Spring in Baton Rouge feels like the city collectively remembering how to have fun outside again, and this year’s calendar is filling up quickly.

Things kick off downtown with Live After Five returning to North Boulevard Town Square in downtown Baton Rouge on March 6, March 13, March 20, March 27, April 3, and April 10. These free outdoor concerts turn an ordinary Thursday into a reason to meet up with friends, grab dinner nearby, and ease into the weekend early with live local and regional music.

On March 20 through March 22, the Louisiana Red Beans and Rice Heritage and Music Festival brings one of the state’s most iconic dishes to center stage in downtown Baton Rouge. Expect live music, cook offs, and plenty of opportunities to argue about who really makes it best. It is the kind of weekend where stretchy pants are highly recommended.

Color takes over on March 28 at the Holi Festival of Baton Rouge at Repentance Park. From 1 pm to 4 pm, families and friends gather to celebrate the traditional Indian festival of spring by tossing bright powder into the air, dancing, and welcoming the new season together. You will leave covered in color and probably already planning to come back next year.

Also on March 28, plant lovers can spend the day at the LSU AgCenter Burden Museum and Gardens for Spring Garden Fest. Local vendors, plant sales, and gardening experts make it easy to refresh your yard or at least feel inspired enough to try. Even if you do not know the difference between annuals and perennials, wandering through the gardens in full bloom is reason enough to go.

April keeps the momentum going. The Baton Rouge Blues Festival takes over downtown on April 17 and April 18. This free, family friendly event transforms North Boulevard Town Square into a massive dance floor filled with blues artists from across the region. Lawn chairs line the streets, kids weave through the crowd, and the music echoes through downtown all weekend long.

If you are up for a short drive between March 26 and March 29, the Louisiana Crawfish Festival in Chalmette is a classic spring tradition. Live music, carnival rides, and piles of boiled crawfish make it a true South Louisiana experience. It is messy, loud, and exactly what this time of year calls for.

Spring in Baton Rouge is not just a season. It is a packed calendar of reasons to step outside and be part of the community. From music and food to gardens and cultural celebrations, nearly every weekend between March and April offers something worth showing up for. So start marking those dates now, because once the weather warms up, the city does not slow down.

Image via Baton Rouge Blues Festival facebook page