The streets of downtown Fort Worth will be the place to be April 18-21 for the 28th annual Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival. Produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives Inc. and free to the public, the festival showcases a nationally recognized juried art fair, live music, local cuisine and family-friendly activities. The event has been ranked as the No.1 arts festival in Texas and the third largest arts festival in the United States by The Harris List and the Art Fair Sourcebook. This year, the four-day celebration will feature more than 200 artists selling original and limited-edition works. More than $2 million worth of art is expected to be sold this year.  Additionally, nearly 300 local, regional and national musicians will rock out on three stages, including Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Sister Hazel, Little Texas and Average White Band. Also taking place again this year is the “Main St. Creates!” program, a hands-on, arts-and-crafts outdoor art studio with multiple children’s and family activities such as ceramic painting, art demonstrations, clay sculpting and rock climbing. New for 2013 are art purchase gift certificates in amounts of $25-$100. Give the Gift of Art is available online at the Main St. store, http://store.mainstreetartsfest.org. The Ninth Street Stage area will feature a more open environment highlighting the improvements made to General Worth Square and the new JFK Tribute Sculpture dedicated last fall. More table seating with views of the stage will be available as well as a new Stage Door Tavern offering full-service wine, imported and local brews, and food.  Downtown Fort Worth is undergoing a $110 million project that involves three city blocks and the redevelopment of two surface parking lots stretching between Houston and Commerce streets and Third and Fourth streets as well as part of the block at Third and Throckmorton streets. Due to construction, patrons will need to be aware of detours and changes that will be in effect during the 2013 arts fair. A festival guide with information about parking, public transportation, access, street closures and more is available online at www.mainstreetartsfest.org/festival-guide/.  Health fair features blood drive The 11th annual African-American Health Expo will host a blood drive with Carter BloodCare on April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gate 4 of the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, located at 5201 C. A. Roberson Blvd. in Fort Worth. Carter BloodCare must see 1,100 donors a day in order to maintain the community blood supply. This spring, the organization is recognizing the giving spirit of blood donors. Every donor will receive points to redeem in Carter BloodCare’s Great Partners online store. Unused points can be donated back to help even more people in need. For details, go to www.thegreatbiggiveback.org. Potential blood donors can volunteer beginning at age 16 with a parent’s consent, and 17-year-olds can give independently. There is no upper age limit for giving. All donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good general health and present a photo ID each time they donate blood. It’s also a good idea to eat a nutritious meal and drink plenty of water before giving blood. For information or to schedule an appointment time, contact Sherry Williams at 817-676-1215 or visitwww.carterbloodcare.org.  Cardboard boat race set to sail There’s still time to enter River Legacy Foundation’s 24th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta set for April 27 at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Arlington. Registration fees range from $50 to $80. Entry deadline is April 15. With trophies and braggin’ rights on the line, the event challenges amateur boat builders to create, navigate and float their cardboard creations in Hurricane Harbor’s Wave Pool. Entry fees and categories are Guppy (one to two crew members), $50; Dolphin (three to five crew members), $60; and Whale (six to 10 crew members), $80. The regatta is a fundraiser presented by River Legacy Foundation and the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department. Proceeds benefit the educational programs of River Legacy Living Science Center and improvements to River Legacy Parks. For information, visit www.riverlegacy.org or call 817-860-6752, ext. 107. Former Cowboy tees up Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jay Novacek will serve as the honorary chairman of the Fort Worth Celebrity Golf Tournament, benefiting Fort Worth Can Academies on April 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club in Keller. Check-in will be at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club is located at 600 Promontory Drive. For ticket or sponsorship information, contact Development Director Cristina Gomez-Jimenez at 469-274-4876 or CGomez-Jimenez@TexansCan.org.  Tribute to Leadership The Birdville Education Foundation will pay tribute to the nation’s military leaders and government service personnel during the second annual Tribute to Leadership on April 27 at the Hurst Conference Center. Honored guests will include former Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England; Jim Hardin (Birdville ISD alumnus), Secret Service agent to Presidents Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson and first lady Lady Bird Johnson; author Allen B. Clark, a wounded Vietnam veteran; and retired U.S. Marine Col. Charles E. Richardson (Birdville ISD alumnus). Last year, the event netted $125,000, which allowed the foundation to surpass $1 million in funds for Innovative Teacher Grants. For information about the event, contact Kelley Pledger at 817-547-5778 or Kelley.pledger@birdvilleschools.net.  Send nonprofit items to Betty Dillard at bdillard@bizpress.net