Fall begins a big season for festivals and holiday events. Here are the top ones for the quarter, compiled by the Southeast Tourism Society, www.southeasttourism.org or www.escapetothesoutheast.com.

OCTOBER

DANNY GILLELAND/Special (ENLARGE)

The Georgia National Fair in Perry offers competitive and educational exhibits in a family environment Friday-Oct. 15.

Rob Henry (ENLARGE)

A dealer shows off a new Mercedes at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in March. Hilton Head Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival, the only other Concours in the Southeast region, is scheduled Nov. 2-5. Cars from antiques to brand new, from racers to sedans, will be on display.

Through Oct. 22: Biltmore Estate Harvest Home Celebration and Jazz at the Winery features, musical entertainment, dancing and storytelling. Asheville, N.C. 1-800-543-2961, www.biltmore.com.

Through Oct. 28 (closed Thursdays): National Gospel & Harvest Celebration has four weeks of Southern gospel concerts along with arts and crafts. Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 1-800-365-5996, www.dollywood.com.

Friday-Sunday: The North Carolina Seafood Festival is a three-day event with a boat show, fireworks and four stages of music. Morehead City, N.C. 252-726-6273, www.ncseafoodfestival.org.

Friday-Oct. 15: Georgia National Fair has competitive and educational exhibits in a family environment. Perry. 478-987-3247 or 1-800-987-3247 (Georgia only), www.georgianationalfair.com.

Saturday-Oct. 14: Red River Revel Arts Festival is an eight-day celebration with food, performing and visual arts. Shreveport, La. 318-424-4000, www.redriverrevel.com.

Saturday-Sunday: The Cotton Pickin' Fair attracts 200 artisans, craftsmen and antique specialists. Gay. 706-538-6814, www.cpfair.org.

Oct. 12-15: 35th Annual National Shrimp Festival includes more than 300 arts and crafts vendors and, of course, shrimp. Gulf Shores, Ala. 251-968-6902, www.nationalshrimpfestival.com.

Oct. 12-15: Suffolk Peanut Fest has educational exhibits, rides and games, food, cloggers, karaoke and a peanut butter sculpture contest. Suffolk, Va. 757-539-6751, www.suffolkfest.org.

Oct. 13-15: Foothills Fall Festival showcases musical acts in country, blues, rock and gospel, along with children's entertainment and a juried arts and crafts. Maryville, Tenn. 865-273-3406, www.foothillsfallfestival.com.

Oct. 13-15: 68th National Folk Festival offers music, dance, crafts and storytelling. Richmond. 804-788-6466, www.nationalfolkfestival.com.

Oct. 13-14: Goats, Music and More Festival honors Marshall County's native fainting goats; children's activities, arts and craft booths, food and music. Lewisburg, Tenn. 1-866-964-6287, www.goatsmusicandmore.com.

Oct. 13-15: Autumn Leaves Festival includes vendors and entertainment; celebrating its 40th year. Mount Airy, N.C. 336-786-6116, Ext. 5, www.visitmayberry.com.

Oct. 14-15: MUMfest celebrates historic downtown New Bern with concerts and a BMX bike show. New Bern, N.C. 252-638-5781, www.mumfest.com.

Oct. 19-29: Pensacola Interstate Fair, celebrating its 72nd anniversary, features musical groups, a midway and agricultural exhibits. Pensacola, Fla. 850-944-4500 or 850-944-2000, www.pensacolafair.com.

Oct. 21: The Barbecue Festival has pork barbecue, arts and crafts, antique car show and entertainment. Lexington, N.C. 336-956-1880, www.barbecuefestival.com.

Oct. 21: The Great Delta Bear Affair is celebrated with fireworks, children's games and musical entertainment. Rolling Fork, Miss. 662-873-6261 www.lowerdelta.org.

Oct. 25-28: Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic celebrates the rivalry between the college football teams. Jacksonville. 904-630-3690, www.flga.org.

Oct. 20-21: Roast N' Boast draws barbecue teams to Columbus in a "Memphis in May" sanctioned contest. Columbus, Miss. 662-328-5026.

