July 2020
July 4, 2020, Red, White & Blue, Greenville, SC, https://www.greenvillesc.gov/1328/Wells-Fargo-Red-White-Blue
Revised plans will be posted soon online.
Come see one of South Carolina’s largest fireworks displays sponsored annually by Wells Fargo and creating a celebratory scene for families in downtown Greenville. The free event includes a full evening of entertainment with live musical talent on two stages as well as a children’s area and lots of food and beverage vendors.
July 4, 2020, Red, White, Blue & You, Lake Charles, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
Show your patriotism and join the fun at the 28th annual Red, White, Blue & You Festival this Independence Day. Start the party with the star-spangled street parade through downtown Lake Charles. Next up, enjoy a concert and sing-a-long with the Lake Charles Community Band at the Civic Center Amphitheater. Be sure and stick around for the night-ending fireworks display over beautiful Lake Charles.
July 4, 2020, Sertoma’s 4th of July Celebration, Pensacola, FL, http://www.VisitPensacola.com
This event has been canceled for 2020.
Bring the family to enjoy the largest 4th of July celebration on the Gulf Coast. Spend the day with live entertainment, a patriotic parade, arts and crafts, a children’s area, food vendors and stunning fireworks over Pensacola Bay to end the evening. Admission is free.
July 4, 2020, Stars & Stripes Fest, Covington, GA, https://downtowncovington.wixsite.com/july4th
Award-winning Covington is on the map with a special Independence Day celebration—the Stars & Stripes Fest. The family-friendly event is a great opportunity to showcase downtown Covington and its local business community.
July 10-18, 2020, Kingsport Fun Fest, Kingsport, TN, www.funfest.net
This event has been canceled for 2020.
Fun Fest offers close to 100 events over nine days with fun and educational things to do for the entire family. Enjoy athletic tournaments, competitions, clinics, music concerts, plays, hot air balloons and fireworks.
July 11, 2020, Blue Angels Airshow, Pensacola Beach, FL, http://www.blueangels.navy.mil
An event no one soon forgets, the world-famous Blue Angels perform two shows in their home base city of Pensacola each year. The Pensacola Beach air show is supported by civilian and other military performers and admission is free.
July 11, 2020, Lake Charles Symphony Summer Pops, Lake Charles, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
First-timers and enthusiasts will love joining the Summer Pops in Southwest Louisiana with an exciting orchestral music show that will have folks dancing the night away. The family-friendly event offers food that parents and kiddos alike will enjoy such as pizza, hot dogs, nachos and ice cream. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Lake Charles Civic Center. Tickets start at $30 (student/child discounts available; free admission for children six & under in riser section). More information including purchasing tickets is available at lcsymphony.com.
July 11, 2020, The Father of Rock n Roll Tribute Festival, Fairmont, WV, https://marioncvb.com/marion-event/father-of-rock-roll-tribute/
The Father of Rock n Roll Tribute Festival is a celebration of the life and musical genius of Johnnie Johnson. The day-long concert event is held at Palatine Park along the riverfront with food trucks, crafters and vendors. In recognition of Johnson’s fame and the long-running tribute to him, the West Virginia Humanities Council and William G. Pomeroy Foundation awarded the Marion County Convention & Visitors Bureau a historical marker to be placed at the sight of the annual tribute festival.
July 16-18, 2020, Virginia Lake Festival, Clarksville, VA, https://clarksvilleva.com/festivals-celebrations/virginia-lake-festival/
The Virginia Lake Festival (aka LAKEFEST) kicks off with free tethered hot air balloon rides on Thursday evening for children 12 and younger, while the sand sculpture artist begins a larger-than-life creation on Friday morning. Prepare for a welcome ceremony, live music, hot air balloons flying overhead, a juried arts and crafts show with more than 200 vendors, children’s activities, an antique car show, helicopter rides and so much more. This event, in its 43rd year, is a local and visitor favorite and is free.
July 17-18, 2020, Cajun Music & Food Festival, Lake Charles, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
This event has been canceled for 2020.
The 33rd annual Cajun Music & Food Festival is brimming with all your favorite Cajun specialties like gumbo, jambalaya and étouffée. And, there’s more than food! You’ll enjoy Cajun traditions and heritage through music, dancing and more. The annual event is organized by the Lake Charles chapter of the Music Association and is a true celebration of the Cajun heritage and culture. The festival is held at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
July 18-19, 2020, Annual Butternut Creek Festival, Blairsville, GA, www.butternutcreekfestival.com
This event has been canceled for 2020.
