Calendar

Your guide to event-related travel in the Southeast

GEORGIA

Sautee Nachoochee — The Winterfest Arts & Coach Tour, Feb. 15-17, features 145 artists over two days in four locations. www. winterfestartstour.org. Savannah — The 2019 Savannah Book Festival, Feb. 14-17, is hosting George and Paula Saunders, Daniel Krauthammer, Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic and more. www.savannahbookfestival.org.

Tifton — The Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival, March 1-2, includes a barbecue competition, live music and kids activities. www.tiftonribsfest. com.

Dublin — St. Patrick’s Pig in the Park BBQ Championship, March 2, features kids activities, free samples off the grill, live music and more. www.visitdublinga.org.

St. Marys — The Mardi Gras Festival & Parade, March 2, features a parade, all-day street vendors and live music. www.visitstmarys. com.

Dublin — The St. Patrick’s Balloon Fest & Glow, March 8, includes a morning sunrise launch and balloon glows after dark. www. visitdublinga.org.

Lookout Mountain — Shamrock City, March 9-10 and 16-17, is Rock City’s Irish celebration featuring music, food and the waterfall turned green. www.seerockcity. com/shamrockcity.

Madison — The Do Tell! Storytelling Festival, March 22-23, features Kevin Kling, Andy Offut Irwin and others, along with a tour of homes, antiques show, and other community events. www.mmcc-arts.org.

ALABAMA

Theodore — The Azalea Bloom Out at Bellingrath Gardens and Home, March 1-31, has more than 250,000 blooms. www.bellingrath. org.

Mobile — The Festival of Flowers, March 21-24, celebrates its 26th year. www.festivalofflowers.com.

FLORIDA

Brooksville — The Florida Bluegrass Classic, Feb. 18-24, is five days of live bluegrass and classic country performers as well as a classic car show, military tribute and arts and crafts vendors. www. evansmediasource.com. Brooksville — Art in the Park, March 9-10, hosts more than 100 artists from many states with a juried show and live entertainment. www.hernandoarts.org.

Stuart — The Single Fin Showdown Surf Festival, March 14, is one of the largest one-day amateur surf and skim festivals in the state. www.ohanasurfshop.com.

Perry — The annual Florida State Bluegrass Festival & Chili Cook-off, April 4-6, features the Grascals, Mile Twelve, Nothing Fancy and more. www.facebook.com/FloridaStateBluegrass.

Tallahassee — Springtime Tallahassee, March 29-30, has live music, a grand parade, children’s park and entertainment stages throughout. www.springtimetallahassee.com.

LOUISIANA

Lake Charles — Mardi Gras Southwest Louisiana, through March 5, features the annual 12th Night Celebration, parades, galas and more. www.swlamardigras.com. Shreveport — The Krewe of Highland XXIII, Feb. 11, brings its parade through the historic neighborhood, possibly throwing hot dogs, packs of ramen noodles and moon pies. www.thekreweofhighland.org. Lake Charles — The Black Heritage Festival, March 10, features live entertainment, a a vendor’s expo, educational workshops, magic shows and more. www. bhflc.org.

Lake Charles — The Iowa Rabbit Festival, March 14-16, features a rabbit show, a rabbit cook-off, carnival rides, live music and the Miss Bunny beauty pageant. www. visitlakecharles.org.

MISSISSIPPI

Columbus — The Spring Pilgrimage, March 28-April 6, includes a half marathon and 5K run, live music, home tours and more. www. visitcolumbusms.org.

Ridgeland — The Ridgeland Fine Arts Festival, April 6-7, features artists and their works, in addition to the Sante South Wine Festival and a Tandem Cycling Rally. www. ridgelandartsfest.com.

NORTH CAROLINA

Sapphire — The Outhouse Races, Feb. 16, feature homemade outhouses racing on skis across a finish line at the Sapphire Valley Ski Area. www.discoverjacksonnc. com.

Currie — The anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, Feb. 23-24, has more than 150 reenactors performing an interpretive demonstration of the battle complete with cannon and musket fire. www.nps.gov/mocr/index.htm. Wilmington — The NHRMC

Wrightsville Beach Marathon, March 8-9, features half and full marathons, a marathon relay, a fun run and more. www.wrightsvillebeachmarathon.com.

Sylva — The ninth annual Assault on Blackrock, March 23, is a trail race through the spruce forests along the spint of the Plott Balsam Mountains. www.discoverjacksonnc.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Columbia — The Craftsmen’s Spring Classic Art & Craft Festival, March 1-3, features pottery, fine art, jewelry, glass, furniture, sculpture, instruments and more. www. craftshow.com.

Hilton Head — The Hilton Head International Piano Competition, March 11-18, brings pianists from all over the world to compete in four rounds of performance. www. hhipc.org.

TENNESSEE

Pigeon Forge — Smoky Mountain Winterfest, through Feb. 28, features a driving tour of lights, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, a Thanksgiving fireworks display, the Smoky Mountain Opry and more. www.mypigeon- forge.com.

Pigeon Forge — A Mountain Quiltfest, March 19-23, includes a quilt show and vendor mall in addition to five days of classes for all skill levels. www.mountainquiltfest.com. Pigeon Forge — The Chuck Wagon Cookoff, March 29-30, is a westernthemed day where cook teams prepare food over an open fire, in cast iron, using only spices avail- able to original cooks on the trail. www.mypigeonforge.com/events/ cookoff.

VIRGINIA

Richmond — The Craftsmen’s Spring Classic Art & Craft Festival, March 8-10, features pottery, fine art, jewelry, glass, furniture, sculpture, instruments and more. www. craftshow.com.