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  ROCK SHRIMP FESTIVAL

  October 2; St. Marys, GA

  Cousin of the shrimp, this seafood is said to resemble a small lobster. St. Marys has been designated Rock Shrimp Capital. This event includes a lawnmower race, pancake breakfast, parade, crafts and street dance. Info: (800) 868-8687.

   

  SONKER FESTIVAL

  October 1; Mount Airy, NC

  A sonker is a regional specialty – a deep-dish pie made of whatever ingredients are around – normally with leftover biscuit dough, breadcrumbs, what fruit is in the garden and sweet potato. This event includes mountain music and flat dancing as well as homemade sinkers. Info: (336) 786-8359.

   

  CITY STAGE

  October 1-2; Greensboro, NC

  Three performance stages, crafts demonstrations, arts, childrens’ activities and more. Info: (910) 333-7440.

   

  COTTON PICKIN’ FAIR

  October 1-2; Gay, GA

  Over 300 exhibitors of crafts. Also demonstrations, country cooking and entertainment. Info: (706) 538-6814.

   

  MOUNTAIN GLORY FESTIVAL

  October 8; Marion, NC

  Celebration of mountain heritage in western North Carolina. Arts and crafts, childrens’ events and continuous entertainment. Info: (704) 652-4240.

   

  LEE COUNTY COTTON FESTIVAL

  October 13-16; Bishopville, SC

  Amusement rides, fireworks, parades, arts and crafts, entertainment, rodeos, sports, foods and more. Info: (803) 484-5145.

   

  HERITAGE FESTIVAL

  October 15; Attalla, AL

  Arts, crafts, entertainment, food, games and more than 18 antique shops open in downtown area. Info: (256) 543-3472 or (256) 538-7811.

   

  WOOLLY WORM FESTIVAL

  October 15-16; Banner Elk, NC

  Woolly worm races are the highlight. Also mountain music, crafts and food. Info: (704) 898-5605.

   

  SOUTHERN WILDLIFE FESTIVAL

  October 15-16; Decatur, AL

  Nationally recognized art show and salefeaturing more than 100 artists with photographic exhibitions and competitions. Info: 1-800-524-6181.

   

  NORTH CAROLINA OYSTER FESTIVAL

  October 15-16; Shallotte, NC

  Annual event features crafts, food, entertainment and more. Info: (800) 426-6644.

   

  ANNUAL COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL

  October 20-23; Oneonta, AL

  Four-day festival highlighting the covered bridges with fall color tours and arts and crafts in the park on Saturday and Sunday. Street dance, pageant, country music concert, arts and crafts, and antique car, truck and tractor show. Info: (205) 274-2153.

   

  FANTSAY FEST

  October 21-31; Key West, FL

  Annual masking and costuming festival. This year's event is titled "www.warptime.com", a bakhand salute to the Y2k hysteria. Thousands of revelers participate in masquerade balls, costume competitions, street fairs and other events in a 10 day celebration. Info: (305) 461-3300

   

  BARBECUE FESTIVAL

  October 22; Lexington, NC

  Community claiming to be BBQ Capital makes its case with some 20,000 BBQ sandwiches using 10,000 pounds of BBQ. Also arts and crafts and entertainment and a "parade of Pigs", a pigged themed parade. Info: (910) 956-2952.

   

  PIONEER PEANUT DAY

  October 22; Dothan, AL

  Watch and learn how peanuts were harvested in the Wiregrass a half-century ago. Music, arts and crafts, antique gas and steam engine show. At Landmark Park. Info: (334) 794-3452.

   

  SMOKE ON THE WATER

  October 22; Washington, NC

  Festival inludes three contest events: Best BBQ; Chili contest, and best pie in Beaufort County. Waterfront setting. Info: (252) 946-7184.

   

  CIVIL WAR LIVING HISTORY ENCAMPMENT

  October 22-23; Beatrice, AL

  1860s come alive with a Civil War camp full of Confederates and Union Army men who drill and participate in maneuvers. Info: (334) 575-7433.

   

  CAROLINA KITE FEST

  October 22-23; Atlantic Beach, NC

  Chance to go fly a kite. Info: (919) 247-7011 or (919) 787-4212.

   

  THE NC FESTIVAL BY THE SEA

  October 21-23; Holden Beach, NC

  Crafts, food, entertainment and more. Info: (910) 842-7380.

   

  "THIRTEEN ALABAMA GHOSTS"

  October 29; Monroeville, AL

  13 ghosts in and around the Old Monroe County Courthouse tells his or her story as visitors tour the historic old building. Info: (334) 575-7433.

   

  HAUNTED MOUNTAIN

  October 29-30; Birmingham, AL

  Better than a haunted house, it’s a haunted mountain (Ruffner Mountain). Hike the spooky night woods and dare to be scared! Info: (205) 833-8264.

