October 2019
October 1-31, 2019, The Lost Hollows Haunted Attraction, Lake Charles, LA, https://www.visitlakecharles.org/event/the-lost-hollows-haunted-attraction/34012/
The Lost Hollows Haunted Attraction is a locally-owned, family-operated attraction, not for the faint of heart, located in Lake Charles, LA. Loaded with frightful trails, the seasonal attraction is open every Friday and Saturday night from September 27-October 25 with a special “Lights Out” event on Halloween. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult and all victims must wear closed-toe shoes.
October 3-6, 2019, Pensacola Beach Songwriter’s Festival, Pensacola Beach, FL, www.pensacolabeachsongwritersfestival.com
Celebrating the creators of the music you know and love, the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival offers classroom-style instruction and mentoring surrounding the art of music. This year the songwriters that participate with the Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame “Words and Music” program will be hosting a workshop in three local schools where children will be encouraged to participate in the songwriting process from writing to performing. This festival presents a great opportunity to meet and greet those responsible for beloved tunes across all genres in various Pensacola venues.
October 4-6, 2019, The 33rd North Carolina Seafood Festival, Morehead City, NC, www.ncseafoodfestival.org
Come enjoy delicious seafood and great fun at the North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City. The seafood industry is so important to eastern North Carolina and this festival is a fantastic opportunity to share that with visitors to the area. Join with other seafood lovers as they make a combined economic impact while boosting both tourism and recreation in the non-summer months. Festival proceeds benefit community non-profit, civic, church and educational organizations.
October 4-6, 2019, Atlanta International Night Market, Alpharetta, GA, http://atlnightmarket.org/
Bringing people together to celebrate culture, community and international cuisine under the Alpharetta night sky, this three-day event features a family-friendly atmosphere with lots of vendors selling food, drink and art alongside music and cultural performances. Come and be a part of traditions, games and the celebration of positive change in a global community as you “Taste the World.”
October 5 – November 24, 2019, Saturdays & Sundays, Carolina Renaissance Festival, Huntersville, NC, https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/
Bring the kiddos and head to the greatest party since Camelot! Learn some history, enjoy entertainment, arts and crafts, games and rides, feasting on confections and meats on a stick, plus see the Queen’s bravest Knights battle for her honor! There will be birds-of-prey and twelve stages bursting with live comedy, music, dance and circus-style acts. Living history is demonstrated through glass blowing, blacksmithing, cobblers, potters, candle makers, sculpting, leather work and jewelry with more than 100 vendors selling their hand-made wares in the Artisan Marketplace. Ride a camel, visit the petting farm or throw a tomato at a peasant at Vegetable Justice…even give archery a try!
October 5-27, 2019, Saturdays & Sundays, Rock City’s Rocktoberfest, Lookout Mountain, GA, https://www.seerockcity.com/events/rocktoberfest/
Rock City’s German Heritage is celebrated during the 12th annual Rocktoberfest. Join locals and visitors when Rock City Square is transformed for harvests and fall foliage. Enjoy live German music, polka lessons, German food, specialty beer, costumed characters and a whole lot of fun honoring the founder, Frieda Utermoehlen Carter.
October 5, 2019, Scarecrow Harvest, Alpharetta, GA, https://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreation-parks/special-events/scarecrow-harvest
The 14th annual Scarecrow Harvest is a community celebration complete with colorful, creative life-size scarecrows. Pre-K-5, home schools, families and neighborhoods along with local businesses and organizations design some 120 scarecrows each year which are displayed throughout downtown Alpharetta. The event takes place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Brooke Street Park (behind Alpharetta City Hall). There will be awards and free fun activities for the children.
October 11-12, 2019, 23rd Annual Historic Ghost Walk, Elizabeth City, NC, http://historicghostwalk.org/
Plan on a visit to the Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association’s annual architectural event. The city showcases prior residents who made their mark on the town’s history with a home tour, history lesson and live theater. Also, check out the Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. (ECDI) Dinner fundraiser on the 12th and 13th at the Flour Girls Bakery and Café at the corner of East Main and Water Street from 5-9 p.m. There will, of course, be food along with entertainment, beer and wine (for purchase).
