Spring Events in US Cities: Festivals, Marathons and Lots More

Spring Events in US Cities: Festivals, Marathons and Lots More

It’s almost summer — we can see it beckoning to us and hot days and short nights await us very soon, alongside refreshing lemonade and fun parties with friends. 

If you can’t wait to get back to the world of carefree fun and partying then take a look at these festivals, which we describe in detail below. We’ve put together a collection of ten events to suit all tastes — from sporting marathons to wine fests.

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Arkansas Derby, Arkansas

  • Where: Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. 
  • When: 2 April 2022. 
  • Price: from $59.
  • Restrictions: certificate testifying to full vaccination against COVID-19; mandatory mask regime for unvaccinated persons. 
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Put your prettiest hat on — it’s time for the Arkansas Derby!

The Arkansas Derby brings you American racing of thoroughbred horses held every year in April in Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas. The one-and-one-eighth-mile race only features 3-year old horses. 

The Arkansas Derby is the most lucrative race of thoroughbred horses in Arkansas, with a “purse” totalling $1,250,000. The purse consists of the prize fund, which is split between horses taking part in the race depending on their final position. The winner gets 60% of the total. 

 

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Публикация от Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (@oaklawnracingcasinoresort)

The Arkansas Derby was first held in 1936 with a prize fund of $5,000, but in 1965 the purse was raised to $50,000, and then in 1972 it grew to $100,000! The purse has since increased several times over the years and was extended to $1 million in 2004, when the Arkansas Derby marked its centenary.

Here is an interesting fact: since it began, only one mare has ever won the Arkansas Derby — Althea in 1984. Althea is also the record-holder for completing the derby — in 1 minute 46.8 seconds.

Masters Golf Tournament, Augusta

  • Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia.
  • When: 7-10 April 2022.
  • Price: $115 for each day of the tour. Candidates may apply to take part on any day, but they are allowed to win on only one day.
  • Restrictions: all candidates must be over 21; a certificate testifying to full vaccination against COVID-19; persons granted medical exemption from vaccination need to provide a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before visiting the event. 
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The Masters is one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions. 

Interestingly, golfers are allowed to compete on the basis of their past achievements. To take part, a player must fill in a form indicating all of their previous achievements, and …wait! Several months before the championship players will receive a cherished letter with an invitation, but not all of them, only selected golfers. After that, they need to pay for participation and continue training. 

 

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Many professional golf players say that Augusta National, a course specially built to hold the championship in 1930, is the most beautiful golf course that they have ever played on. It has a brighter sun, a bluer sky, more magnificent pines and brighter azalea than any other golf course in the world.

Apart from the money prize, which is now several million dollars, the winners will get a gold medal, a life-long invitation to the Masters, and automatic invitations to three other international championships in the following five years. Moreover, since 1949 the winners have been awarded a special green jacket for club members and, 1961, their names have been engraved on the masters trophy, awarded by the club.

Coachella 2022, Indio

  • Where: Empire Polo Club, Indio, California.
  • When: 15-17 April, 22-24 May 2022.
  • Price: three-day ticket — $549; Car Camping — from $102.
  • Restrictions: certificate testifying to full vaccination against COVID-19; children up to five, as well as persons granted medical exemption from vaccination need to provide a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before visiting the event. 
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If you are into festivals, then you have definitely been waiting for this news — the famous six-day open-air Coachella will once again be held, following a two-year break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022 the event will yet again feature A-list stars: Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Fatboy Slim, Kanye West and the previously expected headliner the DJ project Swedish House Mafia.

Coachella is a music festival that just about everybody has heard of and almost all of us want to visit it. 

 

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Although the main theme at Coachella is entirely musical, the festival’s program in recent years has become much wider: now visitors can not only listen to top performers but also admire amazing art installations, as well as show off their best Bohemian look. 

The icing on the cake at Coachella is the presence of celebs who also enjoy having fun at the festival. Kendall Jenner, Jared Leto, Leonardo DiCaprio and many others come here just about every year. Therefore, visitors could easily meet their idols here, and the luckiest among them might even get their photos taken with them.

