Festival season

It’s that time of year again. With warm weather springing into view, no other place does spring festivals better than the Southeast. Whether you enjoy music, crafts, fine arts or food and drink, you can ramble through festival booths under the sun or sway to the beat under stars. Check out these noteworthy festivals that you don’t want to miss this spring.

ATLANTA, May 4-5

Shaky Knees Music Festival

To quench your thirst for good music this spring, simply make the two-hour drive to Atlanta, which will host the first-ever Shaky Knees Music Festival at the Historic Fourth Ward Park. Headliners include Grammy-nominated The Lumineers and eclectic indie Band of Horses. The band list seems endless, filled with tunes from 28 different musicians and groups including Dr. Dog, The Antlers, Oberhofer, The Orwells, The Joy Formidable and more. Don’t miss out – the tickets are going fast!

Visit shakykneesfestival.com.

NASHVILLE, April 20

Earth Day Festival

As Chattanoogans, we are very protective of our own beautiful plot of earth, from the Tennessee River to the tip top of Lookout Mountain, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t support our guitar-strumming Nashville neighbors up north.

The city will hold its annual Earth Day Festival at Centennial Park with more than 100 different booths filled with activities for all ages, all in the name of Nashville’s quest to be as green as possible. New this year is the Yazoo Beer Garden full of local brews. Free bike valet will be available for area peddlers and a children’s area will be set up to educate our next generation on nature, recycling and conservation. It will be Earth Day with a touch of twang.

Find out more at nashvilleearthday.org.

KNOXVILLE, April

Dogwood Arts Festival

After a New York newspaper reporter called Knoxville “the ugliest city he ever saw in America” in 1947, the natives decided it was time for change. Thus, in a massive effort to beautify the city as well as call attention to the natural beauty in the area, the Dogwood Arts Festival was born. Forget the weekend festival – this one lasts for an entire month in the form of its 10-plus components. From the Regional Fine Art Exhibition of progressive emerging regional artists to the street-painting event called the Chalk Walk to the Market Square Art Fair with booths, demonstrations and entertainment in downtown Knoxville, the Dogwood Arts Festival proves that Knoxville is “pretty” after all.

Find out more at dogwoodarts.com.

LOCAL

CHATTANOOGA, April 12 – 14

4 Bridges Art Festival

As you pack your bags to festival hop throughout the region this spring, be sure to keep your calendar clear for Association of Visual Arts’ 13th annual 4 Bridges Art Festival at the First Tennessee Pavilion. Lauded by the likes of the New York Times and ranked as one of the Top 100 Fine Arts Festivals in the nation, the event is definitely worth it. Join the other 15,000 attendees to meander among booths and displays of high-quality arts and crafts including paintings, glasswork, jewelry, textiles and more. Featured artist this year, who will join nearly 130 others, is Chattanooga native Jake Kelley. Kelley works with 2D mixed-media design, and his recent work critiques modernist ideas of singularity and originality. The event will also be infused with Chattanooga’s delicious foodie culture as well as its musical culture for entertainment. Ah… home sweet home.

Find out more at 4bridgesartfestival.org.