Nominate your event: Southeasttourism.org/top_20_events.html
APRIL 2007
March 31 - April 1, Coastal Living Show, Exhibitors and artisans show and sell their art and exhibitors display their products and services for a one-stop shopping experience. Produced by the Wilmington Womans’ Club. Wilmington, N.C. 910-458-1502 www.wilmingtonwomansclub.com amieb461@juno.com
April 1 - April 31, Huntsville Botanical Garden's Spring Festival of Flowers, Over 60,000 bulbs, pansies, azaleas and dogwoods in bloom when the Huntsville Botanical Garden springs to life. Classes planned on spring plantings, landscaping techniques and photography. Huntsville, Ala. 256-830-4447 www.hsvbg.org jhacker@hsvbg.org
April 7 – 8, 30th Annual Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee, Authentic Scottish dance and song highlight this event. Arts & crafts, furniture and many one-of-a-kind creations have brought visitors for 30 years. Pendleton, S.C. 864-646-3782 or 800-862-1795 www.pendleton-district.org pendletontourism@bellsouth.net
April 9 – 29, Dogwood Arts Festival, An event that celebrates the natural beauty of East Tennessee through tours, parades, a tribute to Louis Armstrong Jazz Concert and, of course, beautiful dogwoods. Knoxville, Tenn. 865-637-4561 www.dogwoodarts.com pabernathy@dogwoodarts.com
April 11 – 15, 60th North Carolina Azalea Festival, Great concert entertainment, sights and sounds of the circus, parade, garden tours, pageant, horse show and coin show. There is something for everyone here. Wilmington, N.C. 910-794-4650 www.ncazaleafestival.org azaleafestival@hotmail.com
April 12 – 15, 6th Annual Bluegrass Returns to its Roots, Begin Owensboro’s festival season with four days of Bluegrass. Begin on Thursday night with Battle of the Bands. See top notch entertainers from the world of bluegrass. Owensboro, Ky. 270-926-8000 or 800-626-1936 www.atTheBigE.com info@executiveinnrivermont.com
April 12 – 21, Come-See-Me-Festival, More than 50 different events and activities for visitors of all ages, including a Teddy Bear Tea Party, Beach Bash, Moonlight Jazz and Blues, Gourmet Garden make this event a fun time for all. Rock Hill, S.C. 800-681-7635 or 803-329-7625 www.comeseeme.rockhill.net comeseeme@comporium.net
April 13 – 15, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Highlights include Art at the Met - showcasing the work of prize-winning artists and master craftspeople from around the country, The Great Piano Competition, Wine Tasting Experience and more. Jacksonville, Fla. 904-630-3690 www.coj.net events@coj.net
April 13 – 15, Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, A weekend of family fun includes carnival rides, live entertainment, games, crafts and food booths. Fresh strawberries are prepared in a variety of ways. Many unique antique and collectible shops to visit in "America's Antique City.” Ponchatoula, La. 800-917-7045 lastrawberryfestival.com sarah@tangitourism.com
April 14 - Jun 3, 22nd Annual Georgia Renaissance Festival, Take a trip back to a time when jousting on horseback and sword swallowing were just part of the fun in a day. Great food and handmade goods will complete your 15th century visit. Fairburn, Ga. 770-964-8575 www.georgiarenaissancefestival.com info@garenfest.com
April 14, Franklin Parish Catfish Festival, Five thousand pounds of catfish highlight Louisiana's largest one-day festival. Family oriented event features local entertainment arts & crafts, children's games and more. Winnsboro, La. 318-435-7607 www.franklinparishcatfishfestival.com info@franklinparishcatfishfestival.com
April 14 - May 5, Kentucky Derby Festival, The largest annual fireworks extravaganza is just the beginning of two weeks of fun filled activities for all. Bed racing, parades, volleyball, hot-air balloon events and concert entertainment combine to make this a fun, family event. Louisville, Ky. 502-584-6383 www.kdf.org info@kdf.org
April 19 – 21, Rivers & Spires Festival, Inc., 100 entertainers offering all genre's of music to showcase the area's heritage through history and the arts. Clarksville, Tenn. 931-552-9006, ext. 23 www.riversandspires.com dbarber@clarksville.tn.us
April 20 – 22, 3rd Annual Artisphere, Enjoy outdoor musical and theatre performances, local cuisine, live mural painting, along with over 100 juried art exhibits in the flourishing arts community of Greenville and the Upstate of South Carolina. Greenville, S.C.
