Southeastern Roundup: Fall food festivals

Gumbo is a staple of the Cajun diet, and the more fire in the gumbo, the better. So in 1972, when the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department needed a way to raise funds, it made perfect sense to fight fire with fire.

The Louisiana Gumbo Festival of Chackbay is held at the Chackbay Fairgrounds near the intersection of La. 20 and La. 304. It features some of the area's best musicians, Cajun food, amusement rides and a parade.

But it’s the menu that counts at the Gumbo Festival, and you’ll find plenty of Cajun delicacies made from the bayou’s most unique ingredients, including alligator, crawfish and catfish.

There’s also a variety of live music throughout the festival, and plenty of cold beer to keep the good times rolling.

“You may hear rock on one stage, country on the other side of the lot and zydeco on another,” festival organizer Johnny Louviere said. “It’s just a great time for everybody, a whole lot of fun.”

All of the festival proceeds go to the purchase and upkeep of equipment for the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department and the fairgrounds to service the community of Chackbay.

Don't miss: Torres Cajun Swamp Tours. Jump on a boat with professional alligator hunter, trapper and commercial fisherman Capt. Roland Torres and experience some of the best wildlife the bayou has to offer. Look out for alligators, snakes, turtles, owls and egrets during your 90-minute swamp expedition. You're sure to see a few. Open daily. $15 adults, $10 students, $8 children younger than 12. La. 307-105 Torres Road, Kraemer. 985-633-7739, www.torresswamptours.net.

If you go

Festival info: 39th annual Louisiana Gumbo Festival, Chackbay, La. Oct. 15-17. Free. 985-633-7789, www.lagumbofest.com.

Eat: Spahr’s Seafood. Known by locals for its famous catfish chips and Bloody Marys. 601 W. Fourth St., Thibodaux. 985-448-0487, www.spahrsseafood.com.

Stay: Dansereau House Bed & Breakfast. Located in downtown Thibodaux, near dining and shopping. Stay includes full breakfast each morning. $150 and up. 506 Saint Philip St. 985-227-9937, http://dansereauhouse.com.

Information: Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center. 985-446-1187, www.thibodauxchamber.com.

North Carolina Seafood Festival

Morehead City, N.C.

It all started in the mid '80s during a group of local businessmen’s regular lunch on the waterfront in Morehead City. One of the gentlemen mentioned that the waterfront could use a festival, and from that conversation, the North Carolina Seafood Festival was born.

Held the first weekend in October on the Morehead City waterfront, the event has evolved into a three-day celebration. The highlight is the Chefs’ Tent, where visitors can witness some of the state’s most renowned chefs prepare seafood dishes, and everyone gets a taste of local shrimp with a dash of Texas Pete cocktail sauce for free. There also will be scores of food vendors selling seafood dishes as well. Some of last year’s dishes included Pickled Pamlico Shrimp Salad With Bok Choy, Tijuana Tango Sushi Roll, scallop fritters and shrimp ‘n' grits.

On Sunday morning (Oct. 3, with this year's festival), commercial fishermen are honored with the annual Blessing of the Fleet, a commemorative religious ceremony that recognizes fishermen who have died, as well as those who still work to bring seafood to the tables of Americans.

“We cram so much family fun in 11 blocks on the waterfront,” said Stephanie McIntyre, the festival’s executive director. But it “still has the hometown feeling of, ‘Welcome to our backyard waterfront,’ ” she added.

In addition to the food, there will be three stages of musical entertainment plus an 8K run, a tennis tournament, a family fishing contest and a sailing regatta.

Don't miss: Cape Lookout National Seashore. To enjoy the remote beaches and historic lighthouse, catch a private ferry from Harkers Island. Visitors Center is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. 131 Charles St., Harkers Island. 252-728-2250, www.nps.gov/calo/.

If you go

Festival info: 24th annual North Carolina Seafood Festival, Oct. 1-3. Free. Morehead City waterfront. 252-726-6273, www.ncseafoodfestival.org.

Eat: Amos Mosquito’s. Known to locals simply as “Skeeter’s,” this waterfront restaurant offers a menu of fresh seafood, including two varieties of fresh fish every night. Thursday night is sushi night. Closed on Tuesdays. 703 E. Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach. 252-247-6222, www.amosmosquitos.com.

Stay: The Lighthouse Inn. Located near the Atlantic Beach Bridge and all area attractions, Lighthouse Inn has five guest rooms with bath and two condo units that accommodate six. 2300 Bridges St. 252-247-3133.

Info: Crystal Coast Tourism Authority. 252-726-8148, www.crystalcoastnc.org.

Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue

Lynchburg, Tenn.

Considered by many the Super Bowl of barbecue competitions, the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue began in 1988 as a way for the Jack Daniel Distillery to promote its whiskey as a barbecue ingredient and attract more visitors to Lynchburg.

“Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey has long been a popular ingredient for barbecue enthusiasts and pairs well with any grilled or smoked meats, so there is a natural fit,” said Jill Meyer, a spokeswoman for Jack Daniel's.

This year's “Jack” marks the event’s 22nd year. To qualify, competitors must first win a state championship or a contest where a minimum of 50 teams compete. Those teams are then entered into a “draw” to determine who will be invited to cook in Lynchburg the fourth Saturday in October.

There are also several competitions where the winners earn an automatic berth at the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue, including Memphis in May, the American Royal Open in Kansas City and Houston’s World’s Championship Bar-B-Que.

Participants will compete in a variety of categories, including pork ribs, beef brisket, chicken, dessert and sauce. Vendors will be selling barbecue, spices, sauces and rubs, as well as roasted corn, homemade fried fruit pies, funnel cakes, ice cream and many other delicacies.

In addition to watching world-class barbecue teams work their magic and occasionally scoring a sample or two, visitors can enjoy many other activities during the competition, including free tours of the Jack Daniel Distillery, the Country Dog Contest (costume contest and games), Butt Bowling (bowling with frozen Boston butts), cloggers, live music and an artisan festival.

Don't miss: Jack Daniel Distillery. Every drop of the world's best-selling whiskey is made in the small town of Lynchburg, population 361. A tour of the nation's oldest distillery, ironically located in a dry county, provides a firsthand look at the process from start to finish. The walking tour lasts between 75 and 90 minutes, so wear comfortable shoes. Commemorative decanters are available for purchase in the distillery's White Rabbit Bottle Shop, except on Sundays and some other holidays. Tours 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Free. 182 Lynchburg Highway. 931-759-4221, www.jackdaniels.com.

If you go

Festival info: The Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue, Lynchburg. Oct 22-23. Free, but donations to the Moore County School District are appreciated. 931-759-4221, www.jackdaniels.com.

Eat: Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House Restaurant. Comfort food and Southern favorites, including macaroni and cheese, biscuits and fried okra, are served family style at this local landmark. Open 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Reservations recommended. 295 Main St. 931-759-7394.

Stay: Lynchburg Country Inn. Family hotel located within walking distance of historic town square and most places of interest, featuring wireless Internet, cable television and a swimming pool. $62 and up. 423 Majors Blvd. 931-759-5995 or 1-866-759-5995, www.lynchburgcountryinn.com.

Info: Lynchburg/Moore County Chamber of Commerce. 931-759-4111, www.lynchburgtn.com.

-- Provided by Demand Studios