Some postponed until 2021 while others seek autumn celebration dates—all represent what makes the South special
ATLANTA, GEORGIA—MAY 2020—Southeast Tourism Society (STS) is dedicated to promoting and developing tourism in its member states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. In 1985, in recognition of the unique, diverse and unparalleled events in the region, STS began the Top 20 Events award program. A Top 20 Award seeks to bring more publicity and recognition to the best events in the Southeast, whether it be media, attendees or both! STS selects the Top 20 events, per month, and publishes them on a quarterly basis. Learn more about Southeast Tourism Society at www.SoutheastTourism.org
As noted below, some of these events have been canceled for 2020—with eyes set on celebrations in 2021. Other events have been postponed until fall when the nation is hoping it will be safe to gather again. Regardless of when these events take place, all represent the soul of the South and serve as inspiration for future explorations of the Southeast region.
Current Top 20 Events
Click here for full event descriptions.
April 2020
April 1-5, 2020, North Carolina Azalea Festival, Wilmington, NC, www.ncazaleafestival.org
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 3-5, 2020, Azalea Garden Tour 2020, Wilmington, NC, http://www.capefeargardenclub.org
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 3-5, 2020, Sebring Soda Festival, Sebring, FL, www.SebringSodaFest.com
THIS EVENT IS RE-SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 16-19, 2020
April 3-5 2020, Siege of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, AL, http://www.siegeatbridgeport.com/
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 4-5, 2020, Ridgeland Fine Arts Festival, Ridgeland, MS, www.ridgelandartsfest.com
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 5, 2020, Pigeon Forge Chuck Wagon Cookoff, Pigeon Forge, TN, www.MyPigeonForge.com
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 9-11, 2020, Louisiana Railroad Days Festival, DeQuincy, LA, www.larailroaddaysfestival.com
April 10-26, 2020, Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival, Clearwater Beach, FL, https://sugarsandfestival.com/
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 16-19, 2020, Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend, Hendersonville, NC, https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/cider-wine-dine-weekend
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 16-25, 2020, Come-See-Me Festival, Rock Hill, SC, www.comeseeme.org
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR
April 16-May 1, 2020, Kentucky Derby Festival, Louisville, KY, www.KDF.org
EVENT POSTPONED UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR
April 17-18, 2020, Original Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival, Lake Charles, LA, www.downtowncrawfest.com
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 18-19, 25-26, 2020, Rock City’s EarthDayz, Lookout Mountain, GA, https://www.seerockcity.com/events/earthdayz/
April 23-25 2020, Thomasville’s Rose Show and Festival, Thomasville, GA, http://thomasvillega.com/attractions/festivals/thomasville-rose-show-and-festival
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 23-26, 2020, Vidalia Onion Festival, Vidalia, GA, www.vidaliaonionfestival.com
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 24-25, 2020, Double Decker Arts Festival, Oxford, MS, https://www.doubledeckerfestival.com
THIS EVENT IS RE-SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 14-15, 2020
April 25, 2020, Celebrate Hoover Day, Hoover, AL, www.hooveralabama.gov
April 25, 2020, North Carolina Pickle Festival, Mount Olive, NC, www.ncpicklefest.org
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 25-26, 2020, Brooksville Blueberry Festival, Brooksville, FL, www.brooksvilleblueberryfestival.com
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR 2020
April 29-May 2, 2020, Suwannee River Jam, Live Oak, FL, https://www.suwanneeriverjam.com/
THIS EVENT IS RE-SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 3
May 2020
Saturdays May through October, 2020 (8 a.m.-noon), TD Saturday Market, Greenville, SC, https://www.saturdaymarketlive.com/
This event opening has been moved to June 6.
May 1-2, 2020, Market Street Festival, Columbus, MS, www.marketstreetfestival.com
This event has been rescheduled for September 11-12.
May 2, 2020, Annual Wooden Boat Show, Beaufort, NC, https://beaufortwoodenboatshow.com/
This event has been rescheduled for October 17 at Gallants Channel.
May 2, 2020, Kentucky Derby Days at Storybook Farm, Opelika, AL, https://hopeonhorseback.org/derby/
This event has been rescheduled for September 5.
May 2-3, 2020, Cotton Pickin’ Fair, Gay, GA, www.cpfair.org
This event has been rescheduled for October 3-4.
May 2-3, 2020, WWII Heritage Days, Peachtree City, GA, www.wwIIdays.org
This event has been rescheduled for September 12-13.
May 5-9, 2020, Wilderness Wildlife Week, Pigeon Forge, TN, www.mypigeonforge.com/event/wilderness-wildlife-week
This event has been canceled for 2020.
