Calendar

Your guide to event-related travel in the Southeast

GEORGIA

Vidalia — Vidalia Onion Festival, through April 29, features food, competitions, parades, carnival rides, a battle of the bands, rodeo, fireworks and aviation activities. www.vidaliaonionfestival.com.

Ellijay — Georgia Apple Blossom Festival, May 5-6, has regional vendors and kids activities. www. georgiaappleblossomfestival.com.

Augusta — Seventh annual GoodBoats: Paddling for a Purpose, May 5, features dragon boat races, food, children’s activities and more. www.goodboats.org.

Tybee Island — SCAD Sand Arts Festival, May 11, allows students to create one-of-a-kind designs in the sand.

Savannah — Maker’s Festival at Skidaway Island, May 12, offers a chance to interact with makers and buy their products. explore. gastateparks.org/info/259067.

Dahlonega — The Arts & Wine Festival, May 19-20, features an art raffle, wine garden, live music and more. www.chestateeartists.org/events-and-exhibits.php.

Evans — Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que, May 25-26, features Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Infamous Stringdusters and Robert Randolph & the Family Band. banjobque.com.

Helen — Bavarianfest, May 26, has a live Oompa band, dancing and Bavarian food. www.helenchamber.com.

Dublin — DubJam, June 1-3, brings in musical acts like Rachel Carter, Kara Evans and Sunbelt Revolution. www.visitdublinga.org/events/dubjam-2018.

Alma — The 44th Georgia Blueberry Festival, June 1-2, has art vendors, music, a blueberry pie contest and kids activities. georgiablueberryfestival.org.

ALABAMA

Foley — 2018 Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, May 4-5, includes a frisbee dog show, carnival rides, arts and crafts vendors and food and entertainment. gulfcoastballoonfestival.com.

Decatur — Soulstock, May 18-19, features inspirational speakers and Christian music. www. soulstock.com.

Gulf Shores — Hangout Music Festival, May 18-20, is a concert on the beach featuring the Killers, the Chainsmokers and Kendrick Lamar as headliners. www.hangoutmusicfest.com.

Scottsboro — Catfish Festival, May 19, features live entertainment, arts and crafts, fishing, an auto show and a blood drive. www.catfishfestival.net.

Decatur — Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Festival, May 26-27, features more than 60 balloons with races, tether rides and arts and crafts, food vendors, an antique car and tractor show, musical entertainment and children’s activities. www.alabamajubilee.net. Haleyville — 911 Festival, June 1-2, features music, children’s activities, street vendors, a parade, classic car show and more to honor police and emergency personnel. www.haleyvillechamber.org.

FLORIDA

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

Orlando — Orlando Funkfest, April 29, stars Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, Joe, Da Brat. www. funkfesttour.com. Panama City Beach — Thunder Beach Spring Motorcycle Rally, May 2-6, will feature vendors and exhibitors, a bike parade, motorcycle stunt shows, tattoo contests, bike shows and more. www.thunderbeachproductions.com. West Palm Beach — SunFest, May 3-6, has three stages with 50 bands right on the water. www. sunfest.com. Fort Lauderdale — The Pirate Festival, May 12, includes a bestrum drink in the city contest, a pet costume contest, paddle board race and children’s area. ftlpiratefest.com.

Panama City Beach — Jeep Beach Jam, May 15-20, is when thousands of Jeep owners gather for concerts, scavanger hunts, off-road excursions, bonfires and more. www.eventbrite.com/e/ jeep-beach-jam-2018-registration-34926119965.

Lake Buena Vista — The 2018 International Flower & Garden Festival, through May 28, has brilliant gardens, interactive playgrounds and entertainment. disneyworld.disney.go.com.

KENTUCKY

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

Louisville — Kentucky Derby Festival, through May 3, features half and full marathons, hot air ballons, bed racing, wine tasting, sports and fireworks. www.kdf. org. Elizabethtown — BBQ, Blues & Bikes Festival, May 26, features entertainment like Laurie Jane and the 45s, the Cash Box Kings, the Stella Vees and more. www. bbqbluesfest.com.

LOUISIANA

Lake Charles — The Louisiana Pirate Festival, May 3-13, celebrates the legend of pirate Jean Lafitte with music, parades, games, food and races. www.louisianapiratefestival.com. New Orleans — Jazz and Heritage Festival, April 27-May 6, features arts and crafts, food and music from Aretha Franklin, Aerosmith, Sting and more. www. nojazzfest.com.

Baton Rouge — The first Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival, May 19-20, is two days of live music, good food and a judged soul food competition. hitcitydigital.wixsite.com/brsoulfoodfest

New Orleans — The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, May 2327, is in its 26th year, attracting more than 7,000 gourmands and connoisseurs as well as art and music lovers. www.nowfe.com.

New Orleans — Bayou Country Superfest, May 25-27, hosts George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town and more. www. bayoucountrysuperfest.com.

MISSISSIPPI

Tupelo —The Elvis Festival, June 6-10, is a musical celebration to honor Elvis Presley with the ultimate tribute artist contest, artists, a 5K, living history, food vendors and more. www.tupeloelvisfestival.com.

Mize — The Mississippi Watermelon Festival, July 20-21, features contests, entertainment and food including all the free watermelon you can eat. mswatermelonfestival.com. NORTH CAROLINA

Beaufort — Beaufort Wine & Food Festival, through April 29, features private home wine dinners, a fashion show luncheon, grand reserve tastings and more. beaufortwineandfood.org.

Wilkesboro — MerleFest, through April 29, features songwriting contests, activities and music from Kris Kristofferson, Robert Earle Keen, Brandy Clark, The Mavericks and more. www. merlefest.org.

Beaufort — Wine and Food Festival, through April 29, features wine dinners and Vin de Mer (where guests are immersed in a culinary tour de force) offering 300 wine labels and cuisine from dozens of local and regional restaurants. www.beaufortwineandfood.org.

Surf City — Scallywags Weekend, May 4-6, celebrates the legend of Blackbeard and pirate legends with Pirate Olympics, a pirate encampment, Pirate Follies, a low country boil, cruises and more. www.visitnc.com.

Beaufort — The Wooden Boat Show, May 5, celebrates the art of traditional wooden boatbuilding with boats on display and nautical demonstraions and activities for children. beaufortwoodenboatshow.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Myrtle Beach — Wings Over Myrtle Beach Air Show, through April 29, features the Blue Angels, the USAF F-16 Viper Demo team, the USAF Heritage Flight team, and a parachute jump team. wingsovermyrtlebeach.com. Greenville — Artisphere, May 11-13, features fine art exhibits, demonstrations, food and live music. www.artisphere.org.

Little River — The World Famous Blue Crab Festival, May 19-20, features beach music, a kids zone, arts and crafts, specialty food and business vendors. www. bluecrabfestival.org.

TENNESSEE

Knoxville — Junkin’ It! Craft & Vintage Market, May 4-6, is an upscale, vintage-inspired market with vendors who specialize in handmade/homemade crafts of any type. www.tnvacation.com.

Ooltewah — Summertime on the Square, June 2, is a family festival with a petting zoo, food vendors, inflatables, craft vendors and music. www.tnvacation.com.

Gatlinburg — Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales, June 22-Aug. 11, is a summer-long street performance festival featuring costumed musical performers, storytellers and artisans portraying characters from time periods as far back as the 1800s. www.gatlinburg.com.