Travel calendar

Dahlonega — Trailfest, Sept. 7-9, 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.

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

Tuscumbia — The Oka Kapassa/Return to Coldwater Native American Festival, Sept. 7-8, will educate students and the community regarding folk traditions of their cultural heritage with artisans and performers demonstrating Native American arts and crafts as well as historic tribal dance. www.okakapassa.org.

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.homestead.com.

FLORIDA

Tampa — The Summer of Rum Festival, through Sept. 2, features live music from Sugar Ray, as well as a variety of drinks made with all kinds of rum. ww.summerofrumfest.com.

Pensacola — The fifth annual Dragonboat Race, Sept. 8, takes place and includes the race along with children's activities and vendors. www.pensacoladragonboatfestival.com.

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.

LOUISIANA

Morgan City — The Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, through Sept. 3, is known for its diverse music as well as vendors and children's activities. www.shrimpandpetroleum.org.

Bossier City — The Super Derby Festival of Racing, Sept. 2, brings riders and trainers from across the country to compete during the festival which culminates in the Grade I Super Derby. www.caesars.com/harrahs-louisiana-downs.

MISSISSIPPI

Columbus — The Art Walk Downtown, Sept. 27, showcases fine art for purchase, with a chance to meet the artists and take advantage of in-store discounts and promotions, with music in the streets. www.columbusmainstreet.com.

Jackson — WellsFest, Sept. 29, offers live music, a 5K run and walk, pet parade, food vendors, arts booths, plant sale and children's activities. www.wellschurch.org/wellsfest.

Gulfport — Cruisin' the Coast, Sept. 30-Oct. 7, features cruise-ins, bands, a swap meet, auto auction. and more. cruisinthecoast.com.

N ORTH CAROLINA

Beech Mountain — The Mile High Kite Festival, through Sept. 2, includes kite-flying music, prizes, face painting and food and craft vendors, and on Saturday night, a street dance. beechmtn.com.

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.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Myrtle Beach — The Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, through Sept. 2, is an official BBQ Championship of SC competition and also features a beer garden, wing tasting and competition, live entertainment and arts and crafts. www.visitmyrtlebeach.com.

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

Knoxville — The Tennessee Valley Fair, Sept. 7-16, is known for innovative exhibits, livestock shows, concert series, action sports, midways and food. www.tnvalleyfair.org.

Vonore — Cherokee Fall Festival, Sept. 8-9, 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.

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.