Boston Marathon, Boston

  • Where: starts in Hopkinton and ends on Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • When: 18 April 2022.
  • Price: taking part in the marathon costs $205 for United States residents, or $255 for residents of foreign countries.
  • Restrictions: anybody wishing to take part needs to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
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The Boston Marathon is one of the world’s most prestigious marathons, and is the oldest of those held annually. The first Boston Marathon was held on Patriots’ Day in 1897, when just 15 people competed. Since then, a race of 42 km 195 meters has been held on the third Monday of April.

 

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Today the marathon attracts runners from all over the world, and spectators line the streets all along the route. The fun atmosphere is legendary. Registration for the 2022 marathon is already closed, but registration for next year’s opens in September if you want to take part. The number of places is limited and they get grabbed very quickly! 

Nevertheless, you can still join the fun — just come and cheer for other runners! In 2022 the Boston Marathon marks 50 years since a women’s competition was included in the race — the first eight female athletes took part only in 1972.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, Miramar Beach

  • Where: Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Miramar Beach, Florida.
  • When: 21-24 April 2022.
  • Price: entry ticket — $160, additional events during the exhibition — $99.
  • Restrictions: none. 
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Almost nothing compares to the combination of wine, exquisite food and the beach. And it is for this reason that we now turn to the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. Famous wine makers, mixologists, chefs and festival guests come together to taste wine and gastronomic delicacies, give and attend master classes, or simply holiday in the atmosphere of a four-day celebration. In 2022 the festival marks its tenth anniversary. So let’s drink to that!

 

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Публикация от SoWal Wine & Food Festival (@sowalwine)

If you follow the food world, you will be impressed by the list of celebs from the wine and culinary industries visiting the festival, such as Peter Mondavi, Jr., Marc Perrin, Don Hartford, Cristina Mariani-May, Jean-Charles Boissett, Norman Van Aken and South Walton’s own Chef Emeril Lagasse among many others. 

In addition to tasting alcohol, the celebrities will host seminars.

South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival is a celebration of wine, food and music, where everyone can savor the moment. Also note that the event will be used to collect funds for the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which supports children’s charities in North-West Florida.

Gathering of Nations, Albuquerque

  • Where: Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • When: 28-30 April 2022.
  • Price: for 18 and older — $13.50; from 5 to 17 — $8; free for children below five. 
  • Restrictions: certificate testifying to full vaccination against COVID-19, make sure to carry ID with you; children up to five, as well as persons granted medical exemption from vaccination need to provide a PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before visiting the event. 
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If you want to learn about America’s diversified culture, then head for the Gathering of Nations festival. Over the last 39 years, Gathering of Nations has grown from a little friendly gathering into one of the world’s best known festivals.

The initial aim of the event was to build a platform for American natives where they can gather every year, celebrate and share their culture. 

 

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Публикация от Gathering of Nations™ (@gatheringofnations)

Now, over 565 tribes from the United States and 220 from Canada meet in Albuquerque to take part in the Tingley Coliseum. Dance battles are held during the festival, as well as singing competitions and contests for drum groups and drummers. The Miss Indian World competition is particularly fascinating, where the winner is chosen based on knowledge of tribal traditions and dancing skills. 

Don’t miss the chance to take a look at the Indian traders market, with its art and craft of the native Americans. The festival also includes a parade of local horses and riders.

Jazz Fest, New Orleans

  • Where: Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, A Churchill Downs Co, 1751 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  • When: 29-30 April, 1, 5-8 May 2022.
  • Price: one-day ticket — $80, child’s ticket — $5. Three-day ticket (29, 30 April, 1 May) — $210. Four-day ticket (5-8 May) — $260.
  • Restrictions: certificate testifying to full vaccination against COVID-19; children up to five, as well as persons granted medical exemption from vaccination need to provide a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before visiting the event. 
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This is the biggest jazz festival on Earth — the most important event for any fan of swing, blues, soul or funk. 

