The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Calendar
Your guide to event-related travel in the Southeast
GEORGIA
Rome — The Rome Shakespeare Festival, Sept. 19-29, offers free performances including children’s shows. www.romeshakespearefestival.com.
Augusta — Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival, Sept. 20-22, brings together food from 20 different countries and an arts and crafts market, five entertainment stages and children’s activities. artsintheheartofaugusta.com. Blue Ridge — The Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Music Festival, Sept. 20-21, features a blues crawl Friday evening and then live music during the festival Saturday. blueridgebluesandbbq.com.
Jekyll Island — The Shrimp & Grits Festival, Sept. 20-22, celebrates the Southern dish with a professional cooking competition, a craft brew fest, arts and crafts vendors, live music and a new 5K. www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpgrits.
Buchanan — The Haralson County Fried Pie Festival, Sept. 21, includes lots of fried food, arts and crafts, a car and bike show and musical entertainment. www.haralsoncountyhistory.com.
Macon — The Ocmulgee Indian Celebration, Sept. 21-22, offers music, dance, food, storytelling, crafts and demonstrations by Native Americans to honor the cultures of the Southeastern Native Americans. www.ocmulgeemounds.org.
Lookout Mountain — Rocktoberfest, happening weekends in October, includes live German music, polka lessons, German food, specialty beer, costumed characters and more. seerockcity.com.
Perry — The Georgia National Fair, Oct. 3-13, features livestock competitions, horse shows, youth educational exhibits, carnival rides and food. georgianationalfair.com.
Brunswick — Coastfest, Oct. 5, includes touch tanks, living history demonstrations, student art contests and more. coastalgadnr.org.
Hiawassee — The Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Oct. 11-19, includes arts and crafts vendors, educational demonstrations, a flower show and the official state fiddlers’ convention in addition to musical performances from Crystal Gayle, Gary Puckett and Balsam Range. georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.
Ellijay — The Georgia Apple Festival, Oct. 12-13 and Oct. 1920, features a parade, car show and more than 300 vendors with handmade items, as well as demonstrations of how some crafts are made. georgiaapplefestival.org.
Dalton — The Prater’s Mill Country Fair, Oct. 12-13, focuses on mountain music, living history exhibits and homeade crafts and original art, as well as demonstrations like blacksmithing, spinning, quilting and woodcarving. pratersmill.org/fair.
Tybee Island — The Tybee Island Pirate Fest, Oct. 10-13, features a Buccaneer Ball, live music, a parade and a thieves market. tybeeisland.com.
Richmond Hill — The Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival, Oct. 18-20, features seafood tastes as well as live entertainment from Davie Lee Murphy and the Marshall Tucker Band. goseafoodfestival.com.
Dahlonega — The Gold Rush Days, Oct. 19-20, will have more than 300 arts and crafts vendors gathered around the square and historic district. goldrushdaysfestival.com.
Milledgeville — Deep Roots, Oct. 26, is an arts and music festival that features an antique car show, live entertainment, an artist market and a BBQ contest. visitmilledgeville.org. Thomasville — Victorian Christmas, Dec. 12-13, includes carriage rides, live nativity, Santa visits, marshmallow toasting and chestnut roasting, live entertainment and street performers and more. thomasvillega.com.
ALABAMA
Auburn — The Oktoberfest craft beer festival, Sept. 21, includes food truck alley, live entertainment, education and presentations, a traditional polka band and contests and games. auburnoktoberfest.com. Rogersville — The Shades of Bluegrass Festival, Sept. 27-28, features food and craft vendors and will accomodate campers. 931-629-2285.
Huntsville — The Crush Wine & Food Festival, Sept. 25-29, offers more than 150 wines for tasting, local live music, food trucks and grape stomping. www.crushwinefestival.com.
Athens — The North Pole Stroll, Dec. 2-27, returns with decorated trees sponsored by area agencies, groups, businesses and families. www.visitathensal.com.
FLORIDA
Captiva Island — The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, Sept. 20-29, is a 10-day music festival that brings 80-plus artists to 100-plus shows across Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach and in downtown Fort Myers. www.island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com.
