September festivals and events are plentiful in the Southeast as communities and organizations celebrate the often idyllic fall weather, seasonal harvests, Southern heritage, visual and performing arts and more. This round-up highlights an array of festivals with something for just about everyone.
If you do not see your favorite event listed, visit: Submit a Fall Event.
Also see: More Fall Events and Holidays Throughout the Year.
September Holiday and Themed Events:
- Labor Day Weekend
September 2 - 5, 2011
How will you celebrate the last blast of the summer season? Our Labor Day weekend round up highlights several fun festivals, events and celebrations throughout the Southeast U.S.
- Oktoberfest Celebrations
Various Dates
Many Oktoberfest events and festivals take place during the month of September. Find out where to raise your stein for a great time in the Southeast.
- State and County Fairs
Various Dates
The Tennessee State Fair takes place mid September, the State Fair of Virginia kicks off at the end of September and bushels of county fairs and country fairs take place throughout the month.
- September Apple Festivals
Various Dates
Welcome the fall season during September with a getaway or day-trip of apple picking and apple festivals.
- Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park
September 8 - 11, 2011 - Stone Mountain, Georgia
One of Stone Mountain Park's most popular annual events, the award-winning Yellow Daisy Festival features more than 400 artists and crafters, plus daily live entertainment, children's activities, food vendors, clogging and artisan demonstrations and more.
- Time Warner Cable BBQ & Blues
September 9 - 10, 2011 - Charlotte, North Carolina
A celebration of Southern cuisine and music and North Carolina's Official Memphis BBQ Network Championship Cook-off, this large competition and festival features great barbecue, blues music, beer samples and more.
- Hampton Bay Days
September 9 - 11, 2011 - Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Attracting about 200,000 attendees each year and one of the best waterside events in Virginia, Hampton Bay Days is free and open to the public. This annual festival features family fun, free entertainment by national and regional artists, food vendors, arts and crafts, a classic car show and, this year, the Inaugural Hampton Bay Days BBQ Challenge.
- Alexandria Festival of the Arts
September 10 - 11, 2011 - Alexandria, Virginia
Old Town Alexandria, along King Street from Washington Street to Union Street, will become an outdoor art gallery on September 11 and 12. The Alexandria Festival of the Arts features an array of award-winning artists, showing paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry and more. Related Information: Walking Tour of Old Town Alexandria.
- Kentucky Bourbon Festival
September 13 - 18, 2011 - Bardstown, Kentucky
Enjoy a weekend in celebration of smooth Bourbon complete with good Southern food and great entertainment with special events including galas, historical tours, and more for all ages.
- Clayton Harvest Festival
September 14 - 18, 2011 - Clayton, North Carolina
Clayton's most exciting autumn event offers carnival rides, the annual arts and crafts and business vendor fair, a Merchants Auction, antique car and truck show, and plenty of local entertainment. Clayton is located along Route 70, between Raleigh and Smithfield.
- Best of Badin Festival
September 16 - 17, 2011 - Badin, North Carolina
Each year on the third weekend in September, the quaint village of Badin, located at the foot of the rugged Uwharrie Mountains and known for its French flavor and French Colonial architecture, celebrates fall with a festival featuring an array of vendors, games, music, food and more. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Badin is a lovely setting for enjoying a day of fall fun in North Carolina.
- Mediterranean Weekend
September 16 - 18, 2011 - Virginia Beach, Virginia
This fun-filled weekend celebrates Italian and Greek cuisine, music, and festivities. Festa Italiana, held at the 17th Street Park, salutes all things Italian and My Big Fat Greek Party, held at the 24th Street Park features Greek cuisine, dancing and fun for all ages.
- Tyrone Founders Day Festival
September 16 - 18, 2011 - Tyrone, Georgia
This annual community celebration offers family fun, including a parade, carnival, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, ice cream eating contests, fireworks, car show and lots of other entertainment.
- Umoja Festival
September 16 - 18, 2011 - Portsmouth, Virginia
This African-American festival, which celebrates unity, features national recording artists, local entertainers, educational exhibits, living history presentations, African-American heritage tours, African dancers, children's activities and much more.
