Towsontown Spring Festival Primer

The is calling next weekend "Four Days of Towson Spring Daze."

Whatever you call it, the 45th and 26th annual are almost upon us.

For a second year, the chamber has turned the festival into a four-day event, adding a Friday night concert between Towson Gardens Day and the two-day festival.

All events, unless otherwise noted, are free.

Check out our photos from .

The run-up

Thursday is the annual Towson Gardens Day. announced in February. The day will also feature a . The Jimmy Buffett and Beach Boys tribute band Beach Bumz will close out the night.

The Friday night concert will feature Uncle Jack, a funk band from Severna Park, in the courthouse gardens on Washington Avenue.

What's where

The layout is basically the same as last year. Here's a map from the festival website. New this year is the Urbanite Oasis Stage in the courthouse gardens with jazz music and beer and wine sales. Unlike the beer garden, there's no fee to enter.

Check out the children's area, which features a petting zoo and moon bounce.

Also, visit the Patch tent in the 500 block of Washington Avenue, outside . Meet your favorite Patch editors and pick up some giveaways courtesy of your favorite local news source.

How's the weather?

Right now? Looking a hair dicey. As of Thursday, a week before Gardens Day, Accuweather's forecast calls for a chance storms next Thursday through Saturday. Other forecasts differ.

Nancy Hafford, executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce, is seeking divine intervention.

"We've been working with a rabbi and the clergy, getting them involved with the festival to guarantee good weather," she joked.

The schedule

The festival has five stages with a variety of local performers, including a children's stage. Highlights include:

• Stoneleigh Elementary's in the courthouse gardens on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
• The Radio Disney AM 640 road crew will have music, games, prizes and a national yo-yo champion on the Information Stage from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Purrfect Pitch acapella group at the Information Stage on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
• SingFest at the SpringFest will feature local singers competing for a cash prize. On Saturday at 3 p.m., drop by to check out Paige Elizabeth Ogle, a 2011 contestant who went on to .

All performances are free, though you will need to buy a wristband ($2) to enter the beer garden areas. Seniors and people under 21 may enter for free. Check out the full lineups on the festival website.

Parking

Parking in the four Baltimore County Revenue Authority garages is $5 all day. No library validations will be accepted. Streets between York Road and Bosley Avenue will be mostly closed, so don't count on street parking.