Camp with the Blues, catch the mountains aglow with seasonal lights and participate in virtual celebrations
ATLANTA, GEORGIA—SEPTEMBER 2020—Southeast Tourism Society (STS) is dedicated to promoting and developing tourism in its member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia and the District of Columbia. In 1985, in recognition of the unique, diverse and unparalleled events in the region, STS began the Top 20 Events award program. A Top 20 Award seeks to bring more publicity and recognition to the best events in the Southeast, whether it be media, attendees or both! STS selects the Top 20 events, per month, and publishes them on a biannual basis. Learn more about Southeast Tourism Society at www.SoutheastTourism.org
As noted below, some of these events have been canceled for 2020—with eyes set on celebrations in 2021. Other events have been postponed until celebrations can encompass all safely. Regardless of when these events take place, these events represent the soul of the South and serve as inspiration for future explorations of the Southeast region.
Current Top 20 Events
Click here for full event descriptions.
October 2020
October 1-31, 2020 (Thursdays-Saturdays), Ghost Train at Pine Mountain Gold Museum, Villa Rica, GA, www.pinemountaingoldmuseum.com
October 2-3, 2020, Natchitoches Car Show, Natchitoches, LA, https://natchitochescarshow.com/
October 2-4, 2020, The North Carolina Seafood Festival, Morehead City, NC, www.ncseafoodfestival.org
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 3-November 1 (Saturdays & Sundays), Rocktoberfest, Lookout Mountain, GA, www.seerockcity.com/rocktoberfest
COVID Guidelines can be found on the website.
October 3-November 22, 2020 (Saturdays & Sundays), Carolina Renaissance Festival, Huntersville, NC, https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 6, 2020, Roswell Wine Festival, Roswell, GA, www.roswellwinefestival.com
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 8-11, 2020, Annual National Shrimp Festival, Gulf Shores, AL, http://www.myshrimpfest.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 9-10, 2020, Big Creek Fall ATV Festival, LaFollette, TN, www.lafollettetn.gov
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 9-11, 2020, Epic Rides, Bentonville, AR, https://epicrides.com/events/oz-trails-off-road/event-guide/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 9-11, 2020, Fall for Greenville, Greenville, SC, www.saturdaymarketlive.com
October 9-17, 2020, Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Hiawassee, GA, https://georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/localevents/fallfest
October 10, 2020, Rouge et Blanc Food & Wine Festival, Lake Charles, LA, www.rougeetblanc.us
This event has been postponed.
October 16-18, 2020, Camping with the Blues, Brooksville, FL, https://www.campingwiththeblues.com/
COVID Guidelines set forth by the CDC will be followed.
October 17, 2020, Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Race, Cornelius, NC, http://www.charlottedragonboat.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 17, 2020, Chuck Fest, Lake Charles, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 17, 2020, Culture Fest Louisiana, Lake Charles, LA, www.culturefestla.com
This event venue is temporarily closed.
October 17-18, 2020, 38th Annual Fall Festival, Orange Park, FL, www.opfallfestival.com
October 24, 2020, The Barbecue Festival, Lexington, NC, www.barbecuefestival.com
This event has been canceled for 2020.
October 31, 2020, Market Monster Mash, Danville, VA, https://www.danvilleva.gov/1847/Parks-and-Recreation
November 2020
November 6-8, 2020, Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival, Pensacola, FL, http://www.ggaf.org/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
November 6-8, 2020, Tennessee Showcase of Fine Artisans, Knoxville, TN, www.foothillscraftguild.org
This event has been canceled for 2020.
November 7, 2020, Southport Wooden Boat Show, Southport, NC, https://southportwoodenboatshow.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
November 7, 2020, Townsend Grains & Grits Festival, Townsend, TN, www.grainsandgritsfest.com
November 7-8, 2020, Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, Ocean Springs, MS, www.peterandersonfestival.com
November 11-15, 2020, 36th Annual Frank Brown Songwriters’ Festival, Perdido Bay, FL, https://www.frankbrownsongwriters.com/
November 11-15, 2020, Cucalorus Festival, Wilmington, NC, http://www.cucalorus.org
November 12-15, 2020, Christmas Jubilee, Mobile, AL, https://www.juniorleaguemobile.org
November 12-15, 2020, Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals, Myrtle Beach, SC, www.dickenschristmasshow.com
November 12-15, 2020, Highlands Food & Wine, Highlands, NC, https://highlandsfoodandwine.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
November 12-15, 2020, Riverhawk Music Festival, Brooksville, FL, https://lindentertainment.com/riverhawk-festival-home/
November 15, 2020-February 17, 2021, Pigeon Forge Winterfest, Pigeon Forge, TN,
November 19-22, 2020, Englewood Beach Waterfest, Englewood, FL, https://englewoodbeachwaterfest.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
November 20-21, 2020, 25th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration, Raleigh, NC, https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/events/festivals
Virtual event/online only for 2020.
