October Festivals and Special Events

South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia

South Carolina Festivals and Events

• Beaufort shrimp Festival
  October 2 - 3, 2009 - 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.
  
  
• Taste of Charleston
  October 9 - 11, 2009 - Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant and Downtown Charleston, South Carolina
  A sea of culinary delights featuring a selection of Charleston and the Lowcountry’s finest restaurants, plus additional events in downtown Charleston.
  
  
• South Carolina State Fair
  October 14 - 25, 2009 - Columbia, South Carolina
  Exhibits include livestock and agriculture, flowers, baked and canned goods, needlework and quilting, fine art and more, as well as commerce, education and history exhibits at the state's largest event.
  
  
• Fall Festival of Houses and Gardens
  October 23 - 25, 2009 - Beaufort, South Carolina
  A selection of private homes and gardens, representing three centuries of architecture welcomes visitors during this popular annual three-day festival featuring self-paced tours.
  
  
• Annual Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens
  Selected Days - September 24 - October 25, 2009 - Charleston, South Carolina
  Self-guided walking tours in historic districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places with volunteer guides stationed in each house or garden.

• National Storytelling Festival
  October 2 - 4, 2009 - Jonesborough, Tennessee
  The world's premier storytelling festival, featuring tales of all kinds told beneath big festival tents and nighttime stars.
  
  
• Museum of Appalachia Tennessee Fall Homecoming
  October 8 - 11, 2009 - Norris, Tennessee
  One of the nation's largest and most authentic old-time mountain, craft, and music festivals.
  
  
• National Gospel and Harvest Celebration
  October 2 - 31, 2009 - Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
  Featuring two Southern favorites: great gospel music and good food. See Seasonal Fall Festivals for more information.
  
  
• Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue
  October 24, 2009 - Lynchburg, Tennessee
  One of the most prestigious barbecue competitions in the world, featuring teams from across the United States and around the world competing in the categories of Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder, Beef Brisket and Chicken.

• Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour
  October 2 - 4, 2009 - Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia
  A celebration of the history of wine in Virginia.
  
  
• Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife
  October 3 - 4, 2009 - Newport News, Virginia
  Traditional crafts, trade demonstrations, traditional folk entertainment on four stages and food vendors.
  
  
• Peanut Fest
  October 8 - 11, 2009 - Suffolk, Virginia
  Family activities, including amusement rides, contests, a demolition derby, a truck and tractor pull, fireworks, entertainment and more.
  
  
• Richmond Folk Festival
  October 9 - 11, 2009 - Richmond, Virginia
  Celebrates the richness and variety of American culture with music, dance, crafts, storytelling and food along downtown Richmond's riverfront.
  
  
• Fredericksburg Arts and Crafts Festival
  October 10 - 11, 2009 - Fredericksburg, Virginia
  A hand crafted only festival, featuring arts and hand crafted items from over 150 crafters and artisans.
  
  
• Virginia Fall Foliage Festival Art Show
  Oct. 10 - 11, 2009 - Waynesboro, Virginia
  Outdoor juried fine art and craft show, recognized as one of the premiere East Coast shows, drawing artists from 14 states and Canada.
  
  
• Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival
  October 16 - 18, 2009 - Millwood, Virginia
  Family-oriented fun on the grounds of Historic Long Branch, featuring a traditional Friday night Hot Air Balloon and Pumpkin Glow, plus weekend activities including musical entertainment, wine tasting for those 21 and over, mansion tours, arts and crafts, children's activities and performances, a 5K walk/run, and more.
  
  
• International Gold Cup
  October 17, 2009 - Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia
  The 72nd running of the International Gold Cup Races presented by Porsche offers a full day of entertainment, including a Porsche sports car display, nationally sanctioned races, terrier races and moree. Tickets are required.
  
  
• Fall Harvest Family Days at Mount Vernon
  October 17 - 18, 2009 - Alexandria, Virginia
  Family friendly activities, including wagon rides, wheat treading, a straw bale maze, early-American games, music and dancing, plus half-price Potomac River sightseeing cruises.
  
  
• Marine Corps Marathon
  October 25, 2009 - Arlington, Virginia
  A weekend of fun surrounds this annual race, now in its 32nd year, which begins in Arlington, Virginia, crosses into Washington, D.C. and finishes in Arlington at the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. See Previous Marine Corps Marathon Photos

West Virginia Festivals and Events

• New River Gorge Bridge Day
  October 17, 2009 - Fayetteville, West Virginia
  The largest extreme sports event in the world, always held on the third Saturday in October, featuring hundreds of BASE jumpers, frequently with well over 100,000 spectators.

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