Winter Festivals, Fairs, Celebrations Holidays and Special Events

Steeped in holiday traditions and offering an array of seasonal festivities, the Southeastern United States is a wonderful destination for memory-making holiday fun. This guide to celebrating the holidays in the Southeast provides information about some of the popular events, holiday light displays, trip ideas and more.

See: Celebrating the Holidays in the Southeast

Also See:
Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend in the Southeast
New Year's Eve Celebrations in the Southeast

January welcomes the New Year in the Southeast with plenty of winter festivals and special events. In North Carolina, jazz and big bands take center stage in Asheville and Blowing Rock plunges into winter during the annual Winterfest celebration. Rodeos and oceanfront treasure hunts delight visitors to Georgia, while oysters, blues and more keep winter travelers busy in South Carolina.

See: January Festivals, Celebrations and Special Events

February brings an array of popular festivals including the annual Gullah Celebration at Hilton Head, the annual North Carolina Jazz Festival in Wilmington and more. Presidents' Day Weekend is a great time to visit the Southeast's unique celebrations and, of course, Valentine's Day is the perfect time for a little (or a lot of) Southern romance.

See: February Festivals, Celebrations and Special Events

Celebrate your special romance for Valentine's Day with a romantic escape, a special event, a unique ceremony to renew your marriage vows or one of these other memorable ways to express your love.

See: Valentine's Day Celebrations and Destinations

Virginia, brimming with history, is a wonderful destination for a Presidents' Day weekend getaway. Three standout Presidents' Day celebrations, including events in Old Town Alexandria, George Washington's Mount Vernon and Colonial Williamsburg, offer interactive living history fun for families and tours of important historic sites for history buffs. All three celebrations are situated in picturesque and charming settings, adding a touch of romance for couples.

See: Presidents' Day Weekend Celebrations

Several cities in the Southeast, mostly in Virginia, celebrate Winter Restaurant Week during January or February with special fixed prices at participating restaurants. Reservations often fill quickly so booking your table in advance is recommended.

See: Restaurant Week

While New Orleans takes the cake (King Cake that is) for Mardi Gras celebrations in the United States, there are several other popular Mardi Gras celebrations in other southeastern cities, each with its own unique traditions and variations. For great Mardi Gras parades, revelry and crazy fun, the following celebrations offer an array of choices with everything from family friendly celebrations to some that are best enjoyed by adults only.

See: Mardi Gras Celebrations in the Southeast

Although March usually begins to feel more like spring than winter in many areas of the Southeast, St. Patrick's Day does fall just before the official change of the seasons. From Savannah's mega multi-day celebration, the second largest in the United States, to Old Town Alexandria's charming parade and festival, several great parades, festivals and special events offer lots of Irish fun for all ages.

See: St. Patrick's Day Celebrations