Calendar

Your guide to event-related travel in the Southeast

GEORGIA

Lookout Mountain — Rock City’s Shamrock City, March 11-12, 18-19, features Irish music, dance lessons and performances, food, specialty beer, costumed characters and more. www.seerockcity. com/shamrock. Dahlonega — Literary Festival, March 25-26, features literary events and authors from a variety of genres. www.literaryfestival. org. Perry — Dogwood Festival, April 8-9, features arts and crafts, food, dog competitions, and children’s activities. www.perrydogwoodfestival.com. Cornelia — Apple Blossom BBQ Festival, April 21-22, features barbecue competitions, live entertainment, vendors and children’s activities. www.explorecornelia.com. Thomasville — Rose Show & Festival, April 27-29, features roses, parades, live music, street dance, arts and crafts, food, and more. www.thomasvillega.com. Vidalia — Vidalia Onion Festival, April 27-30, features food, competitions, parades, carnival rides, a battle of the bands, rodeo, fireworks and aviation activities. www.vidaliaonionfestival.com.

FLORIDA

Jupiter — ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival, Feb. 19-20, features exhibits, live music, food and vendors. www.artigras.org. Plant City — Florida Strawberry Festival, March 2-12, features music, livestock shows, exhibits, concessions and competitions. www.flstrawberryfestival.com. Weeki Wachee — Swamp Fest, March 3-5, features local musical acts, arts and crafts vendors, drawings and contests. www. swampfestweekiwachee.com. Brooksville — Art in the Park, March 11-12, features a juried art show, music, food, demonstrations and children’s activities. www.hernandoarts.org. Fort Myers — Southwest Florida Reading Festival, March 18, features publishers and authors, contests and activities for readers of all ages. www.readfest.org. New Port Richey — Chasco Fiesta, March 24-April 1, features street and boat parades, a Native American Festival, sports, carnival, music, arts and crafts, and children’s activities. www. chascofiesta.com. Brooksville — Florida Blueberry Festival, April 22-23, features arts and crafts, food, live entertainment, and a car and bike show. www.floridablueberryfestival.org. Pensacola — Interstate Mullet Toss, April 28, features mullet tossing competitions, live music, food and drinks. www.florabama. com.

ALABAMA

Hamilton — Jerry Brown Arts Festival, March 4-5, features painting, sculpture, photography and other art forms, artist demonstrations and more. www. jbaf.org. Mobile — Festival of Flowers, March 23-26, features landscaped gardens, an art competition, shopping and children’s activities. www.festivalofflowers. com. Cullman — Bloomin’ Festival Arts & Crafts Fair, April 22-23, features arts and crafts, art demonstrations, parades, shopping, and food. www.bloominfestival.com. Gardendale — Magnolia Festival, April 21-22, features art classes, talent search, dog parade, music, carnival, car show, competitions and food. www.magnoliafestival. org.

KENTUCKY

Louisville — Humana Festival of New American Plays, March 1-April 9, features plays, panels, cocktail parties, discussions and networking events. www. actorstheatre.org. Louisville — Mid-America Trucking Festival, March 23-March 25, features exhibits, hands-on demonstrations and networking opportunities. www.truckingshow.com. Lexington — Kentucky Crafted Market, April 21-23, features vendors, wearable art, home decor, funiture, books, music, food and more. www.artscouncil.ky.gov. Henderson — Ohio Valley Birding Festival, April 21-23 and May 5-7, features guided birdwatching hikes and family friendly activities. www.ohiovalleybirdingfestival.org.

LOUISIANA

Lake Charles — Black Heritage Festival, March 10-12, features music, baby expo and contest, vendors, cultural performances, workshops, food and more. www. visitlakecharles.org. Lake Charles — Iowa Rabbit Festival, March 17-18, features food, the crowning of the new Miss Bunny, live music, cook-offs and more. www.iowarabbitfestival.org. New Orleans — Bourbon Festival, March 24-26, food, spirits, seminars, cultural events and a bourbon jazz brunch. www. neworleansbourbonfestival.com. Ponchatoula — Strawberry Festival, April 7-9, features food, a parade, carnival rides, craft booths and entertainment. www. lastrawberryfestival.com.

MISSISSIPPI

Gulfport — Gulf Coast Winter Classics Horse Show, through March 19, features hunter/jumper events showcasing equestrian athletes. www.gulfcoastclassiccompany.com. Columbus — Spring Pilgrimage, March 30-April 8, features carriage and double-decker bus rides, guided home and garden tours and moonlight cemetery walks. www.visitcolumbusms. org.

— Market Street Festival, May 5-6, features live music, a 5K run, food, arts and crafts. www.marketstreetfestival.com.

NORTH CAROLINA

Emerald Isle — St. Patrick’s Festival, March 11, features arts and crafts vendors, food, clowns, static displays, amusement rides and children’s activities. www. emeraldislestpatricksfestival. com. Wilmington — Coastal Living Show, March 25, features gifts and services, raffles, seminars and exhibits. www.coastallivingshow.com. Winston Salem — HopSwap Half Marathon & 5K, April 1, features races, commemorative pint glass, race shirt, post-race block party and craft beers. www.visitwinstonsalem.com. Wilmington — North Carolina Azalea Festival, April 5-9, features a street fair, a parade, concerts, a garden party, art and more. www. ncazaleafestival.org. Sylva — Greening Up the Mountains Festival, April 22, features music, arts and crafts, food and more. www.greeningupthemountains.com. Winston Salem — Piedmont Earth Day Fair, April 22, features music, activities for adults and children and earth-friendly exhibits. www.visitwinstonsalem.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Columbia — Craftsmen’s Classic Art & Craft Festival, March 3-5, features fine arts and crafts, shopping, food and more. www. gilmoreshows.com. Hilton Head — Hilton Head International Piano Competition, March 6-11, features 20 contestants ages 18-30 vying for cash prizes, a recital at Carnegie Hall and other performance opportunities. www.hhipc.org. Summerville — Flowertown Festival, March 31-April 2, features arts and crafts, farmers market, music and children’s activities. www.flowertownfestival.org. Rock Hill — Come-See-Me Festival, April 22-29, features a beach bash, parade, jazz and blues music, barbecue cook-off, skydiving exhibition, tailgating, fireworks and children’s activities. www.comeseeme.org.

TENNESSEE

Gatlinburg — Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, April 11-15, features walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes and indoor seminars. www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org. Nashville — Wild West Comedy Festival, April 17-23, features stand-up performances Larry the Cable Guy, the Tenderloins and more. www.wildwestcomedyfestival.com. Clarksville — Rivers & Spires Festival, April 20-22, features live music, interactive entertainment, food and children’s activities. www.riversandspires.com.

VIRGINIA

Roanoke — Blue Ridge Marathon, April 22, features a marathon, half Marathon and 10K, and pre-and post-race concerts and activities. www.blueridgemarathon.com. Norfolk — Virginia International Tattoo, April 27-30, features more than 800 military and civilian performers from eight nations. www.vafest.org/tattoo. Norfolk — NATO Festival, April 28-29, features parade of nations, beer tastings concerts, cultural dances, food and children’s activities. www.norfolknatofestival.