April 2019
April 3-7, 2019, North Carolina Azalea Festival at Wilmington, Inc., Wilmington, NC, www.ncazaleafestival.org
Founded in 1948, the North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington is the state’s largest festival of its kind and considered a premier event. More than 300,000 people attend concerts, fairs and special events that make up the festival. Volunteers galore gather to make this event extraordinary from the Festival Parade and the three-day Street Fair to the home and garden tours and other entertainment. An award-winning event, the North Carolina Azalea Festival is expanding into neighboring counties and regions for the 2019 festival.
April 4-13, 2019, Clay County Agricultural Fair, Green Cove Springs, FL, www.claycountyfair.org
The Clay County Agricultural Fair offers lots of separate events all under one big overall event umbrella stretched over 10 days. Enjoy ag exhibits, educational exhibits, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, national entertainment headliners, daily entertainment showcases, history exhibits, goat yogo and more. This year the theme is: “This is OUR fair” and a lot of folks are shouting about this event. The Big Idaho Potato Truck put the fair on their route and Carnival Eats (from the Cooking Channel) videoed for the upcoming season. Bring the whole family for great fun!
April 4-13, 2019, Come-See-Me Festival, Rock Hill, SC, www.comeseeme.org
The 10-day Come-See-Me Festival showcases Rock Hill with music, sports, community activities and garden parties. Signature events include Beach Bash, Parade, Moonlight Jazz & Blues, Gourmet Gardens and Hops at the Park. Other consistent favorites are the Festival finale, the Come-See-Me Tailgate Party, Skydiving and Fireworks Extravaganza. Family-friendly activities are plentiful and include excitement the likes of the Mayor’s Frog Jump, Teddy Bear Tea Party, Chalk on Main, Musical Mania, Sundaes with mascot Glen, Healthy Kids Zone and Everything Trucks. Enjoy local talent, compete in a 5k or 10k road race and see what new Vernon Grant-designed Glen the Frog logo graces the highly coveted souvenirs for 2019. Download the Come-See-Me app to your smartphone and make your way to one of the hottest festivals in the Southeast.
April 5-7, 2019, Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival, Summerville, SC, https://summervilleymca.org/flowertown-festival-2019/
The Flowertown Festival is in its 47th year as a charity event established by the Summerville Family YMCA’s founding organization in 1972 as its premiere fundraising event. This three-day weekend event entices visitors with color: hot pink azaleas, purple wisteria and delicate white dogwood. Additionally, the weekend offers a large arts and crafts festival with nearly 500 vendors from arts and crafts, businesses, non-profits, Farmer’s Market and commercial food and beverages. Folks can expect music and a Children’s Jubilee as well as food trucks, an air-conditioned hospitality tent and the highly anticipated HARIBO gummies.
April 6, 2019, Acadiana Po’boy Festival, Lafayette, LA, www.acadianapoboyfestival.com/
Each year on the first Saturday of April in Parc Sans Souci, the Acadiana Po’boy Festival celebrates the legacy of the Po’boy sandwich as well as promoting the culture and hospitality of Acadiana through food, music and fun. Held in historic downtown Lafayette, the festival hosts over 25 Po’boy vendors as well as beverages, arts and crafts, kids’ activities and live entertainment. Sample inexpensive $3 Po’boy bites and shop local.
April 12-14, 2019, Loch Norman Highland Games, Huntersville, NC, www.ruralhillscottishfestivals.net/
Attracting over 10,000 folks from near and far, the Loch Norman Highland Games is a weekend-long event featuring more than 50 family clans, a variety of Scottish dancing performances and music highlighting the rich history and ancestry of Scotland. Feeling particularly strong? Try your hand at flipping telephone-sized poles, throwing weighted stones, hammers, sacks of straw, long bows and battel axes. Kids will love the space created just for them and grownups can partake in whiskey and food tastings and enjoy historic reenactments. Also noteworthy, the Loch Norman Highland Games is host to the Carolinas Open Highland Dancing Championships (one of six sanctioned championships held across the nation).
April 12-14, 2019, Original Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival, Lake Charles, LA, www.downtowncrawfest.com
Come one come all! The Original Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival offers activities for all ages with food, music and a wealth of entertainment. There will be carnival rides, a downtown parade, live entertainment, a pageant, food vendors, a crawfish eating contest and more than 10,000 pounds of crawfish at the festival held at the Lake Charles Civic Center. A Crawfish Scoot 5k Run/Walk has been added for 2019.
