Central California:April

Arshile Gorky Festival - April 7 - June 3, 2006

Various locations Fresno, CA

Schedule: Call or check Web site for details

Cost: Call or check Web site for details

Primary Phone: (559) 243-5880

This two-month-long festival features art, theater, lectures, and music, including a concert called Music in Gorky's World, an exhibition of student artwork inspired by Gorky's art and life, and an acclaimed one-woman theatrical performance by Nouritiza Matossian, who portrays Gorky's wife, mother, and sister.

Vintage Days - April 21 - 23, 2006

CSU Fresno Fresno, CA

Schedule: Call or check Web site for schedule

Cost: Free

Primary Phone: (559) 278-2741

Web site: www.gofresnocounty.com

A carnival, more than 200 crafts booths, two stages of music, a battle of the bands, and plenty of activities for kids, including pony rides, a petting zoo, giant slide, sandboxes, and arts and crafts activities.

Spring Blossom Festival - April 29 - 30, 2006

Shinzen Friendship Garden Woodward Park Audubon and Friant Roads Fresno, CA

Schedule: Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Cost: $3 per car entrance fee to park (seniors exempt); garden admission $3, $1 kids 4–14

Primary Phone: (559) 226-8034

Web site: www.shinzenjapanesegarden.org

If Mother Nature cooperates, during these two days Fresno's five-acre Japanese garden will be blazing with cherry, crabapple, peach, and quince blossoms, as well as spring flowers like camellias and irises. Also on tap are a bonsai show and demonstrations, tea house tours, a haiku-writing contest, ikebana demos, and an art display and sale.