Years ago, while visiting Hot Springs, Arkansas, I stood on the corner of Central Avenue and Bridge Street and watched the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade roll by. Bridge Street is only 98 feet long, a mere breath of an avenue, but all kinds of wild floats, walking groups and bands parade in quick succession down the tiny street. Ripley’s Believe It or Not named Bridge Street as the world’s shortest street in everyday use so organizers couldn’t help but utilize that auspicious title into an event.
It’s just one of the many weird spring festivals happening soon.
Smallest St. Patrick’s Day
TV star Valerie Bertinelli, known by Boomers as Barbara Cooper Royer on the sitcom “One Day at a Time,” will serve as the official celebrity grand marshal of Hot Springs’ 22nd Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Monday, March 17. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will make an appearance as well as hip-hop legend Flavor Flav, the Marching Irish Elvis Impersonators, the World’s Largest Leprechaun and much more frivolous fun. The event commences with tribute band The Molly Ringwalds performing but if you arrive a day early, you can catch legendary rockers Grand Funk Railroad performing a free concert on Sunday, March 16, on the now famous Bridge Street.
Vidalia Onion Festival
There’s something sweet about Vidalia onions. Chalk it up to the unique soil of the 20-county region of Georgia but these sweet onions have been celebrated and used in a number of dishes, from salad dressings and jams to caramelizing some to top a cheesecake. That’s why there’s a special festival in honor of the sweet onion and it’s held every spring in — you named it — Vidalia, Georgia. This year’s eye-watering festival will be April 24-27 and includes cooking demonstrations, food vendors, live music and more.
Rum Revival
One of Louisiana’s largest crops is sugarcane, and we may love to spread it on our cereal and on top of beignets but it’s also the main ingredient to rum. Naturally, we must celebrate our sugar-based spirit with a festival. The Rum Revival returns to Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles on April 5, a tasting event that includes dozens of rums and tequilas (we must include that other Caribbean favorite) plus cocktail competitions, dinner events and more.
World’s Longest-Running Cigar Box Guitar Music Festival
Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the World’s Longest-Running Cigar Box Guitar Music Festival, four days of live music and fun in Huntsville, Ala. Come to the north Alabama town May 30 to June 1 to enjoy tunes on several stages and view the unique craft of cigar box guitars. Even though admission is free, your dollars spent at the event helps raise funds for music education in Madison County, home to Huntsville.
Tupelo Elvis Festival
Elvis Presley may have made Memphis famous but he was born and lived his early years in Tupelo, Mississippi. To honor their hometown celebrity, and be a stopping point on the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition, which leads to the world grand finals at Graceland in August, the town hosts the annual Tupelo Elvis Festival. This year marks 27 years with attracting Elvi, those tribute artists hoping to make it to the Graceland finals, but there’s also a parade, a pet pageant, music and more June 4-8.
Wytheville UFO Fest
In the fall of 1987, several mysterious flying objects were sighted south of Wytheville, Virginia. WYVE news director reported the sightings when three sheriff deputies called in with their experience, but Gordon treated it as something not to be taken seriously. Then the phone calls poured in. Later, Gordon and numerous residents of the town saw their own UFOs in the night sky in the days that followed. The story was so bizarre it became an episode on TV’s “Unsolved Mysteries.” Today, folks may enjoy the town’s UFO history, listen to speakers, participate in the costume contest, enjoy food and more at the free annual Wytheville UFO Fest on June 8.
