GEORGIA
St. Simons Island — Food & Spirits Festival, Sept. 30-Oct. 4, features food, craft beer, wine pairings, art, music and more. www.saintsimonsfoodandspirits.com.
St. Marys — Rock Shrimp Festival, features 5K and 10K races, a kids' fun run, parade, entertainment, food and arts and crafts vendors.
Flintstone — Rock City's Enchanted Maize, Sept. 25-Nov. 2, features a crop-circle style maze, hayrides, food and a petting zoo. www.blowingspringsfarm.com.
Gay — The Cotton Pickin' Fair, Oct. 3-4, features arts and crafts, antiques, music, dance, theater and more. www.cpfair.org.
Perry — Georgia National Fair, Oct. 8-18, features art competitions, exhibits, livestock and horse shows, carnival rides, food, games, concerts, a circus and nightly fireworks. www.georgianationalfair.com.
Hogansville — Hummingbird Festival, Oct. 15-18, features arts and crafts vendors, a golf tournament, 5K and 10K runs, Miss Hummingbird Pageant, exhibits, films and hummingbird information sessions. www.hummingbirdfestival.com.
The Rock —National Pumpkin Destruction Day, Nov. 7, features pumpkin-bombing airplanes, monster truck pumpkin demolition, pumpkin archery, reverse pumpkin darts and more. www.therockranch.com/fall-family-fun-days. www.smkiwanis.com.
ALABAMA
Huntsville — Scarecrow Trail at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, through Oct. 31, features custom scarecrows, hay bale art, a sorghum maze, weekend hayrides and BOOtanica. www.hsvbg.org.
Gulf Shores — National Shrimp Festival, Oct. 8-11, features food, works by fine artists, entertainment, an outdoor village, arts and crafts and children's activities. www.myshrimpfest.com.
Orange Beach — Scarecrow Festival, Oct. 17, features make-your-own scarecrow competitions, clay and glass artist demonstrations, live music and children's activities. 251-981-2787, www.coastalartscenter.com.
Birmingham — Central South Native Plant Conference, Oct. 29-31, features lectures, workshops and field trips. www.bbgardens.org/csnpc.
Mobile — Christmas Jubilee, Nov. 11-14, features shopping, a preview gala, girls' night out, dining with Santa, Jubilee Art Walk, Hall of Wreaths and author's corner. www.juniorleagueofmobile.org.
FLORIDA
Amelia Island — Jazz Festival, Oct. 4-11, features concerts, clinics, jam sessions and more. www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com.
Orlando — Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (special-ticket event), select nights through Nov. 1, features trick-or-treating in Magic Kingdom park, parades, fireworks, food and characters. 407-939-5277, disneyworld.disney.go.com.
Daytona Beach — Blues Festival, Oct. 9-11, features well-known and emerging blues artists, craft beer tastings and more. www.daytonabluesfestival.com.
Clearwater — Hispanic Heritage Concert, Oct. 11, features performances of an array of music styles including, salsa, meringue, bachata and reggaeton. www.925maxima.com.
Panama City Beach — Emerald Coast Cruizin', Nov. 9-14, features a car show, beachfront cruises, burnout contests, a classic sock hop, vendors and more. www.emeraldcoastcruizin.com.
Pensacola — Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, Nov. 6-8, features juried artists, demonstrations and children's activities. www.ggaf.org.
St. Petersburg — Florida Holiday Halfathon, Dec. 13, features a run from Madeira Beach to Taylor Park and a post-race party. www.floridaholidayhalfathon.com.
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge — Live After Five, Fridays through Oct. 23, features outdoor concerts and restaurant meet-ups. www.liveafterfive.downtownbr.org.
Chackbay — Louisiana Gumbo Festival, Oct. 9-11, features seafood, live music, carnival and midway rides. 985-859-4859, www.lagumbofest.com.
Houma — Rougarou Fest, Oct. 24-25, features live music, Cajun food, a haunted house, Halloween parade, zombie run and children's activities. www.rougaroufest.org.
Opelousas — Yambilee Sweet Potato Festival, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, features music, food, a parade, carnival and pageant. www.yambilee.com.
Hammond — Louisiana Renaissance Festival, weekends Nov. 7-Dec. 13, features shows, demonstrations, shops and merchants. 985-429-9992, www.larf.org.
Lafayette — La Fete du Festival, Nov. 7, features food, entertainment and international music performances. www.festivalinternational.org.
Lake Charles — Avenue of Flags, Nov. 11, features more than 600 flags displayed in honor of fallen veterans. www.visitlakecharles.com.
Alexandria — Sugar Day Festival, Nov. 14, features live music, syrup-making, food, craft demonstrations, home tours and more. www.kenthouse.org.
