Southern Affairs
This time of year, no matter which way to turn, there is some sort of event or festivity to attend. Spring has sprung and is leading up to beautiful sunny days! Time for some sweet tea and adventures outdoors. Let us help take the guesswork out of what to see and do during one of the prettiest times of year in the South. Grab your travel partner or your labradoodle, get outdoors, and celebrate Southern style.
April 14-June 3
Georgia Renaissance Festival
Fairburn, Georgia
Come to the 32nd Annual Georgia Renaissance Festival where fun and laughter reigns! Step inside the castle gates into a 16th-century English Village, filled with busy merchants in the marketplace of over 150 artisan craft shops. You'll find ten stages with endless entertainment of comedy, music and circus-style shows, Jousting Knights, Birds of Prey Show, the antics of hundreds of costumed characters, carnival games and human-powered rides for kids of all ages. The Kids Kingdom will amuse children for hours on the Kingdom's Play System, or with special activities and games of skill for young visitors. Of course, there is great food too!
garenfest.com
May 4-5
Cullman StrawberryFest
Cullman, Alabama
Cullman StrawberryFest features the best strawberries and produce in North Alabama. Along with an outstanding music venue, classic car show, arts and crafts, and scrumptious food vendors, visitors can plan to spend the whole day shopping in the unique stores in the downtown district, dancing to a variety of music playing at the Festhalle, or visiting the historic districts with guided tours provided by the Cullman County Museum.
cullmanrecreation.org
May 4-6
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
Witness over 30 Cajun and Creole bands over three days coupled with the delicious crustacean, the crawfish. Sample crawfish dishes prepared every way imaginable-fried, boiled, étouffée, bisque, boudin, pie, jambalaya and crawdogs-along with other Cajun & Creole favorites. The Crawfish Festival also hosts a parade, crawfish eating contest, Cajun and Zydeco dance contest, crawfish étouffée cook-off, crawfish race, carnival rides for young and old alike as well as an arts and crafts fair.
bbcrawfest.com
May 5
Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival
Smithville, North Carolina
The 34th annual Ham & Yam Festival starts on a Saturday, in Downtown Smithfield. With pig races, inflatables, vendors, entertainment, and ham and yam foods, it's a fun day for the entire family! A full schedule of events will attract thousands of people to Downtown Smithfield, where the festival occupies several blocks. Craft and commercial vendors line the streets, food vendors offer a variety of fair foods, and menu items featuring country ham and sweet potatoes, and local bands and dance groups perform on the festival's three stages throughout the day. The festival features a barbecue cook-off, rubber duck race, 5k race, and the always popular "What's That Yam Thing?" contest.
hamandyam.com
May 5
Beaufort Wooden Boat Show
Beaufort, North Carolina
Whether you are a boating enthusiast or prefer to keep your feet on dry land, the 44th Annual Wooden Boat Show has activities for all ages. This free event celebrates the art of North Carolina, traditional wooden boatbuilding and the sport of boat racing. Dozens of handcrafted wooden boats will be on display, along with nautical demonstrations, and activities for children. This event has received top honors from the Southeast Tourism Society as a “Top 20 Event for the Southeast” for May. This is the third year in a row the museum has received the prestigious honor.
beaufortwoodenboatshow.com
May 11-12
International PAN Fest
Virginia Beach, Virginia
The Virginia International PAN Fest is a musical adventure set to the soothing sounds of steel pan music. The festival’s casual atmosphere appeals to the island community and people of all ages who are intrigued by the unique sounds and style of steel drum music. Fusing together the rhythm of steel bands, ocean breezes, and great international food, the breathtaking Virginia Beach oceanfront becomes an “island paradise” for the weekend.
vapanfest.org
May 5-6
41st Spring Pecan Street Festival
Austin, Texas
The Pecan Street Festival is a free, semi-annual juried arts and crafts festival held on historic Sixth Street in Austin. The show proudly features more than 275 artisan vendors from all over the world who display and sell homemade art and craft work.
pecanstreetfestival.org
May 12
411th Anniversary Jamestown
Williamsburg, Virginia
Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement will mark the 410th anniversary of the founding of America's first permanent English settlement on Saturday, May 14, with interpretive programs on Powhatan and English interactions, military and maritime displays, family-friendly tours and activities, and traditional music and entertainment. The annual commemorative event features Historic Jamestowne's ongoing archaeological discoveries of the 1607 fort and one of Jamestown Settlement's re-created ships sailing in the James River.
