Bluegrass, Beer, Pride, Earth Day: Festivals abound this weekend

Delta Reign is part of the lineup at Saturday's Crawfish & Bluegrass Extravaganza in Midtown. (David Trimmier photo courtest of Delta Reign)

Following a weekend when the SouthSounds Music Fest and numerous other events carried on despite soggy forecasts, April 17-19 brings another rainy forecast and another full slate of activities - including Earth Day celebrations, PrideFest and a celebration of craft beer.

Here's a quick rundown of events most likely to have you reaching for your umbrella and galoshes this weekend. (Along with a few coming up in the next few weeks.)

April 17-18: Festival of Quilts 2015 - The Azalea City Quilters' Guild presents its biennial  showcase, with the theme "The Art of Quilting," in the Mobile Civic Center Expo Hall. Attractions include an exhibition of more than 300 quilts, a merchants' mall, a Chinese auction, workshops and classes, and opportunity quilt, appraisals by a nationally certified appraiser and a boutique. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 17 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18. Admission is $6 for adults, $2 for children; on-site parking is $5. www.azaleacityquiltersguild.com.

April 18: Earth Day Mobile Bay - Technically, Earth Day falls on Wednesday, April 22. But Mobile's annual celebration, which "promotes environmental citizenship and steers environmental awareness," will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Fairhope public pier. Admission is free. Attractions include an environmental film fest, electronics recycling, environmental exhibitions and vendors, dance performance and live music, including performances by Sassafrass, the Rock Bottom Band, Lee Yankie & The Planet Warriors and The Invincible Czars. For more information, visit www.earthdaymobilebay.org.

April 18-19: PrideFest 2015 - Mobile Alabama Pride, an organization dedicated to promoting "pride in, and respect for, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people," will present its annual Pride festival and parade from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, in Bienville Square. Saturday's attractions include live entertainment, a 2 p.m. parade, vendors, food trucks, a children's area and HIV testing. Sunday's program includes vendors, a children's area and entertainment by DJ Amanda. www.mobilealabamapride.com.

April 18: 2nd Annual Great Firkin Fest - This craft beer festival focusing on specialty brews and cask ales starts at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Moe's Original Bar B Que at 701 Spring Hill Ave. in downtown Mobile.  Fourteen breweries will be represented, including Back Forty, Fairhope Brewing Co., Blue Pants, Black Warrior, Cahama and Avondale. Cask beer sampling continues through 5:30 p.m., with awards at 6 p.m. followed by live music and crawfish. Winston Ramble will perform during the festival, followed by Kristen Diable at 6:30 p.m. and Strung Like a Horse at 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices for the festival are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Combo tickets for the festival and music are $22/$25; post-festival music tickets are $10/$12. Advance tickets are available at the downtown Moe's and via www.ticketfly.com. For updates, visit the "2nd annual Great Firkin Fest" page on Facebook.

April 18: Crawfish & Bluegrass Extravaganza - Rollin in the Hay, a trio famous for "high octane groove grass," tops the bill at this annual event presented by the St. Mary Parish Knights of Columbus. The lineup for Mobile's only bluegrass festival also features Delta Reign, Fat Man Squeeze and The Deluxe Trio. The event takes place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the grounds of St. Mary Catholic School at the corner of Old Shell Road and Lafayette Street; admission includes all-you-can-eat crawfish and gumbo, with hot dogs and other treats available. Tickets are $25 per person in advance, $30 at the gate for adults. Children ages 12 and younger are admitted free, and high school students age 13-18 who present a valid high school student ID or other photo ID with birth date are $15 at the door.  Advance tickets are available at Mobile Popcorn, Zoghby's Uniforms, St. Mary School and via www.brownpapertickets.com. Proceeds benefit the Catholic Social Services "Legacy for the Future" program, and patrons are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Bay Area Food Bank.  For more information, visit www.stmarymobile.org.

