Top Spring Festivals in the United States

by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 8:00 AM ET, Sat February 28, 2026

American botanist Neltje Blanchan once said, “Can words describe the very breath of spring?”

Spring festivals in the U.S. blanket the season with color, music and community spirit. Many feature flowers, outdoor concerts, art fairs, cultural events, and seasonal foods, a popular way to finally welcome in the warmer weather and longer days.

Here are some of the most popular and well-known spring festivals in the U.S. for those looking for a special and memorable occasion to usher in the season.

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Held in Washington, D.C., this festival, one of the most iconic spring events in the U.S. drawing visitors from all over the world, celebrates the blooming of the magnificent cherry blossom trees (more than 3,000), gifted to America by Japan in 1912 and symbolizing the friendship between the two countries.

Scheduled to run from March 20 through April 12, 2026, the festival events include a colorful opening ceremony, a large parade, cultural performances, fireworks and numerous activities centered around the Tidal Basin and National Mall all surrounded by pale pink and white trees that create a postcard-worthy backdrop.

EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

Celebrating spring and the beauty of nature, this yearly event running from March 4 to June 1, 2026, will once again feature expansive gardens, colorful blooms, Disney-themed topiaries, outdoor kitchens, fun activities, Pixar, Marvel and classic Disney characters and entertainment throughout the Walt Disney World park.

Live entertainment is all part of the fun as the Garden Rocks Concert Series features renowned and local talented performers nightly. Admission to the festival is included with EPCOT park admission.

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Tulip Time Festival

Holland, Michigan is all about its Dutch heritage. And each spring is celebrated with a 10-day festival centered around spectacular displays of millions of tulips blooming in their peak color finest throughout the city’s parks, gardens and streets.

First held in 1929, the festival has grown into one of the longest-running and most-visited flower festivals in the U.S. Dates for the 2026 event run from May 1-May 10, with many events occurring in and around downtown Holland. Locals and visitors can enjoy traditional music, cultural exhibits, Dutch-inspired cuisine, large parades with colorful floats, marching bands, folk bands, performers in traditional Dutch costumes (yes, there are the real-deal Dutch wooden shoes involved). Windmill Idland Gardens is a 36-acre park with picturesque gardens, De Zwaan (an authentic Dutch windmill), canals, tulips and leisurely strolls.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Often referred to as just Jazz Fest, the annual celebration of music, food, art and culture is rooted in the traditional of New Orleans and its broader Louisiana regions. Not only will locals and visitors get their fair share of jazz, but other music genres that include blues, gospel, R&B, funk, rock, zydeco, soul, country and more — alongside yummy local cuisine, crafts, and cultural exhibits.

The 2026 event will run over two four-day weekends from April 23-26 and April 30-May 3 with eight days of music and festivities, and hundreds of headliners and local performing artists.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

The annual music and arts festival held each spring in Southern California’s desert town of Indio, was founded in 1999 and draws huge crowds and features an eclectic mix of musical genres, from rock, pop, hip-hop to indie, R&B and more, alongside massive art installations and sculptures, and immersive experiences.

2026 Coachella will take place over two consecutive weekends (April 10-12 and April 17-19). This year’s entertainment lineup will feature top artists Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G, among others.

Geauga County Maple Festival

One of the oldest and most beloved maple syrup celebrations in the U.S., the festival held in Chardon, Ohio honors the region's long maple-syrup producing heritage with four days of family-friendly activities.

Always held in the last full weekend of April, this year’s event runs from April 23-26. Though it may be considered more of a local/regional event, it is definitely one worth planning for its community fun, maple syrup and candy judging, products for sale, grand parades, competitions like bathtub races, pancake eating contests and arts and craft shows featuring local artisans.

Texas Bluebonnet Festival

Spring in Texas means one thing – bluebonnet season. And in Burnet, the “Bluebonnet Capital of Texas,” in Hill Country, each April brings a weekend packed with flowers, live music, parades and small-town charm.

Bluebonnets are a group of wildflowers, known for their vibrant blue color, so lovely, they were named the official state flower of Texas. The festival, held on the second weekend of April each year, falls April 10-12 in 2026 with live music, a parade, carnival rides, over 250 artisan vendors, races and tons of family fun.

Delta adds new flights for the 2026 Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby Festival

The city of Louisville hosts the Kentucky Derby Festival, a two-week long celebration leading up to the famous Kentucky Derby, filled with lots of excitement. In 2026, the festival will be held from April 13-May 2, 2025. Even if you’re not into horse racing, the event, often called “The Greatest Two Weeks in Sports & Festival Fun” blends horse racing traditions, food, music, fireworks, and family-friendly activities. The event, which started in 1956 to promote the Kentucky Derby has grown into a major cultural celebration, drawing over 1.5 million attendees each year, with parades, floats, bands, balloons and lots of good Kentucky southern cuisine.

Fiesta San Antonio

This 11-day festival honoring the Alamo and San Jacinto battle heroes also includes a packed schedule of music, a Fiesta Flambeau Night Parade, Tex-Mex cuisine and a myriad of cultural performances, along with the Texas Cavaliers River Parade where floats drift along the San Antonio River Walk, creating a colorful evening spectacle.

Traditionally held in April, the 2026 event, one of the oldest and most iconic Fiesta events in the U.S. will run from April 16-26, attracting around 2.5-3 million people. The Battle of Flowers Parade, started in 1891 is unique in that it’s entirely organized and run by female volunteers.

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