   

  FALLFEST

  October 29; Concord, NC

  Family festival held annually the Saturday before Halloween. Costumes and trick or treating encouraged. Also storytelling, childrens’ games, sidewalk art contests, food music and dancing. Info: (704) 784-4208.

   

  HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS

  October 31; Burlington, NC

  Costume parade and contest, pumpkin contests, trick or treating and fireworks are highlights in this downtown event. Info: (336) 222-5002.

   

  HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

  October 31; Homer, GA

  Childrens’ amusements, scavanger hunt, costume contest, candy and hayride. Info: (706) 677-2108 or (800) 638-5004.

   

    MULE DAY

  November 5; Calvary, GA

  Festival plays homage to the mule. Activities include syrup-making, mule shows, arts and crafts, mule parade, sling-shot, turkey shoot and more. Info: (912) 377-MULE.

   

  PLANTATION DAYS AT MIDDLETON PLACE

  November 5, 12, 19, 26; Charleston, SC

  Demonstrations of 18th and 19th century harvest-time skills that were part of life at a rice plantation. Info: (803) 556-6020.

   

  FORT MEYERS SAND SCULPTURE COMPETITION

  Through November 5; Fort Meyers, FL

  Family beach activity turned into an art for. Teams of families, organizations, seniors groups and more. Info: (941)338-3500.

   

  VETERAN'S DAY PARADE

  November 11; Columbia, SC

  Procession of marching bans, military bands, military equipment and marching installations from around the state in a tribute to veterans. Info: (803) 343-8750.

   

  DICKENS CHRISTMAS SHOW & FESTIVALS

  November 10-13; Myrtle Beach, SC

  400 vendors in period attire selling arts and crafts. Also period decorations and ethnic foods. Info: (803) 448-9483.

   

  CANE GRINDING FESTIVAL

  November 12 & 19; Tifton, GA

  Cane-cooking and candy pulling party recalls cane-grinding parties of the 19th century. Also storytelling, hayrides, dancing and corn popping. At Tifton Agricultural Center. Info: (912) 386-3344.

   

  OLD TYME FARMERS DAY

  November 23-27; Live Oak, FL

  Thanksgiving dinner, cane grinding, mule contests, covered wagon, buggy rides. Info: (904) 364-1683.

   

  ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY POW WOW

  November 24-25; Atmore, AL

  Dance exhibitions by visiting Indian tribes with traditional Thanksgiving plate lunches, native American foods, arts and crafts, music and dancing. Info: (334) 368-9136

   

    ATLANTA MARATHON & HALF MILE

  November 24; Atlanta, GA

  A Thanksgiving tradition in the Peachtree City. 26.2 and 13.1 mile running races. Info: (404) 231-9065.

   

  CHITTLIN STRUT

  November 25; Salley, SC

  Festival celebrates chitterlins includes a pig calling contest, flea market, arts and crafts, country music, a parade and carnival. Info: (803) 258-3485

  EDITOR'S NOTE: Events are listed by date and location as submitted to OTR Travel Information Services, Inc. Dates for this publication were provided by event chairpersons, local chambers of commerce, or convention and visitors bureaus and are subject to change. Please confirm the date and location of events with the you are planning to attend in case an activity has been canceled or rescheduled.

NATCHEZ FALL PILGRIAMGE

October 1-28 Natchez, MS

Tours of numerous antebellum mansions furnished with antiques. Info: (800) 647-6742 or (601) 446-6631.

NATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

October 7-9; Jonesborough, TN

Top storytellers from around America gather for this premier event in a historic town. Info: (423) 753-2171.

KING BISCUIT BLUES FESTIVAL

October 7-9; Helena, AR

Home town of Sonny Boy Williamson celebrates its tradition of the blues with top blues talent on five stges, a special stage for lesser known talent, arts and crafts, childrens' actvities and more. Info: (870) 338-8798.

FIREANT FESTIVAL

October 14-16; Marshall, TX

Fireant roundup, ugly face contest, rubber chicken chunking, crawling baby contest, parade, chili cook-off and more. Info: (903) 935-7868.

GUMBO FESTIVAL

October 14-16; Bridge City, LA

Celebration of Cajun-French culture. Cajun music, and gumbo cooking contests Are highlights. Info: (504) 436-4712.

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY CALLING CONTEST AND TURKEY TROT FESTIVAL

October 14-16; Yellville, AR

Annual event features the wild turkey calling contest, turkey shoot, turkey dinner, parade, music and more. Info: (870) 449-4676.

ANNUAL CALCASIEU-CAMERON FAIR

October 14-16; Sulphur, LA

Pageant, arts and crafts, live entertainment, petting zoo and parade. Info: (318) 527-9371.

TEXAS ROSE FESTIVAL

October 14-16; Tyler, TX

More than 20 million roses are grown commercially within 50 miles of Tyler. Festivities include a parade, displays, and tours of the area rose fields. Info: (903) 593-9538/(800) 235-5712.