April 12-May 3, 2019, Kentucky Derby Festival, Louisville, KY, www.kdf.org
Kentucky Derby lovers will delight in this festival of the same name. Celebrated across an almost month-long stretch, the Derby Festival is to community celebrations what the Run for the Roses is to horse racing. A premiere and award-winning event, the Derby Festival generates more than $127 million annually for the local economy with festival events particularly raising more than half a million dollars for area charities annually. Don’t miss the 2019 Derby Festival kick-off on April 13th with Thunder Over Louisville fireworks extravaganza. Guests will enjoy a myriad of activities ranging from sports (basketball, volleyball and golf) to music, kids’ activities, a half and full marathon, a cycling event, hot-air balloons, live bed racing, the Great Steamboat Race, the Republic Bank Pegasus Parade and so much more. Bring the family for affordable good times.
April 13, 2019, Lewisburg Chocolate Festival, Lewisburg, WV, www.lewisburgchocolatefestival.com/
Celebrating all things chocolate, attendees of the Lewisburg Chocolate Festival will sample sweet treats while strolling through the streets of town. Check out chef demonstrations, live music, face-painting and more as the mayor joins in dressing up as the beloved Willy Wonka. Family-friendly and growing each year, this festival is a benefit for the United Way of Greenbrier Valley.
April 13, 2019, North Carolina Pickle Festival, Mount Olive, NC, www.ncpicklefest.org
Bring the whole gang to Mount Olive for the annual North Carolina Pickle Festival! Enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with a roaming eight-foot pickle named Ollie Q. Cucumber, free Mount Olive Pickles, pickle foods, Pickle Packing Production Challenge, Pickle Eating contest, Pickle Derby, Mascot Race, 5k Cuke Patch, 75-mile Tour de Pickle Bicycle Ride, entertainment, classic car show, antique tractor show, helicopter rides and other roving artists. This year brings a partnership with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and an appropriate military pickle theme—Pickles and Planes.
April 13-14, 2019, Perry Dogwood Festival, Perry, GA, www.perrygachamber.com/perry-dogwood-festival
Come celebrate the 31st year of the Perry Dogwood Festival featuring the Arts and Crafts Show and Ultimate Air Dogs in historic downtown Perry. This year brings even more unique vendors selling one-of-a-kind creations as well as live music and high-flying canine action on Main Street. The Hot Air Balloon Rally at the Georgia National Fairgrounds is not to be missed with tethered rides available. Coolers are welcome and festival-style food will be sold on-site. There’s a kids’ zone too, so bring the family!
April 20, 2019, Weeki Wachee Water Egg Hunt, Weeki Wachee, FL, www.WeekiWachee.com
Looking for a creative egg hunt this year? This is it! The annual Water Egg Hunt takes place at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, so grab the kids, their baskets, a bathing suit and head on over. Egg hunts are done by age group with some taking place at the kiddie pool and some at the beach. Children can trade their eggs for candy, splash in crystal clear springs and see mermaids perform live at Florida’s only spring-fed waterpark. This year the park is undergoing renovations that will greatly enhance the visitor experience, and it will be completed by April.
April 24-27, 2019, Spring AQS QuiltWeek, Paducah, KY, www.quiltweek.com/locations/spring-paducah/
The original AQS QuiltWeek – Paducah event brings the world of quilting to quilting to Quilt City USA® with exhibits featuring the most exquisite quilts being created today, AQS Contest quilts and diverse special exhibitions. This year is the 35th Anniversary for AQS QuiltWeek and it will be celebrated with stunning exhibits from the corners of the world including: The 14th Quilt Nihon Exhibition, featuring prizewinning quilts from Japan; Quilts of Valor Service Recognition Exhibit; Desedamas – Spain, dynamic quilts by Cecília & Merce González; and Cherrywood Challenge 2018: Prince Tribute, all the pieces in this collection are created with Cherrywood Hand-Dyed Fabric and artists took inspiration from the late musician, Prince. Also noteworthy, there will be workshops and lectures with world-class instructors, merchant malls and quilt-related events community-wide.