This annual event showcases more than 85 craftspeople who have been juried and selected for the quality and diversification of their work. Centered along the shady banks of Butternut Creek in Meeks Park, you’ll enjoy free admission, parking and entertainment. Visit with artists representing painting, photography, jewelry, pottery, woodwork, yard art, glass and metal craft, candles, soap, decorative gourds, fiber art, furniture and more, plus experience great food and music. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. (Note: The Recreation Department does not allow pets in this section of the park.)
July 30-August 1, 2020, 65th Annual Robbins Farmers Day Parade, Robbins, NC, www.robbinsfarmersday.com
A wonderful weekend of fun is on tap at the Robbins Farmers Day Parade. You’ll see one of the largest horse parades on the East coast, featuring 600+ horses, mules and oxen, along with an antique tractor show and parade. Guests will enjoy multiple stages of entertainment with all genres of music as well as fireworks, carnival rides, food and craft vendors
July 31-August 1, 2020, Marshland Festival, Lake Charles, LA, www.visitlakecharles.org
Come join the small town of Hackberry as they come out of the marshes and head over to the Lake Charles Civic Center to celebrate what makes Southwest Louisiana unique. The festival raises funds for 14 schools and church organizations through exhibits, games, arts and crafts booths, food, live entertainment and more, carefully paying tribute to the marshes famous in the area. Bring your dancing shoes and experience authentic Louisiana culture, food and music.
August 2020
August 3-8, 2020, Mannington District Fair, Mannington, WV, http://www.manningtondistrictfair.org/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
The Mannington District Fair has been a staple in the community since 1932. A traditional country time fair with mud bogs, demolition derbies, truck pulls, lawnmower races and horse shows, lots of animals and 4-H shows as well as interactive entertainment like the sheep rodeo and greased pig contest. Other fun experiences include a parade, carnival rides, games and fair food. Come and bring the family to enjoy a good old-fashioned country fair and see why it’s the best homecoming in the state.
August 8, 2020, Bright Lights Belhaven Nights, Jackson, MS, https://brightlightsbelhavennights.com/
Bright Lights Belhaven Nights (BLBN) is an ongoing program in its 16th year of bringing residents of Belhaven, Belhaven Heights and the entire Jackson Community together to celebrate what’s good in the region. Guests will have a selection of blues, jazz, bluegrass and rock music from three different stages as well as a children’s area. Artists from around the Jackson area will have vendor booths with various forms of arts and crafts. Also, don’t miss local restaurant booths exposing festival goers to their various wares.
August 13-22, 2020, Wilson County Fair, Lebanon, TN, https://www.wilsoncountyfair.net/
Tennessee’s Biggest County Fair, the Wilson County Fair, will be “Honoring Hometown Heroes” in August of 2020 with nine days packed full of family fun. Expect more than 100 acts across eight states and over 50 rides and games. Enjoy concessions with a wide variety of food and prepare to celebrate the “Year of Beef” as the agriculture commodity focus for the 2020 fair. There will be antique cars, tractor pulls, livestock shows, demolition derbies, racing pigs, clogging, pageants, a youth rally, big name concerts, a Robotics Challenge and more. It’s perfect for the whole family.
August 14-22, 2020, Georgia Mountain Fair, Hiawassee, GA, www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com
Thousands of visitors from across the region will experience the nostalgia and fun offered by the 70th annual Georgia Mountain Fair held at the historic Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. Come bring the family and take it all in from music, arts and crafts, and carnival rides to unique attractions and a peak at North Georgia’s history and culture.
August 15, 2020, Girls Night Out, Charleston, WV, www.gnowv.com
This year the in-person event has been canceled, but will be replaced with a virtual event.
Summer’s biggest party with a purpose—Girls Night Out—is in its 22nd year of raising funds and awareness to eliminate domestic violence. Local restaurants prepare tasty creations, photo ops abound (GNO is known for its stunning décor), guests can shop a beautifully staged silent auction and dance the night away to live music. Follow the website for information about a virtual experience for 2020 rather than an in-person event.
August 15-16, 2020, Loch Norman Highland Games, Huntersville, NC, http://lochnorman.com/index.html
Attracting thousands of folks from near and far, the Loch Norman Highland Games is a weekend-long event featuring over 50 family clans, a variety of Scottish dancing performances and music showcasing the rich history and ancestry of Scotland. Join in on the amateur heavy athletics including attempting to flip a telephone-sized pole, throwing weighted stones, hammers, sacks of straw, long bow and battle axe competitions. There is fun for all ages including the kiddos with a Giant Kid’s Zone while the parents enjoy historic reenactments, whiskey tastings and food
August 28-29, 2020, Hoptown Summer Salute, Hopkinsville, KY, www.hoptownsummersalute.com
This event has been canceled for 2020.
Hopkinsville’s largest festival is Hoptown Summer Salute featuring more than 100 vendors and two days of live music. Look for food and merchant vendors, live entertainment, rides and plenty of attractions. With national headliners like Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence and The Jimmy Church Band, this festival will have you dancing in the streets.
