Festivals

In March, we'll be packing our bags for South by Southwest 2010 in Austin, TX. While we'd love to be with the hipsters who cover the awesome indie music and film scene, we're better suited for (and quite frankly, much more interested in) the Interactive portion of the festival. Specifically, those that deal with emerging trends that affect parents, children, education and culture/society.

It's that time of year again, the hippest-of-the-hip in the indie music, film and interactive scene converge on Austin, TX for South by Southwest, aka SXSW, "an exhausting and exhilarating feast of music discovery and industry deal-making, South by Southwest draws more than 1,700 bands and untold thousands of fans to Austin, Texas, for a four-day music festival in the middle of every March." At npr.org, hear live concerts, see exclusive photos and get blog and podcast updates.

There's not much that matches the beauty of springtime at Descanso Gardens. The brilliant colors of new life blossoming all around you makes it hard to believe, when you visit the gardens, that you are minutes away from urban-life.

And this Saturday is no exception. Join the gardens this Saturday, April 4th, for their Power of Flowers spring festival.

Starting tomorrow, February 20th and continuing all the way up to Fat Tuesday, February 24th families can come out to the Original Los Angeles Farmers Market and enjoy a free Mardi Gras Celebration. In it's 20th year, the annual event brings together the smells, sounds, sights and spirit of Mardi Gras minus mommy exposing the ol' milk makers for some shiny beads.

There's gonna be one helluva tea party Saturday, February 14th at the Electric Lodge Performing & Visual Arts Center in Venice, Ca. From 2 to 8pm families can come out and enjoy Kulov's 9th annual Valentine's Tea Festival which boasts a teatime fit for a queen, of hearts that is.

The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is holding a African Cultural Festival marking the start of Black History Month. As part of their Target Free First Sunday series this free family event will run from 10am to 4pm. Families will "Celebrate the richness of the African and African American cultures with powerful drum beats, dancers, gospel songs, and an art show, featuring local Black artists.

Come celebrate the New Year, namely Oshogatsu, the Japanese new year, this Sunday, January 4th at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM). In honor of the new year the museum is offering free admission all day and a free Oshogatsu Family Festival from 11am to 4pm. The festival is going to be one nice size family bash including a crafts area where kids can make their own

This Sunday, September 28 is the Abbot Kinney Street Festival. In it's 24th year this festival stretches from Venice to Main Street along trendy Abbot Kinney boasting block after block of crazy-cool wares, goodies and sounds in true Venice style. A place where burning sage and lemon-grass scented truffles mix and mingle so fragrantly you're instantly transfixed by the scene.

The Redondo Beach Lobster Festival takes place this weekend September 26-28th at the Seaside Lagoon. In it's 13th year this annual event promises fun for the whole family. plus loads of "fresh Maine Lobsters." While there's plenty of live entertainment including wake boarding demos and music acts like Too Rude.

I blame the Summer Olympics in Beijing for my obsession with all things Chinese.