The outside world is budding and blooming with springtime’s annual abandon, and the last remnants of colder months have officially bid farewell.

After a long winter, consider this your opportunity to hit the road, enjoy the warmer weather and visit a festival or two. Dozens of late spring and early summer celebrations and events can be found in Kansas. Neighboring states such as Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma offer opportunities for festival fun within driving distance, too.

So, pack a picnic and plan a day trip: Your next travel getaway awaits. The list below offers some festival and event destinations recommended by state tourism offices from now through the end of June:

ARKANSAS

Dardanelle: 15th Annual Yell Fest, May 7-8, (479) 229-3328

War Eagle: 31st Annual War Eagle Mill Antique & Crafts Show, May 7-9, (479) 789-5343 or www.wareaglemill.com

Little Rock: 31st Annual Territorial Fair, May 8, (501) 324-9304 or www.arkansashistory.com

Dermott: 21st Annual Crawfish Festival, May 14-15, (870) 538-5656 or www.dermottcrawfishfestival.com

Magnolia: 16th Annual Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cook-Off, May 15-16, (800) 482-3330 or www.magnoliachamber.com

Little Rock: 20th Annual Greek Food Festival, May 21-23, (501) 221-5300 or www.greekfoodfest.com

Little Rock: 27th Annual Riverfest, May 28-30, (501) 255-3378 or www.riverfestarkansas.com

El Dorado: Showdown at Sunset, June 5-Aug. 28, (870) 862-4747 or www.mainstreeteldorado.com

Warren: 48th Annual Pink Tomato Festival, June 7-12, (870) 226-5335 or www.bradleycountychamberofcommerce.com

Emerson: 15th Annual PurpleHull Pea Festival & World Championship Rotary Tiller Race, June 25-26, (870) 547-2707 or www.purplehull.com

IOWA

Orange City: Orange City Tulip Festival, May 20-22, (712) 707-4510 or www.octulipfestival.com

Mason City: North Iowa Band Festival, May 28-31, (800) 423-5724 or www.masoncityia.com/bandfest

Elk Horn & Kimballton: Tivoli Fest, May 29-30, (800) 451-7960 or www.danishwindmill.com

Story City: Scandinavian Days, June 4-5, (515) 733-4214 or www.storycity.net

Fort Dodge: Frontier Days, June 4-6, (515) 573-4231 or www.fortmuseum.com

Clarinda: Glenn Miller Festival 100th Birthday Celebration, June 9-13, (712) 542-2461 or www.glennmiller.org

Onawa: Lewis & Clark Festival, June 11-13, (712) 423-9099 or (712) 423-2829

Stone City: Grant Wood Art Festival, June 13, (319) 462-4267 or www.grantwoodartfestival.org

Cedar Rapids: Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival, June 24-July 4, (319) 365-8313 or www.freedomfestival.com

Davenport/Bettendorf to Lansing: Grand Excursion 2004 (along Mississippi River), June 25-July 5, (866) 439-2004 or www.grandexcursion.com

KANSAS

Wichita: Wichita River Festival, May 7-15, (877) 934-3378 or www.wichitafestivals.com

Hays: Pioneer Days, May 26, (785) 628-2624 or www.elliscountyhistoricalmuseum.org

Sedan: Yellow Brick Road Festival, May 29, (620) 725-4033

Topeka: Topeka Jazz Festival, May 29-31, (785) 234-2787 or www.tpactix.org

Fredonia: Wilson County Wildflower Tour, June 5, (620) 378-2866

Meade: Dalton Days Wild West Fest, June 5-6, (620) 873-2731

Tonganoxie: Tonganoxie Days, June 11-12, (800) 854-9791 or www.TonganoxieDays.com

Ottawa: Skunk Run Arts and Music Festival, June 13-14, (785) 242-1411 or www.visitottawakansas.com

Mulvane: Elderberry Festival, June 19, (800) 711-9748 or www.elderberry.net

Wilson: Wilson WindJam, June 25-26, (620) 792-2257 or www.wilsonwindjam.com

MISSOURI

Fredericktown: Azalea Festival, May 6-9, (573) 783-2604

Jefferson City: Show-Me Radio-Controlled Aircraft Pilot Extravaganza, May 21-23, (573) 893-7723

Jackson to Kennett: 100-Mile Sale, May 27-31, (573) 243-8131

Swedeborg: Fourth Annual Missouri Wagon Train and Trail Ride, May 29-31, (573) 765-4840

Valley Park: 2004 World’s Fair Celebration, May 29-31, (636) 256-1923

St. Charles: Fleur-de-Lis-Festival in Frenchtown, June 5-6, (636) 946-7776

St. Peters: U.S. Olympic Diving Trials, June 9-13, (636) 534-6600, ext. 421

Fulton: June Bug Festival, June 12-13, (573) 642-4623

Eldon: Fourth Annual Osage River Pow Wow, June 18-20, (573) 369-2710

Clayton: U.S. Bank Saint Louis Jazz Festival, June 25-26, (314) 863-0278

NEBRASKA

Raymond: James Arthur Vineyards Renaissance Festival, May 22, (402) 783-5255 or www.jamesarthurvineyards.com

McCook: Eighth Annual Buffalo Commons Storytelling Festival, May 28-29, (308) 345-6163 or www.buffalocommons.org

Omaha: Seventh Annual Taste of Omaha, June 4-6, (402) 346-8003 or www.showofficeonline.com

Fort Calhoun: Living History Weekend, June 5-6, (402) 468-5611 or www.outdoornebraska.org

Comstock: Comstock Windmill Festival, June 10-13, (800) 658-4443 or www.windmillfestival.com

Long Pine: Long Pine Days & Bluegrass Festival, June 11-12, (402) 273-4351 or www.cityoflongpine.org

Hastings: 15th Annual Cottonwood Festival, June 11-13, (402) 461-2368 or www.cottonwood-festival.org

Crawford: Fifth Annual Fort Robinson Intertribal Gathering, June 11-13, (308) 632-1311 or www.westnebraska.com

North Platte: NEBRASKAland Days, June 11-20, (888) 313-5606 or www.nebraskalanddays.com

Omaha: Summer Arts Festival, June 25-27, (402) 963-9020 or www.summerarts.org

OKLAHOMA

Duncan: Chisholm Trail Stampede PRCA Rodeo, May 7-8, (580) 255-8131

Tulsa: Tulsa International Mayfest, May 13-16, (918) 587-8402 or www.tulsamayfest.com

Guthrie: Guthrie Jazz Banjo Festival, May 28-30, (405) 260-1323 or www.banjofestival.com

Oklahoma City: Paseo Arts Festival, May 29-31, (405) 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com

Oklahoma City: Red Earth Festival, June 4-6, (405) 427-5228 or www.redearth.org

Ketchum: Taste of Wine & Roses, June 5, (800) 507-9463 or www.summersidevineyards.com

Tulsa: 2004 International Route 66 Festival, June 10-13, (918) 583-2333 or www.tulsa66festival.com

Bartlesville: Oklahoma Mozart International Festival, June 12-19, (918) 336-9900 or www.okmozart.com

Broken Bow: Kiamichi Owa Chito Festival of the Forest, June 17-19, (580) 584-3393

Grove: Grovefest, June 18-20, (918) 786-9079 or www.groveok.org