October 11-13, 2019, Fall for Greenville, Greenville, SC, www.fallforgreenville.net
Fall for Greenville is a fabulous weekend full of flavor all along Greenville’s Main Street. Plan on an over-indulgence with more than 40 restaurants offering over 200 menu items as well as free entertainment spread across seven stages. Come see why this is the Southeast’s most popular outdoor festival.
October 11-12, 2019, Ghost Walk of Pender’s Past, Burgaw, NC, https://www.facebook.com/pg/PenderCountyGhostWalk/posts/
An event for the whole family, explore the Ghosts of Pender’s Past, a Ghost Walk that tells the tales and legends of Pender’s Past. Hear stories of Bigfoot sightings, Civil War ghosts, Topsail’s pirate history and the witches of Pender. Check out the website for tickets and times, and please arrive at the Burgaw Train Depot 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time.
October 12, 2019, Big Creek Fall ATV Festival, LaFollette, TN, http://www.lafollettetn.gov/about-lafollette/current-events/big-creek-fall-atv-festival
Come and enjoy the City of Lafollette’s annual Big Creek Fall ATV Festival with vendors, music, food, arts and crafts, fireworks and organized drives. Since 2014, this festival, named after Big Creek which runs through the middle of town, celebrates the beautiful changing of the seasons with an organized ride on the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Trails of the Appalachian Mountains known for foliage, waterfalls, grazing elk and the gorgeous views. When finished, ride that ATV into town and grab a hot dog, funnel cake or some BBQ.
October 12, 2019, Rouge et Blanc Food & Wine Festival, Lake Charles, LA, www.rougeetblanc.us
Attracting food and wine lovers each year, Rouge et Blanc eagerly offers the best of the Lake Charles region. The main event, a four-hour tasting extravaganza, is sold out most every year and sees a new, scenic downtown location for 2019. Come and be part of the flagship fundraiser for Banners at McNeese State University.
October 18-19, 2019, Culture Fest Louisiana, Lake Charles, LA, www.culturefestla.com
Two-day Culture Fest is a ninth annual festival honoring the diversity of Southwest Louisiana with food, music, fashion, art and performances centered around the many cultures and ethnicities in the Lake Charles region. A free and popular event presented by Common Ground, all ages will enjoy time spent at Culture Fest with a cultural display area, an international village for children, a world café and a fantastic lineup of live entertainment.
October 18-19, 2019, Stecoah Harvest Festival, Stecoah, NC, www.stecoahvalleycenter.com
Music, food, arts and crafts vendors, a country fair, quilt show and artisan demonstrations all makeup the two-day Harvest Festival in Stecoah. Enjoy the 6 p.m. Friday night campfire and the 7:30 p.m. Saturday concert with The Gibson Brothers (contemporary Bluegrass band). With students K-12 admitted free, this is an affordable, family-friendly event.
October 18-20, 2019, Taste of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, www.tasteofatlanta.com
Eat and drink the flavors of the South at the Taste of Atlanta, a three-day festival with tasty bites from more than 100 local restaurants. You’ll meet local and national celebrity chefs, watch live cooking demonstrations, attend the Barcraft bartending competition and see street performers with live music from local bands. There’s something at Taste of Atlanta for everyone including fun events for the children.
October 19-20, 2019, 37th Annual Fall Festival, Orange Park, FL, www.opfallfestival.com
The Town of Orange Park Fall Festival is Clay County’s oldest and biggest arts and crafts festival dating back to 1982 with a dozen craft booths and a couple of guitar players. Fast forward to 2019 and enjoy a free, two-day festival with more than 200 artists and vendors; two stages packed with entertainment; a Kids Zone with inflatables; shopping for art, unique gifts, quilts, jewelry and pottery; and more. Food vendors will satisfy your hunger all day long with BBQ, local seafood, funnel cakes and turkey legs while the Farmer’s Market offers take-home, fresh produce.
October 26, 2019, The Barbecue Festival, Lexington, NC, www.barbecuefestival.com
Enjoy an event filled with all the best in barbecue—The Barbecue Festival. This fun event will feature eight stages filled with entertainment along with artisans, arts and crafts, food vendors and, did we mention, barbecue? Bring the family and indulge!
