Dates and sites may change. Before planning to attend an event, contact the chamber of commerce or tourist office to verify details.

22nd annual AIA Sandcastle Competition, Galveston, May 31. Teams of Houston-area architects, designers, engineers and contractors take to the beach to compete in one of the world's largest sandcastle-building contests. They take their work seriously; months of planning and complicated mechanics go into the designs. Information: 713-520-0155; www.aiasandcastle.com. The Web site features photos of previous entries.

Amarillo, 8-10, 38th annual Greater Southwest Music Festival, various locations.

Austin, 3-4, Old Pecan Street Festival, Sixth Street.

Bronte, 3, Fort Chadbourne Days Living History Event, Fort Chadbourne Road.

Crystal Beach, 9-11, Texas Crab Festival, Gregory Park.

Houston, 3, eighth annual Dragon Boat Festival, downtown.

Jacksboro, 17, Mother's Day Victorian Tea, Fort Richardson State Park.

Jefferson, 2-4, 61st annual Pilgrimage Tour of Homes & Spring Festival, various locations.

Kerrville, 22-June 8, 37th annual Kerrville Folk Festival, Quiet Valley Ranch.

Marshall, 17, Stagecoach Day Festival, downtown.

Pasadena, 16-18, 35th annual Strawberry Festival, Pasadena Fairgrounds.

San Marcos, 3-4, 33rd annual Heritage Home Tours: Roses of San Antonio Street, various locations.

20th annual Magnolia Blossom Festival and 18th annual World Championship Steak Cook-Off, Magnolia, May 16-17. Festival includes a parade, antique car show, the Miss Magnolia Blossom Festival pageant, arts and crafts and live entertainment. The steak cook-off is also a highlight: Approximately 4,000 steaks are cooked up on the square each year. (Tickets to the dinner are extra.) Information: 870-234-4352; www.blossomfestival.org.

Clarendon, 24, seventh annual Big Woods Birding Festival, various locations.

Dardanelle, 9-10, 19th annual Yell Fest, Riverfront Park.

Doddridge, 2-3, 20th annual Spring Bank Ferry Festival, Community Center and Park.

Eureka Springs, 1-31, May Festival of the Arts, various locations.

Hamburg, 2-4, 38th annual World Famous Armadillo Festival, Town Square.

Helena, 24, Delta Family Gospel Fest, downtown.

Hot Springs, 17, third annual Stueart Pennington Running of the Tubs, Hot Springs Convention Center.

Little Rock, 16-18, 24th annual Greek Food Festival, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church; 23-25, Riverfest, Riverfront Park and North Shore Riverwalk.

Marion, 8-10, 16th annual Esperanza Bonanza Festival, Marion Recreational Complex.

Monticello, 9-10, 12th annual Rough and Ready Days Festival, McCloy City Park.

Mountain View, 4-9, Elderhostel: An Ozark Experience, Ozark Folk Center State Park.

Osceola, 16-17, 10th annual Osceola Heritage Music Fest, Osceola Courthouse Square.

Jambalaya Festival, Gonzales, May 22-25. Take part in one of the state's largest festivals, which features live entertainment, a carnival and plenty of jambalaya to enjoy. Information: 225-647-2937; www.jambalayafestival.org.

Belle Chasse, 23-25, Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival, Louisiana's Medal of Honor Park.

Breaux Bridge, 2-4, Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, Parc Hardy.

Cankton, 16-18, Cankton Wagon Festival & Trail Ride, Cankton City Park.

Columbia, 17, Riverboat Festival, Main Street.

New Orleans, 20-24, 2008 New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, various locations; 23-24, Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo, Banks of Bayou St. John.

Ponchatoula, 9-10, Strawberry Jam'n Toast to the Arts, downtown.

Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival & Highland Games, Albuquerque, May 17. Event celebrates Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Cornish, Manx, Breton and Galician cultures with food, Highland dancing, bagpipes, a blarney stone and games such as Irish hurling and Gaelic football. Information: 505-275-6633; www.celtfestabq.com.

Corrales, 10-11, Quilt and Wine Fair, Corrales Recreation Center.

Hillsboro, 17, Hillsboro Heritage Day, various locations.

Las Cruces, 25, Southern New Mexico Wine Festival, fairgrounds.

Socorro, Mother's Day Pow Wow, 11, Sedillo Park.

Truth or Consequences, 2-4, 59th annual Truth or Consequences Fiesta, downtown.

Doggy Derby, Oklahoma City, May 3. The event, which takes place at Remington Park, is for the whole family, including four-legged members. Activities include live entertainment from the Wise Guys, pet portraits, a pet psychic, bounce houses (for the kids, not the dogs), plenty of food and a performance by America's Best Frisbee Dogs. Canines can enter a contest to become the official mascot of the Oklahoma Humane Society, so they should start practicing now. Information: 405-286-1503; www.okhumanedoggyderby.com.

Broken Arrow, 8-11, Rooster Days Festival, Central Park.

Duncan, 2-3, Chisholm Trail Stampede, citywide.

Durant, 30-31, Magnolia Festival of Oklahoma, downtown.

El Reno, 3, Fried Onion Burger Day Festival, downtown.

Edmond, 2-4, Downtown Edmond Arts Festival, downtown.

Muskogee, 24-26, Oklahoma Renaissance Faire, The Castle of Muskogee.

Norman, 2-4, May Fair Arts Festival, Andrews Park.

Oklahoma City, 10, Asian Festival, Oklahoma History Center; 24-25, Chuck Wagon Gathering & Children's Cowboy Festival, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Prague, 3, Prague Kolache Festival, City Park.

Darla Atlas is a Fort Worth freelance writer.