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19 Exciting Spring Events You Must Experience

It’s officially spring, and if you’re looking for something to do as the weather warms up and people come out to play, we’ve got you covered with this guide to spring celebrations around the U.S. and Canada.

1. Cherry Blossom Festival – Washington, D.C.

Flowers blooming is a clear sign that spring is here, and nowhere is this more beautiful than at the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Peak bloom should happen any day now, so check out our guide to celebrating the cherry blossoms in DC here!

Find a ticket to Washington, D.C. here!

2. Bay to Breakers – San Francisco, CA

For over 100 years, throngs of creatively costumed runners have completed the 12K Bay to Breakers race, which runs from the Embarcadero to the Great Highway. Get to San Francisco to watch – or participate in! – the craziness on May 19, 2019.

Find a ticket to San Francisco here!

3. Sugar Shacks – Montréal, QC

Montreal

Canadians celebrate spring like only they can – by making maple syrup candy on the snow! People flock to sugar shacks around the Montréal area for maple-inspired menus and syrup treats. Traditionally, these cabanes á sucre are found in the woods, but more and more are popping up right in the city, and you can find a list of some fun ones here.

Find a ticket to Montréal here!

4. Boston Marathon – Boston, MA

Cheap bus and train travel from Boston.

The ultimate race for elite marathoners, the Boston Marathon attracts athletes from around the world, along with crowds of fans to cheer the runners along the course from Hopkinton to Copley Square. The 2019 marathon takes place on April 15.

Find a ticket to Boston here!

5. Tulips on the Magnificent Mile – Chicago, IL

Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, aka The Magnificent Mile, is a year-round attraction for shoppers, but in spring, it becomes a destination for flower lovers, too. Tulips are planted to bloom on the sidewalks and medians, adding gorgeous color and delicate nature to this bustling urban street.

Find a ticket to Chicago here!

6. Electric Daisy Carnival – Las Vegas, NV

Cheap bus and train travel from Las Vegas.

This trippy festival takes over Las Vegas Motor Speedway on May 17-19 with multiple stages featuring some of the world’s best electronic music artists. Last year’s lineup included big-name artists like Kygo, Armin Van Buuren, and Afrojack, among many others, along with circus performers, fireworks, carnival rides and much more.

Find a ticket to Las Vegas here!

7. Seattle Beer Week – Seattle, WA

Although it’s dubbed Seattle Beer Week, this city-wide celebration of all things beer can’t be contained to just 7 days and runs from May 9 to May 19. With a variety of themed events, like Hangover Breakfast and Beer Can Derby (featuring cars made out of beer cans), Seattle Beer Week has something for everyone – well, everyone who likes beer, that is.

Find a ticket to Seattle here!

8. Louisiana Crawfish Festival – New Orleans, LA

Cheap bus and train travel from New Orleans.

Spring in the South means crawfish, and there’s no better place to celebrate these tasty crustaceans than New Orleans. The Louisiana Crawfish Festival takes place March 21-24 just outside the city in Chalmette. Head down to this mecca of mudbugs for boiled crawfish, crawfish bread, crawfish pasta, crawfish pies, crawfish rice, crawfish jambalaya, and pretty much anything crawfish that you can imagine.

Find a ticket to New Orleans here!

9. Daffodils in Bloom – Niagara Falls, ON

Of course you know about the spectacular displays of nature that are the waterfalls at Niagara Falls, but did you know that in the spring, so many daffodils bloom in the area that it’s known as the daffodil capital of North America? Check out Queen Victoria Park in early April to see the vibrant yellow flowers on display!

Find a ticket to Niagara Falls here!

10. Rites of Spring – Nashville, TN

Cheap bus and train travel from Nashville.

Vanderbilt University hosts its annual Rites of Spring music festival on April 12 & 13. This year features performances by 21 Savage, Moon Taxi, Soulja Boy along with other artists like Lackhoney, Ari Lennox, and Jamila Woods.

Find a ticket to Nashville here!

11. Whale Watching – Vancouver, BC

Spring brings the whales out off the Pacific Coast of British Columbia, making it the perfect time to head out on a whale watching tour from Vancouver or Victoria. You’ll have the chance to spot Orcas, humpback whales and Pacific gray whales on your coastal excursion.

Find a ticket to Vancouver here!

12. Dogwood Festival – Atlanta, GA

Places you can visit from Atlanta for less than $20.

As the dogwoods begin to bloom in Atlanta, the city celebrates at the annual Dogwood Festival from April 12-14. Free to the public in Piedmont Park, the festival features musical performances, an arts market, a disc-catching competition for dogs, a special Backyard Bites & Brews event, and a Mimosa 5K.

Find a ticket to Atlanta here!

13. Tribeca Film Festival – New York, NY

Cheap bus and train travel from New York.

From April 24th to May 5th, the Tribeca Film Festival showcases the international film community with screenings of a wide range of movies from documentaries to features. The festival also offers talks by filmmakers, performances, and much more.

Find a ticket to New York City here!

14. Doors Open – Toronto, ON

On May 25 & 26, over 100 buildings in Toronto open their doors to the public to allow people to see inside the spaces that they normally don’t have access to. Doors Open includes buildings with intricate architecture, historic significance, and cultural importance, and let’s you see a different side of the city.

Find a ticket to Toronto here!

15. Deep Ellum Arts Festival – Dallas, TX

Cheap bus and train travel from Dallas.

From April 5-7, a street festival transforms 6 blocks of Main Street in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas. With 4 music stages featuring over 100 performers and over 200 decorative and visual artists displaying their wares, you will find lots to entertain you at the Deep Ellum Arts Festival!

Find a ticket to Dallas here!

16. Canadian Tulip Festival – Ottawa, ON

Commemorating the historic friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, the Canadian Tulip Festival takes place in Ottawa from May 10-20. Along with the outdoor tulip displays in Commissioners Park, this year the festival will also feature 65 works of art in multiple mediums by Canadian artists displayed in Aberdeen Pavilion.

Find a ticket to Ottawa here!

17. SunFest – West Palm Beach, FL

Sunfest takes over the waterfront of West Palm Beach on May 2-5. Last year’s roster of more than 50 performers included Pitbull, Zedd, Nick Jonas, Logic, and Incubus, performing on 3 stages. This year, you can witness Keith Urban, OneRepublic, G-Eazy, and many other popular artists! You’ll also find three floating “oasis” bars to keep the good times going in the water!

Find a ticket to West Palm Beach here!

18. Art Outside – St. Louis, MO

St. Louis brewery Schlafly hosts the four-day Art Outside festival on May 24-27 to highlight the works of 50 local alternative artists. Along with the art, you’ll also find live music, great food, and, of course, plenty of beer! Also, well-behaved pups are more than welcome to tag along to enjoy the day, too!

Find a ticket to St. Louis here!

19. Tulip Time – Holland, MI

The tulips are blooming in Holland, Michigan during Tulip Time on May 4-12. This annual festival celebrates the Dutch heritage of this charming Midwestern town with nearly 4.5 million tulips, as well as daily Dutch dances, parades, and a Dutch food court.

Find a ticket to Holland here!

Don’t miss all the spring fun – book a ticket on Wanderu.com or by downloading the Wanderu app, and experience one (or all!) of these events!

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About the author
Kate Sedrowski

Kate Sedrowski

Kate Sedrowski is on a mission to spread delight while inspiring and encouraging people to travel. Her favorite travel companion is her teddy bear, and her favorite souvenir is the scar from the broken nose she got in a snowball fight in Québec City.

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