Cymbidiums great and small are celebrated

Santa Barbara

March 24-26: There will be an outbreak of orchidelirium as more than 70 commercial and amateur orchid growers present varieties of the flower that sent “The Orchid Thief’s” John Laroche into Florida’s Fakahatchee swamp. The 61st annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show also hosts the annual Congress of the Cymbidium Society of America, with lectures on cymbidiums and slipper orchids, and an awards banquet, which includes an orchid auction.

Exhibit hall at Earl Warren Showgrounds. $10, $8 for students and seniors. (805) 969-5746, www.sborchidshow.com.

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Vail, Colo.

March 30-April 17: The mountain town will be as packed as its snow when the Vail Film Festival, Spring Back to Vail and Taste of Vail are staged amid the slopes. The film festival (March 30-April 2) is dedicated to independent filmmakers and its winter sport environs; features, student films and action sport films are on the bill. The festival also debuts its Vail Filmmaker Project, a program that allows aspiring filmmakers to interact with industry professionals at workshops, panels and pitch sessions. Spring Back to Vail (April 4-17) brings in musical headliners for free concerts and hosts street parties, snow events and the colorful World Pond-Skimming Championships (which involves ski jumps across a pool of water). Taste of Vail (April 6-9) includes dining at area restaurants, tastings with winemakers from international vineyards, seminars and a mountaintop picnic.

Venues throughout Vail. Film festival, (866) 476-1092, www.vailfilmfestival.org; Spring Back to Vail, (970) 476-6797, www.springbacktovail.com; Taste of Vail, (970) 926-5665, www.tasteofvail.com.

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Long Beach, Wash.

March 31-April 2: Kentucky isn’t the only place bluegrass grows: For two days, nine bluegrass bands from several Western states will play on two stages at the Chautauqua Lodge while the peninsula rhododendrons are blooming. Performers include Chris Stuart & Back Country, Fern Hill, Black River and the Wright Family.

304 14th St. North, Long Beach. $15 Friday, $20 Saturday. (800) 451-2542, www.funbeach.com/events/bluegrass/index.html.

-- Blake Hennon