October 26, 2019, Boo at Bellingrath, Theodore, AL, https://bellingrath.org/experiences/events/boo-at-bellingrath/
Bring your little ghosts and goblins for a day of Halloween fun at Bellingrath where the Gardens will be brimming with spooky and fun inflatables. Area businesses and organizations will set up numerous treat stations to hand out candy and trinkets to little ones, but the fun doesn’t end there. Enjoy magic shows, balloons, fun reads (from the Mobile Public Library) otherwise known as Spooky Storytime in the Gazebo Garden and more. Tickets are available online for this day of fun.
October 26, 2019, Bowling Green Bourbon and Brewfest, Bowling Green, KY, bgbrewfest.com
This year marks the 5th annual Bowling Green Bourbon and Brewfest, a unique event featuring select regional craft brews and hand-picked Kentucky bourbons. Also, enjoy live entertainment, food trucks and VIP experiences.
October 26-27, 2019, Rougarou Fest, Houma, LA, www.rougaroufest.org
Who doesn’t love a free, family-friendly, spooky event? Come and bring the family to award-winning Rougarou Fest celebrating the rich folklore existing along the Southeast Louisiana bayous. Cornerstones for the event includes live music, cultural activities, children’s activities, Cajun food, the Krewe Ga Rou Parade and more! Proceeds benefit the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center.
November 2019
November 1-27, 2019, Fall Outdoor Cascading Chrysanthemums at Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Theodore, AL, www.bellingrath.org
Flower lovers and gardeners will delight in America’s largest outdoor chrysanthemums display at Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Visit the Gardens where hundreds of colorful, four-foot-long cascades of chrysanthemums are displayed creatively on bridges, balconies, in baskets and in containers. View columns of mums plus more in the flower beds, all in beautiful fall colors creating a dramatic border on the Great Lawn. In its 57th year, this event represents a 10-month labor, but the result is spectacular.
November 1-3, 2019, Florida International Air Show, Punta Gorda, FL, https://www.floridaairshow.com/
The 38th annual Florida International Air Show featuring the USAF Thunderbirds delivers wholesome family entertainment, education about aviation and space and is a fabulous forum for military and civilian flight demonstrations. This year’s event will be the only 2019 Florida performance for the jet team and the first since 2014. The “Earn Your Wings” Elementary Reading incentive program encourages students to earn a free ticket to attend the show by reading. Bring the family and enjoy this event.
November 1-3, 2019, Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival, Pensacola, FL, http://www.ggaf.org/
The Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival hosts over 200 fine art and craft exhibitors from across the US attracting some 150,000 art fans to Downtown Pensacola’s historic Seville Square. Bring the kiddos for the children’s art festival along with great food and drink. Admission is free to the top-ranked event which awards grants to local non-profit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for community arts projects.
November 2, 2019, Currituck Heritage Festival, Powells Point, NC, https://www.visitcurrituck.com/events/currituck-heritage-festival-3/
Embody community spirit at the Currituck Heritage Bulls and BBQ Festival where you’ll find family experiences and traditions. Enjoy fun events that include a professional bull riding rodeo with barrel racing and mutton busting, the Kansas City BBQ Competition, the local People’s Choice Pulled Pork BBQ and Fixin’ Show Down and more! Currituck’s iconic Eastern-style, vinegar-based pork BBQ offers unique recipes to go alongside fun activities like the antique tractor demonstrations and races, corn husking contests, the chicken and rabbit show, and the baby farm animal petting zoo. There’s a Kids Fun Zone and horse-riding demonstrations by The Stars and Stripes Drill Team as well.
November 2, 2019, Southport Wooden Boat Show, Southport, NC, https://southportwoodenboatshow.com
The 10th anniversary of the Southport Wooden Boat Show (SWBS) is reason to celebrate the region’s maritime and boatbuilding history. SWBS 2019 will be held in and around Southport’s Old Yacht Basin from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Every year the event grows bigger and bigger with more wooden boats, more education sessions, more exhibitors and, of course, more attendees. Come get a look at more than 40 wooden boats on land and water, historic wooden boats, demonstrations in the Duke Energy Maritime Pavilion, enjoy a Southport Harbor boat ride, taste the local fare and let the kiddos learn the ropes of building a wooden boat.
