If the chill in the air is starting to fade and you're starting to feel just a touch of Texas heat, it must be spring.
That means getting outside before the angry season gets here and you just want to stay indoors.
No surprise, then, that this time of year is prime time for festivals. Here are some of the major, mostly outdoor fests breezing into our region this spring.
Tarrant/Denton/
Hood counties
Cowtown Goes Green
1-4 p.m. Saturday
Fort Worth Stockyards
Free
A family-friendly St. Patrick's Day event with face painting, a petting zoo, games and a parade.
General Granbury 35th Annual Birthday Party on the Historic Square
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
205 E. Pearl St.
Granbury
Free
While there will be food, arts and crafts, music, a bean tasting, and a cake cutting, what everyone really comes for are the outhouse races at 3 p.m.
Texas Indian Market and Southwest
Showcase
March 22-24
Arlington Convention Center, Arlington
$12, free under age 13
In addition to food and art, such American Indian acts as Blues Nation, Estun-Bah, Shelley Morningsong and the Ehecatl Aztec Dancers will be performing.
Spring Gallery Night
Noon-9 p.m. March 23
Various venues in Fort Worth
Free
www.fwada.com/gallerynight.html
Some of the area's most notable galleries, such as Artspace 111 and SiNaCa Studios, throw open their doors for the neighborhood to explore.
Fort Worth Festival of the Arts
March 23-24
Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3401 W. Lancaster, Fort Worth
Free
The first edition of this festival features painting, photography, and other works of art.
Texas Festival of Colors
10 a.m. March 24
Hidden Cove Park, 20400 Hackberry Creek Park Road, The Colony
$5-$8
India's Holi festival, when participants throw brightly colored powder at each other, is celebrated here each year.
Art in the Park
April 5-7
Kennedale Town Center, 405 Municipal Drive, Kennedale
Free
Visual art, music, live cultural performances and food make this an eclectic event.
ChocolateFest
7 -10 p.m. April 5, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. April 6
Friday: Delaney Vineyards2000 Champagne Blvd., Grapevine
Saturday: Palace Arts Center300 S. Main St., Grapevine
$50 April 5; $15 April 6, $5 age 7 and under
This delicious annual event is divided into two parts, with Evening of Chocolate and Wine (must be 21 or older) and the Day of Chocolate and Art.
Scarborough
Renaissance Festival
Weekends and Memorial Day, April 6-May 27
2511 Farm Road 66, Waxahachie
$20, $9 age 12 and under; $32 two-day weekend pass
Re-enact your Game of Thrones fantasies at North Texas' long-running Renaissance festival this year, featuring the antics of the sword-fighting comedy team of Don Juan and Miguel, falconry from Birds of Prey, knife throwing, joust shows, and other medieval treats.
Brewfest on Crockett
5-10 p.m. April 13
Crockett Street, between Norwood and Currie streets, Fort Worth
Free
Beer from around the world and bands from around the corner have made this mix of local music and brew a staple on the Cowtown calendar in recent years.
West Berry Block Party
April 13-14
Various venues along Berry Street, Fort Worth
$20; $30 two-day pass; $50 VIP pass
Stages at the Aardvark, The Cellar, Old Rip's and Stay Wired will host a variety of bands. The Friday lineup includes Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Quaker City Night Hawks, and Spoonfed Tribe followed on Saturday by Nadis Warriors, Supervision, Stella Rose and others.
Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival
April 18-21
Downtown Fort Worth
Free
The mix of art in the streets and music/dance on the stages makes this a perennial festival favorite. The music lineup this year includes Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Average White Band, Little Texas and the Quebe Sisters Band.
Paste Untapped Fort Worth
April 20
Panther Island Pavilion, Fort Worth
The Untapped beer 'n' music fest that was a hit in Dallas last year moves over to Fort Worth with a lineup that includes Deer Tick, Justin Townes Earle, Sarah Jaffe and Tennis. On hand will be 50 breweries with more than 100 beers.
Spring Festival in the Japanese Garden
April 20-21
Fort Worth Botanic Garden3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.
$6, $3 ages 4-12, under 4 free
Japanese music, martial arts, dance, tea ceremonies and papermaking are part of this Fort Worth tradition.
Art in the Square
April 26-28
Southlake Town Square
Free
Country singer Keith Anderson is headlining this year's event, a juried art show and benefit for various charities through the Southlake Women's Club.
