Photo of Depot Days Festival courtesy of Freedom Light Productions Photography.
Whether a cookoff or a classic car show, there’s nothing Southerners love more in autumn than soaking up cooler temps at outdoor events. Grab your friends and family to enjoy an outing full of live music, good eats, local art, and unique communities. From September to November, spend a weekend at one of these 9 Southern festivals all across the region.
Depot Days Festival
Hartselle, AL
September 21
Photo courtesy of Freedom Light Productions Photography.
Commemorating the vast railroads that shaped northern Alabama, Hartselle’s Depot Days event transforms the city’s downtown streets into lively festival grounds. With booths showcasing local artisans, train rides, and a Children’s Stage featuring exciting performances for little ones, there’s family-friendly fun for all ages.
Heartland Harvest Festival
Elizabethtown, KY
September 28
Photo courtesy of Elizabethtown Tourism & Convention Bureau.
Cozy Elizabethtown, Kentucky, knows how to welcome wonderful autumn. Kicking off the season, the town’s annual harvest party is filled with all the old-fashioned charm of bygone days. Enjoy a pancake breakfast sponsored by the local women’s club as well as country music performances, a pumpkin carving contest, and pickleball matches.
Cruisin’ the Coast
Ocean Springs, MS
October 6–13
Soak up the sunshine on the shores of Mississippi’s beaches at Cruisin’ the Coast, a classic car show that evolved into “America’s Largest Block Party.” In early October, you’ll spot a slew of vintage and antique cars traveling the picturesque route lined with waterfront vistas, live oaks, and grand estates. Make a pit stop in coastal towns along the 30-mile stretch of scenic byways, including Bay St. Louis and Gulfport, to enjoy sets from local musicians, homegrown restaurants, and craft fairs.
Festivals Acadiens et Creoles
Lafayette, LA
October 11–13
Photo courtesy of Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission.
For the last 45 years, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles has celebrated the vivacious musical and culinary heritage of Acadiana. Drawing attention from all over the world, the cultural phenomenon boasts numerous stages buzzing with the foot-stomping rhythms of Louisiana zydeco bands. Two-step your way to the dance floor or kick your feet up to soak it all in (with etouffee and beignets in hand, of course).
Natchez Balloon Festival
Natchez, MS
October 18–19
Photo courtesy of Visit Natchez.
In fall, visitors to Natchez, Mississippi, can’t help but look to the skies. Each year, the Natchez Balloon Festival attracts crowds eager to see hundreds of colorful flying machines bobbing through the skyline of the city’s historic downtown. An assortment of musical acts, art, and local eats sprawls across the grounds of the antebellum Rosalie Mansion. Stay for a spell and take in the view, all on the banks of the splendid Mississippi River.
Spirits & Spice Festival
Newnan, GA
October 19
Lean into the excitement of the season at a Halloween bash in the close-knit town of Newnan, Georgia. Stroll the streets with specialty cocktails in hand, courtesy of area vendors, or sample from competitors in the big Chili Cook-Off. Trick-or-treaters will enjoy donning costumes and riding the trolley through Oak Hill Cemetery, while live music makes for a delightful atmosphere.
Shrimp and Grits Festival
Jekyll Island, GA
October 25–26
Photo courtesy of Jekyll Island Authority.
Revel in Georgia’s coastal culinary scene at the Shrimp & Grits Festival, held in the middle of Jekyll Island. In addition to creative spins on the namesake dish, you’ll find food trucks and family-friendly fun, all in the middle of the barrier island’s Historic District. Grab a bite, peruse the arts market, and end your day with a nighttime fireworks show over the bay.
PorchFest
Jacksonville, FL
November 9
Photo courtesy of Visit Jacksonville.
Jacksonville brings a whole new meaning to Southern hospitality with PorchFest, the city’s annual block party. Gather in the pedestrian-only streets of the Historic Springfield neighborhood to enjoy dozens of acts, all playing on the front porches of elegant historic mansions.
Moonlight in the Garden
Raleigh, NC
November 2, 8–9, 14–16
Photo courtesy of JC Raulston Arboretum.
When the green leaves of JC Raulston Arboretum darken and drift to the ground, the popular botanical attraction draws visitors with a nighttime event. At Moonlight in the Garden, thousands of meticulously arranged lights cast a spellbinding glow over the verdant grounds. With marshmallow roasting and apple cider toasting on offer, it’s the perfect way to warm up on a chilly November evening.
Read more about this North Carolina attraction’s autumnal appeal in our
September/October 2024 issue, available for purchase on newsstands, online, and digital platforms.