November 7-17, 2019, Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, Perdido Key, FL, https://www.frankbrownsongwriters.com/
If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy up close and personal concerts from Grammy Award-Winning songwriters and the stars of tomorrow, then the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival is for you. Learn the stories behind the songs as told by the original authors in intimate venues around the area. Venues vary from listening rooms to gritty roadhouses to dinner and music combinations. Don’t miss Dean Dillion and Don Schlitz performing live at the Flora-Bama—a highlight of this year’s event.
November 7-10, 2019, Highlands Food & Wine Festival, Highlands, NC, https://highlandsfoodandwine.com/
Don’t miss out on food, wine, music and culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Highlands Food and Wine Festival, a four-day event staged at venues throughout the area. Look for a refreshed lineup of music talent as well as fabulous food and wine vendors. Also, don’t miss the Sunday Shindig, a nod to Southern chefs and bluegrass music.
November 9, 2019, 10th Annual Chili Cook-Off, Orange Park, FL, https://www.moosehaven.org/chili-cook-off/
Moosehaven hosts an annual Chili Cook-Off, sanctioned by the International Chili Society as a Regional Cook-off. A fun day of music mixed with craft vendors, a car show and great chili, the event also has a fraternal division of the People’s Choice competition with teams from the following Moose Associations: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Connecticut, Washington state and more. Bring the family and enjoy friendly competition as well as superb cooks from across the country.
November 9, 2019 – January 1, 2020, Holiday Festival of Lights, Charleston, NC, https://www.holidayfestivaloflights.com/
So much more than a driving tour, you’ll have to see for yourself! Park your car and explore at the Holiday Festival of Lights. There’s a phenomenal sand sculpture made from more than 50 tons of sand, mouth-watering treats from Santa’s Sweet Shoppe, giant greeting cards created by local students, the Victorian carousel and visits with Santa, plus get up-close looks at the lights aboard the holiday train.
November 11 – December 31, 2019, Christmas on the River, Monroe-West Monroe, LA, http://www.christmasontheriver.org
Perfect for families, Monroe-West Monroe’s Christmas on the River offers all the sights and sounds of the season. Enjoy Freedom Trees at the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum, Santa’s Christmas Village at the NELA Children’s Museum, Christmas at the Biedenharn, Candy Cane Lane drive-through light park, Rivermarket Days, shopping in Antique Alley, Holiday Outdoor Movies, interactive light displays, fireworks, parades, live theater, ballet and wagon rides. Each year the festival adds something new from a new lighting display to a family event.
November 13-17, 2019, Cucalorus Festival, Wilmington, NC, http://www.cucalorus.org
Downtown Wilmington is the place to be for the 25th annual Cucalorus Festival where guests can find award-winning films with a growing roster of music, dance and theater as the event is a showcase for emerging talent. There’s also the Cucalorus Connect Conference exploring the collision between technology and creativity making this a festival for everyone from filmmakers to performers and entrepreneurs.
November 14-27, 2019, Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals, Myrtle Beach, SC, http://www.dickenschristmasshow.com/
Offering a trip back in time, Dickens Christmas Show and Festivals pulls inspiration from one of the world’s most popular Christmas-themed novels, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Guests can experience a wide range of events from Holiday Historic Tours with a concentration on the Victorian period, a multitude of Christmas shows at different venues, Sherlock Holmes Murder Mysteries, Victorian Teas, Scrooge’s Hunt for the Missing Presents-Scavenger Hunt and the main attraction—the 19th Century Victorian Holiday Marketplace. Do your holiday shopping and take in all of the entertainment at the 38th annual beach event where you’ll also find some “new for 2019” highlights like a display of Penny-Farthings, Live Art Demos and more.
November 15-17, 2019, Junior League of Mobile Christmas Jubilee, Mobile, AL, https://www.juniorleaguemobile.org/events/christmasjubilee/
Don’t miss the Junior League of Mobile’s largest fundraiser, Mobile’s Christmas Jubilee featuring more than 100 merchants, beautiful holiday decorations, entertainment, food and drinks, local artists, authors and an online silent auction. Included with the price of admission are Girls’ Night Out and Santa’s Workshop events as well.