April 24-28, 2019, Beaufort Wine and Food, Beaufort, NC, www.beaufortwineandfood.com
One of Eastern NC’s premier culinary events, Beaufort Wine and Food (a 501(c)(3) non-profit) has raised more than $700,000 for charities and non-profits since 2004. The annual five-day event heads into its 15th year offering a wide range of experiences from intimate wine dinners to the crowd favorite Vin de Mer, where guests are fully-engaged in a culinary tour de force with over 300 wine labels and lots of local/regional cuisine. Nationally-recognized talent attracts lots of attendees and allows for more opportunities to expand successful events like the Grand Reserve Tasting & Auction as well as the Historic Wine Walkabout. Beaufort Wine and Food also features three select wines to showcase under their private label.
April 24-28, 2019, Festival International de Louisiane, Lafayette, LA, https://festivalinternational.org/
Festival goers from all around come each April to celebrate the uniqueness of Lafayette through music. Festival International de Louisiane is the largest non-ticketed outdoor Francophone festival in the country offering connections between Acadiana and the Francophone world. Expect to see hundreds of performing and visual artists from 15 countries in addition to local talent on seven stages across the downtown area over five days. Added excitement includes street performers, international cuisine, chat room tent, Sunday French Mass and new merchandise.
April 25-28, 2019, Vidalia Onion Festival, Vidalia, GA, www.vidaliaonionfestival.com/
Each spring brings the anticipated harvest of Georgia’s Official State Vegetable, the internationally known Vidalia Sweet Onion, celebrated through the Vidalia Onion Festival. Featured on The Food Network and recognized as one of Five Don’t-Miss Festivals Across the U.S. by MSNBC, the four-day event offers everything from a baseball tournament and the Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant to the Vidalia Onion Culinary Extravaganza. Enjoy the Children’s Parade, Movie Under the Stars, Opening Ceremonies with a Street Dance and fireworks as well as the arts and crafts show, carnival, sidewalk sales, “Tales from the Altamaha” folk-like play and the famous onion-eating contest. Take a cooking class, hear some music, watch some youth and adult ball tournaments and take it all in.
April 26-27, 2019, GypsyMoon Marketplace, Bowling Green, KY, www.gypsymoonmarketplace.com
GypsyMoon Marketplace is a multi-day barn sale held twice a year (April and November) at Highland Stables—a converted horse barn now hosting year-round weddings. A fun tourism draw for Bowling Green, GypsyMoon Marketplace offers vendors, music, food, workshops and more. Enjoy shopping for homemade/handmade items, vintage treasures, original art, home décor, gifts, funky junk, photography, jewelry, clothing and so much more.
April 26-28, 2019, Panoply Arts Festival, Huntsville, AL, www.artshuntsville.org/panoply-arts-festival/
Downtown Huntsville’s Big Spring Park comes alive in late April as the Southeast’s premier arts weekend brings a festival of art, music and more with a three-day Panoply Arts Festival featuring a juried Art Marketplace (showcasing almost 100 professional visual artists from across the nation), STEAM interactive activities, community art projects and over 50 state performances as well as an Arts Alive showcase tent. The signature event for Huntsville-Madison County will incorporate a celebration of the bicentennial and the Apollo 11 moon landing in 2019.
April 27, 2019, Boulder Dash 5k/10k Race, Cumming, GA, http://boulderdash5k.com
Join the 10th anniversary of Boulder Dash 5k/10k Race this year where lots of new and exciting family activities are sure to delight. The unique course winds through an active quarry, offering participants great views as well as a flurry of fun at the finish line with the Bluegrass Spring Fling awaiting. With a nod to healthy lifestyles, the 2019 Boulder Dash celebrates spring in a dino-mite way!
April 28, 2019, Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival, Mt. Pleasant, SC, https://experiencemountpleasant.com/events/blessing-of-the-fleet/
The 32nd annual Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival presented by East Cooper Medical Center and Harris Teeter pays tribute to Mount Pleasant’s local shrimping and fishing industry with a boat parade, live music, craft show and other free activities centered around Ravenel Bridge and Charleston Harbor. Guests will enjoy local seafood and paying tribute to the fleet of fishing and shrimp boats in local waters.
May 2019
Saturdays, May-October, TD Saturday Market, Greenville, SC, www.saturdaymarketlive.com
Sixteen years ago, a small-scale farmer’s market began with 17-22 vendors on a side street in Downtown Greenville—the Saturday Market. Today, with some 75 vendors on the city’s Main Street, the open-air market runs every Saturday morning from May through October. Choose from locally-grown fresh produce, gourmet food, fresh-cut flowers and artisan goods. Also, for the enjoyment of patrons, there is live music, cooking demos and educational kids’ activities in the Lowe’s Foods Front Porch area. New for 2019 is the Spuds and Sprouts booth, now a full mini-market for children.
