and even weeks, so read through the calendar of events and pick the things that seem most interesting to you. For example, the Vermont Maple Open House Weekend lasts only one weekend, hence the name, but if you happen to miss it, many sugarhouses still have activities worth checking out. The same goes for the many flower festivals on this list; pick an event or two, like a parade or fair, and plan your visit around those events.

Consider also looking for lodging packages as many local hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts will have special offerings for these events. But plan ahead, especially for events and activities in smaller cities or towns, as your options and space may be limited.

Above all, get out and explore the local areas and enjoy the beauty of spring. After a long winter, not much beats taking advantage of these unique spring outings to truly enjoy the start of the warm seasons ahead.