November 15-17, 2019, Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market, Lake Charles, LA, https://www.jllc.net/mistletoe-moss/
Mark your calendar now for the 27th annual Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market, a tradition in the Lake Area featuring more than 80 merchants from around the country showcasing apparel, gifts, accessories, specialty foods, seasonal and year-round decorations, and home furnishings. Aside from unique shopping, plan on enjoying great food from local eateries and festive holiday entertainment from local groups including schools. Get started on that holiday shopping at the Preview Party Gala where you’ll also feast on the area’s finest cuisine plus cocktails, auction items and live entertainment. Girls’ Night Out at Mistletoe and Moss offers a wine tasting and appetizers from local caterers. Take the kiddos to see the jolly man himself at Cookies with Santa and get the whole family in the spirit.
November 20, 2019 – January 20, 2020, Ice on Main, Greenville, SC, www.iceonmain.com
Downtown Greenville plays host annually to Ice on Main, a seasonal open-air ice-skating rink that has become a holiday tradition since 2011. Each year Ice on Main attracts skaters from Greenville, the Upstate and beyond. The attraction is fantastic for the entire family offering a wide variety of skate sizes, family-friendly activities throughout the season (think skating lessons, curling demonstrations and theme nights) and more. For 2019, Ice on Main has added new events and activities such as birthday parties, extended theme nights, etc. Make this a new tradition for your friends and family.
November 22 – December 31, 2019, except December 24, Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights, Lookout Mountain, GA, https://www.seerockcity.com/events/enchanted-garden-of-lights/
Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights celebrates 25 years in 2019, offering an even more spectacular family tradition. See more than 30 holiday scenes and over a million LED lights that transform the gardens’ natural daytime splendor into a fantasyland of four realms of wonder: Yule Town, Arctic Kingdom, Magic Forest and North Pole Village. Plan on gingerbread cookie decorating, hot cocoa and plenty of entertainment nightly. Dinner with Santa is a good option as is Jack Frost. Be sure and ask about group rates if they apply to your travel party.
November 23, 2019, 24th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration, Raleigh, NC, https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/aihc-2019
The largest event of the year at the North Carolina Museum of History in downtown Raleigh is the American Indian Heritage Celebration, now in year 24, and it is the signature event for the state in recognizing National American Indian Heritage Month. Suitable for all ages, bring the family and enjoy over 100 event presenters including artists, dancers, musicians, craftspeople, drum groups, storytellers, scholars and authors. Each tribe processes onto Bicentennial Plaza in front of the museum for the roll call of tribes and organizations—a festival highlight—followed by dance celebrations. You’re sure to gain valuable knowledge about the American Indians of North Carolina past and present.
November 23-24, 2019, Englewood Beach Waterfest, Englewood, FL, https://englewoodbeachwaterfest.com/
Englewood Beach Waterfest is a fun celebration of everything water! Enjoy a block party complete with music, food and display of race boats; Waterfest Village and the Family Conservation Center’s interactive exhibits showcasing the conservation of Southwest Florida’s marine life, coastal waterways and beaches; food, entertainment and vendors; and the Offshore Powerboat Association’s World Championship Races. The 2019 event will bring an expanded Waterfest Village and Family Conservation Center with new food, vendor and music options as well as exhibits showcasing Southwest Florida’s coastal waterways with emphasis on water quality and how folks can make a difference.
November 24, 29-30 & December 6, 13-15, 16-24, 2019, Winterfest Trolley Tours, Pensacola, FL, www.pensacolawinterfest.org
Winterfest Trolley Tours offers a fabulous opportunity to explore a series of interactive performances at 22 locations along a two-mile route in historic Downtown Pensacola. Hop aboard the trolleys and double-decker buses, acting as moving theaters, to play witness to dozens of local businesses and residents who bring to life favorite characters of the season. This year afternoon tours have been added for children.