May 2, 2019, Taste of Alpharetta, Alpharetta, GA, https://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreation-parks/special-events/featured-yearly-events/taste-of-alpharetta
Taste of Alpharetta is an annual tradition for festival lovers, families and food connoisseurs. Choose from more than 60 restaurants for your dining pleasure in Downtown Alpharetta sampling delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts from the town’s top chefs. Also enjoy culinary demonstrations, activities for all ages and entertainment. While admission is free, guests will need food tickets (available at the Alpharetta ticket booth) as the restaurants do not accept cash. Don’t forget the Music Stage with harmonic rock/folk/R&B bands and the Culinary Competition Stage which will pair top area chefs against one another. Play in the fun zones and party with Metro Atlanta radio stations.
May 3-4, 2019, Cameron Antique Festival – SPRING, Cameron, NC, www.antiquesofcameron.com/
Each spring this quaint village opens itself to about 15,000 shoppers within the half mile stretch of town where 300+ antique dealers from both in and outside of the North Carolina area converge for this two-day festival. Dealers set up in yard after yard and along the streets with their wares for sale (furniture, jewelry, cast-iron items, textiles, glassware and kitchen collectibles) and there are also about 10 antique and vintage shops mixed in as well. The event is free and takes place rain or shine. Refreshments and food are available through vendors, The Dewberry Deli and McPhersons Store.
May 3-4, 2019, Market Street Festival, Columbus, MS, www.marketstreetfestival.com
Historic Downtown Columbus is home to the Market Street Festival offering more than 225 arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, dozens of special events and family-friendly activities. Four stages accommodate over 20 musical acts and folks can also take in the car show, tractor display, a hands-on children’s area, inflatables, high-powered swings, pony rides, a petting zoo, train rides and more. Join in the fun by dressing for the country and western theme and attending the kick-off—Market Street After Dark—a concert held on the banks of the Tennessee Tombigbee River at the Columbus Riverwalk.
May 3-5, 2019, Louisiana Pirate Festival, Lake Charles, LA, www.louisianapiratefestival.com
Unique to the Lake Charles area, the Louisiana Pirate Festival is a celebration of the legend of pirate Jean Lafitte. The tale is that Lafitte docked his boat on the sandy shores of Lake Charles and buried his treasure somewhere along its banks. See modern-day pirates in full regalia on boats out on the lake, hear the cannons fire and bear witness to the capturing (and plank-walking) of the town’s mayor. Enjoy the vast treasures of the Pirate Festival including carnival rides, games and live music. Galley Alley Food Area offers amazing food vendor booths, so bring your appetite. Other noteworthy activities include the arm-wrestling contest, costume contest, pirate parades, the Tour Lafitte bike ride and building your own pirogue boat. The event closes with spectacular fireworks over beautiful Lake Charles. Please note that this year the festival moves to one week versus two as in the past.
May 3-5, 2019, Westlake Family Fun & Food Festival, Westlake, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
Westlake Family Fun & Food Festival is a church bazaar turned three-day festival celebrating families, fun and food. The festival, at St. John Bosco Catholic Church, offers activities for the young and young at heart. Families may enjoy moonwalks, games and train rides for the kiddos as well as live entertainment, bingo, and both silent and live auctions. Yes, there will be food: gumbo, catfish, funnel cakes, sausage on a stick, boudin, crawfish étouffée and the famous Bosco burgers. Call the church for more information at (337) 439-6585.
May 4, 2019, 45th Annual Wooden Boat Show, Beaufort, NC, www.beaufortwoodenboatshow.com
The 45th annual Wooden Boat Show is a special event celebrating the art of wooden boat building, the sport of boat racing, and the culture and history surrounding both. Dozens of handcrafted wooden boats (full-size and model) will be on display with many making their way from outside the state. This is the longest running boat show in the Southeast and a signature event for the Crystal Coast. The event is sponsored by the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
May 4-5, 2019, Cotton Pickin’ Fair, Gay, GA, www.cpfair.org
Georgia’s original AgriTourism Event is the Cotton Pickin’ Fair which began in 1972 on the 189-year-old Gay Family Farmstead. Come celebrate the 90th edition of the Fair with some 350 artisans of antiques, crafts, art and gourmet foods intermingled with historic buildings. Other features include music, puppets, folk dancers and magicians as well as traditional southern foods (sausage biscuits, BBQ, catfish and fried chicken). Bring the family and enjoy a day on the farm.
