Calendar

Your guide to event-related travel in the Southeast

GEORGIA

Macon — International Cherry Blossom Festival, through March 25, features pageants, food, races, parade, concerts, comedy show, food, Easter egg hunt, street party, balloon glow and more. www.cherryblossom.com.

Northeast Georgia — Wine Highway Week is a nine-day event through March 25 that gives participants a chance to visit 20 wineries. Travelers will receive a collector’s glass and a passport which will give them admission to all wineries. $50 will be collected at the first winery visited. www. georgiawine.com/events/2018wine-highway-weekend

Rock City — Fairytale Nights, through April 15, features interactive experiences with fairytale characters, knight training, storytelling and a tea with Alice and friends. www.rockcity.com/ fairytale. Dahlonega — The Dahlonega Literary Festival, March 25, will feature writers Jacob M. Appel, Johnathan Barrett, Valerie Boyd and many more. literaryfestival.org. Savannah — The Savannah Music Festival, March 29-April 14, happens in theaters, clubs, event spaces and historic places throughout the city. www.savannahmusicfestival.org.

Darien — Blessing of the Fleet Festival, April 13-15, features a parade of shrimp trawlers, a classic car show, a river run, arts and crafts and entertainment. www. blessingofthefleet.com.

Perry — Dogwood Festival, April 14-15, features arts and crafts, food, dog competitions, and children’s activities. www.perrydogwoodfestival.com.

Cornelia — Apple Blossom BBQ Festival, April 21, features barbecue competitions, live entertainment, vendors and children’s activities. www.corneliageorgia.org.

Dahlonega — Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, April 21-22, spotlights bluegrass and old-time music, and has a juried Artists Market Place featuring traditional mountain crafts, storytelling and free music workshops and demonstrations. www.bearonthesquare.org.

ALABAMA

Mobile — Festival of Flowers, through March 25, features lifesize garden vignettes, art, seminars, shopping, food and children’s activities. www.festivalofflowers.com.

Montgomery — Alabama Book Festival, April 21, features author readings, book signings, writing workshops and more. www. alabamabookfestival.org.

Cullman — Bloomin’ Festival, April 21-22, features arts and crafts, art demonstrations, parades, shopping, and food. www.bloominfestival.com. Gardendale — Magnolia Festival, April 20-21, features art classes, talent search, dog parade, music, carnival, car show, competitions and food. www.magnoliafestival.org. Bessemer — Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival, April 28, combines blues music and barbecue and arts and crafts. www.bobsykesblues.com.

FLORIDA

Live Oak — Suwannee River Paddling Festival, April 6-8, features two day of paddling on two of North Florida’s rivers and music, outdoor meals, a ghost tour and more. www.paddleflorida.org.

Panama City Beach — Seabreeze Jazz Festival, April 18-22, is held at the Pier Park Amphitheater and features both internationally known acts and local performers such as Brian Culbertson, Boney James, Kool and the Gang and more. www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.

Live Oak — Wanee Music Festival, April 19-21, hosts Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band, As the Crow Flies, North Mississippi Allstars and more. waneefestival.com.

Panama City Beach — SandJam, the first ever alternative rock festival held at the beach April 26-28, includes Incubus, Sublime with Rome, Fitz and the Tantrums, Kaleo, St. Lucia, Capital Cities and more. sandjamfest.com.

Panama City Beach — Parrot Head Rendevous 2018, April 26-29, features a full weekend of music. panamacityphc.org.

Pensacola — Interstate Mullet Toss, April 27, features mullet tossing competitions, live music, food and drinks. www.florabama.com.

KENTUCKY

Campbellsville — Highway 55 Yard Sale, April 20-22, is 147 miles of bargains, antiques, collectibles and yard sales along the highway. www.kentuckytourism.com/hwy55-yard-sale.

Henderson — Ohio Valley Birding Festival, April 20-22 and May 4-6, features guided birdwatching hikes and family friendly activities. www.ohiovalleybirdingfestival.org.

Louisville — Kentucky Derby Festival, April 14-May 3, features half and full marathons, hot air ballons, bed racing, wine tasting, sports and fireworks. www.kdf.org.

Providence — Amish Tour and Backroad Fest, April 20, offers a self-guided tour of the Amish community, quilt shows, crafts and food. www.kentuckytourism.com.

LOUISIANA

Port Allen — Kite Fest Louisiane, April 7-8, features exotic kites flying all day and into the night. www. westbatonrouge.net.

New Orleans — The French Quarter Festival, April 12-15, is a four-day local music showcase with 1,700 musicians playing 400 hours of free local music. frenchquarterfest.org.

DeQuincy — Louisiana Railroad Days Festival, April 12-14, features food, carnival rides, a model train show, a parade and more. www. larailroaddaysfestival.com.

Ponchatoula — Strawberry Festival, April 13-15, features food, a parade, carnival rides, craft booths and entertainment. www. lastrawberryfestival.com.

Lake Charles — Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival, April 13-15, features food vendors, crawfish eating contests, live music, a pageant and a parade. www. downtowncrawfest.com.

MISSISSIPPI

Natchez – Powwow, March 25, features traditional food, handcrafted jewelry, art, dancing and singing. www.natchezpowwow.com.

Pass Christian — Art in the Pass, April 7-8, features artists from 14 states and about 10,000 visitors. artinthepass.com.

Clarksdale — The Juke Joint Festival, April 12-15, is a half-blues festival, half-small-town festival and all about the Delta. jukejointfestival.com.

Ridgeland — KidFest, April 14-15 and April 21-22, features carnival, pony and train rides, circus acts and activities.www.kidfestridgeland.com.

NORTH CAROLINA

Winston Salem — HopSwap Half Marathon & 5K, March 31, features races, commemorative pint glass, race shirt, post-race block party and craft beers. www.visitwinstonsalem.www.visitwinstonsalem. com.

Blowing Rock — The annual Trout Derby, April 7, will be held from sunrise to 4 p.m. and fish include brown, speckled and rainbow trout. www.blowingrock.com.

Wilmington — North Carolina Azalea Festival, April 11-15, features a street fair, a parade, concerts, a garden party, art and more. www. ncazaleafestival.org.

Wilkesboro — MerleFest, April 2629, features songwriting contests, activities and music from Kris Kristofferson, Robert Earle Keen, Brandy Clark, The Mavericks and more. www.merlefest.org.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Summerville — Flowertown Festival, April 6-8, features arts and crafts, farmers market, music and children’s activities. www. flowertownfestival.org.

Charleston — Lowcountry Cajun Festival, April 8, is a day of zydeco music, Cajun and Creole foods, childrens’ activities and fun. www. ccprc.com.

Rock Hill — Come-See-Me Festival, April 12-21, features a beach bash, parade, jazz and blues music, barbecue cook-off, skydiving exhibition, tailgating, fireworks and children’s activities.www. comeseeme.org.

Columbia — Columbia International Festival, April 14-15, will celebrate diversity with exhibitions, demonstrations, dance, food and education. www.cifonline.org.

TENNESSEE

Townsend — Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival, April 20-22, features a vendors marketplace, family activities, animal displays, fiber arts demonstrations and classes for fiber enthusiasts. townsendartisanguild.net/fiberarts.html. Gatlinburg — Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, April 24-28, features walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes and indoor seminars. www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org.

VIRGINIA

Norfolk — Virginia International Tattoo, April 26-29, features more than 800 military and civilian performers from eight nations. www.vafest.org/tattoo.