Dogwood Festival

This weather (seriously?  The snow flurries this morning?) is making me yearn for the days coming up when I constantly complain about being too hot, I pick my shirts based on what color shows the least sweat, strawberries cost $11 a flat at the market, and I have reverse-raccoon eyes from wearing sunglasses outside all the time.

It also makes me think about the ridiculous number of festivals this city holds when the sun comes out. Where else do you get to stand around clutching rapidly warming $6 beers, bitch about the crowds, develop a mild sunburn and check out garish technicolor dog art? You can also usually find fair food, which includes funnel cakes and various foods on sticks. Generally, my favorites are beer festivals within biking distance of my home (CL’s Beerfest in Woodruff, EAV’s Beerfest in, well, EAV); my least favorites are the neighborhood festivals in neighborhoods where I don’t live (why do I always end up at Summerfest in the Highlands?); and the clear standout winner isn’t even in the spring or summer, it’s Cabbagetown’s Chomp and Stomp in November (I’m acknowledging a slight bias here, but seriously, it rocks).

Coming up this weekend: BaconFest!  This one’s new to me, but Dad’s Garage is a cause I can get behind, especially with two things I also wholeheartedly support (beer and bacon).

You’ll probably also find me at 420Fest in Candler Park April 17-18.  Any readers going to Dogwood that weekend, as it’s now back in Piedmont Park?  What festivals do you look forward to every year?  Is there one that we shouldn’t miss? Why not? Can you promise me some technicolor dog art?