MARCH

  March 6-7 - Old Town Spring
13th ANNUAL SPRINGFEST WINE, ART & FOOD FESTIVAL... Stroll through Old Town Spring while sampling a variety of wines, free entertainment, art demos, fine food, Art Galleries and 150 permanent village shops & 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 26-28 - Tomball
10th ANNUAL GERMAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL... Celebrate German Oktober Fest in March with 150 street vendors, arts & crafts, 5 stages of live music, fire-works, carnival, 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.

  March 27 - Weslaco
21st ANNUAL TEXAS ONION FEST ...Saluting 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 & onion recipe contest at City Park. 10am-9pm. (956) 968-2102.

APRIL

  April 9-11, April 16-18, April 23-25 - Old Town Spring - 24th TEXAS CRAW-FISH & MUSIC FESTIVAL... Enjoy a grand Cajun heaven with “tons” of crawfish served up with a wide variety of continuous musical entertainment, carnival rides, games, arts/crafts, and 150 permanent village shops and venues. So “let the good times roll” at Old Town Spring & Preservation Park, located 20 miles north of Houston. (800) OLD-TOWN. www.oldtownspringtx.com.

  April 9-11 - Port Aransas
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, great food, accommodations, entertainment and island shops of all kinds. 1-800-45-COAST. www.portaransas.org.

  April 10 - Three Rivers
THREE RIVERS SALSA FEST... Enjoy the 13th anniversary of this amateur salsa-making competition. Two stages of live musical entertainment, 50+ food/arts/crafts booths, commercial salsa manufacturer’s sample tastings and street dance. Town Square until 6pm. Hwys 281/ 72 intersection. (888) 600-3115. www.threeriverstx.org.

  April 15-18 - Portland
WINDFEST... Celebrate the Wind - Celebrate the Fun! Kitesurfing, 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, horse-shoes, petting zoo, basketball tourneys, dachshund dash, pageant, and live entertainment. www.windfest.org. (361) 673-2475.

  April 15-17 - “The First Capitol of the Republic of Texas” hosts a parade, BBQ Cook-off, arts/crafts, carnival, Friday night dance washers, horseshoes, domino tourney, Coronation of Belle & Little Belle of the Brazos. Historical tours & militia skirmishes. For more info: (979) 345-3921 or chamber@westcolumbiachamber.org.

  April 16-18 - Lake Jackson
MIGRATION CELEBRATION... Celebrate birding with seminars, nature tours, and a spectacular Birds of Prey show, as more than 600 species of springtime birds migrate throughout the Brazosport coastal area. Call (866) 403-5829 or (888) 477-2505. www.migrationcelebration.org.

  April 17 - Kingsville
“RIDE ON THE WILD SIDE” BICYCLE TOUR... Experience Historic King Ranch on this 10-mile wildlife & migrating birds tour. For more adventurous riders, there are several ride out to the countryside tours. All proceeds go to the Lions Camp for Disabled Children in Kerrville. Presented by Kingsville

  April 17-18 & April 24-25
39th HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL... This huge cultural & performing arts fest spotlights the Caribbean in 2010 through eight music venues, six international markets, 50 food vendors, artisan & cooking demos, interactive exhibits, street theatre & kid’s events. Downtown. www.ifest.org (713) 654-8808.

  April 22 - May 2 - Corpus Christi
BUCCANEER DAYS... Come help us celebrate our 72nd Anniversary! Fun & festivities for everyone. Pro PRCA Tour Rodeo, BBQ Challenge, Carnival, Parades, and more! Visit us at www.bucdays.com for more info.

  April 24 - Carrizo Springs
BULL-NANZA 2010... 4th Annual Bull Riding event. Experience great thrills, calf and boot scramble for kids, vendor booths and dancing to country and Tejano music ($10; kids under 10 are free). Carrizo Springs Rodeo Arena, 7pm. Gates open at 5pm. For info, call (830) 876-5205.

  April 24 – Ingleside
INGLESIDE CAR SHOW... “Cruise Your Ride to Ingleside” Car Show at Live Oak Park. FREE admission & fun for the kids! On-site check-in & registration 8am-11am. Judging 11am-3pm. Trophies presented 4pm. All trucks, cars & motorcycles are welcome. Vendors are sought. For more info/pre-registration, go to www.inglesidetxchamber.org. E-mail: ingchamber1@cableone.net. (888) 899-2906 or (361) 776-2906.