New Smyrna Beach — The Jazz Festival, Sept. 26-29, features music from 5 Island Steel, Dave Capp, Jeff Rupert Quartet and more. nsbjazzfest.com. Panama City Beach — Oktoberfest, Oct. 4-6, features German food and craft beer while donning lederhosen and dirndls. visitpanamacitybeach.com. Pensacola — The Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival, Oct. 12, will include the race as well as children’s activities like face painting, sack racing, corn hole and more. pensacoladragonboatfestival.com.
Orange Park — The Fall Festival, Oct. 19-20, includes food, kids activities, artists and vendors and entertainment from Buddy Jewell, and the Atlantic City Boys. www.opfallfestival.com.
Stuart — The Stuart Air Show, Nov. 1-3, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a 5K and performers including the F-16 Viper Demo Team, the Black Daggers, Aeroshell and the Twin Tigers Aerobatic Team. www.stuartairshow.com.
Pensacola — The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, Nov. 1-3, features more than 200 craftsmen, live music, a children’s arts festival, student art show and more. ww.ggaf.org.
Amelia Island — The Pentaque Amelia Island Open, Nov. 8-10, is open to novices and champions, and offers good grub and locally made souvenirs. ameliaisland. com. Pensacola — The Winterfest, Nov. 23-24, Nov. 30, and Dec.
1, 7 and 14-16, includes an elf parade, city lights, performances, reindeer games and more. www. pensacolawinterfest.org. Fernandina Beach — The annual Holiday Home Tour, Dec. 6-7, features Victorian homes decorated for the holidays by a local florist/ decorator. ameliamuseum.org.
KENTUCKY
Bowling Green —The Bourbon & Brew Fest, Oct. 26, offers a chance to try both craft brews and select bourbons along with catered food. bgbrewfest.com.
LOUISIANA
Natchitoches — Fall Pilgrimage/ Tour of Homes, Oct. 12-13, offers a chance to tour homes like Melrose Plantation and the Lemee House. www.natchitoches.com.
MISSISSIPPI
Ocean Springs — The Mississippi Songwriters Festival, Sept. 19-22, is a four-day event featuring 150-200 national, regional and local songwriters performing in intimate and concert-style settings. mssongwritersfestival.com.
Jackson — The Mississippi Science Fest, Sept. 21, features special guests, hands-on activities,
exhibitions, interactive activites and more. www.mssciencefest.org.
NORTH CAROLINA
Huntersville — The Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze, through Nov. 3, is a 7-acre corn maze featuring more than two miles of interconnecting paths and you can enjoy local beer, wine and cider, hiking trails and mini mazes. www.ruralhill.net.
Mount Airy — Mayberry Days, Sept. 23-29, includes a parade, shows, a silent auction and family activities. www.mayberrydays.com.
Hendersonville — Art on Main, Sept. 28-29, brings together more than 100 juried artists selling their wares including fine art paintings, works in clay, metal, wood, fiber and photography. www.acofhc.org.
Morehead City — The North Carolina Seafood Festival, Oct. 4-6, includes a low country boil, a road race, beer sampling, sailing regatta and more. ncseafoodfestival.org.
Sunset Beach — Sunset at Sunset, Oct. 5, is a full day of music, crafts and food in addition to a kids area. The sun will set over the Ingram Planetarium on Sunset Boulevard. www.ncbrunswick.com.
Cashiers — The Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival, Oct. 11-13, celebrates the leaves beginning to change with vendors, food, live music and a juried art show. www. villagegreencashiersnc.com. Mount Airy — The Autumn Leaves Festival, Oct. 11-13, includes live music, artisan vendors from all over the country, a kids area and more. www.autumnleavesfestival.com.
Black Mountain — The LEAF Festival, Oct. 17-20, is a camping festival that features music from the Wood Brothers, Angelique Kidjo’s Remain in Light, Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles and more. theleaf.org.