Oct. 28-29: Alabama Renaissance Faire transforms downtown Florence into a 600-year-old European atmosphere. Florence, Ala. 256-768-3031, www.alarenfaire.org.

NOVEMBER

Nov. 1-Dec. 31: Holiday Season in Old Salem Museum & Gardens teaches how holidays have evolved since the 1700s with historic holiday decorating and music. Winston-Salem, N.C. 336-721-7300, www.oldsalem.org.

Nov. 1-Dec.15 (weekends only): Louisiana Renaissance Festival takes visitors to the 16th century through shows and music. Hammond, La. 985-429-9992, www.larf.org.

Nov. 2-5: Hilton Head Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival, one of only two Concours in the Southeast region, has more than 350 unique cars, plus Vintage Track Day. Hilton Head Island, S.C. 843-785-7469, www.hhiconcours.com.

Nov. 2-5: Seventh Annual Pow Wow & Indian Festival includes dance and drum competitions, basket weaving and hide-tanning demonstrations. Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, www.rthunder.com.

Nov. 4-Jan. 1: Christmas at Biltmore Estate has America's largest home decorated for the holidays. Asheville, N.C. 1-800-543-2961, www.biltmore.com.

Nov. 3-5: Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival includes more than 200 fine art and craft exhibitors and a children's arts festival. Pensacola, Fla. 850-432-9906 www.ggaf.org.

Nov. 3-Dec. 31 (Saturdays and Tuesdays): Opry at the Ryman, at the Ryman Auditorium, has its winter run. Nashville. 1-800-733-6779, www.opry.com.

Nov. 3-11: National Peanut Festival includes a large carnival, entertainment, circus animal acts, arts and crafts. Dothan, Ala. 334-793-4323, www.nationalpeanutfestival.com.

Nov. 3-Dec.31: The Carolina Opry Christmas Special has songs, music and dance for the whole family. Myrtle Beach, S.C. 1-800-843-6779, www.thecarolinaopry.com.

Nov. 4-Dec. 30: Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival has more than 3.5 million holiday lights, holiday buffets and entertainment. Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 1-800-365-5996, www.dollywood.com.

Nov. 8-11: Cucalorus Film Festival hosts 50 filmmakers from all over the continent. Wilmington N.C. 910-343-5995, www.cucalorus.org.

Nov. 9-19: Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival celebrates the creativity and power of music. Pensacola, Fla. 850-492-7664, www.fbisf.com.

Nov. 9-12: The Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals celebrate Victorian England. Myrtle Beach, S.C. 1-800-261-5991, www.dickenschristmasshow.com.

Nov. 10-11: Longhorn Championship Finals Rodeo and Western Trade Show showcases the top 10 in six pro-rodeo contests in a sudden death competition; also a Lippizaner horse. Murfreesboro, Tenn. 615-876-1016 or 1-800-357-6336, www.longhornrodeo.com.

Nov. 11, 12, 17-19, 24-26, Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 18-30: A Stone Mountain Christmas includes nightly snowfall, 1870s townsfolk and entertainers and skilled crafters. Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com.

Nov. 17-Dec.16: Christmas in the Valley takes you back through time to a nostalgic country holiday. Renfro Valley, Ky. 606-256-2638 or 1-800-765-7464, www.renfrovalley.com.

Nov. 17-Jan. 6: Rock City's Enchanted Garden of Lights has more than 25 holiday scenes and nearly a million lights. Lookout Mountain. 706-820-2531, www.seerockcity.com.

Nov. 23-Dec. 31: Galaxy of Lights is an animated exhibit with more than 4 million lights. Huntsville, Ala. 256-830-4447, www.hsvbg.org.

Nov. 24-Jan. 1: Winter Wonderland has holiday movies on a giant outdoor screen, a figure skating exhibition, live music and contests on the riverfront. Owensboro, Ky. 270-687-2787, www.riverparkcenter.org.

Nov. 25: Jacksonville Light Parade has more than 50 participants competing in the lighted boat contest, plus fireworks on the St. Johns River. Jacksonville. 904-630-3690, www.coj.net.

