GEORGIA
Rock City — Fairytale Nights, through April 15, features interactive experiences with fairytale characters, knight training, storytelling and a tea with Alice and friends. www.rockcity.com/fairytale.
Savannah — The Savannah Music Festival,through April 14, happens in theaters, clubs, event spaces and historic places throughout the city. www.savannahmusicfestival.org.
Darien — Blessing of the Fleet Festival, April 13-15, features a parade of shrimp trawlers, a classic car show, a river run, arts and crafts and entertainment. www.blessingofthefleet.com.
Perry — Dogwood Festival, April 14-15, features arts and crafts, food, dog competitions, and children's activities. www.perrydogwoodfestival.com.
Villa Rica — The Cowboy Festival, April 14-15, features history, live music, cowboy shows, shoot outs, train rides, vendors and more. www.pinemountaingoldmuseum.com.
Cornelia — Apple Blossom BBQ Festival, April 21, features barbecue competitions, live entertainment, vendors and children's activities. www.corneliageorgia.org.
Dahlonega — Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, April 21-22, spotlights bluegrass and old-time music, and has a juried Artists Market Place featuring traditional mountain crafts, storytelling and free music workshops and demonstrations. www.bearonthesquare.org.
Thomasville — Rose Show & Festival, April 26-28, features roses, parades, live music, street dance, arts and crafts, food, and more. www.thomasvillega.com.
Tybee Island — Tybee Island Wine Festival, April 26-28, happens in various restaurants and locations. The Grand Wine Tasting happens Sunday. tybeeisland.com.
Vidalia — Vidalia Onion Festival, April 26-29, features food, competitions, parades, carnival rides, a battle of the bands, rodeo, fireworks and aviation activities. www.vidaliaonionfestival.com.
ALABAMA
Montgomery — Alabama Book Festival, April 21, features author readings, book signings, writing workshops and more. www.alabamabookfestival.org.
Cullman — Bloomin' Festival, April 21-22, features arts and crafts, art demonstrations, parades, shopping, and food. www.bloominfestival.com.
Gardendale — Magnolia Festival, April 20-21, features art classes, talent search, dog parade, music, carnival, car show, competitions and food. www.magnoliafestival.org.
Bessemer — Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival, April 28, combines blues music and barbecue and arts and crafts. www.bobsykesblues.com.
Foley — 2018 Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, May 4-5, includes a frisbee dog show, carnival rides, arts and crafts vendors and food and entertainment. gulfcoastballoonfestival.com.
FLORIDA
Live Oak — Suwannee River Paddling Festival, April 6-8, features two day of paddling on two of North Florida's rivers and music, outdoor meals, a ghost tour and more. www.paddleflorida.org.
Panama City Beach — Seabreeze Jazz Festival, April 18-22, is held at the Pier Park Amphitheater and features both internationally known acts and local performers such as Brian Culbertson, Boney James, Kool and the Gang and more. www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.
Live Oak — Wanee Music Festival, April 19-21, hosts Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band, As the Crow Flies, North Mississippi Allstars and more. waneefestival.com.
Panama City Beach — SandJam, the first ever alternative rock festival held at the beach April 26-28, includes Incubus, Sublime with Rome, Fitz and the Tantrums, Kaleo, St. Lucia, Capital Cities and more. sandjamfest.com.
Panama City Beach — Parrot Head Rendevous 2018, April 26-29, features a full weekend of music. panamacityphc.org.
Pensacola — Interstate Mullet Toss, April 27, features mullet tossing competitions, live music, food and drinks. www.florabama.com.
Orlando — Orlando Funkfest, April 29, stars Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, Joe, Da Brat. www.funkfesttour.com.
KENTUCKY
Campbellsville — Highway 55 Yard Sale, April 20-22, is 147 miles of bargains, antiques, collectibles and yard sales along the highway. www.kentuckytourism.com/hwy-55-yard-sale.
Henderson — Ohio Valley Birding Festival, April 20-22 and May 4-6, features guided birdwatching hikes and family friendly activities. www.ohiovalleybirdingfestival.org.
