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Best Spring Festivals Near Chicago

The entire planet celebrates spring with festivals — in Thailand, they're throwing H20 on each other during the Water Festival and northern Indians toss colored powder to commemorate Hindu mythology during Holi. We aren't quite so audacious in noting the astronomical equinox and melting of the snow, but we manage to warm up our partying ways prior to the summer onslaught of outdoor events in the Midwest. Whether comedy, music, food, flowers or waterfowl appeal to you, take a short drive to any of these nearby spring festivals to mark the survival of another Chicago winter.

flowers
(Photo Credit: Clampett family)

Tulip Time
Holland, Michigan
(616) 396-4221
www.tuliptime.com
Date: May 7-14, 2016

Named "Best Small Town Festival" by Reader's Digest, Tulip Time mimics festivities in Holland with blankets of vibrant flowers slapping us out of our winter doldrums. The 4.5 million tulips offer a carnival of color along the streets and in the parks while around 1,000 costumed residents perform traditional Dutch dances every day of the festival. Expect tulip tours, a carnival, art exhibits, a quilt show, live concerts and theater, flower arranging and painting classes and a very, very busy smartphone camera.

Mission Creek Festival
Downtown
Iowa City, IA
www.missionfreak.com
Date: April 5-10, 2016

The college town of Iowa City pins the needle on the hipness meter at a solid ten with its annual Mission Creek Festival. It's packed with live music and comedy performances, film screenings, author readings, interactive art projects, panel discussions with artists, culinary events and much more. Taking place in concert spaces, movie theaters, clothing and book stores, each venue is about a five minute walk away in the downtown area. The lineup this year includes  Deer Tick, Kurt Vile & the Violators, Kevin Smith, Marc Maron, Saul Williams, Faust, Son Lux and reps from publications like McSweeny's and Poetry Magazine. Some events are free, others require tickets that can be purchased online. Visit the Mission Creek Festival website for complete information about events and locations.

Festival Of Folk Music And Dance
Downtown and Area Orchards
Gays Mills, WI 54631
(608) 735-0325
www.gaysmills.org
Date: May 6-8, 2016

It's a confluence of flora, fauna and folk music Mother's Day weekend in the gorgeous southwest Wisconsin. The river and rolling hills are are fine backdrop to square dancing, picking, music workshops, concerts (bands include Dumpy Jug Bumpers, Charlie Parr and Red Tail Ring) a Sunday morning gospel sing, polka party, lots of Wisconsin food and drink, and finally a spring fest that's offering an honest-to-goodness Maypole Dance. The whole thing just shouts "Frolic!"

Related: Best Places To Rent Musical Instruments In Chicago

34th Annual Morel Mushroom Festival
Village of Muscoda, WI
(608) 739-3182
muscoda.com
Date: May 14-15

Muscoda translates to "Prairie of Flowers," so you can imagine the kaleidoscope of wildflowers on your way to the 34th annual Morel Mushroom Festival, a feast for foodies and lovers of the elusive umbrella-shaped fungi.  Muscoda is officially "Wisconsin's Morel Capital," and the festival offers tours of ancient mounds, wineries and the lower Wisconsin riverway; a mushroom parade; evening fireworks; helicopter rides; live music and all kinds of edibles made with morels from beer and bread to cheese and chocolate.

Horicon Marsh Bird Festival
N7725 Highway 28
Horicon, WI 53032
(920) 387-7890
www.horiconmarsh.org
Date: May 6-9

The "Everglades of the North" is a State Wildlife Area and a National Wildlife Refuge that appeals to the feathered species and about 304 species of birds have been spotted at Horicon Marsh. Haven't you spent a winter communing with your television and phone? Take the opportunity to experience the apex of spring bird migration among this wetland ecosystem. You needn't be a learned birder, just a nature lover. Take in guided bird hikes and bird watching opportunities by boat, bus tour or on foot.

Related: Best Pet Shops For Bird Owners In Chicago

Jacky Runice has been a columnist with the Daily Herald Chicago since grunge music and flannel was the new black. Her fingers and gray matter have been busy as travel editor of Reunions Magazine; penning a column that was syndicated around the nation via Tribune Media Services. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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