May 7-11, 2019, Wilderness Wildlife Week, Pigeon Forge, TN, https://www.mypigeonforge.com/event/wilderness-wildlife-week
Nature lovers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy Wilderness Wildlife Week where participants have access to free workshops, lectures, seminars, concerts, hikes and other activities that keep folks in touch with the great outdoors. Award-winning Wilderness Wildlife Week explores the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee while promoting education, environmentalism and community outreach.
May 11, 2019, Carthage Buggy Festival, Carthage, NC, http://www.thebuggyfestival.com/
The Carthage Buggy Festival is a commemorative event celebrating the famous Tyson & Jones Buggy Factory that produced the carriages of yesteryear that were essential to life in rural North Carolina. Expect to find more than 125 food and craft vendors around the Historic Courthouse with music on the stage on the Courthouse steps. Enjoy lots of varied entertainment from cloggers to bands playing everything from gospel, country and bluegrass to Southern Rock. Don’t miss the event’s signature showcase of classic cars, tractors and antique carriages. While there, take a stroll around town for a look at Three Mural Trail—a series of murals by artist Scott Nurkin that are pertinent to Carthage and its heritage.
May 11-12, 2019, North Carolina Brewer’s & Music Festival, Huntersville, NC, http://www.ncbrewsmusic.com/index.asp
What is the North Carolina Brewer’s & Music Festival? It’s a celebration of great music, the state of North Carolina and its craft brewing traditions. Enjoy this two-day event with live stage performances, food trucks and awesome brews. Bring your dancing shoes and experience local bluegrass tunes as well as national New Orleans style blues. Come out and enjoy the many different brewers and bands.
May 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2019, Rock City’s Southern Blooms Festival and Founder’s Day Celebration, Lookout Mountain, GA, www.seerockcity.com/southernblooms
In its 11th year, Rock City’s Southern Blooms Festival and Founder’s Day Celebration enjoys the beauty of southern blooms during this grand garden event. Learn about the legacy and heritage of the gardens by way of tours, demonstrations and festivities. Kids will love learning with educational flower craft activities and they’ll find out what it takes to make a garden. During the Festival and Founder’s Day Celebration, Rock City’s original gardener, Frieda Utermoehlem Carter, will be honored. There will be delicious southern food and other entertainment as well. Note that Founder’s Day weekend is May 18-19.
May 15-19, 2019, Orange Blossom Jamboree, Brooksville, FL, http://www.orangeblossomjamboree.com/
The 10th annual Orange Blossom Jamboree, a multi-day festival filled with music, camping and family entertainment, features only performances by Florida bands, highlighting the musical talent of the Sunshine State. The 80-acre Sertoma Youth Ranch offers a serene venue and camping during the event where Dunedin Brewery is the main sponsor (proceeds from the locally-produced brews benefit youth programs at the venue). Bring the family and enjoy the festival features: art, workshops, nature walks, yoga, theme parties, a coolest campsite contest and “Kid Row.”
May 16-19, 2019, Chesapeake Jubilee, Chesapeake, VA, www.chesapeakejubilee.org
In its 36th year, the Chesapeake Jubilee continues to grow and add new family activities promoting community spirit through inexpensive entertainment. Additionally, visitors will find fun in the nationally-ranked Barbeque Cook-Off, carnival, arts and crafts, and fabulous fireworks.
May 17, 24, 31 and June 7, 2019, Downtown at Sundown – Outdoor Concert Series, Lake Charles, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
Over the course of four consecutive Friday evenings from mid-May to early-June, Downtown at Sundown, an outdoor music and art event, takes place. Come and enjoy music such as Cajun, Zydeco swamp-pop and classic rock along with food and beverage booths, tabletop galleries, art sales and activities for kids. The event serves as the main fundraiser for the Literacy Council of SWLA (they receive the revenue from beverage sales) and shows appreciation for local artistic and musical talent.
May 18, 2019, Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Race, Cornelius, NC, http://www.charlottedragonboat.com/
This festival celebrates Asian cultures, diversity, ethnicity, roots and history through exploring the cultural heritage showcase, retail vendors, live music and dance performances, and exciting dragon boat races. Dragon boats will be coming from the greater Charlotte region as well as several states to compete along the banks of Lake Norman. Bystanders will get a glimpse of how to race and what it takes to win while the rhythm of the drum keeps the rowers on beat. There will be no shortage of vendors with signature dishes from various Asian countries and talented performers on stage during the Asian music and dance fest. This year the Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Race will support the Charlotte Rescue Mission.