Nov. 24-Dec. 31: Newport Aquarium's Santa's Water Wonderland has a "Scuba Santa," sharks, fish and loggerhead sea turtles. Newport, Ky. 859-261-7444, www.newportaquarium.com.

Nov. 30-Dec. 3: 39th Annual Snowball Derby brings a close to racing season throughout the United States. Pensacola, Fla. 850-944-8400, www.fiveflagsspeedway.com.

DECEMBER

Dec. 1-2: Belhaven's Singing Christmas Tree has the Belhaven College Choir forming a lighted human singing tree. Jackson, Miss. 601-968-5980, www.belhaven.edu.

Dec. 1-3: Chimneyville Crafts Festival offers demonstrations, displays and sales by more than 160 master artisans. Jackson, Miss. 601-981-0019, www.mscraftsmensguild.org.

Dec. 1-3: Christmas in the Country includes lights, a live Nativity, Christmas carols and a children's Christmas parade. St. Francisville, La. 1-800-789-4221, www.stfrancisville.us.

Dec. 1-Dec. 31: Santa's Village transforms Alabama Constitution Village into a holiday Fantasy Land with nightly snow flurries, live reindeer and Santa Claus. Huntsville, Ala. 256-564-8120, www.earlyworks.com.

Dec. 1-31: Southwest Louisiana Christmas Lighting Festival includes two parades, lighting events, story times, dance performances and musical and theater groups. Lake Charles, La. 1-800-456-7952, visitlakecharles.org.

Dec. 1-2: Decatur Holiday Candlelight Tour of Homes showcases homes in different areas from old Victorians to new lofts and condos, plus a marketplace with local musicians. Decatur. 404-371-9583, www.decaturga.com.

Dec. 2-8: Trees of Christmas "Christmas Dreams" features decorated trees representing dreams of Christmas past, present and future. Manchester, Tenn. 931-728-0273.

Dec. 2-10, 21-23 in High Point, N.C., and Dec. 15-17 in Winston-Salem, N.C.: The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival presents "A Christmas Carol." 336-841-2273, Ext. 226, www.ncshakes.org.

Dec. 2: 13th Annual Christmas in Collierville shows Christmastime in the 1800s with horse-drawn carriage rides and entertainment in the historic town square. Collierville, Tenn. 901-853-1666, www.collierville.com/mainstreet.

Dec. 2: The Winter Festival includes five stages of local entertainment, lighting ceremony, parades and youth tree decorating contest. Tallahassee. 850-891-3860, www.talgov.com.

Dec. 3: Plantation Christmas re-creates early 19th-century holiday celebration with music and traditional decorating. Tuscumbia, Ala. 256-383-0783 or 1-800-344-0783.

Dec. 3: 29th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony lights a 45-foot Christmas tree with more than 10,000 lights, and includes a holiday musical and dance performance. Alpharetta. 678-297-6078, www.alpharetta.ga.us.

Dec. 9-10: 13th Annual Holiday Tour of Inns showcases 26 inns in historic St. Augustine, plus the best in restaurants, wineries and bakeries. St. Augustine, Fla. 904-824-2229, www.staugustineinns.com.

Dec. 9-26 (closed Dec. 13, 20, 24, 25): Christmas in Hopelands opens the 14-acre Hopelands Gardens at night with more than 100,000 lights, local performances and artisans. Aiken, S.C. 803-642-7631, www.aikenprt.net.

Dec. 9, 16: Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens Christmas Candlelight Tour has the palace illuminated and filled with dancers and characters. New Bern, N.C. 1-800-767-1560, www.tryonpalace.org.

Dec. 14-16: NAIA National Football Championship has two NAIA college teams competing for the title. Savannah, Tenn. 1-800-552-3866, www.tourhardincounty.org.

Dec. 16: Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade shows off decorated vessels along 10 miles of intracoastal waterways in Broward County. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 954-767-0686, www.winterfestparade.com.

Dec. 17: Wright Brothers Anniversary. Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 252-441-1903, www.firstflight.org.