Hemp Festivals 2014

While you are curled up in front of the fire, avoiding the latest polar vortex, why not plan out your hemp event schedule for 2014?

Some folks wear hemp. Some eat it, and still others have houses or home furnishings made from it. Whatever your relationship with weed's non-intoxicating cousin, there are myriad festivals going on each year, across the country, during which you can stay informed and enjoy the thousands of applications of industrial hemp.

For those interested in attending such events, 2014 will be an industrious year. The United States is making vast strides of progress with regards to legal medical and recreational Cannabis, and now industrial hemp is making a comeback. American farmers are frustrated at not being able to freely grow the plant - which was once legally required of all landowners - and retailers and consumers alike are not satisfied with outsourcing hemp products for the American market from Canada and other foreign countries. Thus, the hemp festival market has vastly increased over the past few years. What follows is a quick breakdown of some of the more famous hemp events across America, so that you can work out your travel calendar for this year.

March:
Natural Products Expo West: (March 6 - 9, 2014) An earth-conscious expo will be held in Anaheim, CA for lovers of natural materials and hemp products such as food, textiles, gardening supplies and pet-related items. (www.expowest.com)

April:
International Hemp Building Symposium: (April 9 - 10, 2014) Those interested in hemp building materials and construction might want to get out of the United States for this one. Should you find yourself abroad, check out this annual festival that will be held in Machynlleth, Powys (Wales, UK) for the 2014 installation. (www.internationalhempbuilding.org/events)

HempCon: (April 18 - 20, 2014) The annual HempCon will be hosted by the San Jose Convention Center and National Orange Show Event Center. This Cannabis-friendly event features collectives, glassware, information and equipment relating to hydroponic cultivation, collectives, seminars, legal services, growing products, doctors' evaluations and more. (www.hempcon.com)

4/20 Day: (April 20, 2014) Everywhere!

Earth Day: (April 22, 2014) Don't forget about Earth Day! Celebrations take place in myriad locations across the country. (www.earthday.org)

Green Festival: (April 26 & 27, 2014) 'The ultimate green product marketplace for conscious consumers and wholesale buyers,' the Green Festival's April edition takes place in New York. Hemp medicines mingle with other natural wares for sale, including food products from Manitoba Harvest. Other Green Festival locations for 2014 include Washington, D.C. (May 31 and June 1), Los Angeles (Sept. 12 - 14), Chicago (Oct. 24 - 26) and San Francisco (Nov. 14 - 16). (www.greenfestivals.org)

May:
Hemp Hoedown: (May 28 - June 1, 2014) The fifteenth annual Hemp Hoedown in Sturgis, SD allows visitors to champion all-things-hemp in a beautiful Black Hills setting. Camp with friends or family, drink some hemp beer and enjoy the musical lineup. (www.hemphoedown.com)

June:
Hemp History Week: (June 2 - 8, 2014) This year, the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) presents its fifth annual Hemp History Week. (www.hemphistoryweek.com)

July:
Oregon Country Fair: (July 11 - 13, 2014) Near Eugene, OR in a town called Veneta, thousands gather each year to celebrate hemp, art, music and the human spirit. Enjoy gourmet food, art installations and more at the forty-fifth annual Oregon Country Fair. (www.oregoncountryfair.org)

Emerald Empire HempFest: (July 18 - 20, 2014) This year's festival will take place at Maurie Jacobs Park in Eugene, OR. Check the website for updates, lineup and more information about this free, family-friendly event. (www.emeraldempirehempfest.com)

Boston Freedom Rally/HempFest: (TBD, Summer, 2014) A gathering of like-minded, Cannabis-loving individuals with an emphasis on legislation, education and advocacy, the HempFest is attended by thousands and supported by many hemp merchants. (www.masscann.org or www.facebook.com/bostonfreedomrally)

August:
Bay Area HempFest: (TBD, August, 2014) Check out dozens of dope (pun intended) performers, inhale some dabs and soak up the ambiance of the Bay Area at this annual gathering of Cali Cannabis folks. Check the site for updates. (www.bayareahempfest.com)

Jefferson State Music Festival and Hemp Expo: (August 22 & 23, 2014) According to the site, the Grants Pass, OR "Hemp Expo is founded on the belief that through awareness, education, and the cooperation and coordination of citizens and public officials, many complex social issues can be solved." Their goal is simple: "To host a world class music event that provides outlets for Cannabis advocates to educate the public on the many potential benefits and uses of the Cannabis plant." (www.jeffersonstatehempexpo.com)

Seattle Hemp Fest: (August 15 - 17, 2014) Speakers, performers, activists and lovers of hemp converge to educate, inform, celebrate and try to reform national and local Cannabis laws. (www.hempfest.org)

September:
Hempstalk: (TBD, September 2014) The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation (THCF) created this event in 2005 to educate people annually on the benefits of a legal hemp industry, in addition to promoting the legalization of Cannabis. Portland, OR is the setting and the festival usually falls on the weekend after Labor Day. (www.hempstalk.org)

HempHeals Philly Music Festival: (TBD, September, 2014) Promoting organic eating for both a healthy population and environment, HempHeals emphasizes the differences between hemp and weed. This Philadelphia, PA festival features food vendors, musical acts, speakers and more that will educate and satiate its visitors' bodies and minds. (www.hemphealsphilly.com)

November:
Hemp Industries Association Conference: (TBD, November, 2014) The HIA's twenty-first annual installment of this great conference is one event not to be missed. Washington, D.C. provides the backdrop and the HIA provides the advocacy, information and education about advancements in hemp. (www.thehia.org/conference)

CHTA National Hemp Convention: (TBD, November, 2014) This one takes place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada but it is well-worth a mention. The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance will be hosting its annual gathering, bringing together everyone involved with the industry, from farmers to processors and manufacturers, researchers, product designers and entrepreneurs. (www.hemptrade.ca)

To find out about hemp expos and festivals in your area, check out the 'events' page at the website of the Hemp Industries Association (HIA), www.thehia.org/events.html, and learn about more dates and locations for 2014.