Tuesday, August 27, 2024 South has its own unique ways of celebrating the season, even as fall travel often highlights northern destinations. While you might still catch glimpses of changing leaves, it’s the vibrant festivals and cultural events that truly define autumn in these regions—along with an abundance of pumpkins. This fall, MBPR invites you to migrate southward and discover the excitement and charm that await.
Dollywood’s Harvest Festival in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee September 9 through October 28 As the Great Smoky Mountains burst into their autumn colors, Dollywood undergoes a magical transformation for its Harvest Festival, presented by Humana. During this festive season, the park showcases massive pumpkins weighing between 800 and 1,500 pounds, along with Dolly Parton-inspired displays, including a giant guitar made entirely of pumpkins that plays “Tennessee Mountain Home” and a tree where Dolly’s voice narrates the changing seasons in the Smokies. Guests can enjoy live performances featuring Southern gospel, bluegrass, and country music, explore over 50 world-class rides and attractions, and indulge in seasonal treats brimming with pumpkin and apple flavors.
As night falls, the park becomes “Great Pumpkin LumiNights,” presented by Covenant Health, where visitors are treated to a dazzling display of more than 12,000 illuminated pumpkins carved into whimsical characters. International Festival in Bowling Green, Kentucky September 28 As Kentucky’s third-largest city and a hub of diversity, Bowling Green hosts the International Festival each fall, a celebration of the city’s rich cultural tapestry. The city, known for being home to the state’s refugee resettlement center, brings together a multitude of cultures, especially within its vibrant small business community.
During the festival, the streets come alive with colorful flags, bustling stalls, and the enticing aroma of authentic dishes from around the globe. Over 40 food vendors, specializing in international cuisine, offer their culinary delights, blending traditional recipes with locally-sourced ingredients. Festival-goers can savor these flavors while enjoying captivating performances of music, dance, and artistic expressions that reflect the diverse cultures represented in the city.
40th Annual Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival on Alabama’s Beaches November 7 through 17 Celebrating its 40th year, the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival brings together nearly 200 talented songwriters from around the globe for a 10-day celebration along the Alabama-Florida state line. This unique event offers attendees intimate concert experiences—many of which are free—where they can hear the stories behind award-winning songs and connect with the unsung heroes of the music industry. Named after Frank Brown, the beloved night watchman of the legendary Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar, the festival honors its roots with performances at Flora-Bama and nearly two dozen other venues across Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Alabama, and Perdido Key, and Pensacola, Florida.
Big Boy’s Main Street Cook Off and Thibodeauxville Fall Festival in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou November 8 and 9 Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou serves up a double dose of fall fun with two of its biggest events happening on the same weekend. Big Boy’s Main Street Cook Off showcases the area’s rich culinary heritage, with over two dozen chef-led teams serving up delectable Cajun dishes like savory gumbo and flavorful jambalaya. As the feast continues, the Thibodeauxville Fall Festival kicks off the next day, offering a blend of Cajun food, local art vendors, a car show, and the festival’s famous rubber ducky race.
This free, award-winning event promises a weekend of delicious food and family-friendly entertainment in the heart of the bayou..
