Looking for ways to set your social calendar alight? Well look no further! The cigar festival season is thoroughly underway, and this month is jam-packed with smoking-hot fun. With 2011 bringing you a whole host of events from well-established, world-renowned festivals to fresh, new gatherings in emerging cigar hotspots, there’s plenty to pick from.

It’s a chance to get together with fellow stick-lovers, enjoy good food and expensive wine, and immerse yourself in the laid-back luxury of the cigar world. The famous Procigar and Habanos festivals kicked off the season in Cuba earlier this year, but if you missed them, there’s no need to worry - there are still plenty of opportunities to experience these rare and unique events. Promising the biggest brands, the best guests, and bags of freebies, this month’s festivals are not to be missed. Here at Puff, we care about the social-lives of our cigar-smoking brethren, so we’ve put together a guide to help you make the most of what’s on offer throughout April and the coming year.

New Jersey Cigar Festival (April 3rd)

This is the newest festival of 2011, with the first-ever event kicking off at a riverfront venue in the state’s biggest, brightest city - Newark. Some of the heaviest hitters in the cigar industry are involved with the festival, including Drew Estate and Alec Bradley to name a few. Each ticket comes with a humidor stocked with at least one cigar from every manufacturer in attendance, and other freebies include hot towel shaves and chair massages - but it’s first-come, first-served, so remember to get there quick! David Mallow of Barrister Cigars is presenting the event, and says they’ve worked hard to create their dream festival:  “It has always been our goal for the Festival to provide an exceptional experience for the tri-state area’s true cigar connoisseurs by providing direct access to some of the most respected manufacturers in the industry.” As well as getting up-close and personal with the big guns of cigar production, you get a slap-up lunch and a raffle ticket. Prizes will be drawn at random points throughout the day, and all products sold during the festival and are at discount prices, so get ready to stock up while it’s cheap!

Annual Nicaraguan Cigar Festival (April 5th-8th)

The Nicaraguan Cigar Festival is returning for a second event, after a successful launch in 2010. This year’s festival, named ‘Sensations of my Country’, will involve a four-day journey through Managua, Masaya, Granada, Esteli and Jalapa, exploring all aspects of cigar production. This festival isn’t just about the experience of smoking high-quality cigars, it’s about the culture of the people who grow the plants, the passion that goes into creating a blend, and the intricate process through which your favourite cigars are caringly crafted. On your adventure, you’ll be given the opportunity to visit the stunning Volcan Masaya National Park, sail the waters of Isletas de Granada, and experience authentic Nicaraguan tobacco farming, before rounding up your journey in the region’s premium cigar factories.  A ticket to this celebration of cigar culture also gets you an exclusive ANP Collector’s Edition Cigar Box, a welcome cocktail upon arrival at the VIP lounge in Managua Airport, and premium cigars throughout the trip. You’ll be fed, watered and transported between locations, as well as being put up in a hotel for two nights in Esteli - but you’ll need to book flights and accommodation for the rest of the festival.