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ROWLAND--The towns of Rowland and Red Springs welcome in the spring season on Saturday with annual festivals providing fun and games for folks of all ages.

Rowland’s Spring Festival and Children’s Art Show, sponsored by the Rowland Festival Committee and the town, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Historic Rowland Depot. The festival is being partially paid for through a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council.

“We try to provide lots of activities to get children involved,” said Emma Burns, the festival’s chairwoman. “We try to get the children involved in something that’s productive.”

In addition to live entertainment, a variety of foods, activities for children such as face-painting and the opportunity to have a picture taken with cartoon characters., and booths featuring arts and crafts and other items, artwork will be on display from students attending the town’s three schools — South Robeson High School, Rowland Middle School, and Southside/Ashpole Elementary School. There will be first, second and third place awards presented to students from each school.

Burns said there will be close to 100 pieces of art on display in a gallery set up inside the depot. The pieces on display include not just drawings and paintings, but other forms of art, such as pottery and ceramics.

“This is really something to see,” Burns said. “You would not believe the talent these children have.”

There will be about 25 vendors offering a variety of foods, arts and crafts, and other items including jewelry and candles.

Burns said the featured entertainment will be the Peay Brothers and The New Connection. The groups perform all types of music, including gospel, jazz and contemporary.

Also, there will be performances by gospel singing groups and praise step dancers, Burns said.

Last year’s festival drew a crowd of about 2,500, with people coming from as far away as Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham.

“We hope to draw as many people to this year’s festival as we did last year,” Burns said.

For information, call Burns at 910-422-3450.

Red Springs will hold its 30th annual Street Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. downtown, in front of the Red Springs Community Center. The event will include about 40 vendors offering a variety of foods and arts and crafts.

Activities will include performances by local artists such as Lakota John and Friends, Mario and the Shakers, and the marching band from Red Springs High School.

For young children, the festival will offer street train rides, bouncy houses and face-painting. Older children will be able to try their skill at climbing a rock wall.

The annual event is organized by the Red Springs Arts Council and sponsored by a Grassroots Grant from the N.C. Arts Council, the town of Red Springs, and businesses and individuals. A brightly colored poster on the Arts Council’s Facebook page, and a second poster completely in Spanish, boast some of the event’s highlights.

For information, contact Margie Labadie at 910-734-3351.