Go, See and Do: May Festival Guide

Featured Article, Festivals, Food
on April 21, 2014
May Barbecue Blast
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Bluegrass Barbecue Blast

The Owensboro, Ky., riverfront becomes a hot spot May 9-10 when cooking teams prepare their best secret barbecue recipes for the International Bar-B-Q Festival.

About 8,000 people are attracted to the annual event, which features more than 10 tons of mutton, 1,500 gallons of burgoo and 5,000 chickens that are hickory-smoked and sold. Festival-goers can sample barbecue before it goes on sale during the afternoon of May 10. Cooks compete for chicken, mutton and burgoo titles, and the best overall team receives the coveted Governor’s Cup. Awards are presented May 10.

The Mutton Glutton Party also draws a crowd with barbecue and entertainment on both nights. Other highlights are a 5K run/walk, arts & crafts, handmade souvenirs, a classic car show and children’s activities. For more information, call (800) 489-1131.

LOUISIANACelebration of Herbs & GardensSunset, May 3. Browse fresh herbs, yard art, native plants, herbal products, plants and flowers, and attend gardening lectures. Old Sunset High School grounds. (337) 662-3542.

MARYLANDThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeCumberland, May 1-18. This Tony Award-winning musical comedy follows young people as they compete in a spelling championship. Cumberland Theatre. (301) 759-4990.

MISSOURIApple Blossom Parade and Barbecue ContestSt. Joseph, May 2-3. Watch cooks compete in a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned contest at Civic Center Park, and enjoy a colorful parade May 3 along Frederick Avenue. (816) 233-9192.

NEW YORKAdirondack Adventure FestivalNorth Creek, May 2-4. Delight in music, sports, crafts and food during this fourth annual event in the Gore Mountain region. (518) 251-2612.

NORTH DAKOTABand DayWilliston, May 9-10. Supper and music by Industrial Rhythm of New York kick off this event, which features a parade with the Minnesota Vikings Skol Line and marching bands, merchandise and food. (701) 774-9041.

PENNSYLVANIAAfternoon TeaCranberry Township, May 4. Savor tea, scones, sandwiches and dessert while enjoying a drawing and door prizes at St. Ferdinand Church. For reservations, call (724) 779-3986.

RHODE ISLAND42nd StreetWarwick, April 23-May 18. This tap dance musical features an aspiring chorus girl who is chosen to save the show when the leading lady breaks her ankle. Ocean State Theatre. (401) 921-6800.

SOUTH DAKOTAPlatte Chamber Walleye TournamentPlatte, May 2-3. Attend a rules meeting and Calcutta May 2, and cast your line for walleye on May 3, followed by a banquet. Snake Creek Recreation Area. (605) 337-2275

TENNESSEEIroquois SteeplechaseNashville, May 10. Watch the 73rd running of this equestrian event to benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Percy Warner Park. (800) 619-4802.

TEXASLubbock Chorale ConcertLubbock, May 4. The music group presents “Mosaic of Masterworks,” a varied program of colorful pieces from medieval to modern times. St. Paul’s-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church. (832) 212-3269.

UTAHHome Machine Quilting ShowSalt Lake City, May 8-10. View more than 700 quilts on display and a judged quilt competition, plus attend quilting, embroidery and sewing classes. South Towne Exposition Center. (801) 205-4701.

VIRGINIAMid-Atlantic Garden FaireAbingdon, May 2-4. Browse a garden marketplace, attend gardening lectures and workshops, and enjoy tabletop and floral hat competitions. Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. (276) 701-1467.

WASHINGTONSpokane Lilac FestivalSpokane, May 10-17. A golf tournament, a car show, a royal court and the nation’s largest Armed Forces torchlight parade highlight this event in the downtown area. (509) 535-4554.

WEST VIRGINIAScottish Festival & Celtic GatheringBridgeport, May 2-4. Bagpipe, Highland dancing and athletic competitions, plus Scottish country dancing and living history presentations, highlight this 13th annual event. (304) 677-6425.

WISCONSINIt’s A Stitch Guild Quilt ShowJackson, May 3-4. More than 250 quilts are on display during this event, which also features quilting demonstrations, a silent auction and quilting materials. Kettie Moraine Lutheran High School. (262) 338-0054.

WYOMINGAn Evening of Cowboy Poetry and Rocky Mountain Noodle CuisineRock Springs, May 3. Enjoy dining on Italian cuisine and entertainment by cowboy poets and musicians. Young at Heart Center. (307) 352-6737.