Southern Byways

What’s on the Calendar This Weekend

by Apryl on October 8th, 2008

From calling fire ants to celebrating a birthday of a country music institution to basically eating your way around the South, this weekend is packed with all types of events.

Do you like food? Then you are in luck, because…

• the World Championship Gumbo Cook-off is taking place in New Iberia, La., October 10-12. The event features an arrange of local foods, including the Gumbo that is only served on Sunday during the cook-off.
• also going on in Louisiana is the 31st Annual Boucherie Festival in Sorrento. The festival, October 10-12, highlights the many Cajun specialities including Boudin Balls and Hog Head Cheese.
• you can sample some of Conecuh county’s own sausage during the Evergreen Sausage Festival on October 11.
• the Taste of Atlanta on October 11-12 at Atlantic Station doesn’t call itself the “food lover’s event” for fun. This two-day festival not only highlights over 70 of the metro area’s restaurants, but also includes chef demonstrations and sustainable country road, where chefs cook with their local farmers.
• the 4th Annual Tennessee State Bar-B-Q and Fall Festival in Lenior City is a KCBS sanctioned event and you know what that means - great barbecue! Happening on October 11-12, the event also features arts and crafts booth and much more.
• the Chincoteague Oyster Festival on Chincoteague Island, Va., allows you to taste oysters anyway you want on October 11.
• if you are around South Carolina this weekend, bring your appetite. Not only is the South Carolina Sweet Potato Festival in Darlington happening October 10-11, but also there’s the 28th Annual Taste of Charleston on October 10-12. If that isn’t enough, the St. Francis Fall for Greenville on the same weekend that focuses on the area’s restaurants.
• there’s a festival celebrating sardines. Yes, the International Sardine Festival in Aberdeen, N.C., pays homage to the fish in a tin can. On October 10, you can enjoy it as well.
• it’s about seafood in Florida. There’s the Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine and Music Festival and the 3rd Annual Oyster Spat Festival on St. George Island, both scheduled for October 10-12.
• sample dishes from area restaurants at Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) Taste of Chamber. On October 11, get your fork ready, because there’ll be a lot to try.
• you can “TOOT” in Lewisburg, WVa., on October 11. That is, take part in Taste of Our Town Street Festival that highlight the local restaurants.

Looking for art and craft festivals? Consider attending…

• the Ouachita Art Trail Studio Tour in Mena, Ark., on October 10-12. During this self-guided event, participating artists will open their doors to their studios and galleries.
• the 30th Annual Indian Summer Arts & Crafts Festival (PDF file) in Eufaula, Ala. Scheduled for October 11-12, the festival takes place in the downtown area and features arts and crafts.
• the 37th Annual Meriwether Lewis Arts & Crafts Show near Hohenwald, Tenn., highlights the wares of around 50 artists. The two-day event takes place in Meriwether Lewis Site on the Natchez Trace Parkway. 
• the 4th Annual Port Warwick Art & Sculpture Festival  in Newport News, Va., on October 11-12. The event features around 120 artists from around the country.

Want to tour some homes? Well, there’s the …

• 54th Annual Pilgrimage Tour of Homes in Natchitoches, La., on October 11-12. This includes a Candlelight Tour highlighting three historical sites, including the Steel Magnolia House.
• Historic Home and Hallway Tour (formerly Fall Pilgrimage) in Vicksburg, kicks off on October 10 and runs through October 15. Seven homes are open for tour.
• Eutaw (Ala.) Pilgrimage on October 11-12 features the historic Courthouse Complex.
• Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Association Fall Decoration Tour on October 11. Explore seven different inns to discover how they prepare for the season.

Interesting in learning the area? Some festivals that highlight local-ness includes the…

• 36th Annual Cuero  (Texas) Turkeyfest Celebration, October 9-12.
• Blues Bluff Festival in Aberdeen, Miss., October 10-11.
• Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in Hiawasee, Ga., begins on October 10 (ends on October 19.)
• Grand Ole Opry 83rd Birthday in Nashville, Tenn., October 10-11.
• Suffolk (Va.) Peanut Festival, October 9-12.
• Wilderness Road Heritage Festival in Ewing, Va., October 11.
• Grand Rivers (Ky.) Hunters Moon Festival, October 9-11.
• 54th Annual West Virginia Black Walnut Festival in Spencer, WVa., October 9-12.

Want to be in the outdoors? There’s the…

• Georgia Colonial Coast Birding & Nature Festival happening on Jekyll Island on October 9-13. Events include field trips, seminars and more. October 11 is Nature Day (PDF file) with different activities.

Don’t forget about…

• Cruisin’ the Coast in Biloxi, Miss., ending October 12.
• 68th Annual Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock, Ark., beginning on October 10 (ends on October 19.)
• 42nd Annual Autumn Leaves Festival in Mount Airy, N.C., October 10-12.

And then there’s…

• the FireAnt Festival in Marshall, Texas on October 11 where you can learn the proper way to call a fire ant (and then destroy them!)

photo credit: The Anti-Gadget, flickr, creative commons by txkimmer

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POSTED IN: Festivals, Fairs, and Events, Southern Byways, Things to See in Alabama, Things to See in Arkansas, Things to See in Florida, Things to See in Georgia, Things to See in Kentucky, Things to See in Louisiana, Things to See in Mississippi, Things to See in North Carolina, Things to See in South Carolina, Things to See in Tennessee, Things to See in Texas, Things to See in Virginia, Things to See in West Virginia, Things to See in the South