864-271-9398 www.artisphere.us mary@greenvillearts.com
April 20 – 21, Ham Jam Arts Festival, In addition to great barbeque, this festival boasts arts and crafts, a talent contest, and a statewide recruited basketball tournament. Philadelphia, Miss.
601-656-1000 www.hamjamartsfestival.com lisaksmith@bellsouth.net
April 25 – 28, 23rd Annual American Quilter's Society Quilt Show & Contest, showcasing more than 500 quilts and wall hangings, the annual competition features workshops, lectures and fashion shows, along with 300 vendor booths. This year,135 classes with the AQS School of Quilt making enhance the event. Paducah, Ky. 270-898-7903 or Visitor's Bureau: 800-PADUCAH www.americanquilter.com shows@aqsquilt.com
April 26 – 28, 86th Annual Thomasville Rose Show and Festival, Celebrate the "Sensational Sixties" beginning with a Children's Rose Bud Parade. Dog show, equestrian dressage and jumping show and so much more all in the Thomasville event that has been going strong since 1922. Thomasville, Ga. 229-227-7020 www.downtownthomasville.com feliciab@thomasville.org
April 25 – 29, Beaufort Wine & Food Weekend, Great wineries, winemakers and celebrity chefs from around the world highlight the event which offers, wine luncheons, dinners, a gala reception and art and music. Beaufort, N.C. 252-646-5230 www.beaufortwineandfood.com info@beaufortwineandfood.com
April 26 – 29, Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, This four star equestrian event considered one of the top sporting events in the world features three days of international level competition and an" International Trade Fair" with more than 125 booths. Lexington, Ky. 859-233-2362 www.rk3de.org information@rk3de.org
April 27 – 29, Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, Family friendly event offers live music, street dances, arts and crafts vendors and a Classic Car show to celebrate the dogwoods blossoming. Fayetteville, N.C. 910-323-1934 www.fayettevilledogwoodfestival.com dogwoodfestival@earthlink.net
MAY 2007
May 1 – 13, Contraband Days Pirate Festival, One of the largest festivals in Louisiana celebrates its 50th anniversary with swashbuckling pirates and buccaneers and the legend of buried treasure. Lake Charles, La. 800-456-7952 www.contrabanddays.com info@visitlakecharles.org
May 4 – 6, Beale Street Music Festival, One of the largest and acclaimed music festivals in the country presents Rock & Roll, Alternative, R&B, Soul and Modern Rock in the legendary "birth place of the blues" and "home of rock & roll. Memphis, Tenn. 901-525-4611 www.memphisinmay.org mim@memphisinmay.org
May 4 – 6, Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, This event, held in historic downtown Fernandina Beach on beautiful Amelia Island celebrates its town as the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry through arts & crafts show, shrimp cooked every way imaginable, fireworks, parades and more. Fernandina Beach, Fla. 866-426-3542 or 904-261-3248 www.shrimpfestival.com 4info@shrimpfestival.com
May 4 – 6, Knoxville Opera Rossini Festival, Professional Opera, jazz, classical music and dance, together with fine Italian and southern Mediterranean cuisine in celebration of the performing arts. Knoxville, Tenn. 865-524-0795 www.rossinifestival.org dtownsend@knoxvilleopera.com
May 4 – 6, Macon Gardens, Mansions & Moonlight 2007, Home and garden event invites you to stroll through private gardens and tour historic homes. Learn about gardening through seminars from the masters. Macon, Ga. 478-742-8155 www.hayhouse.org ajrespess@bellsouth.net
May 4 – 5, Market Street Festival, Fun for the whole family with everything from a 5 K run to over 200 arts and crafts vendors, a hands-on children's area and so much more in this diverse and popular event. Columbus, Miss. 662-328-6305 www.marketstreetfestival.com lquinn@columbusmainstreet.com
