New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show
Through April 23
The historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx is the epicenter of this annual floral extravaganza, featuring displays of thousands of colorfully blooming epiphytes of every variety. Both daytime and evening programs are offered. nybg.org, 718/817-8700
Scranton St. Patrick’s Day Festival
March 11
Pennsylvania’s “Electric City” (and President Joe Biden’s birthplace) lights up with a packed celebration that starts with Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral and includes a 5K footrace, the second largest (in terms of participants per capita) St. Patrick’s Day parade in the US, and lots of Irish music, food and spirit. stpatparade.com
Photo courtesy of Asia Week New York
Asia Week New York
March 16–24
New York City’s art galleries, museums and cultural organizations join in this annual celebration that features Asian art exhibitions, auctions, musical performances, artist discussions and educational presentations. Participants include art dealers, auction houses, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Rubin Museum of Art, and cultural groups from Japan, China and Korea. asiaweekny.com
21st Annual Garden State Film Festival
March 23–26
Independent filmmakers from across New Jersey and around the world will screen their works and host discussions and workshops celebrating home-grown independent cinema in the state, which played a pivotal role in the invention of the motion picture. Events take place in theaters and other venues in Asbury Park and Cranford. Single screening tickets, day passes and VIP packages are available. gsff.org, 877/908-7050
Photo courtesy of the New York International Auto Show
New York International Auto Show
April 7–16
Now in its 122nd year of presenting the latest in automotive technology and the coolest new and concept vehicles, this premier auto showcase will roll hundreds of cars onto the floor of the Javits Center in Manhattan for a week of exhibits and demonstrations. Highlights include an EV test track, micro-mobility vehicles and a display of cars with New York City roots. autoshowny.com, 718/746-5300
Carnegie Mellon University Spring Carnival
April 13–16
This springtime tradition will feature the kinds of activities that have kept generations of Tartans coming back year after year to this Pittsburgh campus for more than a century: student-run interactive game booths, carnival rides and food, musicians and comedians, robots competing on a slalom course and human-powered buggy races.
Photo courtesy of New England Tattoo Expo
New England Tattoo Expo 2023
April 14–16
Tattoo artists and enthusiasts will gather for this weekend-long celebration of exotic ink at the Mohegan Sun Expo Center in Uncasville, Connecticut. Events include tattoo contests, live music performances, comedy and clown shows, and BMX riders, plus appearances by prominent tattoo artists and body piercers. newenglandtattooexpo.com
School of American Shad. Photo by Bill Byrne
Lambertville Shad Festival
April 22–23
The American shad is the largest fish in the herring family, and the town of Lambertville, New Jersey, celebrates these hefty herring with an annual festival that includes foods like smoked shad and shad fritters—plus plenty of other local cuisine. A full schedule of free live music rounds out the weekend. shadfest.com, 609/397-0055
Connecticut Storytelling Festival & Conference
April 28–29
Acclaimed Cape Verdean storyteller Len Cabral headlines this 42nd annual event in downtown New London, which includes tales told by diverse authors and performers as well as workshops to help attendees tell their own stories. connstorycenter.org/festival.htm, 860/934-8165
Connecticut Sheep, Wool and Fiber Festival
April 29
Breeders, weavers, spinners and other artisans flock to this annual festival celebrating all things sheep, with more than 75 vendors selling everything from fibers to finished wool sweaters to goat cheese and soaps. Spinning, weaving, sheep-herding and shearing demonstrations are part of the fun at the North Haven Fairgrounds. ctsheep.org/ct-sheep-wool-fiber-festival.html