November 20-22, 2020, Mistletoe & Moss Holiday Market, Lake Charles, LA, www.jllc.net
November 20-January 2, 2020, Enchanted Garden of Lights, Lookout Mountain, GA, www.seerockcity.com/lights
November 26-December 26, 2020, Mountain Country Christmas in Lights, Hiawassee, GA, https://georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/localevents/christmas
November 27-29, 2020, Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa Holiday Show, Young Harris, GA, https://www.brasstownvalleyresortandspaholidayshow.com/
November 27-December 31, 2020, Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Mobile, AL, https://bellingrath.org/experiences/events/magic-christmas-in-lights-2020/
November 30-December 23, 2020, Christmas at the Library, Charlotte, NC, https://billygrahamlibrary.org/christmas-at-the-library/
December 2020
December 1-31, 2020, Southwest Louisiana Christmas Lighting Festival, Lake Charles/Sulphur, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
December 3, 2020, Hometown Holidays Parade, Forsyth, GA, https://www.forsyth-monroechamber.com/hometown-holidays-parade
December 3-5, 2020, Christmas in Davidson, Davidson, NC, http://www.christmasindavidson.com/
December 4, 2020, Christmas on Limestone, Gaffney, SC, www.facebook.com/GaffneySCEvents/
December 4, 2020, Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade, Gatlinburg, TN, https://www.gatlinburg.com/event/fantasy-of-lights-christmas-parade/
December 4, 2020, Lighted Boat Parade of Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City, NC, https://www.facebook.com/events/531187187482640/
December 4-5 and 11-12, 2020, Christmas Village at Heritage Farm, Huntington, WV, http://www.heritagefarmmuseum.com
December 4-5 and 11-12, 2020, Dillsboro Festival of Lights & Luminaries, Dillsboro, NC, https://www.romanticasheville.com/dillsboro_festival_luminaries.htm
December 4-18, 2020, Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour, Marietta, GA, http://www.mariettapilgrimage.com/
December 6-31, 2020, Sparkle Sandy Springs, Sandy Springs, GA, https://www.visitsandysprings.org/sparklesandysprings/
December 7, 2020, Columbus Christmas Parade, Columbus, MS, www.columbusmainstreet.com
December 9-25, 2020, Community Holiday Light Show, Danville, VA, https://www.danvilleva.gov/1847/Parks-and-Recreation
December 10-11, 2020, Victorian Christmas, Thomasville, GA, https://thomasvillega.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
December 10-13, 2020, Dickens on Centre, Fernandine Beach, FL, https://www.ameliaisland.com/landing-pages/Dickens-on-Centre-Christmas-Festival
December 12 , 2020, Christmas Candlelight Tour, Beaufort, NC, https://beauforthistoricsite.org/
December 12, 2020, Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, Fort Lauderdale, FL, https://winterfestparade.com/
December 24, 2020, Lighting of The Bonfires, Gramercy, LA, www.festivalofthebonfires.org
MEDIA CONTACT
Southeast Tourism Society
Tonja Ray-Smith
555 Sun Valley Drive Ste. E-5
Roswell, GA 30076-5624
770-542-1523
SoutheastTourism.org
ABOUT SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY| Southeast Tourism Society (STS) is dedicated to promoting and developing tourism in its member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia and the District of Columbia. In 1985, in recognition of the unique, diverse and unparalleled events in the region, STS began the Top 20 Events award program. A Top 20 Award seeks to bring more publicity and recognition to the best events in the Southeast, whether it be media, attendees or both! STS selects the Top 20 events, per month, and publishes them on a biannual basis. Learn more about Southeast Tourism Society at www.SoutheastTourism.org