May 4 – 6, Pensacola Crawfish Creole Fiesta, Cajun foods and Zydeco music, a family area and "nascraw race" in honor of the ever versatile (crawfish poboys, crawfish pie, broiled crawfish) Crawfish. Pensacola, Fla., 850-433-6512 www.fiestaoffiveflags.org info@fiestaoffiveflags.org
May 4 – 6, Scottish Festival & Celtic Gathering, Opening with a kilted golf outing on Friday, this festival offers a complete range of heritage activities, including piping, drumming, dancing and more. Bridgeport, W. V. 304-842-3457 www.scots-westvirginia.org annwatson@smco.us
May 5 – 6, MCAS Cherry Point Air Show, MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., Military and civilian performances and a variety of ground events combine to make this a thrilling time for the aviation enthusiast. 800-WINGS-NC www.cherrypointairshow.com
May 5, Virginia Gold Cup, One of America's most prestigious race with over 23 fences over 4 miles, steeplechase races, pony races and even Jack Russell Terrier races. Warrenton, Va., 540-347-2612 or 800-69-RACES www.vagoldcup.com
May 11 – 12, International Barbeque Festival, Teams compete in cooking everything from mutton and chicken to burgoo. Arts and craft vendors line the street, and music of every genre fills the air. Owensboro, Ky., 270-926-1161 or 800-489-1131 www.bbqfest.com
info@visitowensboro.com
May 17 – 19, Franklin Rotary Rodeo, Bull and bronc riding, booths filled with food and wares, The Rodeo Queen's appearance all as PRCA cowboys vie for points toward the National Finals Rodeo. Franklin, Tenn. 615-478-2450 www.franklinrodeo.com franklinrodeo@bellsouth.net
May 17 – 19, World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Enjoy the delicious atmosphere and sweet smell of barbeque as over 500 judges from around the country come to Memphis to select the King or Queen of Barbeque. Memphis, Tenn. 901-525-4611 www.memphisinmay.org mim@memphisinmay.org
May 18 – 20, Mainstrasse Village Maifest, Join nearly 100 artisans and crafters, 25 food vendors, 4 entertainment venues and more for a great family festival. Covington, Ky. 859-491-9458 www.mainstrasse.org dkremer@mainstrasse.org
May 24 – 28, Abbey Road on the River, Celebrate the music of the Beatles as more than fifty bands from 10 different countries come together to mark the 40th anniversary of the Sgt. Pepper album. Louisville, Ky. 216-378-1980 www.abbeyroadontheriver.com gmjevents@aol.com
May 25 – 28, Mudbug Madness, Enjoy the finest in Cajun, Zydeco and Creole cuisine in a celebration of Louisiana's Cajun culture and the ever popular crawfish. Shreveport, La. 318-222-7403 downtownshreveport.com/downtown.html mbacon@downtownshreveport.com
May 25 - Jun 10, Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston's historic theaters, churches and outdoor spaces fill with performers in opera, theater, music and dance in a celebration of visual arts, dance, theater, music and more. Charleston, S.C. 843-579-3100 www.spoletousa.org receptionist@spoletousa.org
May 26 – 27, Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, Balloonists from all over the U.S. come to Alabama to participate in this show, which is celebrating it's 30th anniversary this year. The two-hour Balloon Glow on the 27th is an unbelievable sight with dozens of balloons to light up the night sky. Decatur, Ala. 256-340-1534 www.alabamajubilee.net squee@decaturcvb.org
May 26 – 27, Decatur Arts Festival, Artists market, performing arts stage, fine arts exhibition, demonstrations, dance, music and so much more. There is something for everyone at this festival. Decatur, Ga. 404-371-9583 www.decaturartsalliance.org info@decaturalliance.org