- The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival
September 16 - 18, 2011 - Jekyll Island, Georgia
Celebrating shrimp and grits, two southern favorites, the Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival takes place in the picturesque historic district of Jekyll Island and features a cook‐off, shrimp boat tours, cooking demonstrations, book signings, arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment and a kid‐friendly fun zone.
- Brewgrass Festival
September 17, 2011 - Asheville, North Carolina
Over 40 American breweries showcase more than 120 different beers while entertainment is provided by a lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians. Tickets always sell out early.
- Suwanee Day
September 17, 2011 - Suwanee, Georgia
Held annually on the third Saturday of September in historic Old Town, The Suwanee Day festival is a celebration of community, featuring arts and crafts exhibitors, children's activities, a themed parade, food vendors, and free entertainment.
- Wilderness Trail Festival
September 17, 2011 - Christiansburg, Virginia
This annual festival in downtown Chirstiansburg offers family fun and entertainment with arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, local performance groups and a Car Cruise-in by the Blue Ridge Model A's.
- Atlanta Arts Festival
September 17 - 18, 2011 - Atlanta, Georgia
This fall arts festival, held in Piedmont Park, features a professionally juried artist market with 200 artists from across the country, artist demonstrations, festival food, entertainment and more.
- Colonial Market and Fair at Mount Vernon
September 17 - 18, 2011 - Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia
Colonial-attired artisans demonstrate 18th-century crafts and sell traditional wares at this annual event featuring an array of top American craftspeople. Other highlights include period entertainment and free Potomac River sightseeing cruises, first come - first served, while supplies last.
- Virginia Wine Festival
September 17 - 18, 2011 - Centreville, Virginia
The longest-running wine festival on the East Coast, this popular fall festival offers wine tasting, entertainment, arts and crafts, and more in celebration of Virginia's award-winning wineries. The centrally-located festival takes place at the Bull Run Regional Park Special Events Center in Centreville, Virginia.
- Savannah Jazz Festival
September 18 - 25, 2011 - Savannah, Georgia
Attracting jazz fans from near and far, the week-long Savannah Jazz Festival, one of Savannah's the largest and most popular festivals, features the best in international, national, regional and local jazz artists, offering all types of jazz, from Dixieland, traditional swing, and bop to melodic standards, and funky down-home blues.
- Benson Mule Days
September 22 - 25, 2011 - Benson, North Carolina
Always held the fourth Saturday weekend in September, this four-day festival, which attracts around 70,000 people, has offered traditional Southern fun for more than 50 years. Featured events this year include rodeos, a mule pulling contest, arts and crafts, vendors, street dances, carnival rides, camping, parades, bluegrass shows and more.
- Euphoria
September 22 - 25, 2011 - Greenville, South Carolina
Described as a higher state of food, wine and music, this Upstate event includes exclusive tasting events, cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, and multi-course dinners, as world-class chefs, vintners and entertainers converge in downtown Greenville for three days of deliciousness.
- Mayberry Days
September 22 - 25, 2011 - Mount Airy, NC
Fans of the Andy Griffith Show will enjoy this family-friendly festival, which takes place each year in Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy. Relax to the music of local bands, playing songs from the time that Andy was growing up in Mount Airy, enjoy a cold bottle of pop while playing a game of checkers, and be sure to look for special guests from the show.
- World Chicken Festival
September 22 - 25, 2011 - London, Kentucky
Attracting over 250,000 attendees each year, this popular four-day festival pays tribute to Colonel Sanders, featuring Colonel Sanders look-alike contests, crowing, strutting and clucking competitions, eating contests, a parade, entertainment, food and crafts booths and more.
- Oktoberfest
September 22 - 25, 2011 (Thursday - Sunday) and September 26 - October 30, 2011 (Daily) - Helen, Georgia
Attracting thousands of visitors to the area, Oktoberfest is Helen's number one tourist draw and one of the biggest parties in the Southeast. Lasting for almost two months every fall, Oktoberfest features authentic German bands, food, beer, dancing and lots of German-style fun at Helen's enormous Festhalle.