May 7, 2020, Taste of Alpharetta, Alpharetta, GA, https://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreation-parks/special-events/taste-of-alpharetta
This event has been canceled for 2020.
May 9, 2020, Louisiana Beer Fest, Lake Charles, LA, https://louisianabeerfestival.com/
This event has been rescheduled for September 26.
May 14-17, 2020, Chesapeake Jubilee, Chesapeake, VA, www.chesapeakejubilee.org
This event has been canceled for 2020.
May 15-16, 2020, North Carolina Brewer’s & Music Festival, Huntersville, NC, https://www.ncbrewsmusic.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
May 15-16, 2020, Pirate Day in the Bay, Bay St. Louis, MS, www.mkotsh.com
This event has been rescheduled for September 11-12.
May 16, 2020, Asian Festival and Dragon Boat Race, Cornelius, NC, http://www.charlottedragonboat.com/
This event has been rescheduled for October 17.
May 16, 2020, Hook, Line & Drinker Festival, Sylva, NC, www.hooklinedrinkerfest.com
This event has been rescheduled for September 12.
May 21-24, 2020, Rooster Walk, Martinsville, VA, https://roosterwalk.com/
May 22-24, 2020, Garden Jubilee, Hendersonville, NC, https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/garden-jubilee
May 22-September 4, 2020, Live on the Levee, Charleston, WV, https://liveontheleveecharleston.com/
May 22-25, May 29-June 28 (Fridays-Sundays), July 3-12, July 17-August 30 (Fridays-Sundays), September 4-7, 2020, Rock City’s Summer Music Weekends, Lookout Mountain, GA, https://www.seerockcity.com/events/summer-music-weekends/
May 23-24, 2020, Orange Street ARTSfest, Wilmington, NC, www.thalian.org
May 23-25, 2020, West Virginia Three Rivers Festival, Fairmont, WV, https://www.wvthreeriversfestival.com/
This event has been rescheduled for June 11-13, 2020.
June 2020
June 2020, FestivalSouth, Hattiesburg, MS, www.festivalsouth.org
This event has been canceled for 2020.
June 1-30, 2020, SC Festival of Flowers, Greenwood, SC, www.scFestivalofFlowers.org
June 3-7, 2020, Tupelo Elvis Festival, Tupelo, MS, https://www.tupeloelvisfestival.com
This year’s event will be virtual only at the above link.
June 5-7, 2020, Ferguson North American Sand Soccer Championships, Virginia Beach, VA, www.sandsoccer.com
This event has been rescheduled for August 7-9.
June 5-7, 2020, North Georgia Highlands Seafood & Wine Festival, Young Harris, GA, http://www.northgeorgiahighlandsseafoodfestival.com/
This event has been rescheduled for August 28-30.
June 6-7, 2020, Flying Colors Butterfly Festival, Roswell, GA, www.chattnaturecenter.org
June 6-7, 2020, Lenoir City Arts & Crafts Festival, TN, https://lenoircityartsandcrafts.com/
June 6-7, 2020, NC Black Bear Festival, Plymouth, NC, https://www.ncbearfest.com/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
June 8-August 14, 2020, Summer Music Concert Series, Hendersonville, NC, https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/monday-night-live https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/street-dances https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/music-on-main-street
June 10-14, 2020, Vero Beach Wine + Film Festival, Vero Beach, FL, https://vbwff.com/
June 11-13, 2020, Capitol City Biker Bash, Charleston, WV, https://www.facebook.com/CapitolCityBikerBash/
June 11 & 25, July 9 & 23, 2020, Sounds of Summer, Columbus, MS, www.columbusmainstreet.com
June 14-28, 2020, FestivALL, Charleston, WV, https://festivallcharleston.com/
June 13-14, 2020, Kids Fest, Orange Park, FL, www.OPKidsFest.com
June 17-20, 2020, W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, Henderson, KY, http://handyblues.org/
This event has been canceled for 2020.
June 20, 2020, Bell Buckle RC – Moon Pie Festival, Bell Buckle, TN, www.bellbucklechamber.com
June 20, 2020, Tour de Coal, Tornado, WV, https://www.coalrivergroup.com/
We just need to verify this because they website has current registration on hold.
June 20-21, 2020, Rhododendron Festival, Roan Mountain, TN, http://www.roanmountain.com/rhododendron-festival/
June 24-28, 2020, Beaufort Old Homes Tour, Beaufort, NC, www.beauforthistoricsite.org
June 26-27, 2020, Gulf Coast Shrimp & Jazz Festival, Lake Charles, LA, https://www.visitlakecharles.org/event/gulf-coast-shrimp-%26-jazz-festival/39578/