FRONTIER HERITAGE FESTIVAL

October 15; Santa Anna, TX

Demonstrations and entertainment of days gone by in Texas. Features are the First Cavalry Horse Detachment from Ft. Hood, Comanche Indian Dancers. There’s also a bison cook-off, ranch rodeo, arts and crafts and living history demonstrations. Info: (915) 348-3535.

LENEXA CHILI CHALLENGE

October 15: Lenexa, KS

Free samples of chili providing as ballots as participants vote for their favorites. Info: (913) 541-8592.

ROUND ROCK COWBOY JUBILEE

October 21-23; Round Rock, TX

Cowboy poetry, cowboy music, and cowboy food off a chuckwagon. Exotic animals and a petting zoo. At Old Settlers Park. Info: (512) 244-7445.

LUBBOCK LAKE LANDMARK CELEBRATION WEEK

October 12-16; Lubbock, TX

Celebration of 12, 000 years of Native American and traditional lifestyles on the Southern High Plains, with guided tours of the archeological site, film festival, demonstrations and workshops with native crafts, arts and games. Info: (806) 742-1116/(806) 742-2456.

LOUISIANA YAMBILEE

October 21-23; Opelousas, LA

Sweet potato, corn, rice and soybean shows, cooked foods contest, yam auction, pageant, costume contest and more. Info: (800) 210-5298.

NEEWOLLAH

October 21-31; Independence, KS

Halloween spelled backwards makes this event unique. Pageant, talent show, parade and kiddie parade, music and more. Info: (316) 331-2400.

HOGEYE FESTIVAL

October 22; Elgin, TX

Community which touts itself as "Sausage Capital" celebrates the hog. Hog calling contest, unique "hog bingo", sausage foods, crafts and music. Info: (512) 285-5721.

JACK DANIEL’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BARBECUE

October 22; Lynchburg, TN

Invitation only competition draws pit-masters from near and far. Also area distillery tours, music and dancing. Info: (615) 340-1035.

PIONEER AND INDIAN FESTIVAL

October 22-23; Ridgeland, MS

Arts and crafts of the pioneer era, Indian stickball, dances, music, food and more. Info: (601) 856-7546.

SLIDELL ANTIQUE DISTRICT STREET FAIR

October 22-23; Slidell, LA

Vinatge toys, and antiques on display and for sale along street in town. Info: (800) 634-9443.

TEXIAN MARKET DAYS

October 22-23; Richmond, TX

Features more than 2,000 costumed participants portraying historical scenes from centuries ago Native Americans to 1940’s ranchers. Includes crafts booths and entertainment. Info: (281) 343-0218.

UGLY PICKUP PARADE AND CONTEST

October 29; Chadron, NE

Event honors beat-up old pickups. Pageant and parade of trucks. Info: (308) 432-5511.

BALLON FEST

October 27-29; San Antonio, TX

Balloon competition features balloon flights, tethered balloon rides, sky-diving displays, childrens’ activities, food and carnival midway. Info: (210) 458-4550.

PUMPKIN DAYS

October 31; Floydada, TX

Place describes itself as Pumpkin Festival, USA. Events include cow patty bingo, wheelbarrow race, pumpkin painting contest and other events. Info: (806) 983-3434.

WURSTFEST

November 4-13; New Braunfels, TX

Celebration of German culture. Music, dancing, food, arts and crafts. Info: (830) 625-9167.

WILL ROGERS DAYS

November 2; Claremore, OK

Celebration of the life and legacy the great American humorist on his birth date at his birthplace. Info: (918) 341-0719/(800) 828-9643.

SMOKY MOUNTAINS LIGHTS KICKOFF CEREMONY AND CHILI COOKOFF

November 9; Gatlinburg, TN

A switch is fklipped on lighting milions f sparkling winter lights. Enertainmewnt and more. Info: 800-568-4748.

GINGERBREAD VILLAGE

November 19-December 20; Omaha, NE

View more than 100 gingerbread houses of every shape and size decorated for the holidays. Info: (402) 453-9372.

  RANCH HAND BREAKFAST

November 19; Kingsville, TX

Chuckwagon breakfast cooked and served at the King Ranch. Longhorn cattle and real cowboys on hand. Info: (800) 333-5032.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER HORSE SHOW

Through November 19; Oklahoma City, OK

A top national attraction, this event draws nearly 2,000 horses from the U.S., Canada and abroad. Trade show and sale are also highlights. Info: (405) 297-8938 or (806) 376-4811.

WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP DUCK CALLING CONTEST & WINGS OVER THE PRAIRIE

November 23-26; Stuttgart, AR

Duck calling duck gumbo cook-off, carnival, concessions and more. Info: (501) 673-1602.

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  EDITOR'S NOTE: Events are listed by date and location as submitted to OTR Travel Information Services, Inc. Dates for this publication were provided by event chairpersons, local chambers of commerce, or convention and visitors bureaus and are subject to change. Please confirm the date and location of events with the you are planning to attend in case an activity has been canceled or rescheduled.