Southern Affairs | July/August 2023

July 1-2  
Big Mouth Bluegrass Festival  
Grundy County, Tennessee  

Sparks are flying on the Fourth of July weekend at The Caverns with the new Big Mouth Bluegrass Festival, which will feature a lineup of award-winning bluegrass artists, including Dan Tyminski Band, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Lonesome River Band, Iron Horse and more. IBMA award-winner and local favorite Becky Buller is the festival’s artist-in-residence and will collaborate onstage with artists to create special musical surprises all weekend too. In addition to the explosive pickin’ on stage, the camping festival also includes scenic open cave jam sessions for all guests to participate in, All-American cookout cuisine from a variety of food trucks, a special Sunday gospel brunch set, guided cave tours and a massive fireworks show.  
thecaverns.com/featured/big-mouth-bluegrass-festival  

July 6-8 
South Carolina Festival of Discovery  
Greenwood, South Carolina  

The South Carolina Festival of Discovery is the premier event of the year. The three-day event started in 2000 and has become the most highly anticipated event in the region. The family-friendly festival pays homage to the history, culture, foods, arts, crafts, music and people that make South Carolina and Greenwood County an incredible place to both live and visit. Be sure to check out the Festival of Discovery’s “Blues Cruise,” which celebrates the unique musical sound of the blues with numerous musical artists performing at Uptown Greenwood restaurants and venues. Come hungry too! The Kansas City Barbecue Society BBQ and Hash Cook-Off will focus on the famed tradition of Carolina Barbecue.  uptowngreenwood.com/events/sc_festival_of_discovery/index.php  

July 7-8 
Slugburger Festival  
Corinth, Mississippi  

For nearly a century, the Slugburger has been a Southern tradition. The culinary creation came about in Corinth, Mississippi, and since 1988, the town has celebrated this revered savory dish with a three-night, all-ages festival. Whether you opt to ambitiously partake in the World Slugburger Eating Championship or just feast on the delight on the grassy lawns, be sure to enjoy the kid-friendly carnival and sing along with local musicians as they take the stage. The festival also features a drive-in car show, a market packed with local arts, crafts and food vendors and a pageant. 
corinth.net/calendar-events/2023-slugburger-festival  

July 13-15 
Master Musicians Music Festival  
Somerset, Kentucky  

Kick back on a warm summer weekend for an eclectic lineup of music. Hosted at Somerset Community College, the 30th annual Masters Musicians Festival brings a wide variety of multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-racial music to the stage — from the blues to bluegrass, from Celtic to Haitian roots, from rock ‘n’ roll to jazz to progressive newgrass to country to Americana. This year’s festival will feature performances from Wynonna Judd, Ian Noe, Brit Taylor, Brother Smith, Nicholas Jamerson, Nappy Roots and more. This year, the festival will also host a free classical music night with the Louisville Orchestra at The Center for Rural Development. Don’t forget to bring the entire family too! Children ages 12 and younger are free with a ticket-holding adult.  
mastermusiciansfestival.org 

July 17-19  
U.S. Adaptive Open  
Pinehurst, North Carolina  

The second annual U.S. Adaptive Open Championship will be hosted on Course No. 6 at the historic Pinehurst Resort. The USGA established this national championship to showcase the world’s best golfers with disabilities as part of a pledge to create an event for the adaptive golf community. The championship will be contested over 54 holes of stroke play and is open to both males and females and professionals and amateurs. Spectators can cheer on 96 players as they make history in the USGA’s 15th national championship, which joins iconic events like the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur.  usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2023/u-s--adaptive-open.html  

July 21-23 
Hungry Mother Festival  
Marion, Virginia  

Head to Hungry Mother State Park for the longest running festival held in a Virginia State Park. Sponsored by the Art League of Marion, this free festival celebrates art, theater and music in the area. The festival’s schedule includes live music and entertainment, as well as a variety of children’s activities. Families can also participate in pottery, woodcraft, basketweaving, crafts and more — all amidst the scenic backdrop of the park. Local food vendors will be serving up their favorites too. Proceeds from the festival fund a variety of cultural activities including art scholarships and a county-wide art show for high school students.
hungrymotherfestival.com

August 11-12 
FireLake Firelight Balloon Festival 
Shawnee, Oklahoma  

Watch the Shawnee skyline transform into a mix of brilliant, bright colors as hot air balloons launch from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Powwow Grounds during this annual two-day festival. For those daring enough, embark on a scenic commercial or tethered balloon ride in one of the twenty balloons on-site during the FireLake Firelight Balloon Festival. For those who want to stay grounded, relax with live music, refuel at food trucks, shop at various craft vendors or cheer on your kids taking on rounds of mini-golf or enjoying inflatables in the Kids’ Zone. Be sure to catch the picturesque balloon glows and fireworks show too.
firelakeballoonfest.com 

August 16-20  
Delcambre Shrimp Festival  
Delcambre, Louisiana 

The town of Delcambre, Louisiana is home to one of the area’s most productive shrimp fleets. This annual five-day, family-friendly festival honors this fleet with a judged shrimp cook-off, a pageant, carnival rides, a a shrimp decorating contest, fais-do-do’s and live music and entertainment. Of course, the Delcambre Shrimp Festival also features delicious food booths, boasting signature dishes like boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp sauce piquante, shrimp salad and more. Beer and other drinks are available for purchase too. Don’t miss out on the special blessing of the shrimp boat fleet too!  
shrimpfestival.net  

August 18-26 
Georgia Mountain Fair 
Hiawassee, Georgia  

Look no further for classic family fun than the 72nd annual Georgia Mountain Fair, hosted at the historic Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. The fair has something for everyone, including first-class musical performances, arts and crafts, carnival rides and games and a glimpse into North Georgia’s rich history and culture. The fair also features Amusements of America’s midway, which is noted in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest traveling amusement park in the world. New this year, the Georgia Mountain Fair will also host a Miss Georgia Mountain Fair Beauty Pageant.
georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/localevents/fair  

August 21-27  
Sidewalk Film Festival 
Birmingham, Alabama  

Film buffs can enjoy Birmingham’s 25th annual Sidewalk Film Festival, which showcases the work of more than 250 diverse filmmakers and welcomes more than 15,000 film lovers to the city annually. Hosted in Birmingham’s Historic Theatre District, this festival gives independent filmmakers across the world and across all genres an opportunity to screen their work throughout the week. VIP tickets, Festival Spotlight Series and Weekend Pass tickets are available, along with single General Admission tickets, so you can customize your festival attendance. But, be sure to check out the iconic Opening Night film and Sidewalk Party too!  
sidewalkfest.com