- Annual Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens
Various Dates from September 22 through October 23, 2011 - Charleston, South Carolina
Explore some of Charleston's oldest and most notable examples of architecture in an array of styles during this annual event, presented by the Preservation Society of Charleston.
- The Okra Strut
September 23 - 24, 2011 - Irmo, SC
Okra, slimy and delicious, is celebrated each fall at this community festival. See Funny Southern Food Festivals for more information.
- Festival in the Park
September 23 - 25, 2011 - Charlotte, North Carolina
For over 40 years, this annual festival has been delighting local Charlotteans as well as visitors from around the globe with good music, good art and good times. Held in Freedom Park, near uptown Charlotte, festival fun includes over 150 artists and artisans demonstrating and displaying their arts and crafts, plus almost a thousand entertainers and performers providing ongoing entertainment. Attracting an estimated 100,000 visitors, this popular Charlotte event is known for its relaxed, yet stimulating, celebration of the arts.
- International Folk Festival
September 23 - 25, 2011 - Fayetteville, North Carolina
This annual festival celebrates the area's rich multicultural population and diversity with international food, pageantry, unique arts and crafts, music, dance and more.
- Museum Mile Weekend
September 23 - 25, 2011 - Charleston, SC
Explore 13 sites along historic Meeting Street for reduced rates with a special weekend pass.
- Spirit of Kentucky Balloon Festival
September 23 - 25, 2011 - Louisville, Kentucky
Kentucky's largest balloon event is held at historic Bowman Field and features balloon events, festival food, a Kid's Fun Zone, live music, balloon glows, fireworks and more.
- Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off at Stone Mountain Park
September 24, 2011 - Stone Mountain, Georgia
Head for the Meadow at Stone Mountain Park for this annual event to enjoy a day of chili, Brunswick stew and cornbread cook-offs, with about 300 teams expected to be competing. Tribute bands provide great music throughout the day.
- Southern Heritage Harvest Festival
September 24, 2011 - South Boston, Virginia
This delightful downtown street festival features lots of family fun, including clowns and magicians, games and pony rides, entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors and more.
- The West Virginia Road Kill Cook-off and Autumn Harvest Festival
September 24, 2011 - Marlinton, WV
Poking good-natured fun at some of the region's stereotypes for over 15 years, this annual festival offers samplings of unique back-country culinary creations. See Funny Southern Food Festivals for more information.
- Annual Jubilee Festival
September 24 - 25, 2011 - Olde Towne Daphne, AL
Celebrating over 20 years, this annual juried art show features regional artists and craftsmen, plus unique festival foods, local entertainment and hands on activities for kids.
- Carrboro Music Festival
September 25, 2011 - Carrboro, NC
Located in Chapel Hill's next-door-neighbor, Carrboro, this popular music festival is one of the largest day-long free music festival in North Carolina The festival features an array of musical styles, presented in various indoor and outdoor venues.
- Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration - Dollywood
September 28 - October 29, 2011 - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Enjoy free concerts (included with admission price), arts and crafts artisans and special regional food during this popular annual Southern gospel festival.
- Beaufort shrimp Festival
September 30 - October 1, 2011 - Beaufort, South Carolina
A celebration of the shrimping industry held in historic downtown Beaufort, featuring plenty of local shrimp dishes or buy fresh shrimp to take home, plus entertainment, contests and more.
Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour
September 30 - October 2, 2011 - Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia
A celebration of the history of wine in Virginia.
- Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend
September 30 - October 2, 2011 - Virginia Beach, Virginia
The grand finale of the Neptune Festival features non-stop fun for three days and nights, including outdoor concerts along the famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk, the internationally renowned North American Sandsculpting Competition, over 300 artisans in the Neptune Art and Craft Show, great food vendors, sports activities, fireworks and more. Also, wine lovers may wish to check out the popular Neptune Fall Wine Festival on September 10 - 11, 2011 which showcases Virginia wines along with entertainment and gourmet foods.
