In some parts of the country they’re worried that spring has already set in, and maybe they have a point. But in Lower Alabama, you can tell folks were ready for it.

With Mardi Gras barely behind us, the calendar is exploding with spring festivals, cook-offs and other special events. A list of some highlights follows.

15th annual Foley BBQ & Blues Cook-Off

This cook-off place Friday and Saturday, March 10-11, in downtown Foley’s Heritage Park. Friday’s festivities run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and include a drawdown and live music; admission is $20. The cook-off runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with attractions including crafts, food vendors, a kids’ zone and life music. Admission is $10. Following awards at 4 p.m., the park will be closed to set up for a 7 p.m. concert by Wet Willie; adult tickets for the show are $30, with gates opening at 6 p.m. A weekend pass for all three events is $50. For full information, visit www.foleybbqandblues.net.

49th annual Orange Beach Festival of Art

This fest place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 11, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 12, on streets around the Coastal Arts Center at 26389 Canal Road. Admission is free; attractions include around 100 artist booths plus entertainment, food vendors and children’s activities. For full information visit www.orangebeachal.gov.

American Cancer Society’s 34th annual Chili Cook-Off

The Mobile organization will present its annual cook-off on Canal Street between Washington Avenue and Broad Street on Saturday, March 11. Gates open at 11 a.m., and winners will be announced at 3 p.m. In between, patrons are free to sample the competing teams’ entries; other attractions include kids’ activities and live music from Sloth Racer, Phil + Foster and Peek. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the gate. Visit mobileacschilicookoff.com for full information.

Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival

The flagship event for high-quality arts and crafts on the central Gulf Coast opens at 10 a.m. Friday, March 17, and runs through Sunday, March 19. There’s no admission charge. In addition to scores of vendors, attractions include live entertainment, children’s activities and more. For full information, including parking guidance, a roster of participating artists and a site map, visit www.fairhopeartsandcraftsfestival.com. As always, the Eastern Shore Art Center’s Annual Outdoor Art show runs concurrently. Visit esartcenter.org for full info.

St. Patrick’s Day

Rest assured the Friday, March 17 occasion will not pass unnoticed. All-day festivities start at 6 a.m. at O’Daly’s Irish Pub on Dauphin Street. Callaghan’s Irish Pub will have live music starting at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday with acts including Peek, Johnny Hayes & The Loveseats, The Vegabonds and Blackwater Brass. Other hot spots: Lucky Irish Pub on Airport Boulevard in Mobile and in Saraland, Manci’s Antique Club in Daphne and McSharry’s Irish Pub in Fairhope.

13th annual Mobile Chocolate Festival

The chocolate festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at The Grounds in west Mobile. The event benefits Penelope House. Adult admission is $3 in advance, $5 at the gate, with children 13 and under admitted free. Attractions include “chocolate vendors and chocolate themed vendors with samples, Children’s Area, Cupcake decorating, Apron decorating, Chocolate Martini Tasting, Chocolate Challege, Project YumWay, DJ, Food trucks, Cruise-In, and more.” For full information visit mobilechocolatefestival.com.

The Azalea Trail Run

Mobile’s biggest running event takes place Saturday, March 25. The 10k starts at 8 a.m. followed by a 5k at 8:15 a.m. and a 2k fun run at 9:30 a.m. Online registration is available through events.com. The race expo will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Friday, March 24 at the Mobile Civic Center. For updates and more information, visit www.facebook.com/MobileATR.

Downtown Cajun Cook-Off

This annual Mobile event returns to Cathedral Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25. As past visitors know, the competing teams at this event tend to be restaurant professionals rather than volunteers, making for some stellar sampling. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the gate. Advance tickets are available from participating venues; check www.facebook.com/downtowncajuncookoff for details. The event benefits the Child Advocacy Center. For information, call 251-432-1101.

2023 Festival of Flowers

Benefiting the Ascension Providence Foundation, this fest is billed as “the largest outdoor flower show in the Southeast” and takes place March 23-26 on the Providence Hospital campus. Under the theme “Zen Gardens,” this year’s event “will proudly showcase gardens of Japanese influence by lead designer Dale Speetjens of Shipshape Urban Farms. You will feel led into a new space as you enter the Torii gates and glimpse Mount Fuji in a mural created by The Nest of Mobile. Continue to stroll through a tranquil bamboo forest to six locally landscaped gardens that demonstrate the historical evolution of Japanese gardening.” Adult tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the gate, with children ages 7-12 admitted for $5. For hours and a schedule of special events, visit festivalofflowers.com.

Elberta German Sausage Festival

The fundraiser for the Elberta Volunteer Fire Department and the town will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 25, in the town park at the intersection of Main St. and State St. Attractions include sausage dogs and other food, live entertainment and more than 200 arts & crafts booths. For full information, visit www.elbertafire.com/sausage-festival.

SouthSounds Music Festival

Presented March 30-April 2 in downtown Mobile, featuring a lineup of more than 40 acts, topped by Tank & the Bangas, Susto and JoJo Hermann, will play at three venues: The Alabama Music Box, 12 S. Conception St.; The Merry Widow, 51 S. Conception St.; and an Oyster City & Faubourg Brewing Co. Stage at The Merry Widow. A four-day pass is $65; four-day VIP passes, which include hotel shuttle service, early access to venues, access to private lounges, food, Braided River beer and other perks, are $135. Passes can be ordered through southsoundsmusicfest.com. For updates, visit www.facebook.com/SouthSoundsMusicFest.

Dauphin Island Art Trail

The Dauphin Island Chamber of Commerce presents the annual festival rom 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 15. According to organizers the event will feature more than 50 artists at 10 locations on the Island and approximately 25 crafters located at Cadillac Square. Free. For updates visit the event page on Facebook.

7th annual Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival

Takes place Friday and Saturday, April 21-22, along East 24th Ave. Friday will feature a ticketed concert with the Rebirth Brass Band performing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $29. Festivities start at 8 a.m. Saturday, with vendors opening at 9 a.m. and a full lineup of music starting at 10 a.m. Admission is free. For full details, visit gulfshoresal.gov/crawfishfestival.

Earth Day Mobile Bay

Coming to Fairhope Pier Park on Saturday, April 22. At press time, details of this year’s event hadn’t yet been published, but the event usually features a mix of environmental exhibits, children’s activities, live music and more. Keep an eye on www.facebook.com/EarthDayMobileBay and www.earthdaymobilebay.org.

Eighth Annual Mudbottom Revival

Benefiting Dog River Clearwater Revival, the revival takes place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 23. The concert will feature music by Will Kimbrough & Friends, Grits & Greens and the Blow House Brass Band. “Attendees of this family-friendly fundraising event are invited to bring coolers and chairs to enjoy an afternoon of live music under a shaded oak-covered spot on the banks of beautiful Dog River. … Purchase a ticket and come by vehicle, bike, kayak, canoe, stand up paddle board, or boat and enjoy the music from the peninsula! We will have boat taxis to transport ticket holders from their anchored parking spots to the dock.” Food and merchandise vendors will be on hand. Adult tickets are $35 until April 15, when they increase to $45. For full information visit dogriver.org.