Ocean Isle Beach — The North Carolina Oyster Festival, Oct. 19-20, features oyster-eating contests and cookoffs, as well as live music and tastings. www. ncbrunswick.com.
Holden Beach — The NC Festival By the Sea, Oct. 26-27, starts with a parade and includes horseshoe tournaments, a sandcastle building contest, face painting, kids activities, live music and more. www.ncbrunswick.com.
Lexington — The Barbecue Festival, Oct. 26, includes a Tour de Pig bike race, golf tournament. barbecue to eat, car show, hawg run and live music. www.barbecuefestival.com.
Clayton — The Shindig, Nov. 2, is a music and craft beer festival which includes a beard competition. www.theshindig.net. Southport — The Southport Wooden Boat Show, Nov. 2, displays some of the Southeast’s wooden boats and also offers boat building demonstrations, live music and fresh food. www. ncbrunswick.com.
Sylva — The WNC Pottery Festival, Nov. 2, includes artwork from more than 40 exhibitors from 16 states displaying their handmade pieces. www.wncpotteryfestival.com.
Wilmington — The Cucalorus festival, Nov. 13-17, is a performing arts and film festival. www.cucalorus.com
Raleigh — The American Indian Heritage Celebration, Nov. 23, brings together musicians, dancers, artists, storytellers and authors from North Carolina’s eight recognized tribes for craft demonstrations, hands-on activities, games, food and more. www.ncmuseumofhistory.org. Wrightsville Beach — The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla, Nov. 30, includes a boat parade, tree lighting ceremony, visit from santa and more. www.ncholidayflotilla.org.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Beaufort — The Beaufort Shrimp Festival, Oct. 4-5, features local coastal cuisine, live music, a run/ walk, arts & crafts market and more. www.beaufortchamber.org.
Greenville — Fall for Greenville, Oct. 11-13, features more than 40 restaurants with 200 menu items and free entertainment on seven stages. www.fallforgreenville.net.
Georgetown — The annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show, Oct. 19-20, will have more than 140 classic wooden boats displayed on land and water, children’s model boatbuilding, knot tying, maritime arts and crafts, food and music. www. woodenboatshow.com. Myrtle Beach — The Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals, Nov. 14-17, includes festivals of trees, wreaths, tables and more. There also is a marketplace. www. dickenschristmasshow.com. Charleston — The Holiday Festival of Lights, Nov. 15-Dec. 31, is a driving tour of lights, but also includes a sand sculpture, treats from Santa’s Sweet Shoppe, giant greeting cards, a Victorian carousel and more. www.holidayfestivaloflights.com.
Beaufort — The Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla, Dec. 7, features boats, yachts, kayaks and commercial vessels decorated for the holiday season. maritimefriends.com.
Beaufort — The Christmas Candlelight Tour, Dec. 14, is a tour of private homes via a ride on the double-decker bus with carolers from local churches. beauforthistoricsite.org.
TENNESSEE
Bristol — The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Sept. 20-22, offers many types of music including Southern Appalachia’s traditional music, bluegrass, alternative country, western swing and there’s a free children’s day event, food and craft vendors. www. birthplaceofcountrymusic.org. Chattanooga — Dread Hollow, Sept. 27-Oct. 31, is a haunted experience with special effects, sinister freaks and chilling storylines in addition to two extreme escape rooms. www.dreadhollow.com.
LaFollette — The Big Creek Fall ATV Festival, Oct. 11-12, features competitive events, guided trail rides, food vendors, live music and fireworks. lafollettetn.gov. Chattanooga — Ruby Falls Christmas Underground, Dec. 1-8 and 12-23, features a visit with Santa, a glittering ice cave, mining for joystones and playing in snow flurries in the cave. www. rubyfalls.com.
VIRGINIA
Doswell — The State Fair of Virginia, Sept. 27-Oct. 6, has authentic fair foods, prize-winning vegetables and more. www. statefairva.org.
Danville — The Community Holiday Light Show, Dec. 12-25, is a drive-through light show featuring displays built by families, organizations and businesses, along with crafts and photos with Santa. danvilleva.gov.