Southeast Tourism Tips

Top 20 Events – July 2009

July 1-Aug. 8, Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales. Saluting the 75^th anniversary of the country’s most visited National Park with costumed entertainers and storytellers portraying 19^th and 20^th century characters every night in the resort hamlet. Gatlinburg, Tenn., 865-436-0509; jimd@ci.gatlinburg.tn.us. (eventsgatlinburg.com)

July 2-4, July Powwow. Some traditions just get better with time. Celebrate 30 years of Native American culture through tribal dance competitions, educational programs, and traditional songs, foods and arts on the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds. Cherokee, N.C., 828-497-8122; janiwild@nc-cherokee.com. (cherokee-nc.com)

July 4, CLAMerica Celebration. Clamtastic fun on the Nature Coast spotlights the mollusk with clam digs, races, parades, free concerts, and colorful fireworks over crystal-clear waters. Clam cooking and landlubber foods, too! Cedar Key, Fla., 352-543-5057; lnst@ufl.edu. (cedarkey.org) 

July 4, Gatlinburg’s 4^th of July Fireworks Show. The nation’s first Independence Day parade at 12:01 a.m. kicks off a day-long celebration in the Smokey Mountains town, capped by the “rocket’s red glare” of thrilling fireworks! Gatlinburg, Tenn., 865-436-0509; jimd@ci.gatlinburg.tn.us. (eventsgatlinburg.com)

July 4, Patriot’s Point 4^th of July Blast. Action-packed festival fills the day with fun and the night sky with fireworks shot from the deck of the USS Yorktown! Music, “Kidz Zone,” food village and beverage gardens. Charleston/Mount Pleasant, S.C., 843-881-5984; llangston@patriotspoint.org. (patriotspoint.org)

July 4, Red, White, Blue and You Festival. Old-fashioned 4^th of July fun salutes Armed Forces, and kicks off a month of festivals in friendly Lake Charles! Cajun and Creole foods and music, parades, flyovers, and fireworks. Lakes Charles, La., 800-456-SWLA; info@visitlakecharles.org. (visitlakecharles.org)

July 5-12, Jets Over Kentucky. All eyes upward as the jet action of 50 pilots from three countries fills the skies! Skydiving, art show, and midway fun at the nearby Marion County Fair! Lebanon/Springfield, Ky., 502-429-6365; visitlebanonky@alltel.net. (visitlebanonky.com)

July 6-12, Lexington Junior League Horse Show. World’s largest Saddlebred horse show! Over a thousand competitors racing for big prize money and the chance to win the first leg of the American Saddlebred Triple Crown. Lexington, Ky., 859-252-1893; laurel.martin@uky.edu. (lexjrleague.com)

July 9-11, SC Festival of Discovery. Follow the smoky scent of succulent barbecue to Uptown Greenwood, where 100 cook teams and a fine line-up of jazz musicians celebrate the history and culture of the lovely rural city. Greenwood, S.C., 864-942-8448; festivalofdiscovery@gmail.com. (festivalofdiscovery.com)

July 10-12, 32^nd Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days Old-Time Music and Dance Festival. Banjos, buckdancing, clogging and singing! Free admission, juried arts show, heritage activities for the kids, and plenty of mouth-watering food! Murfreesboro, Tenn., 800-716-7560; wbryant@rutherfordchamber.org. (uncledavemacondays.com)

July 10-18, Fun Fest. More than 100 activities on 60 sites attract nearly 200,000 fun lovers; capped by TRASHBUSTERS, a now countrywide Keep America Beautiful program that began at the event in 1985. Kingsport, Tenn., 423-392-8806; funfest@funfest.net. (funfest.net)

July 15-25, Georgia Mountain Fair. Southern-flair fair features a Pioneer Village with “old ways” demonstrations and a Craft Village filled with unique arts. Headliner entertainment, cloggers’ convention, agri-exhibits, Miss Georgia Fair pageant. Hiawassee, Ga., 706-896-4191; gamtfair@windstream.net. (georgiamountainfairgrounds.com)

July 16-18, Festival of Native Peoples & Cherokee Art Market. Hopi, Sioux, Apache, Totonac and Cherokee tribes present native dance, song, storytelling, arts and crafts, and foods at this colorful celebration of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Cherokee, N.C., 828-497-8128; lorekirb@nc-cherokee.com. (Cherokee-nc.com)

July 16-18, Virginia Lake Festival. Free hot-air balloon rides, bigger-than-life sand sculptures, helicopter rides, live bands, antique cars, arts and crafts show, kids’ games, fireworks and great food at this fun, free event! Clarksville, Va., 434-374-2436; Clarksville@kerrlake.com. (clarksvilleva.com)

July 16-19, Keeneland Concours d'Elegance. Hundreds of rare and exotic cars and motorcycles, vintage and modern airplanes, distillery tour, James Bond-themed gala, auction, and fashion shows raise hundreds of thousands for the KY Children’s Hospital. Lexington, Ky., 859-422-3329; sue.entwisle@keenelandconcours.com. (keenelandconcours.com)

July 16-26, Folkmoot USA. International dancers and musicians perform celebrate friendship and cultural exchange. Parades, huge bazaar, ticketed events, food, arts and crafts. Entertaining and educational experience in the majestic Smoky Mountain town. Waynesville, N.C., 828-452-2997; info@folkmoot.com. (folkmootusa.org)

July 17-26, W.C. Handy Music Festival. Over 80,000 gather to honor native son and "Father of the Blues" with a musical celebration of rhythm and blues, jazz, soul, gospel and contemporary music throughout scores of events. Florence, Ala., 888-FLO-TOUR; lindseyh@visitflorenceal.com. (visitflorenceal.com)

July 18-19, 11^th Annual Butternut Creek Festival. Fine arts, original works, mountain arts demonstrations, yummy fare, playgrounds, and walking trails in shady Meeks Park, just 80 scenic miles north of Atlanta. Free admission and parking! Blairsville, Ga., 706-835-1948; genechar37@gmail.com.  (butternutcreekfestival.com)

July 29-Aug. 1, North Carolina Watermelon Festival. “Seedy” celebration of the heart-smart melon includes a seriously funny spitting contest, carnival rides, crafts, street dancing, the state’s largest agricultural parade, marching bands and fireworks. Murfreesboro, N.C., 252-398-5922; heritage@murfreesboronc.org. (murfreesboro.org)

July 30-Aug. 1, 54^th Annual Robbins Farmers Day. More than 400 horses, mules and wagons; three stages of entertainment; carnival games and rides; parachutes; parades and fireworks make this a fun weekend for all! Robbins, N.C., 910-464-1290; contact@robbinsfarmersday.com. (robbinsfarmersday.com)

Top 20 Events – August 2009

Aug. 1, Brew at the
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