  April 24 - La Porte
54th SYLVAN BEACH FEST... Experience arts & crafts, carnival rides, pageants, parade, live entertainment & kid’s events. Historical Sylvan Beach Park on scenic Galveston Bay. Park opens 9am. (281) 471-1123. www.laportechamber.org.

  April 24 - Castroville
RENAISSANCE FAIRE... Free live entertainment, silent auction, children’s games & rides, petting zoo, archery, catapults, sword fighters, food & vendor booths, Princess Tea Party & plant booth. Free admission/ parking. 10am-4pm. Medina Valley United Methodist Church, 1108 Country Lane. (830) 931-3533. www.medinavalleyumc.org.

  April 24 – Rosenberg
2nd ANNUAL ROSENBERG RAILROAD FESTIVAL & HOBO DAYS... Historic Re-enactors, hobos, costumed interpreters, 1972 Caboose/1903 Switch Tower/1879 Business train cars, CCC Camp, museum tours, reptile exhibit, clowns games, crafts, trackless train rides, and mulligan hobo stew. Held at Railroad Museum, 10am-6pm. www.Rosenbergrrmuseum.org (281) 633-2846.

MAY

  May 7, 8, 9 - Kingsville
TRAIN DAYS OF KINGSVIHeld at the 1904 Railroad Depot Museum, there will be speakers, lectures, exhibits, model train displays, a BBQ cook-off, and live music at the Gazebo. For more info, contact Kingsville Convention & Visitor Bureau: 361-592-8516, www.Kingsvilletexas.com or 800-333-5032.

  May 8 – Houston
AEROS AND AUTOS FESTIVAL... Ellington Airport invites you to enjoy the best of both transportation worlds: airplanes and automobiles. See exciting displays by the military, police, Coast Guard, NASA, helicopters, Commemorative Air Force and more! Rain or shine, 8am-4pm. (713) 847-4234. www.fly2houston.com/aerosandautos.

  May 14-16 - Bishop
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION... Hosting games, arts and crafts, sporting events, food, silent auction, and musical entertainment, museum, chili cook-offs, 5K run, fireworks, and much more! (361) 584-2214. www.bishoptx100.org.

  May 14-16 - Pasadena
37th 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 15-16 - Houston -
SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES & CELTIC FEST... Enjoy the sights & sounds of Scotland!  Festival includes men’s heavy athletics, kid’s games, pipe band & highland dance contests, Scottish foods, Celtic vendors, clan village, genealogy, Henri’s Notions, 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 29-30 - Rockport
14th 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 or 1-866-729-AHOY.  www.texasmaritimemuseum.org or www.texasfestivalofwines.com.

JUNE

  June 11-12 - Texas City
FUNFEST... There’s fun for everyone in Texas City! Enjoy musical entertainment, arts & crafts, antique & classic car cruise, barbeque cook-off, “Run By the Bay” 5K & 10K, sports activities & children’s events. Carlos Garza Park. Free admission. (409) 935-1408. www.texascitychamber.com. 

  June 11-12 - Seadrift
30th ANNUAL SHRIMPFEST... Festivities feature shrimp-eating contests, beauty pageants, tin boat races, fun run, kid’s games, arts/crafts/food booths. Tournaments include softball, kid’s fishing volleyball & horseshoes/washers. Bands perform Friday night & Saturday. (361) 785-3424. www.SeadriftChamber.com.

  June 12 - East Bernard
KOLACHE-KLOBASE FESTIVAL... Come to Riverside Hall for polka dancing, arts & crafts, sausage & barbecue chicken, kiddie games, dancers, raffle & cakewalk. (979) 335-4875 or (979) 335-7907.

JULY

  July 16-17 - Old River-Winfree
OLD RIVER-WINFREE FOUNDERS DAY... Celebrating settlers from the early 1800s who incorporated the town of Old River-Winfree with a pie & cake bake-off, dog parade, antique car & truck show, duck-calling contest, trail ride, photo contest, pageant, run/walk benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, and arts & crafts booths. (979) 661-6172. www.orwfoundersday.com.

NOVEMBER

  November 18-21 - Kingsville
SOUTH TEXAS WILDLIFE AND BIRDING FESTIVAL... Enjoy tours & wildlife programs, with some tours on the Historic King Ranch. For more details: Kingsville Convention & Visitors Bureau (361) 592-8516 or www.Kingsvilletexas.com.  v