November 29 – December 31, 2019, Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens and Home, Theodore, AL, www.bellingrath.org
Magic Christmas in Lights is one of the most popular holiday events in the Southeast as guests stroll through the Gardens to see some three million twinkling lights in 15 scenes with more than 1,100 set pieces. Designed and built on-site at Bellingrath Gardens and Home, this year’s extravaganza will include an enhanced “Emerald Forest” on the Great Lawn featuring Christmas trees lighting up in sequence to music. Sure to delight the oldest and the youngest in your travel group, Magic Christmas in Lights is an event for the whole family.
December 2019
December 1-23, 2019, Select Dates, Christmas Underground, A Journey to the North Pole, Chattanooga, TN, www.rubyfalls.com/special-events/christmas-underground/
Bring the family to experience a magical journey to the North Pole at award-winning Ruby Falls Christmas Underground. You’ll discover a glittering ice cave and a colorful pocket forest of musical trees, see the twinkling Sugar Plum Fairy Village and Santa’s wishing well (new for 2019). Travel the secret passage to Santa’s North Pole grotto where Santa awaits to visit your family privately. What else? Dancing Northern Lights and snow flurries inside Lookout Mountain set the mood. Plan for hands-on activities to help create the sweetest holiday memories ever.
December 1-31, 2019, Southwest Louisiana Christmas Lighting Festival, Lake Charles/Sulphur, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
Get in the Christmas spirit with parades, performances, concerts and festivities going on in the Lake Charles area during the holiday season. Join the fun for Light Up the Lake, where the entire family will enjoy making gingerbread houses, seeing parades by land and sea, plus spectacular fireworks over beautiful Lake Charles. If you’re searching for a white Christmas, then trek on over to Sulphur’s Christmas Under the Oaks Festival where it snows every year! Located at the Brimstone Museum complex, Heritage Square is transformed into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights, holly wreaths and, of course, snow. Knock out some shopping at The Holiday House where you’ll find more than 25 different shops with holiday decorations, gifts, ornaments and more to help deck your halls.
December 2-23, 2019, Billy Graham Library – Christmas at the Library, Charlotte, NC, https://billygrahamlibrary.org/christmas-at-the-library/
The Billy Graham Library’s Christmas at the Library event attracts folks from across the nation. Favorite experiences are the live nativity offering an awe-inspiring glimpse of the first Christmas night; horse-drawn carriage rides through the beautiful lights; heartwarming carolers, festive music and story time for children. There are holiday goodies at the Dairy Bar, exclusive Library ornaments and shopping in Ruth’s Attic as well as tours of the Journey of Faith inside the Billy Graham Library.
December 2, 2019, Downtown Columbus Christmas Parade, Columbus, MS, www.columbusmainstreet.com
The first Monday of December is special in Downtown Columbus where you’ll find thousands of residents and visitors lining the streets ready to experience the Columbus Christmas Parade along with the sights and sounds of the holiday season. Each year a theme is chosen, and floats are judged on specific criteria. Past themes have been fun things like “A Super Hero’s Christmas” and “A Story Book Christmas,” so it’s a sure bet that this one will also be delightful. There’s a Grand Marshall leading the way riding in a holiday-themed, decked-out horse and buggy followed by school bands, city officials and so many floats. Come see for yourself why Columbus is known for their Christmas parade.
December 4-8, 2019, Snowball Derby, Pensacola, FL, www.5flagsspeedway.com
Celebrating over 50 years, the Five Flags Speedway Snowball Derby is a race that drivers and fans mark on their calendars each year. Bring your family and experience one of the nation’s premier short track events where some 30,000 race fans will gather to see big names in motorsports competing in a 300-lap race.
December 5-7, 2019, Christmas in Davidson, Davidson, NC, http://christmasindavidson.com/
Everyone will enjoy Christmas in Davidson with trolley rides, strolling beautiful Main Street, holiday shopping, the vendors of Holiday Village and lots of entertainment on the Library stage. Be sure to visit Ten Thousand Villages at the Davidson College Presbyterian Church Congregation House for goods from more than 30 developing countries. The kiddos can visit with Santa and enjoy Story Time with Mrs. Claus. Take in a live theatre performance while you’re there and make fun holiday crafts. Feast on fine foods and beverages from local eateries, Davidson and Frosty’s Food Court and don’t miss the Live Nativity for the true meaning of the season. Grab a photo on the horse-drawn carriage rides down Main Street for a Christmas memory you’ll hold onto for years.
