April flowers bring out spring wallowers

Skagit Valley, Wash.

April: Tiptoe through the tulips ... or cruise by, pedal among or fly over them throughout April at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Thousands visit the area north of Seattle each spring to soak up the intense colors. You may not want to go too early because, as the festival points out, “bloom dates [are] according to Mother Nature.” There are bike trips, clipper ships, helicopter lifts and several other ways to see the blooming bulbs in fields and on farms. There are tastings at three local wineries and an assortment of other activities, including tours of alpaca farms and a cheese-making tour and tasting.

Locations throughout Skagit County. (360) 428-5959, www.tulipfestival.org.

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Stockton

April 21-23: Help your fellow 80,000 or so asparagus aficionados eat more than 40,000 pounds (deep-fried or atop pasta) of San Joaquin County’s finest crop at the Stockton Asparagus Festival. The weekend event, which has been honored by Sunset magazine as the best of the West food fest, includes cooking demonstrations, a craft show, a Valley wine and beer pavilion, river cruises and live music.

Lafayette and El Dorado streets. 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. each day. $10; $5 for seniors and teens; kids under 10 free. (209) 644-3740, www.asparagusfest.com.

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San Diego

May 6-7: The outnumbered, Mexican farmers will defeat the French dragoons yet again when the 1862 Battle of Puebla is reenacted at the Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo. About 200,000 visitors are expected to visit San Diego’s historic park for a weekend celebrating Mexican culture. More than 200 banda, norteno, mariachi and cumbia musical acts will perform in eight venues. Stagecoach rides, a re-creation of a Kumeyaay village and a Pueblo de los Ninos for kids also are planned, while 100 or so craft and cuisine booths turn Old Town into a massive mercado.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park and San Diego Avenue. Free. (619) 236-3236, www.oldtownsandiego.org.

-- Blake Hennon