The flavors of the South

By Brooke Rawlins

For the AJC

Food is often the most popular attraction at a festival. Where else can visitors enjoy fun fare like corn dogs, funnel cakes, apple dumplings and fried Oreos? But festivals devoted primarily to food take it to a whole new level. Food festivals actually have a long history that’s nearly as old as man, beginning with tributes to deities and harvest celebrations. Today, they are the cornerstone of what’s come to be known in the travel industry as culinary tourism.

From the Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tenn., created to honor a small town that became lost in the shuffle to nearby shopping centers, to the Vidalia Onion Festival, which honors Georgia’s official state vegetable, the Southeast offers a rich diversity of food festivals. And after all, nothing brings people together like food.

Pensacola Crawfish Festival, Pensacola, Fla.

The 26th annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival is a three-day celebration of all things Cajun held at Bartram Park in downtown Pensacola. The event features music from the Louisiana bayou, children’s activities and crawfish-eating contests. If eating crawfish isn’t your thing, there will be a multitude of other food and drink items.

Festival info: April 30-May 2. $5 adults, free for children younger than 12, $10 for a three-day weekend pass. 2121 W. Intendencia St., Pensacola. 850-433-6512, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org.

Stay: Lee House Bed and Breakfast Inn. Located across from Pensacola Bay, the inn is located within walking distance of shops, nightlife and the annual Crawfish Festival. $195-$245. 400 Bayfront Parkway. 850-912-8770. www.leehouse pensacola.com

Eat: Atlas Oyster House. Serving oysters, steaks, shrimp and beer, the Atlas Oyster House also hosts live bands and offers 25-cent oysters on Sundays and Mondays. $8.50-$28. 600 S. Barracks St. 850-437-1961, www.atlas.goodgrits.com

Info: Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. 800-874-1234, www.visitpensacola.com

Vidalia Onion Festival, Vidalia, Ga.

The 33rd annual Vidalia Onion Festival is named a top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society, and there’s a whole lot more to do than enjoy onions. Attractions include a beauty pageant, an onion-eating contest, a truck show, a golf tournament, musical performances, a children’s parade and vendors selling food and crafts.

Festival info: April 22-25. Admission is free. Meadows Street. 912-538-8687, www.vidaliaonionfestival.com

Stay: The Inn at Vidalia. The inn, which has about 120 rooms, offers guests a relaxing stay. It is located within the walking distance of the Vidalia Onion Festival, and is also close to restaurants. $41.95 -$45. 2505 East 1st St. 912-537-1282. www.theinnatvidalia.com

Eat: Steeplechase Grille and Tavern. All-round, something-for-everyone eatery serving burgers, ribs, shrimp and more. $6.99-$13. 306 E. 2nd St. 912-537-7900, www.thechaseison.com

Info: Vidalia Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. 912-538-8687, www.vidaliaarea.com

Cornbread Festival, South Pittsburg, Tenn.

On the last weekend of April, visitors to South Pittsburg can expect to sample a myriad of cornbread recipes from plain to fancy at the 14th annual National Cornbread Festival. The two-day event includes a cornbread cook-off, a beauty pageant, a classic car show, a carnival and vendors selling arts and crafts. But the big attraction has to be Cornbread Alley, where visitors can taste all kinds of cornbreads.

Festival info: April 24-25. $3. 213 S. Cedar Ave. 423-837-5000. www.nationalcornbread.com.

Stay: Monteagle Inn and Retreat Center. Only 19 miles from South Pittsburg, the Monteagle Inn and Retreat Center offers guests Mediterranean-style suites with garden views. $160-$265. 204 W. Main Street, Monteagle. 931-924-3869. www.monteagleinn.com.

Eat: High Point Restaurant. Awarded “The Best Gourmet Meal in Tennessee” by Tennessee Magazine, the High Point Restaurant in Monteagle is a fine-dining destination serving steak, scallops and tuna. $19.95-$39.95. 224 E. Main St., Monteagle. 931-924-4600. www.highpointrestaurant.net.

Info: Marion County Chamber of Commerce. 423-942-5103, www.marioncountychamber.com.

Chocolate Festival, Lewisburg, W. Va.

More than 5,000 people are expected to attend the fourth annual Chocolate Festival in downtown Lewisburg. Pre-festival activities begin April 8 with a cooking class on Cuban-inspired dishes, including flan, black bread and chocolate-dipped stuffed dates. The fun continues April 9, when local eateries offer chocolate-themed menu items.

The main attraction is April 10 when ticket holders can indulge in chocolate tastings offered by restaurants and shops. There also will be vendors on hand selling chocolates as well as arts and crafts. Other activities include a chocolate bake-off competition, a chocolate mousse-eating contest, a 10K race, storytelling and performances of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” by a local theater company.

Festival info: April 10. Admission is free; $5 for 5 chocolate tasting tickets. Visitors are advised to purchase tickets early. 800-833-2068, www.lewisburgchocolate
festival.com.

Stay: The General Lewis Inn. Located within walking distance of the festival, the Civil War-inspired inn is appointed with antiques dating back to the 1800s. $110-$155. 301 E. Washington St. 800-628-4454, www.generallewisinn.com.

Eat: The Stardust Cafe. Serving pastas, salads and steaks featuring organic ingredients. $7.95-$26.102 E. Washington St. 24901. 304-647-3663, www.stardustcafewv.com

Info: Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau. 304-645-1000, www.greenbrierwv.com.