December 5, 2019, Hometown Holidays Parade, Forsyth, GA, https://www.forsyth-monroechamber.com/hometown-holidays-parade
If you’re searching for a fantastic way to kick-off the holiday season, check out Forsyth’s Hometown Parade with sparkling light-covered floats, tractors, animals and music. The nighttime parade begins in front of historic Tift College and continues around three sides of the beautiful downtown square. In the parade you’ll see local officials, civic organizations, businesses, cheerleaders, marching bands, the Citizen of the Year, dance troupes, pageant winners, carolers, Mr. and Mrs. Claus and more! Attendance is large and downtown shops and restaurants stay open late to accommodate guests to Forsyth. Put this one on your calendar as it is one of the oldest and most awarded parades in Middle Georgia.
December 6-7 & 13-14, 2019, Dillsboro Festival of Lights & Luminaries, Dillsboro, NC, https://www.romanticasheville.com/dillsboro_festival_luminaries.htm
The Dillsboro Festival of Lights & Luminaries illuminates this artsy mountain village the first two weekends in December. Considered a throwback in this modern tech-savvy age, Dillsboro’s celebration is adapted from a Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ child with over 2,500 candles in white bags lining the streets where galleries and artist studios are among the dozen or so shops.
December 6, 2019, Gatlinburg Fantasy of Light Christmas Parade, Gatlinburg, TN, https://www.gatlinburg.com/event/fantasy-of-lights-christmas-parade/
Come join the fun in Gatlinburg on December 6 for the 44th annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade. Celebrate the holiday season along with the beginning of Gatlinburg Winter Magic and get yourself in the spirit. Find your spot on the Parkway early to ensure a great view as it begins at 7:30 p.m. from Baskins Creek Bypass and heading through downtown to traffic light #10. You’ll delight in a spectacular line-up of balloons, floats decorated by local businesses and groups, marching bands and more.
December 6-8, 2019, Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour, Marietta, GA, http://www.mariettapilgrimage.com/
If you’ve ever wanted to peek inside some of the Marietta homes, now is the time. Get a glimpse inside six private homes in the historic Forest Hills district. Each home has been lovingly restored and will be decorated festively for the holiday season. This tour is organized annually by the Marietta Visitors Bureau and Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, and this year there is talk of a Christmas Market. Bring your friends and make sure this tour is on your holiday must-do list.
December 6, 2019, Wassail Fest, Columbus, MS, www.columbusmainstreet.com
The first Friday in December brings Wassail Fest, a collaboration between Main Street Columbus, The Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi University for Women and downtown businesses to transform the streets and storefronts of downtown Columbus into a Christmas winter wonderland. Guests and locals will love the twinkling lights, festive decorations and talented carolers as Wassail Fest sets the stage for the holiday season. “Here We Come A-Wassailing” takes on new meaning as folks sample a variety of the drink that means “…to your health.” Merchants battle for the coveted title of “Wassail Meister” as they compete with their favorite recipes and visitors cast their ballots for the winners. A community tradition loved by all who attend, come join the fun as you shop, sample wassail (don’t forget your official Wassail Mug) and experience a family-friendly, unique event.
December 7, 2019, Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla, Beaufort, NC, www.crystalcoastnc.org/event/crystal-coast-christmas-flotilla-2019/
Water lovers will not want to miss the Crystal Coast Christmas Flotilla featuring boats, yachts, oars, kayaks and commercial vessels all dolled up for the holiday season. Decorated boats can be seen at 5:30 p.m. on the Morehead City waterfront and at 6:15 p.m. on the Beaufort waterfront. Registration for boats may be done by phone or mail until noon on December 7 at the North Carolina Maritime Museum Store…and you just might win a prize for excellence or creativity.
December 8, 2019 – January 1, 2020, Auburn Gingerbread Village, Auburn, AL, https://www.aotourism.com/Event/17448/Auburn-Gingerbread-Village-Unveiling/
Sure to be a family favorite, visit The Hotel at Auburn University Conference Center for the largest Gingerbread Village in East Alabama with more than 10 Gingerbread buildings on display for guests to admire. The event is daily from 2-4 p.m.
