Start planning a year’s worth of weekend getaways with this roundup of exciting events.
Written by Leanna Woodward
Photography courtesy of respective festivals
Imagine planning your weekends around experiences that feel curated: champagne tastings by the ocean, chef-led dinners under live oaks, Bavarian-style steins lifted in alpine halls, or evenings wrapped in world-class opera. Across the Southeast, a year of luxe, road-trip-ready festivals awaits, each one transforming a simple getaway into something indulgent. Sip rare bourbons beside Jekyll Island’s dunes, wander blossom-draped streets in Macon, or enjoy concerts framed by mountain skylines. These are the weekends worth dressing up for, reserving early, and savoring slowly. Your year of elevated escapes begins here.
Jan. 31
Hilton Head Snow Day, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
For kids, Hilton Head Island’s Snow Day feels like pure winter magic: real snow delivered to the coast for an afternoon of sledding, tubing, snowball tossing, and angel making just steps from swaying palms. Families spread out across the snowy play zones while food trucks dish out warm treats and local performers keep Mom and Dad entertained. Little ones love the inflatable slides and winter games; bigger kids race to see who can sled down the “mountain” the fastest. After the fun, enjoy a bike ride through Sea Pines or chase a sunset on the pier. It’s the coolest beach day of the year, literally.
March 5
The Amelia Concours, Amelia Island, Florida
More than 250 rare classics, luxury icons, and historic race cars line the lush greens beside the oceanfront Ritz-Carlton, creating one of the country’s premier automotive showcases. Beyond the show field, enjoy high-end auctions, luxe food and cocktail events, and Ride and Drive sessions (and yes, that means you can slip behind the wheel of a pre-war Rolls-Royce). Afterward, cruise the A1A in a Ferrari or wander the shops of Fernandina Beach. For car lovers or anyone craving style, it’s the ultimate luxury escape.
March 20–29
International Cherry Blossom Festival, Macon, Georgia
Each spring, Macon, the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World,” bursts into a bright bloom. With over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees, the city literally turns into “The Pinkest Party on Earth.” The 10-day celebration features parades down Cherry Street, hot-air balloon rides, food trucks, unique vendors, live music, art fairs, and even wiener-dog races. Stroll along historic streets covered in pink petals while sipping cherry-themed cocktails. It’s the perfect way to ring in the warm weather.
April 16–19
Georgia Tribute Festival, Brunswick, Georgia
For all the oldies lovers, the Georgia Tribute Festival is pure rockabilly magic. The Brunswick Old Town Historic District plays host to a nostalgia-driven concert, packed with powerhouse Elvis tributes, Motown revivals, and show-after-show energy that spills into the streets — just as rock and roll was intended. Expect soaring vocals, beaded leather jackets, and crowd-pleasing sets that feel straight out of another era. Between performances, browse Old Town’s record shops and antiques stores, then refuel with coastal seafood.
May 6–10
St. Augustine Food and Wine Festival, St. Augustine, Florida
Set your GPS for the nation’s oldest city. Celebrity chefs, live-fire demos, craft cocktails, and pours from top wineries fill the Intracoastal waterfront with incredible aromas and salt-air breezes. The festival’s signature event offers unlimited tastings, fresh seafood, and live music, while intimate chef dinners and riverfront soirées turn the whole weekend into a culinary retreat. Whether you’re a chef, a foodie, or simply looking for an excuse to head farther south, it’s the perfect spring escape.
May 22–June 7
Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston, South Carolina
For 17 days each spring, Charleston dissolves into a dreamscape of artistic possibility. During Spoleto Festival USA, opera spills from historic churches, contemporary dance ignites hidden courtyards, and daring new theater unfurls beneath live oaks. World-class artists transform the city into a labyrinth of sound, movement, and color. Historic Charleston evolves into a living gallery framed by the pastel facades of Rainbow Row. After a performance, catch a bite on King Street or head to Folly Beach to reflect on the wonders of Spoleto.
June 4–7
Carolina Country Music Fest, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
If your perfect summer weekend includes boots, beer, and beach views, Carolina Country Music Fest is calling — and you can’t let it go to voicemail. Myrtle Beach transforms into a non-stop country bash with multiple oceanfront stages, radio headliners, rising stars, and crowds hollering along to every song. Think sandy boots, fireworks, and the kind of high-time energy you normally only get in Nashville. Between shows, hit the boardwalk, grab a fried seafood basket, or cool off in the waves. For anyone who keeps Lainey Wilson and Luke Bryan in their rotation, you won’t want to miss this.
July 17–26
Beaufort Water Festival, Beaufort, South Carolina
Want to get away without going too far? The Beaufort Water Festival delivers 10 days of pure Lowcountry summertime just a stone’s throw from home. Kids race to Children’s Day for games and inflatables, while the whole crew can cheer on the famous Raft Race and the awe-inspiring Air Show over the river. The Water Ski Show, the Blessing of the Fleet and Parade of Boats, and the shrimp-heavy Lowcountry Supper are all must-attends. Add the arts and crafts market and the Commodore’s Ball, and you’ve got a weekend overflowing with unforgettable family memories.
Aug. 1
CSRA Afro-Caribbean Festival, Augusta, Georgia
Shake up your summer at the CSRA Augusta Afro-Caribbean Festival, where the Savannah River banks come alive with steel pan bands, reggae and soca headliners, West African drum ensembles, and Caribbean dance troupes in full costume. Local chefs serve mouth-watering jerk chicken, oxtail, roti, plantains, and tropical fruit juices, while vendors sell handmade baskets, beadwork, natural oils, and island spices. Kids can enjoy the cultural craft zone and drumming workshops, and by sunset, the main lawn turns into a full-on Caribbean street party.
Sept. 10–Nov. 1
Oktoberfest, Helen, Georgia
Craving a European getaway without the long flights and four-digit airfares? Helen’s Oktoberfest turns North Georgia into a Bavarian escape for nearly two months straight. Inside the Festhalle, steins of German beer clink over long wooden tables as polka and oompah bands keep the crowd dancing in true alpine style. Expect lederhosen, bratwurst, schnitzel, and enough pretzels to rival Munich. Step outside, and the village feels straight out of Europe, with timbered facades, cobblestone streets, and mountains blazing with fall color. For beer lovers and wanderlusters alike, it’s the most authentic Bavarian celebration you can find without crossing an ocean.
Oct. 23–24
Shrimp & Grits Festival, Jekyll Island, Georgia
Once a humble fisherman’s breakfast, now a beloved Lowcountry staple, shrimp and grits has fed the South for generations. Jekyll Island celebrates its story with heart. During this two-day festival, chefs from all across the region honor the tasty dish’s coastal roots with cast-iron techniques, heirloom grains, and Wild Georgia Shrimp pulled straight from local waters. Enjoy cooking demos, Gullah-Geechee influences, artisan makers, and shrimp-boat tours that bring the classic dish to life.
Late November – Early January 2027
Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas, Dahlonega, Georgia
If you’ve ever wished you could step inside a Hallmark movie, Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas is your doorway. The main square shimmers with thousands of twinkling lights as horse-drawn carriages roll past gingerbread-trimmed buildings and carolers sing beneath glowing icicles. The season brings a hometown parade, candlelit tree lightings, Santa sightings, and markets overflowing with handmade gifts and hot cocoa. Slip into a local winery for mulled wine or trot with Dasher and Dancer through snow-globe-worthy streets with someone you love. It’s a Christmas romance waiting to happen, no script required.
