Remember when your mom used to come into the den on a sunny Saturday morning, click off the cartoons that were blaring away on TV and announce, “It’s too beautiful outside for you to be lying around the house like a three-toed tree sloth. Get out there.”

Well, pretend we’re your mom — get up off the couch and go forth this weekend.

Spring is in full swing, and there appears to be a festival on every corner here in this blessed interval of pleasant weather, before the clouds of angry mosquitoes descend. Allow us to act as your festival guides. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Ready to sail?

If you’ve ever spent much time in nearby Shell Point Beach, you’ll notice that a lot of the residents like to drive golf carts around the cozy community. Some park their carts by the sand and watch the sun sink into the water at the end of the day. They’re called The Sundowners.

With that in mind, it makes perfect sense that the inaugural Parrothead Golf Cart Parade will wend its way along the shores of Shell Point this weekend during the 37th Annual Stephen C. Smith Regatta. The carts, which roll at noon on Sunday, will be festooned with loud colors, pool toys, beach-themed ornaments and other Jimmy Buffett-esque accoutrements.

If you have a golf cart that’s revved up and ready to mosey to Margaritaville, call 926-1051 for registration information.

Meanwhile, out on the waves, there will be plenty of off-shore racing with yachts, dinghies, catamarans and windsurfers. The first boats will test the waters at 5 p.m. today with a special Phun Run that ends at 6:30 p.m. The big sailboats and windsurfers try to beat the clock starting at noon Saturday. More windsurfer and small boat races follow at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

The annual free-wheeling auction will hawk everything from gift certificates to boats starting around 2 p.m. Sunday. It’s all free to see from the beach. Pack sunscreen, folding chairs and insect repellent.

Smith, the regatta’s namesake, was a sailor and former Florida State University faculty member who died of a rare form of leukemia when he was only 29. Last year, the regatta donated $16,000 to the American Cancer Society in funds earmarked to be used locally. For more, visit smithregatta.com.

Coming up roses

Downtown Thomasville bursts into bloom for the 89th Annual Rose Show & Festival today and Saturday. This year’s theme is “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” and the festivities commence at 1:30 p.m. today with the ribbon-cutting to open the Rose Show downtown. The 62nd Annual Rose Parade struts down Broad Street at 7 p.m. and is followed by the popular family-oriented Street Dance featuring tunes by The Swinging Medallions at 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of North Broad and Jefferson streets.

The festival proper starts at 10 a.m. Saturday with Art in the Park, Bark in the Park, the continuation of the rose show, a car and truck show, the Civic Garden Club Flower Show and more all around the downtown area, Most activities are free. Call (229) 228-7977 or visit thomasvillega.com to find out more.

Ahoy, Apalach!

The 12 Annual Apalachicola Antique & Classic Boat Show draws fans of maritime history and nautical nostalgia to the streets of downtown Apalachicola today and Saturday.

Starting at 10 a.m. today, there will be boat-building demonstrations by local master boat-builders throughout the day. The Marine Art & Maritime History exhibit of paintings, drawings, photography, model boats and more will be open from noon to 4 p.m. at the Cotton Warehouse, 86 Water St. The 1877 two-masted, gaff-rigged schooner The Governor Stone will arrive and dock at Riverfront Park today.

The fest resumes at 10 a.m. Saturday, when the streets will be lined with antique and classic vessels, authentic oyster boats, antique outboard motors, classic cars, and arts and crafts vendors. There also will be informational exhibits, the Marine Art & Maritime History exhibit and boat-building demonstrations. It’s free to see.

The boat show closes with a lecture and dinner with archaeologist Kevin Porter at 6 p.m. Saturday. Reservations required. Call (850) 653-9419 or e-mail .

Be a bass master

Spend a day at the lake when the Leon County Sheriff’s 10th Annual Bass Fishing Tournament kicks off at dawn Saturday at Williams Landing on Lake Talquin. There’s a $120 entry fee for boats carrying two people.

Even if you don’t know the difference between a lunker and a gimbal, there will be plenty to do onshore while the anglers do their stuff. A Family Fun Day will run all morning with children’s entertainment, a Moon Walk, a visit from the Tallahassee Museum and more. Food will be available for $4 a plate, and visitors can buy $1 tickets for a chance to win all sorts of donated prizes. The weigh-in takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds will go to the Florida Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches. For more, call 922-3438 or visit lcso.leonfl.org/events.htm.

Something’s fishy

The Carrabelle Riverfront Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary with sand sculpture, food, live music, arts and crafts vendors, and the always absolutely fabulous Fishy Fashion Show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Carrabelle Riverwalk on Marine Street.

For this year’s festival, the Kids’ Zone has been expanded to include professional face-painting, a bounce house, a “pirate’s treasure hunt” and more fun activities. The Fishy Fashion Show at 11:30 a.m. Saturday will showcase such crowd-pleasing ensembles as Bay Side Bride, Sea Warrior, The Crabbin’ Belle, The Pearl of the Oyster, Sea Vamp and the Red Tide She Devil before sashaying over to Highway 98 for the parade, which will include the Procession of the Species. Don an animal mask and join the fun. It’s all free. Call (850) 697-2585 or visit carrabelle.org.

Points of light

Visit four historic lighthouses from St. Marks to Cape San Blas — including the Cape San Blas Lighthouse near Port St. Joe, Cape St. George Light on St. George Island, Crooked River Lighthouse near Carrabelle and St. Mark’s Lighthouse in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge — during the Forgotten Coast Lighthouse Challenge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Visitors receive a souvenir at each lighthouse, and those who visit all four get an extra-special souvenir. All four lighthouses on the tour have unique histories that will be explained at each venue.

At the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, ranger/historian Andy Edel will be dressed in period garb as the lighthouse keeper. Other staff members and volunteers also will be in period dress to lend authenticity to the occasion.

Tickets to the Forgotten Coast Lighthouse Challenge are $10 per person or $25 for a family of up to five people. The usual $5 per car entry fee also will be collected at St. Marks.

Megan Clementi, Miss Florida USA 2010, will participate in the Challenge as part of her “Climb for the Cure” in support of the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Visit stgeorgelight.org/challenge.

Let it bead

Head north for colorful plunder at the Bead, Jewelry, Art & Live Folk Music Extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday on the streets of historic Havana. It’s one of the longest-running and most extensive bead shows in the Southeast and draws vendors from far and wide. This year’s extravaganza features live folk music by Eddie Parshall and Willie Hunton.

Admission is $4 for adults, children 12 and younger get in free. Visit havanaextra.com

Here’s to your health

The Healing Arts Alliance presents its Seventh Annual Spring Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday under the oaks behind Black Dog Cafe on Lake Ella.

The fest features holistic health information, chair massages, natural foods vendors, green living exhibits, crafts vendors and live music by Eclectic Acoustic, Scott Campbell and Missus & The Walking Sticks.

Admission is free, but organizers ask visitors to bring a canned food donation to go to ECHO Outreach Help Ministries. Visit healingartsalliance.org.

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