Warmer weather is here to stay, school is nearly out and with these twin developments comes the start of outdoor festival season across the USA. May is packed with street parties, fairs, music festivals and colorful celebrations of everything from tulips to Cinco de Mayo. Add in iconic races like the Kentucky Derby and Indy 500, and you’ve got a month full of can’t-miss moments. Click the slideshow to find the best events near you or get inspired for an early summer road trip. Yep, it looks like Summer 2026 is going to be a good one!
Annual May Festivals - Memphis, Tennessee
You’d be hard-pressed to find an American city more synonymous with May than Memphis, and 2026 will offer more of the same. The 3rd Annual RiverBeat Music Festival starts the party (May 1-3) along the riverfront at Tom Lee Park with headliners like Dave Matthews Band, Wu-Tang Clan, The Red Clay Strays, Marshmello and more. Then, the beloved Memphis in May International Festival returns with a full slate of events, including the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest (May 13-16) and The Great American River Run (May 23), alongside a cultural salute to Ireland.
Cinco de Mayo Festival in the Yakima Valley (Photo Credit: Yakima Valley Tourism)
Cinco de Mayo Celebrations
The nation will be full of great Cinco de Mayo parties this year, but the following are two of our favorites.
Head to the Yakima Valley town of Sunnyside for its lively Cinco de Mayo festival (May 3-5), where tradition and celebration go hand in hand. Visitors can enjoy live music, a festive street fair and parade, dancing horses and plenty of lively entertainment. Add in some terrific Mexican food and you’ve got a really fun, family-friendly way to mark the holiday.
Elsewhere, the Southwest’s biggest Cinco de Mayo fiesta will take place in downtown Phoenix (May 3), where the energy and pride will be off the charts. For the 33rd year, this party will bring together everything you need for a memorable day, including electrifying live tunes from top-notch musical artists (Shelia E., Tierra Legacy, Richard Bean and more), exciting Lucha Libre wrestling, and captivating baile folklórico performances. Add in mouthwatering food and drink, colorful cultural displays and a festive crowd ready to celebrate, and you’re set for a Cinco to remember.
Shorebird Festival - Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Alaska’s favorite spring migration will once again be celebrated at the 34th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival in Homer (May 6-10), a soiree dedicated to one of the most important stopovers for migratory birds in the nation. Each year, tens of thousands of shorebirds fill the skies and tidal flats near Homer, creating a breathtaking scene for visitors and birders alike. Beyond the viewing opportunities (of which there are many), the festival features guided birdwatching tours, educational programs led by experts and a variety of social events that celebrate nature in true Alaskan style.
The annual 'Run for the Roses' at Churchill Downs is the Triple Crown's marquee event. (Photo via Flickr/Bill Brine)
Iconic Horse Races - Louisville, Kentucky & Baltimore, Maryland
Horse racing takes center stage this May with two of the sport’s most revered races. The 152nd Kentucky Derby returns to Churchill Downs on May 2, bringing all the pageantry, fashion, juleps and adrenaline of the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.” Just two weeks later, the excitement continues at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore with the 151st Preakness Stakes on May 16, where a full slate of festivities complements the action on the track. Even if you don't win money, you're destined to make some great memories.
Colorado Chocolate Festival - Denver, Colorado
Brace yourselves (in a good way) for the delicious Colorado Chocolate Festival, returning to Denver over Mother’s Day weekend (May 9), and once again bringing a bevy of cocoa-infused delights. This sweet celebration brings together top chocolatiers and confectioners from across the region, offering everything from handcrafted truffles and baked goods to rich drinking chocolate and creative treats you won’t find anywhere else in the Miles High city.
Pella Band Parade Red Klomppen Brass line. (Photo via Paul VanDerWerf / flickr)
Tulip Time Festival - Pella, Iowa
The town of Pella will once again burst into bloom during the annual Tulip Time Festival (May 7-9), embracing its rich Dutch heritage in colorful fashion. This beloved local celebration offers a true feast for the senses, from kaleidoscopic tulip displays and traditional costumes to lively performances and cultural showcases. Visitors can also enjoy the beloved Tulip Time parade, where floats, dancers and music bring the town’s European roots to life before your eyes.
A festival takes place in Dahlonega, Georgia. (Photo Credit: Discover Dahlonega)
Arts & Wine Festival - Dahlonega, Georgia
Art aficionados and wine enthusiasts alike will come together at the Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival (May 16-17), where visitors can peruse top-notch arts and crafts booths and sip an array of fine local wines from regional vineyards. Set against the backdrop of the town’s historic square, the festival also features live music, Peach State food vendors and a true mountain welcome. Oh, and if you're in doubt at all, just know that Dahlonega is one of the cutest small towns in the South.
Indianapolis 500 race day. (Photo via Flickr/momentcaptured1)
Race Events in Indianapolis
May in the Hoosier State's capital city will reach a roaring crescendo with the legendary Indy 500 on May 24, once again revving up the adrenaline at the Brickyard. In the lead-up, Indianapolis comes alive during the 500 Festival, a long-running tradition packed with exciting happenings designed to get everybody fired up for the big race. Highlights include the Mini-Marathon, lively community events and the 500 Festival Parade, all building toward one of the most revered race days in the world.
Jacksonville Jazz Festival - Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville will rock once again during the annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival (May 22-24), a beloved tradition that has been bringing world-class sounds to the city for more than four decades. This year’s lineup is stacked with star power, featuring Kim Scott, Ghost-Note, Parliament Funkadelic Featuring George Clinton, Andra Day, Nile Rodgers & CHIC plus many more. With multiple stages, lively crowds and plenty of local food and drink, it’s one of the biggest and best free jazz festivals in the country and a can’t-miss Memorial Day weekend celebration.
Street performance at the Lawrence Busker Festival (Photo via Andrew Johnston / Flickr)
Busker Festival - Lawrence, Kansas
Memorial Day weekend brings the return of the Lawrence Busker Festival (May 22-24), where street performers from around the globe descend upon this cool college town to put on quirky sidewalk shows. Expect everything from jaw-dropping acrobatics and fire dancing to live music and comedy acts that will have you doubled over with laughter, all taking place in a unique open-air setting.
Chuck Wagon Festival - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The annual Chuck Wagon Festival (May 23-24) will once again take over Oklahoma City, where you can immerse yourself in First American and Western cultural traditions. Held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, this lively event serves up two days of wild & woolly fun, from authentic chuck wagon cooking demonstrations and storytelling to live music and hands-on activities.
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