The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States. Many of the popular outlet shopping malls in the Southeast open at midnight at the end of Thanksgiving Day and stay open through the day, Black Friday, until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. Other outlet malls open much earlier than usual the morning of Black Friday.

In addition to offering the extended shopping hours, many malls and individual stores feature special Black Friday giveaways, hot sales and great bargains. Read more to find out about Black Friday extended shopping hours at many of the popular outlet malls in the Southeast U.S.

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^{Photo Credit: Stockbyte / Getty Images}

Biltmore House, America's largest house, is even more magical than usual during the holidays. Throughout the Christmas season, many of the traditions that began on Christmas Eve 1895, when George W. Vanderbilt first welcomed his friends and family to Biltmore Estate, continue to be celebrated each year.

Embracing the lyrics Deck the halls with boughs of holly in a big way, holiday decorations at Biltmore Estate include:

• 100 decorated Christmas trees
  
• Hundreds of festive wreaths and bows
  
• Hundreds of seasonal poinsettias
  
• 30,000 lights in the house
  
• 150,000 lights throughout the estate
  
• 10,000 feet of fresh garland
  
• More than 25,000 ornaments

To add to the sparkle, seasonal music and an array of activities for all ages add to the fun during daytime visits and special Candlelight Christmas Evenings. For longer visits, overnight packages are offered, subject to availability. More about Christmas at Biltmore.

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^{Photo Credit: Copyright 2008 The Biltmore Company, all rights reserved}

Each year on Veterans Day, the National Veterans Day Observance Ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Beginning at 11 a.m., a wreath is placed at the Tomb of the Unknowns in an Armed Forces Full Honor Wreath-Laying Ceremony conducted by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington. Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the Department of Veterans Affairs hosts an observance program in the Memorial Amphitheater, ending at around noon. This annual free ceremony is one of only three yearly special events open to the public at Arlington National Cemetery. Read more...

Myrtle Beach, known for its live year round entertainment, gets into the spirit of the holidays with an array of festive shows during November and December. From Christmas variety shows to live Nativity scenes and Bing singing his traditional holiday favorites, there are plenty of choices for all ages.

Also, several holiday show and hotel packages offer affordable rates for holiday visitors.

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^{Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Carolina Opry}

Stepping off in just a few weeks and ushering in the arrival of the holiday season, annual holiday parades by the dozens provide festive cheer during November and December in the Southeast U.S. Wherever you may be visiting, from the largest cities to the smallest country towns, there is likely to be a holiday parade taking place somewhere nearby, offering a fun way for all ages to get into the spirit of the season.

These highlighted holiday parades feature parades in some of the Southeast's most popular holiday tourist destinations. Read more...

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^{Photo of the Atlanta Children's Christmas Parade: Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Economic Development}

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is a wonderful time to enjoy gathering together with family and friends. It is also the busiest shopping weekend of the year and, although many festive events seem to be beginning earlier and earlier in November each year, Thanksgiving weekend traditionally marks the start of the Christmas holiday season. Here are some fun day-trips, special event outings and getaways to enjoy on Thanksgiving Day and throughout the rest of the weekend in the Southeast.

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^{Photo Credit: SW Productions / Getty Images}

An annual holiday tradition at George Washington's historic Mount Vernon Estate, Martha Washington hosts an 18th-century Christmas complete with walks by candlelight for nine evenings in late November and early December. Mount Vernon by Candlelight visitors enjoy the only times during the holidays that evening tours of the Estate are open to the public. Festive décor, fireside caroling, a cast of friends and family members, hot cider, cookies and extended shopping hours add to the fun.

Tickets to this ever popular event are required and may be purchased in advance, beginning November 1, 2009 online or at Mount Vernon's Ford Orientation Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For dates, admission fees and ticket information: Read more about Mount Vernon by Candlelight.

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^{Photo Credit: Courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies' Association}

From Halloween events and attractions in the Southeast U.S. for all ages to haunted happenings in New England's Salem, Massachusetts or former haunts of Count Dracula in Romania, About.com Travel Guides take a peek at a bewitching array of Halloween festivities throughout the United States and around the world. While some destinations go all out with parades, parties and special events, other locales are just beginning to celebrate the spooky fun of Halloween.

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^{Pictured Above: Busch Gardens Europe's Howl-O-Scream. Photo Credit © 2007 Busch Entertainment Corp}

The Cucalorus Film Festival, an annual celebration of independent filmmaking held in Wilmington, North Carolina, brings together filmmakers and film lovers in a supportive atmosphere with a non-competitive vibe. Selected by MovieMaker magazine (Spring 2009) as one of the "Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals," the Cucalorus Film Festival takes place over five days in November. In addition to politically charged and technically groundbreaking works, the festival also focuses on Southern storytellers and their visions, including several films with strong Carolina ties. Read more...

A culinary visit to Norfolk in the Tidewater region of Virginia left John Mitzewich, About.com's Guide to American Food, looking forward to a return trip. During his brief stay, as described in his article, A Little Taste of Norfolk Leaves Me Wanting More, John enjoyed meeting a few of Norfolk's culinary icons, dining on regional specialties from the Chesapeake Bay and sampling Virginia wines at the 22nd Annual Town Point Virginia Wine Festival. Read more...

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^{Photo Credit: © John Mitzewich - John Mitzewich poses with Al Doumar, nephew of Abe Doumar, who is credited with inventing the ice cream cone at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.}