May 24-25, 2019, Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que, Evans, GA, http://banjobque.com/
Celebrating 10 years, Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que started as a tribute to local businessman, Joe Pond. Today, it’s a top music festival in Georgia held over Memorial Day weekend offering a good mix of Papa Joe’s favorite things: Bluegrass Music, Barbeque and community. The bands will be stellar as always (past artists include Willie Nelson, the Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show) and it’s a Kansas City Sanctioned Barbeque cook-off as well with teams competing for more than $40,000 in prize money. There will be some 50 craft beers on hand and lots for the kiddos to do. Proceeds will benefit the Joseph R. Pond Memorial Foundation which gives funds to various local causes.
May 24-June 9, 2019, Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston, SC, https://spoletousa.org/
The Spoleto Festival USA is an amazing performing arts festival with 17 days full of events showcasing both established and rising artists in over 150 performances of opera, dance, theater, classical music and jazz.
May 25-26, 2019, Garden Jubilee, Hendersonville, NC, www.visithendersonvillenc.org/garden-jubilee
Hendersonville’s premier lawn and garden show is the annual Garden Jubilee Festival—a one-stop shopping place for garden lovers. Held in Downtown Hendersonville, the two-day event has space for over 260 vendors offering a wide variety of items such as annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, hard-to-find plants, distinctive garden art, handmade lawn furniture, jewelry, garden tools, yard art and so much more. Visitors can also attend lawn and garden workshops and check out how-to exhibits as well as a hands-on kid’s clinic plus a hospitality tent.
May 25-27, 2019, Alpharetta Arts Streetfest, Alpharetta, GA, www.splashfestivals.com/events-festivals/alpharetta-arts-streetfest/
Get ready for Alpharetta Arts Streetfest featuring more than 95 artists (some new) from across the U.S. Enjoy strolling through the outdoor gallery, meeting the artists or acquiring a whimsical new piece of art. Artists featured will represent many mediums such as mixed media, photography, pottery, jewelry, textiles, glass, wood, metal and paper. Also, there will be live music from Russ Still & The Moonshiners.
June 2019
June Weekends, South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, 12 Counties in South Carolina, www.AgandArtTour.com
Come join the fun at the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, a free, self-guided tour of designated South Carolina farms featuring local artisans and farmer’s markets. Visitors get a first-hand look at where their food comes from and are able to watch artists in action (and purchase their works), dance to bluegrass and folksong tunes all while learning more about farm life. A grassroots project for the betterment of agritourism community development, the South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is committed to education and teaches the goals of business strategy incubation in this field.
June 1, 2019, Fiesta Days Celebration and Boat Parade, Pensacola, FL, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org
A light-hearted re-enactment of the surrender of the city to Spanish explorer Don Tristan DeLuna will kick-off the Fiesta of Five Flags celebration for 2019. DeLuna first landed in Pensacola in 1559, so folks will get a mild history lesson just ahead of an evening filled with outdoor musical entertainment.
June 1, 2019, Warrior Dash North Carolina, Huntersville, NC, https://warriordash.com/location/2018-warrior-dash-north-carolina/
Check out North Carolina’s Warrior Dash, an obstacle course and festival that challenges participants in all of the planet’s elements: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. Here, both spectators and participants enjoy the day cheering on runners as they leap over fires, crawl through muddy waters and run on tough terrains. Mud clad folks celebrate after the race with live music, food trucks and games for everyone. Each year, participants face different courses and obstacles, keeping them coming back in an effort to top their previous times. Come see who crosses the finish line first. . .maybe it’ll be you!
June 1-2, 2019, Flying Colors Butterfly Festival, Roswell, GA, www.chattnaturecenter.org/
Monarchs and Milkweed take center stage in celebration of all things pollinators at the Flying Colors Butterfly Festival the first weekend in June at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. The Butterfly Encounter is newly expanded offering guests an experience like never before. Bring the family and enjoy one of Roswell’s gems.
June 1-2, 2019, Lenoir City Arts & Crafts Festival, Lenoir City, TN, https://lenoircityartsandcrafts.com/
Artisans from throughout the Southeast converge on Lenoir City for the Arts & Crafts Festival. Folks will enjoy shopping from the variety of vendors with homemade wares.