In 1970, the performer Mahalia Jackson and the “king of jazz” Duke Ellington organized an improvised concert with a local orchestra at Heritage Fair in Louisiana. Ever since then, Congo Square, where the jam session was held, has become a place of annual pilgrimage for top American and international jazz musicians. 

 

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Today, the festival encompasses 12 stages around the Louisiana Hippodrome, with over 150,000 guests. The list of participants of the New Orleans Jazz Festival across the years resembles a revived encyclopedia of modern music: for example, the headlines have included Lady Gaga and Elton John. Yet the main focus remains jazz and related music — rock, blues, funk, folk and Americana.

Bay to Breakers, San Francisco

  • Where: the Embarcadero neighborhood, San Francisco, California.
  • When: 15 May 2022.
  • Price: individual run — $64.99, for a group of 13 to 15 persons — $844.87.
  • Restrictions: certificate testifying to full vaccination against COVID-19; persons granted medical exemption from vaccination need to provide a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before visiting the event. 
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Bay to Breakers was first held on 1 January 1912 and since then has been a unique symbol of San Francisco.

The Bay to Breakers annual race is a celebration of human spirit, athleticism, fun and determination. Bay to Breakers is one of the world’s largest footraces, annually bringing together thousands of participants and spectators. 

Lots of people take part every year, and in 1986 they claimed a world record (included in the Guinness World Records) when 110,000 people took part.

 

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Perhaps the biggest feature of the race is its costumes. In 1940 a man dressed as Captain Kidd was the last to cross the finishing line, but became the first racer to wear a costume. By 1992 the tradition of wearing a costume had grown into a competition held after the race was over. 

Other traditions include unusual ways of running — such as centipede races. These centipedes consist of 13 runners who run the entire distance attached to each other. Another, more carefree running technique is practiced by participants dressed as salmon. As you may have guessed, they run “against the tide” or facing other runners.

Thousands of participants in costumes run through the heart of San Francisco accompanied by live music. Thousands of spectators line the route to greet them.

 

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Boston Calling Music Festival, Boston

  • Where: Harvard Stadium, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • When: 27-29 May 2022.
  • Price: ticket for one day — $129.99; for two days — $228.99; for three days — $369.99.
  • Restrictions: certificate testifying to full vaccination against COVID-19; children up to five, as well as persons granted medical exemption from vaccination need to provide a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before visiting the event. 
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Another event for music lovers, Boston Calling Music Festival, is held in the open air with famous artists featured. 

Boston Calling is a multi-genre musical event. Established in 2013, the festival soon transformed into one of the country’s main annual events.

 

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Over 40,000 guests visit the festival during three days, with over 60 performances leaving the audience immersing itself in the audio and visual arts, held on five stages. During breaks between concerts you can grab a bite to eat or take a ride on the attractions. 

Stars who have performed there in the past include Kendrick Lamar, Vampire Weekend, Tool and Eminem. In 2022, the first concert since 2019, true rock stars are lined up to headline the event — Foo Fighters, The Strokes and Metallica.

Memorial Day Fireworks, Hot Springs

  • Where: Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport, Hot Springs, Arkansas
  • When: 28 May, 4 July and 5 September 2022.
  • Price: free.
  • Restrictions: none.
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Here is a wonderful way to spend the spring — visiting the annual fireworks display marking Memorial Day. 

This colorful 75th anniversary show in 2022 will for the first time not be held on Lake Hamilton, but in the grounds of Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport, on 28 May.

 

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Публикация от Household Solutions (@household_solutionshs)

The bursts of fireworks will be accompanied by music, together forming a single, breathtaking show. 

Make sure to mark 4 July and 5 September in your calendar — on those days you can watch fireworks displays celebrating Independence Day and Labor Day, respectively.


You won’t be bored this spring — with the loosening of covid restrictions events are blossoming throughout America. Select the one you fancy and off you go! And if you need a hotel for your trip then you can always choose and book one on ZenHotels!

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