Ponchatoula — Antique Trade Days and Arts & Craft Fair, Nov. 6-Nov. 8, features food, live music, children's activities and vendors of antiques, collectibles, fine arts and crafts. www.ponchatoulachamber.com.
Lake Charles — Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market, Nov. 19-21, features apparel, gifts and accessories, food, cocktails, auction items, live entertainment, photos with Santa, a fashion show and more. www.jllc.net.
Lake Charles/Sulphur — Southwest Louisiana Christmas Lighting Festival, Dec. 1-31, features gingerbread houses, land and sea parades, fireworks, shopping and holiday decor. www.visitlakecharles.org.
MISSISSIPPI
Hernando — Cedar Hill Farm's Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze & Trail of Terror, Sept. 26-Oct. 31, features, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin smashing, pony rides, campfires, food, a hay fort, petting zoo, maze and haunted trail. 662-429-2540, www.gocedarhillfarm.com.
Gulf Coast — Cruisin' the Coast, Oct. 4-11, features cruise-ins, a salute to veterans event, car auction, swap meets and parade along the 26-mile stretch of coastline. www.cruisinthecoast.com.
Ocean Springs — Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, Nov. 7-8, features artists, craftmen and food vendors. www.peterandersonfestival.com.
Biloxi — Ron Meyers Christmas City Gift Show, Nov. 13-15, features arts and crafts, food, giftsphotos with Santa, free crafts, face painting and live music. www.christmascitygiftshow.com.
NORTH CAROLINA
Morehead City — North Carolina Seafood Festival, Oct. 2-4, features local seafood, live music, vendors, cooking demonstrations and rides. www.ncseafoodfestival.org.
Mount Airy — Autumn Leaves Festival, Oct. 9-11, features music, arts and crafts and artist demonstrations. www.autumnleavesfestival.com.
Statesville — Carolina BalloonFest, Oct. 16-18, features colorful balloons, concerts, food, wine and craft beer tastings and art vendors. www.carolinaballoonfest.com.
Lexington — The Barbecue Festival, Oct. 24, features pork barbecue, concerts, arts and crafts, children's attractions, car shows, rides and games, and other pig-themed activities. www.barbecuefestival.com.
Greensboro — Holiday Market, Nov. 6-8, features specialty gift stores, fashion jewelry, clothing, decorations and ideas, home accessories and décor, food and wine sampling, arts and crafts and Santa. www.holidaymarket.com.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Greenville — Fall for Greenville, Oct. 9-11, features food, musical entertainment on five stages, children's activities, culinary demonstrations, wine tasting, a beer garden and a variety of food-and drink-related competitions. www.fallforgreenville.net.
Georgetown — Wooden Boat Show, Oct. 17-18, features classic wooden boats displayed on land and water, a wooden boatbuilding competition, children's model boatbuilding, knot-tying, maritime art and crafts, food and music. www.woodenboatshow.com.
Columbia — The Craftsmen's Christmas Classic Art & Craft Festival, Nov. 6-8, features holiday gifts, decorations, celebrations, entertainment and food. www.craftshow.com.
Charleston — Holiday Market, Nov. 13-15, holiday gifts, decorations, celebrations, entertainment, gift-wrapping, food and Santa. www.holidaymarket.com.
Myrtle Beach — Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals, Nov. 12-15, features arts, crafts, gifts, Victorian holiday tours and teas. www.dickenschristmasshow.com.
TENNESSEE
Kingston Springs — Farmers and Artisans Market, second Saturdays through Oct. 10, features local produces, hand-crafted goods and live music. www.ksfarmersmarket.org.
Chattanooga — Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern, Sept. 26-Nov. 1, features above- and below-ground haunted attractions. www.hauntedcavern.com.
Bradford — Doodle Soup Days, Sept. 30-Oct. 3, features a junior rodeo, arts and crafts, live music, food and vendors. www.doodlesoupdays.com.
Pigeon Forge – National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration at Dollywood, Oct. 2-31, features free gospel concerts and special arts and crafts. 1-800-365-5996, www.dollywood.com.
Newport — Harvest Street Festival, Oct. 3-4, features food, arts and crafts, beauty pageants, demonstrations, music and more. www.newportcockecountychamber.com.
Crossville — Oktoberfest, Oct. 9-10, features live music, German food and more. www.crossvilleoktoberfest.com.
Franklin — Celebration of Nations, Oct. 10, features music, food trucks, arts and crafts. www.visitwilliamson.com.
Memphis — River Arts Fest, Oct. 23-25, features fine arts, food, music and shopping. www.riverartsmemphis.org.
Murfreesboro — Fiber in the 'Boro, Oct. 24, features vendors, workshops and demonstrations. www.fiberintheboro.com.
Knoxville — Horror Film Fest, Oct. 24-26, features shocking short films from around the world. www.
knoxvillehorrorfest.com.
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