June 2, 2019, Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest, Alpharetta, GA, https://alpharettabusinessassociation.com/event-3023306
Alpharetta’s downtown comes alive for this annual beer fest with food, beer and entertainment. Live music by Electric Avenue and The 80s MTV Experience will keep the party going. Bring your own chairs or tables are available for purchase. Both beer and food also will be available for purchase.
June 5-9, 2019, Tupelo Elvis Festival, Tupelo, MS, www.tupeloelvisfestival.com
Celebrating home town boy, Elvis Presley is easy in Tupelo with the festival bearing Presley’s name. Of course there will be music; an Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest Preliminary Round attracting competitors from all over the U.S., Canada and Europe; several concerts featuring professional Elvis Tribute Artists; and a unique-to-the-festival outdoor concert in Fairpark on the former grounds of the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show where Elvis performed his homecoming concert in 1956. There is also a Running with the King 5k, an Elvis Look Alike Pet Parade, a ’56 Homecoming Parade with classic cars, a youth competition and education sessions to continue telling the story of a young boy from Tupelo who left a legacy larger than life.
June 7-9, 2019,South Carolina Festival of Flowers, Greenwood, SC, http://scfestivalofflowers.org/
Have a blooming good time at the award-winning South Carolina Festival of Flowers where visitors enjoy flowers, families and fun. More than 100,000 people pour into South Carolina for this festival each year, enjoying over 30 events with a month-long list of entertainment options from gardening and performances to sporting and cultural events, including one main primary weekend. Enjoy a full schedule of Festival activities for the whole family. View the works of South Carolina’s top artists and craftsmen at the Arts and Crafts Show. Enjoy a nice leisure day strolling through one of our beautiful gardens on tour. Plus see our now famous “Signature” Topiary Display in Uptown Greenwood. Rooted in tradition, this festival is on the grow!
June 7-8, 2019, Kids Fest, Orange Park, FL, www.OPKidsFest.com
Give summer a kick-start with a visit to Kids Fest, “The Funnest Event in Town!” Held at Town Hall Park, this award-winning event is in year six with two fun-packed days of games and activities, fascinating displays, interactive shows, live music, great food and shopping. Designed with children 12 and under in mind, kids will love the uniqueness of each play zone like Imagination Station and the Inflatable Zone. Bring a swimsuit and note that this year Kids Fest will incorporate even more toddler-friendly activities like Sensory Stations. Wristbands will be available for $15.
June 7-9, 2019, North American Sand Soccer Championships, Virginia Beach, VA, https://sandsoccer.com
The largest beach soccer event in the world is in Virginia Beach—the North American Sand Soccer Championship! Combining U8 through adult amateur competition as well as a U.S. Open Pro Men’s division, this event is incredible. In 2019, elite women competing in the inaugural U.S. Open Women’s Pro division will be added to the agenda. What should visitors expect? More than 10,000 athletes and thousands of fans convening in Virginia Beach’s resort area seeking competition and family fun. Additional beach sports include Knockerball, Lacrosse, Spikeball, wrestling and field hockey for even more competitive excitement. This year welcomes Lauren Bland as the new Executive Director for the event which serves as a fundraiser Hampton Roads Soccer Council.
June 7-August 23, 2019, Music on Main Street, Hendersonville, NC, www.visithendersonvillenc.org/music-on-main-street
Music on Main Street is a free concert series held at the Visitors Center in Historic Downtown Hendersonville usually on Fridays (with two exceptions—June 8th and July 4th). This year enjoy a total of 13 shows offering a diverse line-up of music genres including pop, oldies, rock and contemporary. In addition to music, concessions are available, and most shows are offered in conjunction with either a Classic Car Show or a Corvette Night Car Show. Note that the July 4th show includes a patriotic tribute, patriotic music and great fireworks.
June 9, 2019, 2019 Hop Blossom Craft Beer Festival, Winchester, VA, https://hopblossom.com/
The 7th annual Hop Blossom Craft Beer Festival, held in Old Town Winchester, focuses on craft beer education and exposing participants to the ever-increasing popularity and love for good craft beer. This year’s event features 40+ breweries, live entertainment and a homebrew competition.