May 31 - Jun. 6, Fiesta Days Celebration and Boat Parade, See a light hearted re-enactment of the surrender of the city to Spanish explorer Don Tristan DeLuna, who first landed in Pensacola in 1559. Also included in the festivities is an evening of outdoor musical entertainment celebrating the founding of Pensacola. Pensacola, Fla. 850-433-6512 www.fiestaoffiveflags.org info@fiestaoffiveflags.org
JUNE 2007
June 1 – 2, 16th Annual Shannon Street Blues & Heritage Festival, Jackson situated between Beale Street in Memphis and Music Row in Nashville is home to the Rock-A-Billy International Hall of Fame. Jackson's deep, rich, legacy of great musical influences are celebrated with barbeque and soul-filled sounds as award winning musicians perform. Jackson, Tenn. 731-427-7573 www.downtownjackson.com lnunnery@cityofjackson.net
June 1 – 2, Yellowbanks Dulcimer Festival, This celebration takes place on the banks of the Ohio River to promote and celebrate the mountain dulcimer as the designated Kentucky state instrument. Workshops are offered in mountain dulcimer, banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle bass, autoharp and more. Owensboro, Ky. 270-684-1631 www.visitowensboro.com info@visitowensboro.com
June 1 – 4, Billy Bowlegs Festival, The notorious 18th century pirate, William Augustus Bowlegs and his krewe, all decked out in authentic costume take over the town and defeat the "city militia" in a mock battle. The event includes a treasure hunt for children and adults. Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. 850-244-8191 fwbchamber.org/BillyBowlegs info@fwbchamber.org
June 5 – 11, Upperville Colt and Horse Show, The oldest horse show in the U.S. is celebrating its 154th year with a week long "A" rated horse show for children and adults. Upperville, Va. 540-592-3858 www.upperville.com
June 7 – 9, Gadsden Area Riverfest Festival, Inc., This hot Southeast music festival features the best country and adult contemporary stars in the nation. Special entertainment for children and the region's tastiest culinary creations make this a fun family festival. Gadsden, Ala. 256-543-3472 www.gadsdenriverfest.com kerri@gadsdenchamber.com
June 7 – 21, American Dance Festival, The festival, now in it's 75th year continues to bring some of the world's most outstanding artists in the field of modern dance to Durham. American and international modern and contemporary dance are celebrated, bringing recognition to much of modern dance's finest talent. Durham, N.C. 919-684-6402 www.americandancefestival.org adf@americandancefestival.org
June 8 – 10, The 31st Annual Norfolk Harborfest, Performances on eight stages include jugglers, fire-eaters, children's activities, tall ship tours, nautical crafters and demonstrations and much more with the highlight being the Parade of Sail, featuring over 700 watercraft floating down the Elizabeth River. Norfolk, Va. 757-441-2345 www.festeventsva.org festevents@festeventsva.org
June 8 – 9, Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival 2007, A variety of authentic Gullah Geechee entertainment including story telling and demonstrations and showcasing of the unique sweetgrass basket making by over 100 direct descendents of the original sweetgrass basket makers. Mount Pleasant, S.C. 843-856-9732 or 843-814-3995 www.sweetgrassfestival.com tsm111@comcast.net
June 14 – 17, Boardwalk Art Show & Festival, The festival, renowned for its selection of fine artists, showcases local and international artisans who bring more than 20,000 original works of art to beautiful Virginia Beach include paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and so much more. Virginia Beach, Va. 757-425-0000 www.cacv.org/events/boardwalk.asp
June 15 – Jul 28, Sautee Nacoochee Summer Fest, Indoor and outdoor venues feature a wide variety of programming showcasing local and national talent through music, comedy, history, dance and children's activities. Sautee Nacoochee, Ga. 706-878-3300 www.snca.org marketsncap@alltel.net
