Take off

The Colonial seaport towns of Beaufort and Morehead City, N.C., open private homes and gardens, churches, graveyards and inns for living history events during the Beaufort Old Homes Tour and Antiques Show from June 27-29.

Part of the Homes Tour are guided walking tours of homes, gardens, churches, meeting halls and more. There are also historic demonstrations, music concerts and an antique car show.

At the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City, the Antiques Show features more than 40 booths of antiques and collectibles. For a relaxing time at the end of the weekend, go to the Double Decker Bus Party. The Sunshine Band performs on the Beaufort Historic Association grounds at 6 p.m. June 29. Bring chairs, blankets and picnic supper. The double-decker bus will be there, with food and drink for sale. 1-800-575-7483, www.beauforthistoricsite.org.

GEORGIA

Blairsville —- Scottish Festival and Highland Games, June 14-15, promises bagpipes, Highland dancers and athletic competitions, traditional food, Kilted Mile Run and Kilted Golf Classic, genealogy information and children's crafts. 1-877-745-5789, www.blairsvillescottishfestival.org.

St. Simons Island —- Wompzilla, the Golden Isles Skim Boarding Competition, Sunday. Events include a skimboard race, distance contests, freestyle and the Golden Broom Award for the best wipeout. Summertime kickoff party Saturday at Southern Soul BBQ in the village with the Stringrays. www.southernsoulbbq.com.

Sautee Nacoochee —- SummerFest, June 13-July 27. Cultural arts festival features gallery and museum shows, music and dance, children's activities, singer/songwriter showcase and performances. 706-878-3300, www.snca.org.

Summerville —- Down Home Farm Day, Saturday, has scenes of pioneer and farm life with blacksmiths, antique tractors and farm machinery as well as Dutch oven cooking, quilting, churning, weaving and domestic heritage arts. There will be music, children's activities and a produce and plants sale. 706-822-0197 or 706-859-7726.

Tallulah Falls —- Northeast Georgia Arts Tour, June 20-22, 27-29, celebrates the art of the Northeast Georgia Mountains. Throughout the event there will be artists demonstrating, musicians and singers performing, food, wine, workshops, dancing and theater in more than 100 locations in Clayton, Tallulah Falls, Clarkesville, Helen, Cleveland, Cornelia, Sautee and Toccoa. 706-754-5989, www.northeastgeorgiaartstour.org.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Greenwood —- Festival of Flowers, June 20-22. More than 35 fragrant festivities include famous trial gardens, private garden and railroad museum tours, safari-themed town of topiaries, sporting events, bluegrass, jazz and beach music and kids activities. 864-223-8411, www.scfestivalofflowers.org.

NORTH CAROLINA

Asheville —- Shindig on the Green, June 28; July 5, 12, 19; and Aug. 9, 16, 23, 30, presents traditional and old-time string bands, bluegrass, ballad singers, big circle mountain dancers and cloggers on summer Saturday evenings for free in downtown Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The Shindig takes a break during the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, July 31-Aug. 2. Fiddlers, banjo pickers, dulcimer sweepers, dancers, balladeers and others perform. 828-257-4530 or www.dwtheatre.com.

Bakersville —- Rhododendron Festival, June 20-21, features a street fair, 10K run, street dance, fishing tournament, Miss Rhododendron Pageant, car show, ducky derby and more. 1-800-227-3912, www.bakersville.com/rhod.html.

ALABAMA

Foley —- Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, June 13-15, has balloon rides, helicopter rides, remote control planes, arts and crafts, food. 251-943-5590, www.gulfcoastballoonfestival.com.

FLORIDA

Pensacola —- Fiesta of Five Flags, through June 13, celebrates the Gulf city's 1559 founding by the Spanish. The party begins with a lighthearted re-enactment of the 1559 surrender of the seaside city to Spanish explorer Don Tristan DeLuna. There is music nightly, a golf tournament, dancing, beach activities and a June 12 parade. 850-433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org.