June 12-15, 2019, W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, Henderson, KY, www.handyblues.org
The W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival is one of the largest free music festivals in the nation and is held in historic Downtown Henderson on the banks of the Ohio River. Get ready for a healthy portion of blues from award-winning performers, including gritty delta blues, smooth soul, big horn bands and Zydeco. A children’s umbrella-decorating workshop is part of the four-day festival as well as a Street Strut Parade, a 5k and live music lunch breaks plus happy hours. Come and celebrate the life and legacy of Hendersonian and “Father of the Blues,” William Christopher Handy at this year’s event where there is even more barbecue than ever, the revival of a barbecue competition, a new merchandise trailer, and red beans and rice during Zydeco Night.
June 13-15, 2019, 17th Annual Holley National Hot Rod Reunion, Bowling Green, KY, https://nhramuseum.org/events/holley-hot-rod-reunion/
The Holley Hot Rod Power Tour brings in some 1,200 cars and more than 10,000 drivers as well as car enthusiasts to the Historic Beech Bend Raceway. Visitors look forward to three days of drag-racing, car shows, vendor midways and more. Additionally, the Hot Rod Reunion is a tradition that, in addition to the racing, honors pioneers in drag racing.
June 13-July 25, 2019, Sounds of Summer, Columbus, MS, www.columbusmainstreet.com
A partnership between Main Street Columbus and the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce makes the Sounds of Summer concert series a continued tradition. Set in beautiful Downtown Columbus on Thursdays in June and July, the free event is held on the banks of the Tennessee Tombigbee River at the Columbus Riverwalk Park. Gather with other music lovers and enjoy local musicians, cold beverages, delicious food, kids’ activities and a sense of community. Bring lawn chairs and blankets along with friends and family and head to award-winning Sounds of Summer.
June 15, 2019, Bell Buckle RC-MoonPie Festival, Bell Buckle, TN, www.bellbucklechamber.com
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Bell Buckle RC-MoonPie Festival where this Southern dynamic duo is celebrated with Kings and Queens, music, food, entertainment, games, a parade and lots of happiness! There are 5k and 10-mile runs through the countryside, arts and crafts vendor booths, games and, of course, lots of RC Cola and Moon Pies. Enjoy a day of fun for young and old alike to celebrate THREE southern traditions: RC Colas, Moon Pies and Historic Bell Buckle, Tennessee—close to home, but a world away.
June 15, 2019, Tour de Coal, Tornado, WV, www.coalrivergroup.com/tour-de-coal.html
Experience “Flatwater Heaven” in Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Here, flatwater kayaking is one the fastest growing water sports in the U.S. and Tour de Coal has been a great contributor to that growth. The annual 11-mile float along the Coal River draws over 1,500 participants and another 500 or so in boaters. The Tour de Coal appears to be the largest flatwater kayak event ever held in the country and is a fundraiser for the Coal River Group. This event continues to grow and expand yearly.
June 16-30, 2019, FestivALL Charleston, Charleston, WV, https://festivallcharleston.com/events/feastivall-fundraiser
FestivALL Charleston is a multi-arts festival in multi-venues across the city over an exciting couple of weeks. With more than 100 events, performances and exhibitions from music, theatre, dance, visual art, humanities and more, the events utilize some 40 indoor and outdoor venues, most of which are low cost or free. This year the FestivALL celebrates its 15th year and will partner with the Appalachian Power Park (home to local minor league baseball team Appalachian Power) for extended programming and special events surrounding the 2019 SAL All-Star Game to be hosted at the Power Park this year.
June 22-23, 2019, Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival, Roan Mountain, TN, www.roanmountain.com/rhododendron-festival/
The Roan Mountain Rhododendron Festival has been on-going since June of 1947 and it only continues to grow. Held the third weekend of June atop Roan Mountain, the festival holds true to its origin of celebrating the most gorgeous display of natural beauty on the North American continent—rhododendron. Enjoy not only Mother Nature’s glorious blooms, but also handmade crafts, food, music and old-time folkway demonstrations.
June 26-30, 2019, Beaufort Old Homes Tour and More, Beaufort, NC, https://beauforthistoricsite.org/
A growing community, Beaufort continues to evolve and change along with the 59th annual Old Homes Tour and More weekend with something for everyone including tours of beautiful homes and gardens in scenic Beaufort by the Sea. More than 20 private homes, gardens, churches and artist studios will be featured in the self-paced walking tour. Shop and dine in the downtown area or attend a luncheon featuring a well-known author for a very special memory.