December 12-13, 2019, Victorian Christmas, Thomasville, GA, http://thomasvillega.com/attractions/festivals/victorian-christmas
Authentic Christmas spirit will be your gift as you journey into the past of turn-of-the-century downtown Thomasville for the 33rd annual Victorian Christmas. Enjoy family fun with carriage rides ($5/person), a live nativity presented by First Baptist Church, visits with St. Nick, Kings Voices and Broad Street Brass Ensemble, marshmallow toasting, chestnut roasting, lots of food vendors and various forms of street performers along with other entertainment.
December 13-25, 2019, Community Holiday Light Show, Danville, VA, https://www.danvilleva.gov/2114/Community-Holiday-Light-Show
Danville’s community spirit shines through as they deck the halls of one of the oldest civic-owned parks with thousands of dazzling lights. In year six, the 11-night Community Holiday Light Show promises to be the center of yuletide celebrations and traditions for residents in Southside. You’ll get your Christmas groove on with a drive-through light show complete with beautiful displays built by local families, organizations and businesses, as well as crafts, refreshments and complimentary Santa photos inside Children’s Village. Large wooden greeting cards made by area businesses will be adding to the magic in 2019 and there is a special opening night allowing visitors to walk through the lights. This annual event gives back to the community in big ways—what better way to celebrate the holidays than by giving?
December 13-15, 2019, Dickens on Centre, Fernandina Beach, FL, https://www.ameliaisland.com/landing-pages/Dickens-on-Centre-Christmas-Festival
Dickens on Centre is a 5th annual free festival in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach on beautiful Amelia Island. The Victorian-inspired holiday event is perfect for the entire family with costumed characters, themed entertainment and performances, Santa visits and a variety of vendors selling seasonal gifts and wares. Of course, you’ll recognize the inspiration of Charles Dickens’ novel “A Christmas Carol,” as it comes to life throughout the downtown area’s classic English transformation.
December 14, 2019, Beaufort Christmas Candlelight Tour, Beaufort, NC, https://beauforthistoricsite.org/event/historic-beaufort-candlelight-homes-tour-2/
You’re in for a treat if you attend the 12th annual Beaufort Christmas Candlelight Tour this year. Named by Southern Living Magazine as the “Best Small Town in the South” for 2019, visitors will recognize Beaufort’s charm and hospitality as this tour allows a rare glimpse into private historic homes, inns, bed and breakfasts and some churches, all adorned for the holiday season. Examine the unique architectural styles from different periods of the town’s history while strolling through candlelit streets or join the carolers aboard the Associations’ 1967 English double-decker bus for a free ride.
December 14, 2019, Historic Decatur Christmas Tour of Homes, Decatur, AL, https://www.northalabama.org/listing/historic-decatur-christmas-tour-of-homes/334/
The Albany and Old Decatur Historic Districts will present their annual Historic Decatur Christmas Tour on December 14 featuring a select number of homes and churches decorated with old-fashioned holiday décor, luminaries, greenery and thousands of lights. Purchase tickets in advance for $25 at the Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
December 14, 2019, Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, Fort Lauderdale, FL, https://winterfestparade.com
Dubbed the “Greatest Show on H2O,” the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is the traditional kick-off to the South Florida holiday season. This one-of-a-kind parade of beautifully decorated boats of all sizes is not to be missed and annually unites community with world travelers. Come and be one of the more than a million viewers along the 12-mile parade route adding a new tradition to your holiday season.
December 14, 2019, Twickenham Spirit of Christmas Past Homes and Luminary Tour, Huntsville, AL, www.weedenhousemuseum.com/
Add the Twickenham Spirit of Christmas Past Homes and Luminary Tour to your seasonal agenda and enjoy strolling the luminary-lit streets of this historical Huntsville district. Visit the Weeden House Museum—the house was built in 1819, the same year that Alabama became a state—as well as First United Methodist Church, The Helion Lodge and four private residences all with decked halls and ready for the season. Proceeds this year benefit the Weeden House Museum and other historic district projects.