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Best Spring 2017 Festivals In Los Angeles And Orange County

Coachella Header
(credit: Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival)

Once Spring is in the air in, make the most of the fresh fruits, vegetables, and budding life by heading to a festival. Throughout the next several months, you and your family can dance, play, sing, create, and eat your way through LA's best and brightest spring festivals featuring everything from strawberries, to oranges, to birds and renaissance culture.

Swallows Day Parade
(credit: J.T./yelp)

Swallow's Day Parade and Mercado
Swallows Day Parade
Downtown
San Juan Capistrano, CA
(949) 493-1976
www.swallowsparade.com
Date: March 25, 2017
The Swallows Day Parade, part of the larger Festival of the Swallows, celebrates the return of the swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano. Now in its 59th year, the parade and festival are important staples of local Orange County culture. The parade winds through the downtown area, spectacularly presented without motorized vehicles. Watch as people ride in carriages and on horseback, or even walk, the entirety of the route. As one of the largest non-motorized parades, you'll find it unlike most that you've seen before. Following the parade, visit the nearby Mercado Street Fair, where there will be a live country western band, a kid's play zone and plenty of shopping. Guests can also enjoy a variety of food while watching the announcement of parade award winners.

2016 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival - Weekend 2 - Day 3
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival
Empire Polo Club
81-800 Ave. 51
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 342-2762
www.coachella.com
Date: Two weekends: April 14-16 and April 23-25, 2017

Time to plan your festival wear. It's Coachella time - the biggest concert of the year. Set in the desert in Indio, east of Los Angeles, Coachella will host top musical artists and groups like Beyonce, Bishop Briggs, Capital Cities, Kaleo, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Porter Robinson, Radiohead, The Head And The Heart, The XX, Warpaint, Bon Iver, Bastille and many, many more. There are always surprise musical appearances as well, so be prepared for someone to grace the stage. In addition to the music, festival-goers can check out the interactive art displays, participate in amusing games, and eat their way through the awesome food vendors. Don't have your weekend pass yet? The event is sold out now, but you can visit Stubhub or Craigslist to buy tickets.

earth day
(Credit: Deviant/shutterstock)

Earth Day Celebration
Grand Park, The Music Center and DWP
200 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.grandparkla.org
Date: April 19, 2017 from 9am - 2pm

Earth Day is a celebration that began in 1970. Now in its 47th year, Earth Day continues to spread environmental messages throughout the world, including in Los Angeles. Together, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), Grand Park and The Music Center (which powers Grand Park) will host a myriad of activities, displays and performances. If you live or own property within the City of L.A., you can pick up one free tree. You'll need to provide verification of your address via a driver's license or LADWP bill. Bring E-waste to designated drop-offs, learn about sustainable landscaping and composting, and create art from recycled items. The usual Friday Grand Park activities will be taking place including yoga and fitness classes, food trucks and music.

Related: Best Eco-Friendly Hotels In Los Angeles

The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire
(credit: Joe B./yelp)

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire
Santa Fe Dam Recreational Center
15501 East Arrow Hwy
Irwindale, 91706
(626) 969-4750
www.renfair.com
Dates: April 8, 2017 - May 21 2017 (Saturdays & Sundays)
Step back in time when you visit The Renaissance Pleasure Faire! If you've ever wondered what the Renaissance era in England was like, then you should definitely head to this yearly event. Held on Saturdays and Sundays for about a month and a half, this faire just minutes from Pasadena has everything from delicious food, a pub crawl where you'll visit 6 pubs and get a free drink and each location, and much more. There are even special weekends, including the Military Appreciation and Scouts Weekend, Time Traveler Weekend, School Day and Pirate Weekend and many others. Everything from jousting to performers, quaint food offerings, and period music, coupled with a cast of friendly folk dressed to the nines in their Renaissance garb, happens at this annual festival. So, immerse yourself in the theme and get ready to have a fabulous time.

la habra spring citrus fair
(credit: The La Habra City Chamber of Commerce)

La Habra Citrus Fair
Downtown La Habra
321 East La Habra Blvd
La Habra, 90631
(562) 697-1704
www.citrusfair.com
Dates: May 5 - 7, 2017

Celebrating life in La Habra, the 8th Annual Citrus Fair is a fun festival to take the whole family to. Carnival style rides will add some excitement to the event while free entertainment, great food (who can resist funnel cakes and candied apples?), and a Farmer's mini marketplace give you plenty of opportunities to shop and enjoy local produce. The Citrus Fair will feature a number of events, including a Bubble Parade, a beef show, an agriculture mechanics show, a youth floral show, a sheep show, and a Michael Jackson tribute! Take part in thrilling rides, food, beer and wine vendors and much more!