Louisville — Kentucky Derby Festival, April 14-May 3, features half and full marathons, hot air ballons, bed racing, wine tasting, sports and fireworks. www.kdf.org.
Providence — Amish Tour and Backroad Fest, April 20, offers a self-guided tour of the Amish community, quilt shows, crafts and food. www.kentuckytourism.com.
LOUISIANA
Port Allen — Kite Fest Louisiane, April 7-8, features exotic kites flying all day and into the night. www.westbatonrouge.net.
New Orleans — The French Quarter Festival, April 12-15, is a four-day local music showcase with 1,700 musicians playing 400 hours of free local music. frenchquarterfest.org.
DeQuincy — Louisiana Railroad Days Festival, April 12-14, features food, carnival rides, a model train show, a parade and more. www.larailroaddaysfestival.com.
Ponchatoula — Strawberry Festival, April 13-15, features food, a parade, carnival rides, craft booths and entertainment. www.lastrawberryfestival.com.
Lake Charles — Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival, April 13-15, features food vendors, craw-fish eating contests, live music, a pageant and a parade. www.downtowncrawfest.com.
MISSISSIPPI
Pass Christian — Art in the Pass, April 7-8, features artists from 14 states and about 10,000 visitors. artinthepass.com.
Clarksdale — The Juke Joint Festival, April 12-15, is a half-blues festival, half-small-town festival and all about the Delta. jukejointfestival.com.
Ridgeland — KidFest, April 14-15 and April 21-22, features carnival, pony and train rides, circus acts and activities.www.kidfestridgeland.com.
NORTH CAROLINA
Blowing Rock — The annual Trout Derby, April 7, will be held from sunrise to 4 p.m. and fish include brown, speckled and rainbow trout. www.blowingrock.com.
Wilmington — North Carolina Azalea Festival, April 11-15, features a street fair, a parade, concerts, a garden party, art and more. www.ncazaleafestival.org.
Beaufort — Beaufort Wine & Food Festival, April 25-29, features private home wine dinners, a fashion show luncheon, grand reserve tastings and more. beaufortwineandfood.org.
Wilkesboro — MerleFest, April 26-29, features songwriting contests, activities and music from Kris Kristofferson, Robert Earle Keen, Brandy Clark, The Mavericks and more. www.merlefest.org.
Winston Salem — Piedmont Earth Day Fair, April 21, features music, activities for adults and children and earth-friendly exhibits.www.visitwinstonsalem.com.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Summerville — Flowertown Festival, April 6-8, features arts and crafts, farmers market, music and children's activities. www.flowertownfestival.org.
Charleston — Lowcountry Cajun Festival, April 8, is a day of zydeco music, Cajun and Creole foods, childrens' activities and fun. www.ccprc.com.
Rock Hill — Come-See-Me Festival, April 12-21, features a beach bash, parade, jazz and blues music, barbecue cook-off, skydiving exhibition, tailgating, fireworks and children's activities.www.comeseeme.org.
Columbia — Columbia International Festival, April 14-15, will celebrate diversity with exhibitions, demonstrations, dance, food and education. www.cifonline.org.
Walterboro — Colleton County Rice Festival, April 27-28, features 5K run/walk, music, dog show, croquet tournament, BMX bike shows, high school tennis tournament, food, golf, Miss Rice Festival Pageant and fireworks. www.ricefestival.org.
TENNESSEE
Townsend — Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival, April 20-22, features a vendors marketplace, family activities, animal displays, fiber arts demonstrations and classes for fiber enthusiasts. townsendartisanguild.net/fiber-arts.html.
Gatlinburg — Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, April 24-28, features walks, motorcades, photographic tours, art classes and indoor seminars. www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org.
Medina — City Farmhouse Pop Up Fair, April 26-28, features vendors selected for their authentic farmhouse wares and styling abilities. The fair also will have live music and food trucks. jacksontn.com/tourism/#home
VIRGINIA
Roanoke — Blue Ridge Marathon, April 21, features a marathon, half Marathon and 10K, and pre-and post-race concerts and activities. www.blueridgemarathon.com.
Norfolk — Virginia International Tattoo, April 26-29, features more than 800 military and civilian performers from eight nations. www.vafest.org/tattoo.
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