Denton Arts and Jazz Festival
April 26-28
Quakertown Park, 321 E. McKinney St., Denton
Free
David Sanborn, the Original Blues Brothers Band and Brave Combo are the headliners this year. As usual, this fest is expected to draw a huge crowd.
Mayfest
May 2-5
Trinity Park, Fort Worth
$8, $5 ages 3-12, 2 and under free
Just like last year, there will be seven stages for entertainment (including three dedicated to music and four for performing arts) as well an arts-and-crafts market, the Mayfest Run and food.
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games
May 3-5
Maverick Stadium at UT Arlington
$12 Friday & Sunday, $18 Saturday; $8 ages 13-17, $5 ages 6-12
Last year, the fest moved from June to May, but everything else -- the food, dancing, music, art and competitions -- remains steadfastly the same and unrepentantly Scottish.
Fort Worth Music Festival
May 17-18
Panther Island Pavilion, 395 Purcey St., Fort Worth
Single day: $20; 2-day pass $35
Fall's Jazz by the Boulevard morphed into the Fort Worth Music Festival last year and now it switches seasons, landing in the middle of the spring schedule. Drive-By Truckers, Old 97's, Delta Spirit and ZZ Ward are among the 30 bands playing on three stages.
Main Street Days
May 17-19
Downtown Grapevine
$7, $5 children and seniors
Music, pizza and carnival rides take over the historic street.
ArtsGoggle
4-10 p.m. May 18
Various venues in Fort Worth's near south side
Free
This twice-yearly event features local artists and musicians on or near Magnolia Avenue.
Prairie Fest
11 a.m.-8 p.m. April 27
Tandy Hills Natural Area 3400 View St., Fort Worth
Free
Last year, organizers experimented with stretching the ecology-minded Prairie Fest over three weekends. This year, it's back to a single-day event with performances from Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Pablo & the Hemphill 7, Brave Combo and more.
Dallas/Ellis counties
Dallas Blooms
Through April 7
Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas
This celebration of all things floral includes free walking garden tours at 11 a.m. Wednesdays, spring tea (reservations required) and cherry blossom viewing at 12:30 p.m. this Sunday.
Dallas St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival
11 a.m. Saturday
Greenville Avenue, Dallas
The name may be new (it didn't bear the word "Dallas" before) but the spirit -- and spirits -- will be the same at this venerable St. Patrick's Day institution.
Savor the Arboretum
6 p.m. Sunday Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas
$65, $59 Arboretum members
Some of Dallas' most popular eateries -- including Bread Winners and Highland Park Cafeteria -- will take part in this outdoor food fest.
Big Texas Beer Fest
April 6
Automobile Building at Fair Park, 1010 First Ave., Dallas
$35; $60 VIP
The second edition of this celebration of craft brews returns with more than 100 breweries represented.
Ennis Bluebonnet
Trails Festival
April 20-21
Downtown Ennis
Free
There will be arts, crafts, kids' activities, food, music and, of course, bluebonnets at this annual celebration of the flower.
Real Texas Festival
April 26-27
Rodeo Center, 1818 Rodeo Drive, Mesquite
Tickets on sale soon
Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Josh Weathers and Hudson Moore are set to play this country-rock extravaganza.
Cottonwood
Art Festival
May 4-5
Cottonwood Park, 1321 W. Belt Line Road, Richardson
Free
While there will be entertainment, the focus here is more on the visual arts.
Homegrown Music
and Arts Festival
May 11
Main Street Garden Park1900 Main St., Dallas
Tickets available soon
The lineup hasn't been announced yet for this salute to local alt-rock and indie music.
Taste Addison
May 17-19
Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive
$15, $5 before 5 p.m. Saturday, free age 3 and under
Big-name musical acts and some of the area's top eateries lure attendees from all over the Metroplex. Blue October, Tim Urban and Reckless Kelly are three of the performers this year.
Wildflower Arts and Music Festival
May 17-19
Galatyn Park, 2351 Performance Drive, Richardson
$20, $30 three-day pass, $10 Richardson residents, $3 ages 5-12
Fort Worth's Toadies headline Wildflower this year, along with Reverend Horton Heat, Uncle Kracker, Robert Earl Keen and fest favorites Cowboy Mouth, among others.
CityArts
May 24-26
Fair Park, Dallas
Free
Details for this year's gathering haven't been announced, but last year featured a juried art show, a food showcase and outdoor films.
Cary Darling, 817-390-7571
Twitter: @carydar
