April is around the corner, so say “hello” to springtime (and vicious allergy attacks, too, for some of us). The San Francisco Bay Area has had erratic weather as of late: warm, sunny days scattered throughout the past few weeks, and some showers now expected this week. Still, San Francisco is blooming—with several floral- and spring-themed shows and festivals coming up. Check them out…

Macy’s Flower Show: March 28 to April 11 at Macy’s Union Square

A necessary stop for tourists and downtown shoppers, Macy’s looms over Union Square. For the Spring Is In the Air show, the store will become a lush landscape of thousands of flowers, trees, and plants, and will feature massive cold- and hot-air balloon centerpieces amid giant butterflies, fireflies, bugs, and more.

Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival: April 10-11 and 17-18 in Japantown

San Francisco’s Japantown, also known as Nihonmachi, is a small but eclectic neighborhood, composed of about six square blocks. Japan Center—the site of the five-tiered Peace Pagoda—is the area’s centerpiece, with a quirky indoor mall of Japanese restaurants like Isobune Sushi and Benihana and shops with random collectibles and (sometimes) outdated gifts.

The cherry blossom festival, celebrating its 43rd year, will be held on Post Street between Laguna and Fillmore Streets and will feature food booths, cultural and dance performances, martial arts, taiko drummers, an anime talent show, live music, a Hello Kitty corner—of course, how could there not be one?—and a Grand Parade on April 18, which will begin at City Hall and end in Japantown.

If you head to the festival, check out Nijiya Market, a good spot to shop for Japanese produce and goodies. If you’re looking for a hotel to stay in Japantown, the Hotel Kabuki is a comfy, centrally located hotel (although its facade is lackluster). If you seek lodging that’s much more youthful—and on the hip and colorful tip—read up on Hotel Tomo.

Bouquets to Art: April 20-24 at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park

The de Young Museum will host the Bouquets to Art exhibition, which will feature 150 floral displays that reflect and interpret the museum’s permanent collection—and lead in to the Birth of Impressionism exhibition, which starts on May 22 and includes works from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. (Sweet!)

When you’re done wandering inside the de Young, you can wander this section of Golden Gate Park for more springtime stuff:

• -Stroll the de Young garden and gaze at the variety of sculptures
• -Sip tea inside the Japanese Tea Garden, just steps away from the de Young
• -Explore the rainforest or check out the living roof atop the California Academy of Sciences
• -Chill out at the Music Concourse, the sunken open-air plaza down the steps from the museum (local artists often display works of art for sale)
• -Wander the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum

If you know of other flower/garden festivals in San Francisco this spring, feel free to share…