GEORGIA
Hiawassee — Georgia Mountain Fair, through July 23, features carnival rides, live music, arts and crafts. www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.
Athens — Classic City BBQ Festival, Aug. 20, features barbecue contests, food vendors, a car show, tradeshow and an outdoor music stage. www. classiccitybbqfest.com.
Jekyll Island — Shrimp & Grits Festival, Sept. 16-18, features food, arts and crafts, cooking competitions and live music. www.jekyllisland.com/signatureevents/shrimp-grits-festival/
FLORIDA
Key West — Hemingway Days, July 19-24, features a look-alike contest, literary competition, a museum exhibit and fishing tournament. www.fla-keys.com/hemingwaymedia.
Jacksonville — The Kingfish Tournament and Festival, July 18-23, includes a Junior Angler tournament and a free festival of foods, live entertainment, children's activities and a boat show. www.kingfishtournament.com.
West Palm Beach — GOODE Water Ski National Championships, Aug. 8-13, features a traditional water-skiing competition. www.usawaterski.org/nationals/index_nationals.html.
Key West — The Key West Lobsterfest, Aug. 11-14, includes live music, cold drinks, fresh lobster, a stroll down Duval Street, a street fair and more. 305-294-2000, www.keywestlobsterfest.com.
Panama City Beach — Schooners Lobster Festival & Tournament, Sept. 12-18, features large, freshly caught lobsters, a sand-sculpting contest, diving and a feast. www.schooners.com/events/lobsterfestival.htm.
Port St. Joe — Scallop Festival and Music Festival, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, features scallops, other food, arts and crafts, children's activities and live music. www.scallopfestfl.org.
ALABAMA
Florence — W.C. Handy Music Festival, July 22-31, features educational programs, concerts and children's events. www.wchandymusicfestival.org.
Albertville — Main Street Music Festival, Aug. 5-6, features local and national musicians, food trucks, a 5K run and children's activities. www.mainstreetmusicfestival.com.
Athens — Piney Chapel American Farm Heritage Days, Aug. 5-6, features antique farm equipment, a tractor ride, bluegrass, country and gospel music, skillet throw, arts and crafts, parade, food and children's activities. www.northalabama.org.
Russellville — Franklin County Watermelon Festival, Aug. 19-20, features tractor, car and truck shows, a barbecue cook-off, food, vendors and live music. www.franklincountychamber.org.
KENTUCKY
Shelbyville — Horse Show, Aug. 3-6, features novice and accomplished rider shows, a horse fair and food. www.shelbyvillehorseshow.com.
Henderson — Sandy Lee Songwriters Festival, July 27-30, features acoustic performances by more than 30 of Nashville's award-winning singer/songwriters, a workshop and golf scramble. www.hendersonky.org/event.
Louisville — Kentucky State Fair, Aug. 8-28, features a horse show, concerts, food, bourbon, livestock and rides. www.kystatefair.org.
Henderson — Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival, Aug. 12-13, features concerts, a bicycle tour, a 5K run, disc golf, workshops, animal feeding, crafts and games. www.bluegrassinthepark.com.
Russell Springs — Lake Cumberland Bluegrass Festival, Aug. 21-22, features local, regional and national bluegrass musicians, food and dancing. www.lcbluegrass.org.
LOUISIANA
Lake Charles — Marshland Festival, July 29-30, features live music, exhibits, games, food, arts and crafts. www.marshlandfestival.com.
Baton Rouge — Fete Rouge: Food and Wine Fete, Aug. 25-26, food sampling, wine tastings, live music and more. www.feterougebr.com.
Lake Charles — Arts & Crabs Fest, Aug. 20, features crab and beer tastings, an art walk, live music, interactive and educational activities.
MISSISSIPPI
Columbus — Sounds of Summer, July 21, features outdoor concerts, food, drinks and children's activities. www.columbusmainstreet.com.
Jackson — Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights, Aug. 13, features visual arts, artist booths, dancers and children's activities. www.eventbrite.com.
NORTH CAROLINA
Boone — Appalachian Summer Festival, through Sept. 8, features opera, dance, theatre, independent film, symphonic music, an outdoor sculpture competition, juried visual arts competition, public lectures and tours. www.appsummer.org.
Myrtle Beach — Craftsmen's Classic Art and Craft Festival, July 29-31, features exhibits, demonstrations and sales. www.craftshow.com.
Asheville — Wine and Food Festival, Aug. 19-20, features food, wine and craft beer tastings, street performers, shopping and more. www.ashevillewineandfood.com.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Hilton Head Island — Harbour Fest, Tuesdays through Aug. 16 (plus July 4), features sing-alongs, children's crafts, interactive fun, live music, kayak tours, shopping, dining and fireworks every week. www.palmettodunes.com.
TENNESSEE
Gatlinburg — Smokey Mountain Tunes and Tales, through July 30, features street performers, musicians, storytellers and visual artists and interactive and educational events. www.gatlinburg.com/events.
Kingsport — Fun Fest, through July 23, features country music concerts, hot air balloons, auto show, competitions, food, fireworks and children's activities. www.funfest.net.
Lebanon — Wilson County Fair, Aug. 19-27, features concerts, rides, tractor and mule pulls, demolition derbies, livestock shows, food vendors, arts and crafts. www.wilsoncountyfair.net.
VIRGINIA
Roseland — Wintergreen Summer Music Festival and Academy, through Aug. 7, features orchestra and chamber music and solo concerts, student performances, food and spirits. www. wintergreenperformingarts.org.
Staunton — Music Festival, Aug. 12-21, features chamber music performances and a black-tie ball. www.stauntonmusicfestival.com.
Norfolk — Latino Music Festival, Aug. 13, features music, dancing, outdoor games, food, arts and crafts. www.festevents.org.
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