The Scouted Calendar / April 2020

We all know that “April showers bring May flowers,” but the month also offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy our communities in the form of inspiring, educational, and enjoyable events. From a female-focused leadership forum in Dallas, Texas, to a world-famous horse racing event in Lexington, Kentucky, here’s what we’re looking forward to next month.

Fort Worth, Texas

For a weekend full of fine wine, delicious food, and good company, you won’t want to miss the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival, which takes place from April 2 through 5. The festival will welcome top culinary experts from all over Texas to deliver foods that will satisfy any appetite, with events such as Tacos + Tequila, Burgers, Brews + Blues, and the Culinary Corral, a four-hour brunch event. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Fort Worth here.}

Raleigh, North Carolina

On April 30th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., CAM Raleigh invites guests to attend An Evening with Garden & Gun celebrating their newest publication, Southern Women: More than 100 Stories of Innovators, Artists, and Icons. The book is a celebration of Southern women who have built groundbreaking and inspiring careers, and the festivities will include keynote speeches from Amanda Heckert, Garden & Gun Deputy Editor; Maggie Brett Kennedy, Garden & Gun Photography and Visuals Director; and local artist Maya Freelon, who has an upcoming exhibition at the museum. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Raleigh here.}

Dallas, Texas

The George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Third Annual Forum on Leadership will focus on women this year. The all-day event will feature two female leaders at their Evening Gala: former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who will be the keynote speaker, and Teach for America’s founder, Wendy Kopp, who will be honored with the 2020 George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership. The educational forum, which takes place on April 16, will also include morning and afternoon sessions from other influential leaders from around the globe. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Dallas here.}

Lexington, Kentucky

A world-renowned event, the Keeneland 2020 Spring Meet will run from April 2 to April 24, drawing in owners, trainers, jockeys, and equine enthusiasts from all over the globe for a chance to watch some of the finest thoroughbred horse races of the year. Event highlights include the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) on opening Saturday, April 4. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Lexington here.}

Huntsville, Alabama

Taking place from April 26 to 28, the Panoply Art Festival, a weekend-long fete of the arts for all ages, will return to Big Spring Park in historic downtown Huntsville. The event, which has been held annually since 1982, consists of a marketplace featuring artworks from over 100 artists from around the country, three performance stages, hands-on activities, artist demonstrations, popular festival food trucks, and more. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Huntsville here.}

Hunt Country, Virginia

An ideal place to enjoy springtime weather and beautiful scenery, Hunt Country will host the Middleburg Spring Races on Saturday, April 18 at Glenwood, a decades-long horse racing tradition that is deemed the quintessential Hunt Country event. In addition, Historic Garden Week runs from April 18 through 25 in Virginia, just in time for visitors to see newly blossomed gardens and landscapes at more than 250 Virginia homes and historic landmarks, many of which are in the Hunt Country area. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in Hunt Country here.}

San Antonio, Texas

A ten-day celebration of the lively, bright and diverse culture of the city of San Antonio and its people, Fiesta kicks off on Thursday, April 16 and runs until Sunday, April 26. There is something new and exciting to do each day of the festival, including the all-female designed parade, Battle of Flowers, on April 24, and the McNay Art Museum’s The Cutting Edge Fiesta Fashion Show on April 27. {Find local recommendations for what to do and see in San Antonio here.}