August 28-September 13, 2020, Perspectives: Georgia Pottery Invitational, Watkinsville, GA, https://ocaf.com/perspectives/
The Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation’s (OCAF’s) Annual Perspectives: Georgia Pottery Invitational is one of the largest pottery events in the southeast region showcasing works of 50 invited Georgia potters over a 15-day period. The event kicks off with an evening gala opening reception with food, a live jazz performance, preview and purchase from the many fine works available. Three exhibitions and a sales venue will offer more than 7,000 pieces of original, hand-made pottery. Other facets of the annual event include a pottery workshop, free pottery demonstrations and gallery talks.
September 2020
September 5, 2020, Charleston Distance Run, Charleston, WV, https://charlestondistancerun.com/
The Charleston Distance Run is a challenging 15-mile course following a path along Kanawha Boulevard and winding up the long grade of U.S. 119, then turning onto the rolling hills of South Hills. Following that portion, runners head down Louden Heights Road and cross the South Side Bridge before hitting the last seven miles on flat, downtown streets. Choose between the 15-mile rate, the three-person, 15-mile relay and the 5K run/walk.
September 11-13, 2020, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Bristol, TN-VA, https://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/festival/
This year celebrates 20 years for the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, an annual music festival that takes place in downtown Bristol Tennessee/Virginia. The festival welcomes thousands of attendees each year from across the country for a three-day music experience that is bursting with creative passion, electricity and soul. The festival offers additional events including a free Children’s Day event, a 5k Run/ 2 Mile Fun Walk, a Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Camp, plus a variety of unique food and craft vendors.
September 12-13, 2020, Trail of Tears Pow Wow Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville, KY, www.trailoftears.org
An annual event, the Trail of Tears Pow Wow in Hopkinsville attracts thousands of folks from across the country each year. Hopkinsville is significant because it is the location of graves of two Native American Chiefs—White Path and Fly Smith. Attendees may walk through the historical areas of the park and see artifacts that were carried on the trail in the 1800s. Attendees may also experience dance and drum competitions as well as deeply rooted cultural rituals.
September 16-22, 2020, Macon Burger Week, Macon, GA, https://maconburgerweek.com/
Do you love a good burger? During Macon Burger Week, restaurants created and sold a unique burger only costing $5 and the participation was outstanding. Now this event is an annual thing increasing the strong partnership between the Georgia Beef Board, Visit Macon and local restaurants as one of the most celebrated events of the year.
September 17-20, 2020, 11th Annual Mississippi Songwriters Festival, Ocean Springs, MS, https://mssongwritersfestival.com/
The 11th annual Mississippi Songwriters Festival is held collaboratively in Downtown Ocean Springs, Gautier, Moss Point, Margaritaville Resort Biloxi, Gulfport and Pascagoula. The Gulf Coast venues welcome close to 5,000 music fans for the four-day event that suits all ages. Come and enjoy great music, food and plenty of shopping.
September 19, 2020, Green Energy Park Youth Arts Festival, Sylva, NC, http://www.jcgep.org/youth-arts.html
Bring the whole gang and celebrate art, music, green energy and community fun. Each year Green Energy Park hosts dozens of organizations and regional artists who come to share their knowledge and love of the arts. Here’s what you can look forward to: face painting, jewelry making, throwing clay pots, painting with flip-flops, handprint painting on canvas, block printing, recycled bugs and live entertainment. Catch a demonstration of glass blowing, blacksmithing, pottery, printing, gem cutting, torchworking and raku kiln firing.
September 19-20, 2020, Burlington Carousel Festival, Burlington, NC, https://www.btowneventsnc.com/carousel-festival.html
This festival showcases live music across multiple stages, arts and crafts, food and a beer garden. Bring the family and enjoy amusement park rides and more at Burlington’s City Park over the course of the weekend. The event is free, but you’ll need money for shopping, kid’s activities, rides, food and other features.
September 19-20, 2020, Ocmulgee Indian Celebration, Macon, GA, https://www.ocmulgeemounds.org/ocmulgee-indian-celebration
The Ocmulgee Indian Celebration honors the cultures of the Southeastern Native Americans including the Muscogee Creek who once called Ocmulgee home. All ages are welcome to this event offering music, dance, food, storytelling, crafts and demonstrations by Native Americans as well as exhibits regarding the first cultural community of Macon. Rediscover the grounds, artifacts and nature within the 702-acre National Monument and tour the Visitor Center with more than 2,000 artifacts and displays.