visitwilliamsburg.com
May 12-14
Deltaville Seafood Festival
Deltaville, Virginia
Deltaville, "The Boating Capital of the Chesapeake," will have something for everyone. Bring your friends, grandparents and the kids. There will be waterfront activities such as paddleboard races, kayaking, canoeing and boat tours. There will also be a Deadrise boat building exhibit, crab pot/oyster float making, model railroader’s exhibit, seafood vendors, arts and crafts vendors, antique cars and boats, a beer & wine garden, and an evening outdoor concert by Bobby Messano at the Deltaville Maritime Museum to cap off the evening.
deltavilleseafoodfestival.com
May 26
Bavarianfest
Helen, Georgia
Experience a bit of Bavaria while you and your family enjoy the Memorial Day weekend in Helen. A live oompah band, dancing and a festive Bavarian atmosphere will help to financially support those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, our military. Imported and domestic beer and wines, wursts on a bun, sauerkraut, hot dogs, pretzels, snacks, and desserts will be available to taste all day long.
helenchamber.com
May 27
Zydeco Extravaganza
Lafayette, Louisiana
This fun indoor festival has everything your friends and family will need to dance the day away including live music from some of the area’s hottest Zydeco acts, an amateur accordion contest, food vendors serving up traditional Creole cuisine including boudin, red beans and rice as well as traditional festival food like funnel cakes and lemonade.
zydecoextra.com
June 2
Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
The highly anticipated Sweetgrass Festival will celebrate the rich Gullah Geechee cultural heritage and provides the most extensive showcase of sweetgrass baskets in the Lowcountry area. This annual event is designed to promote and preserve the Gullah Geechee people's' history, heritage, culture and traditions. Visitors will find the work of over 20 sweetgrass basket makers and other artwork and crafts available for purchase, basket making demonstrations, and children's activities.
sweetgrassfestival.org
June 6-10
Tupelo Elvis Festival
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo Elvis Festival is a celebration designed to honor Elvis Presley, Tupelo’s native son, and the impact that his music has on the world. The 20th annual Tupelo Elvis Festival will be June 6-10. Each year's festival features regional, national and local artists along with a Sunday gospel concert and a tribute artist contest that serves as a preliminary round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. Fans come from near and far to see who will be chosen to represent Tupelo in Memphis during August. In addition to all of the great music, the festival features a number of local food vendors, a pet parade, 5k run, movie poster exhibit, living history on Main Street, and much more!
tupeloelvisfestival.com
June 23
Keep Austin Weird Fest & 5K
Austin, Texas
Anything is possible at this decade-old Austin extravaganza! Run, skip or race through the streets of downtown Austin wearing the wackiest costume. Unofficially known as "the slowest 5K you will ever run," this race is designed for amusement and fun.
keepaustinweirdfest.com
July 20-21
North Carolina Peach Festival
Candor, North Carolina
Candor’s History is steeped in peach growing tradition! Join this annual N.C. Peach Festival that kicks off in Downtown Candor. This year there is something new! Friday at 4pm enjoy evening festivities and entertainment for the whole family. On Saturday a parade begins at 10 a.m. with wonderful local floats, firetrucks, and other fun parade entrants. There are always lots of fresh, sweet, local peaches, arts & crafts, and of course, the best homemade peach ice cream in North Carolina! Grown-ups and kids alike can enjoy an abundance of activities like bounce houses, petting zoo, mechanical bull, pony and helicopter rides, live entertainment and so much more!
ncpeachfestival.com
WE RECOMMEND
Clute, Texas
Home of The Great Texas Mosquito Festival is located just 45 minutes away from Houston. Their annual celebration (July 26-28) has gained national recognition and attracts thousands of visitors from all over the country. Half-seriously referred to as "The Texas State Bird,” the Mosquito is an excuse for residents to join in on three days of fun and games. Port Freeport and the area beaches that line the Gulf of Mexico are within five minutes of Clute. In 2012, TripAdvisor rated the Great Texas Mosquito Festival “The Wackiest Summer Festival in the United States.”
goclute.com
Manchester Coffee County Conference Center
Tennessee’s premiere event venue offers rental space for any and every occasion. Conferences, breakout rental space, bridal events, seminars and concert events of up to 500 guests, can all be expertly organized on-site by their profession planners. Combined with an award winning culinary team, the Manchester Coffee County Conference Center has the ability to bring any event to life. Be sure to snag a ticket to a number of fun seasonal events they plan, like Breakfast with Santa and a New Year’s Eve Black & White Ball.
147 Hospitality Blvd., Manchester, TN
931-723-8283
mcccc.com
Stop in Conway, South Carolina
A visit Conway is necessary. Enjoy huge moss-draped live oaks standing along avenues where the trees stand defiantly in the middle of the street. Follow the historic trails on a self-guided tour of stately old homes, picturesque churches and more than a dozen buildings and sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take a leisurely stroll along the beautiful Riverwalk to Conway’s oldest landmark, the Waccamaw River; or peruse the unique shops of the historic downtown.
conwayscchamber.com