April 18: The 6th annual Bald Eagle Bash -- a "party for preservation," will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Tonsmeire Resource Center on Weeks Bay. The program features fresh Gulf seafood prepared by local restaurants, plus music by Gretsch Lyles & The Modern Eldorados. Tickets are $40 in advance, and $45 at the gate, while kids 10 and under are free.  Free parking is available at the Weeks Bay Reserve Safe Harbor site, with BRATS shuttles providing transportation to the event.  For more information or to purchase tickets, call 251-990-5004 or visit www.baldeaglebash.com. Tickets will be available for purchase at Page & Palette in Fairhope, the Foundation office, the Reserve, and from Foundation board members.

UPCOMING

April 24-26: Interstate Mullet Toss & Gulf Coast's Greatest Beach Party - Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar presents its annual fish-flinging competition on the Alabama-Florida state line, with activities starting at noon on Friday, April 24, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26. Admission is free to membership cardholders (cards can be purchased for $45). Otherwise, admission is $10 per day for patrons 21 and older, $15 per day for patrons age 13-20 (limited/no admission after 7 p.m.), free for patrons 12 and younger (before 6 p.m., must be accompanied by parent or guardian). Admission is cash only on Friday and Saturday. Fee to participate in the mullet-tossing competition is $15, which includes a T-shirt. For each throw, a contribution goes to local youth charities. Additional attractions include a Mr. Mullet Toss Hot Body Contest at 6 p.m. April 23 and 1 p.m. April 24-25, and a Miss Mullet Toss Bikini Contest at 3 p.m. April 24-25. Shuttle service will be available for $5 per person from the Orange Beach Publix and from the Winn-Dixie on Perdido Key. For full information, visit www.florabama.com.

April 25: 7th Annual Rabun Community Bluegrass Gospel Festival - A free outdoor gospel music event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 25, across the street from Guy's Chapel UMC, 55080 Rabun Road (also Hwy. 47) in Baldwin County.  Featured bluegrass gospel groups are Hillspring Drive, The McCrays, Harold & Ovaline Andrews, Juniper Creek and The McPherson Family.  Food, snacks and drinks will be made available for purchase by various area churches, but visitors also can bring their own refreshments, along with lawn chairs.  In case of inclement weather the event will be held in the fellowship hall of Guy's Chapel UMC. No admission will be charged, but a love offering will be received to cover travel expenses for the featured groups. For directions or additional information please contact Donnie Hicks, 251-937-2054.

May 1-2: Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival - The annual festival takes place from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, May 1, and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 2, at the festival grounds a half-mile west of downtown Foley on U.S. 98. Attractions include a carnival with rides for adults and kids; tethered hot air balloon rides; arts & crafts; and live music by acts including Sugarcane Jane, The Chee Weez, JERI, Rhythm Intervention and Escalade. For full information, visit www.southbaldwinchamber.com.

May 8-9: 2nd annual 99 Bottles of Beer on the Lawn & Willie Sugarcapps Live on the Lawn - Southern Napa Fine Wine House will present its annual 99 Bottles of Beer on the Lawn craft beer festival starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at 2304 Main St. in Daphne. The night before, Willie Sugarcapps will perform on the lawn at the venue. Advance tickets are available through www.eventbrite.com. Early-bird prices are good until May 1: $20 for the concert, $30 for the festival, $50 for both, $75 for VIP two-day pass. www.facebook.com/SouthernNapa.

May 21-24: Pensacola Unleashed - Annual music festival takes place Memorial Day Weekend, May 21-24, at Flounders Chowder House, 800 Quietwater Beach Road in Pensacola Beach. Performers include Ruby Rose, Michelle Chamuel, DJ Kittens, Kristy Lee, The Hussy Hicks, The 17th Floor, DJ Tony Skratchere, Spikey Dykey, Ivy Les Vixen, Mary Contrary, Lady Dane and Miss Petite Coquette. General admission weekend passes are $50; VIP passes are $150. www.pensacolaunleashed.com.

May 22-24: Mobicon - Mobile's annual convention for fantasy, science fiction, horror, comic book, anime and gaming fans will be held at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel. Guest registration prices through May 1 are $35 for adults, $18 for children ages 6-13. For information on guests, events and other attractions, visit www.mobicon.org.

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