September 19-November 1, 2020, Pumpkin Festival – Play by Day, Glow by Night, Stone Mountain, GA, https://www.stonemountainpark.com/Activities/Events/Pumpkin-Festival
Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain Park offers a different experience by day and night. Play by day with all of your favorite park attractions and special fall entertainment, then glow by night in a whole new experience! Favorite fairytales and nursery rhymes will be part of the adventure in the land of pumpkin-themed storybook characters where everything is decked out in fall décor. Glow by night takes on a new spin with 40 newly imagined scenes including glowing lights, massive carved pumpkins and plenty of not-so-spooky, glow-in-the-dark adventures after sunset. And, there’s more than jack-o-lanterns; check out the four-story tall pumpkin tree, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, carnival games, parade and more!
September 21, 2020, HSNA Art in the Park, Sumter, SC, http://www.hsnasumtersc.com/
Come enjoy all-day entertainment with over 100 arts and crafts vendors, local entertainment, a literary stage and a free children’s arts and crafts center. A community corner offers lots of food and both parking and entrance is free. Bring the family and hang out in the historic Memorial Park in Sumter Hampton historic district.
September 24, 2020, Columbus Art Walk Downtown, Columbus, MS, www.columbusmainstreet.com
Art Walk Downtown has been held annually on the last Thursday of September for the past seven years. The event is a cooperative effort between Main Street Columbus, Columbus Arts Council, downtown businesses, local artists and local musicians. Come out for a festive evening where the artists are showcased throughout historic Downtown Columbus including inside of businesses, in the plaza and on the sidewalks. Meet the artists, purchase some art and enjoy some music in the streets.
September 24-26, 2020, South Carolina Festival of Discovery, Greenwood, SC, http://www.uptowngreenwood.com/events/sc-festival-of-discovery
Discover a weekend of food, fun and music at the S.C. Festival of Discovery where visitors and locals will learn about the history, traditions and culture that make Greenwood such an incredible place to live. Focused on the rich tradition of Carolina Barbeque and Hash, the festival sponsors a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned cook-off. Enjoy Blues music at Uptown Greenwood restaurants and venues as part of the Greenwood Blues Cruise. Aside from welcoming more than 90 BBQ Competition teams and vendors along with some 40 Blues performers, this year’s festival will also feature a Kids’ Que allowing young chefs to showcase their skills with a chance for a cash prize and title.
September 25-27, 2020, Pensacola Seafood Festival, Pensacola, FL, https://www.pensacolaseafoodfestival.com/
Come and enjoy the annual Pensacola Seafood Festival held in historic Seville Square in beautiful downtown Pensacola. Feast on delicious fruits of the sea while enjoying continuous local entertainment at the Fountain Park stage and the Gazebo in Seville Square.
September 25-November 1, 2020 (weekends), Blowing Springs Farm, Flintstone, GA, https://www.blowingspringsfarm.com/
Bring the family to celebrate 19 years and 10 acres of fall family fun! Enjoy Chattanooga’s best-kept secret—Blowing Springs Farm, nestled at the foot of Lookout Mountain just six miles from downtown Chattanooga. Enjoy a family hay ride, get lost in the corn maze or play a supersized board game like dice or checkers. And there’s food! Try a funnel cake, sausage and pepper sandwich or roasted peanuts. Ride the cow train, take aim with the corn slingshots or make furry friends at Bagby’s Critter Corral. Don’t miss the pumpkin market where you can purchase one to take home.
September 26, 2020, FIESTA, Birmingham, AL, https://fiestabham.com/
The 18th annual Fiesta is Alabama’s largest celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage held in Birmingham’s Linn Park. The goal of the event is to bridge the gap of diversity among communities and educate the public with regard to other cultures. This is a fantastic opportunity to do that through Hispanic art, music, food and dance.
September 26, 2020, OktoberWest, Charleston, WV, https://www.cwvmainstreets.org/oktoberwest.html
OktoberWest presented by Encova Insurance is West Virginia’s largest traditional German Octoberfest and among the largest craft beer festivals in the state. Festival attendees can sample some 100 craft brews, several limited Octoberfest and German varieties, and listen to three bands at this year’s festival. Enjoy stein holding, keg rolling, beer belly, sausage toss and best traditional dress contests from 4-9 p.m. on September 26th. Fundraising efforts support Charleston Main Streets – West Side programs, public art and other community and economic revitalization projects.
September 30-November 1, 2020 (select dates), Dread Hollow, Chattanooga, TN, www.dreadhollow.com
The Dread Hollow legacy continues this year with the next evolution of terror by the masterminds behind the only nationally ranked haunted attraction in the area. Come see for yourselves as evil forces vie for power in meticulously detailed sets with petrifying storylines, unnerving illusions and professional actors. This year there are three all-new haunted houses and five escape rooms that will be part of award-winning Dread Hollow. You’ll never forget this night inside 20,000+ square feet of pure horror.