GEORGIA
Dahlonega — Trailfest, through Sept. 9, is a festival for outdoor enthusiasts revolving around all aspects of non-motorized recreation that will feature speakers, workshops, music, food and vendors. dahlonegatrailfest.org.
Helen — The annual Oktoberfest, through Oct. 28, features German music, food, drinks and dancing. www.helenchamber.com.
Blue Ridge — The Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Music Festival, Sept. 15, starts with a Blues Crawl with bands set up in restaurants downtown and the actual festival is Saturday. www.stayinblueridge.com.
Macon — The Ocmulgee Indian Celebration, Sept. 15-16, celebrates the culture of the Southeastern Native Americans with dancing, storytelling, music, crafts, games, food and demonstrations. www.ocmulgeemounds.org.
Sautee Nacoochee — Georgia's Spirit of Appalachia Food, Wine and Art Festival, Sept. 15, features Georgia products made by Georgia chefs, accompanied by Georgia wines and beers. There also will be arts and music. www.whitecountychamber.org.
Jekyll Island — The Shrimp & Grits Festival, Sept. 14-16, features an artists market, live music, craft brew fest, cooking competition, classic car show and more. www.jekyllisland.com/shrimpgrits.
Flintstone — Rock City's Blowing Springs Farm, Sept. 28-Oct. 28 (Fridays-Sundays only), boasts a new cornfield maze design each year as well as a hay ride, cow train ride, the Critter Coral and more. www.blowingspringsfarm.com
Ellijay — The Dancing Goats FolkFest, Sept. 29-30, includes a juried folk art show, storytelling, live music. facebook.com/dancinggoatsfolkfest.
ALABAMA
Waterloo — The Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride & Pow Wow, Sept. 14-16, features a motorcycle ride ending with live music and Native American arts and crafts. www.al-tn-trailoftears.net.
Huntsville — Eva Frontier Days, Sept. 22-29, features singing, a greased pig chase, craft show, antique tractor show, food contests, parades and more. www.alabama.travel/upcoming-events/eva-frontier-days.
Bankhead — The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama Festival and Pow Wow, Sept. 29-30, features dancing, food, living history demonstrations, storytelling and more. www.alabama.travel.
Cullman — Oktoberfest, Oct. 3-6, includes an arts and crafts show, wagon rides, kids area, historical tours, and more to celebrate the city's German heritage. www.cullmanoktoberfest.com.
FLORIDA
Pensacola — Taste of Pensacola Beach, Sept. 14-15, starts with a special VIP dinner with five chefs and continues the next day with cook-offs, demonstrations, a chef challenge, samplings and a live concert. www.tasteofpensacolabeach.com.
Fort Myers — The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, Sept. 21-30, brings more than 80 songswriters, including Hall of Fame musicians, to perform as well as participate in new activities such as resort pool parties, wine pairings and workshops. www.island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com.
Mount Dora — The Mount Dora Bicycle Festival, Oct. 4-7, includes a social ride for breast cancer awareness, a reunion party and two challenges which give participants a chance to be awareded Gran Fondo "King" and "Queen." www. mountdorabicyclcfestival.com.
Port St. Joe — The annual Florida Scallop, Music and Arts Festival, Oct. 5-6, will include Old Soul Revival, the Currys, Baby Gray, Coastal Highway and many more. scallopfestfl.org.
N ORTH CAROLINA
Mount Airy — Mayberry Days, Sept. 24-30, celebrates yesteryear with shows, a parade, special guests, contests, a barbecue cook-off, silent auction and more. www.mayberrydays.org.
Cullowhee — The 44th annual Mountain Heritage Day, Sept. 29, will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with three stages of traditional old-time, gospel and bluegrass music, dance and workshops. www.discoverjacksonnc.com.
Cashiers — Cashiers Leaf Festival, Oct. 5-7, features vendors and two stages of entertainment with a chance to see the leaves beginning to change. www.discoverjacksonnc.com.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Hilton Head — The Italian Heritage Festival, Sept. 15, celebrates the heritage of the Italian people with food, music, competitions and games. www.iachh.org.
Charleston — The MOJA Arts Festival, Sept. 27-Oct. 7, is a celebration of Gullah culture with African music, cultural arts and Caribbean cuisine in the form of dance, literature, music, theater and visual arts. www.mojafestival.com.
TENNESSEE
Vonore — Cherokee Fall Festival, Sept. through Sept. 9, features a chance to experience Native American food, Cherokee arts and crafts demonstrations, music and dance and demonstrations from the blacksmith shop. www.sequoyahmuseum.org.
Knoxville — The Tennessee Valley Fair, through Sept. 16, is known for innovative exhibits, livestock shows, concert series, action sports, midways and food. www.tnvalleyfair.org.
Bristol — The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Sept. 21-23, is a three-day music fest in the downtown city that straddles two states, Virginia and Tennessee. www.bristolrhythm.com.
C aryville — The Louie Bluie Music and Arts Festival, Sept. 29, is a free festival with four stages of live music, a juried craft village, judged art and quilt show, children's parade, food vendors and more. www.louiebluie.org.
Chattanooga — Dread Hollow, Sept. 29-Oct. 31 (select dates), is a haunted house from the masterminds behind Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern. www.hauntedcavern.com.
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