california strawberry festival FB
(credit: California Strawberry Festival)

California Strawberry Festival
Strawberry Meadows of College Park
3250 S Rose Ave
Oxnard, CA 93033
(888) 288-9242
www.castrawberryfestival.org
Dates: May 20 & 21, 2017 10:00am - 6:30pm

The California Strawberry Festival is back and better than ever! Strawberry festival-goers truly eat their way through the annual California Strawberry Festival. Over 50 food booths offering delicious eats, contests, rides and attractions will be on hand. And, with over 200 arts and crafts vendors, concerts, celebrity chef demonstrations and family fun, you're guaranteed a great time! Bite into delicious strawberry concoctions like strawberry nachos, strawberry pizza, deep-fried strawberries, berry kabobs, strawberry beer, margaritas and smoothies. It's a berry serious event which also features pie eating and a strawberry shortcake build-off contests, celeb chef demos, live music, a kids' strawberry-themed play land, and arts and crafts vendors

Descanso Gardens
(credit: Descanso Gardens)

Rose Festival
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descano Drive
La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
(818) 949-4200
www.descansogardens.org
Date: May 20 & 21, 2017 from 9am to 4pm

It's a celebration of roses at Descanso Gardens in mid-May! This two day festival invites visitors for an up close opportunity to tour the special collection of rare roses at Descanso Gardens, as well as participate in activities surrounding the beauty of the rose. Guests can partake in a rare rose discovery station where they can get up close and look at rare and special roses, take part in floral art activities, and take a guided walk through the Rose Garden with horticulturists. Patina will offer grilled foods at various stations in the Promenade and Rose Pavilion. The Rose Festival is free with a $9 admission into Descanso Gardens.

garden grove strawberry festival
(credit: David Smithson)

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
The Garden Village
Between Euclid and Main Street
Garden Grove, CA 98942
(714) 638-0981
www.strawberryfestival.org
Dates: May 26 - 29, 2017

Every Memorial Day weekend you can count on Garden Grove's Strawberry Festival. Start your holiday weekend off right at Garden Grove's Strawberry Festival where visitors can enjoy plenty of vendors, food exhibitions, charity food and game boots, performances, a cake cutting ceremony, rides and attractions and much more. But, make sure not to miss out on their Strawberry Festival Parade, where plenty of different activities are on the schedule to entertain.

fiesta-hermosa
(credit: HBCHAMBER.net)

Fiesta Hermosa
Downtown Hermosa Beach On Pier Plaza, Hermosa Avenue & Lower Pier Avenue
www.fiestahermosa.com
Dates: May 27, 2017 - May 29, 2017

Dubbed the "largest arts & crafts fair in Southern California," the Fiesta Hermosa features over 300 artists and craters annually each Memorial Day weekend. In addition to painters, photographers, jewelers, sculptors, and crafters, you can come for the live music featured on two different stages that belt out both tribute band favorites and local sounds. Be sure to come hungry as over 18 varieties of ethnic food options are available in addition to a charity beer and wine garden offering a great selection of local brews.

kwanza300
(credit: tvbwf.com)

Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival
Lake Skinner
37701 Warren Ave,
Winchester, CA 92596
(951) 676-6713
www.tvbwf.com
Dates: June 2 - June 4, 2017

This massive festival is worth your drive to the Temecula area. From perfectly paired wine tastings, to gourmet food, to live music, and the namesake hot air balloon rides, this is one of Temecula's shining moments and you don't want to miss it. The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival offers top-name entertainment, hot air balloon flights, wine tasting, kids faire, arts & crafts, commercial exhibits and delicious eats. Make sure to take a hot air balloon ride which begins at sunrise and rises into the beautiful skies above Lake Skinner. Then, go wine tasting and sip on premium wines from many of the Temecula Valley's top wineries as well as others from Southern California.

Lavender Festival
(credit: Janel Murray)

Lavender Festival
Highland Springs Resort
10600 Highland Springs Ave
Cherry Valley, CA 92223
(951) 845-1151
www.hsresort.com
Dates: June 9-11 & 16-18, 2017

To bring a close to the spring season, head to Highland Springs Resort in Cherry Valley for the annual Lavender Festival. Family-friendly events and activities take place on the grounds which boast sprawling fields of blooming organic lavender. Horse drawn hay wagon tours share the inside scoop on the lavender plant, including how the essential oils are extracted for use. Live music, tasty recipes, an organic marketplace, plenty of food options, kid's activities, and a petting zoo round out the experience.

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