June 15 – 16, Secret City Festival, The city of Oak Ridge celebrates their place in history with a World War II re-enactment complete with over 200 re-enactors, actual equipment demonstrations and WWII-era vehicles. Tours of historic Manhattan Project sites, live entertainment and family activates complete the festivities. Oak Ridge, Tenn. 865-425-3610 or 866-506-6285 www.secretcityfestival.com jgibson@cortn.org
June 16 – 17, Francisco's Farm Arts Festival at Midway College, This outdoor exhibition of juried fine arts and crafts, set in this picturesque town which offers fine antique shops and excellent food, is home to the art show which gives festival goers the opportunity to meet and interact with the artists. Midway, Ky. 859-846-4632 franciscosfarm.org info@franciscofarm.org
June 20 – 24, AthFest Music & Arts Festival, This annual music and arts festival in downtown Athens showcases the local musical and artistic community. Over 125 bands and musicians are expected to perform. Athens, Ga. 706-548-1973 www.athfest.com info@athfest.com
June 20 – 24, Helen Keller Festival, This festival which honors the life of "America's First Lady of Courage" is a celebration through juried arts and crafts show, athletic events, a parade, musical entertainment and a special "Keller Kids" program. This year, the statue of Helen Keller will be unveiled. Tuscumbia, Ala. 800-344-0783 or 256-383-0783 www.helenkellerfestival.com or www.colbertcountytourism.org colberttourism@comcast.net
June 21 – 24, ROMP - River of Music Party, Four day celebration of "all things bluegrass" with great bands in concert, the Masters Film Festival, the Bluegrass Legends Concert, exhibits and more. Owensboro, Ky. 888-MYBANJO or 270-926-7891 www.riverofmusic.org mike@bluegrassmuseum.org
June 22 – 24, Beaufort Old Homes Tour and Antiques Show, Tours of private historic homes and gardens, local churches, inns and meeting halls, a civil war tour of the town aboard a 1948 English double-decker bus, antiques and collectables all in the colonial seaport town of Beaufort. Beaufort, N.C. 252-728-5225 or 800-575-7483 www.beauforthistoricsite.org beauforthistoricsite@earthlink.net
June 23, Gospel Celebration, Local church choirs, step teams, spoken word and national gospel acts gather on the Laser Lawn at Stone Mountain Park for a day of praise and worship. Stone Mountain, Ga. 770-498-5690 www.stonemountainpark.com generalinfo@stonemountainpark.com
June 24, "Singing on the Mountain" at Grandfather Mountain, One of the oldest, on-going gospel conventions in the Southern Appalachians held every year at Grandfather Mountain for a taste of Appalachian mountain life. Linville, N.C. 800-468-7325 or 828-733-4337 www.grandfather.com nature@grandfather.com
June 28 – 30, Liberty Festival - Celebrate America, Celebrity ball; beach party, fireworks, Rose parade, Rodeo Drive Flea Market, People's Choice Awards Ceremony and more in a salute to this year's chosen state of California. Lawrenceburg, Tenn. 931-762-7617 www.cityoflawrenceburgtn.com abmorrow@bellsouth.net
June 30, Main Street Blast, The only fireworks show for 20 miles over Orange Lake is the highlight of this Independence Day celebration, which features arts & crafts, a classic car show special performances by "tribute" bands and the Miss Firecracker beauty contest. New Port Richey, Fla. 727-842-8066 www.nprmainstreet.com info@nprmainstreet.com
Southeast Tourism Society
3400 Peachtree Rd., Suite 725, Atlanta, GA 30326
404.364.9847 Fax: 404.262.9518 email: Neville@southeasttourism.org
3400 Peachtree Rd., Suite 725, Atlanta, GA 30326
404.364.9847 Fax: 404.262.9518 email: Neville@southeasttourism.org
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