Festivals in Florida: Check out these events in Volusia and Flagler as spring begins
Spring has officially arrived. As the weather warms up and sunny weekends provide the best opportunity for outdoor fun, Volusia and Flagler county residents have plenty of activities to choose from.
A slew of festivals is scheduled throughout the next few months to help you enjoy the season. Here are just a few taking place nearby.
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Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival – DeLand
The 17th annual event, presented by the MainStreet DeLand Association, takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, at West Indiana Avenue and includes an “array of vendors and presentations by wildflower and gardening experts.”
“Vendors will line the street with booths filled with potted wildflowers and seeds, plants and planters, arts and crafts, local honey, decorative home and garden items and much more,” according to organizers.
Free parking and admission.
DeLand Outdoor Art Festival
The 58th annual event, which expects more than 135 artists, takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 25, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at Earl Brown Park, 815 S. Alabama Ave. Admission is free.
The festival welcomes two highly acclaimed artists, Hyun Jong Song, chairwoman of the jewelry department at Savannah College of Art & Design, and John Kaplan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, who will judge the event.
“We are delighted to have two persons of this incredibly high caliber judge our little art festival," Festival Chairwoman Patty Clausen said in a press release. "What it speaks to is the reputation and respect our show is receiving from not only the artists who do our show, but also from the townspeople, who know there is always something here they can afford."
For details, visit delandoutdoorartfest.com.
66th annual Cracker Day – Bunnell
The event takes place from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell.
For a $20 ticket, guests can enjoy a barbecue beef lunch and watch “bull riding, steer riding, steer saddlin', sack races, jackpot barrel racing, chute doggin', ribbon ropin', a chicken chase, a pig chase, and a boot race,” according to the event’s website.
One Daytona Art Festival Wine Walk – Daytona Beach
The event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2, at One Daytona, offers guests a chance to enjoy art while sipping on a variety of wines.
“Shop at the unique artists and crafters stations on Artist Boulevard, stop by Victory Circle in the afternoons for jazz concerts, and bring the kiddos to the ArtHaus Kids Zone for crafts,” organizers suggest.
Tickets are $40.
Gamble Jam – Flagler Beach
Musicians gather at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Park in Flagler Beach from 2 to 4 p.m. the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
“Bring a chair and instrument and join in or enjoy listening. Acoustical instruments of all types are welcome,” organizers say.
Parking fee of $5. For information, visit oldcity.com.
Daytona Beach Arts Fest
The second annual Daytona Beach Arts Fest takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 8, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 9, in downtown Daytona Beach on Beach Street, from Orange Avenue to Bay Street.
The event will offer “a social experience where you can view artist works and installation, listen to local music, take part in a live painting competition and more,” according to the festival’s website.
Spring Festival and Plant Sale – Palm Coast
The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
“It will feature a huge plant sale, arts and craft vendors, specialty plant growers, educational exhibits, exciting children’s activities, fantastic food, live music, raffles all day, and so much more,” the festival’s website says.
15th annual Turtle Fest – Flagler Beach
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at the Veteran’s Park.
Enjoy face painting, turtle races, live music, entertainment, white elephant sales, a variety of vendors and wares, and local artists and crafts.
Attendees may even be able to watch a rehabilitated turtle be released on the beach in the afternoon.
Admission is free.
Ormond Beach Celtic Festival
The 12th edition of the festival will “gather some of the best artists, entertainers, food vendors and musicians to provide an authentic Celtic experience,” organizers say.
Events also include whiskey tasting and live music.
The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 15, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 16, at the Rockefeller Gardens in Ormond Beach. Tickets are available at ormondbeachcelticfestival.com.
2023 Hispanic Cultural Festival – Palm Coast
The event celebrates Hispanic heritage from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, April 16, at Palm Coast’s Central Park, 975 Central Ave.
Organizers promise “a day of music, food, dancing, arts and craft, and plenty of fun for the whole family, with renowned artists from all over the Hispanic world, like Melina Leon, Frankie Ruiz Jr., Javi Marrero,” and others.
4th annual Festival of Spring – Port Orange
The annual event, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the Port Orange City Center, will feature vendors, artisans, crafters, food trucks, entertainment and more.
Free parking and admission.
Palm Coast Songwriters Festival
The fifth annual event takes place Friday, May 5, through Sunday, May 7, at the Daytona State College Palm Coast Amphitheater and other area venues.
“Join songwriters from across the country as they share the stories behind some of the most popular songs on the radio today,” the event website says.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida festivals: Upcoming events in Volusia and Flagler counties
