Festivals Galore in the South

Everyone loves a good festival, right? And what better U.S region to enjoy any reason to celebrate, than in the South.

9-12 June, Nashville, Tennessee: Hosted each June in Nashville by the Country Music Association (CMA), CMA Fest is a four-day country music festival drawing over 400 artists and celebrities for exclusive concerts and meet-and-greet sessions with fans. 2022 headliners include Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Alan Jackson and Carrie Underwood.

11-12 June, New Orleans, Louisiana: The annual Cajun Zydeco Festival celebrates springtime in New Orleans with Cajun food, dancing and plenty of Zydeco music. Festival-goers can expect a handful of local vendors specialising in classic Cajun dishes, performances by some of Louisiana’s most celebrated Cajun-Zydeco musicians, an art market as well as a selection of children’s activities such as dance and music lessons.

30 June – 3 July, New Orleans, Louisiana: The Essence Festival of Culture promotes, celebrates, and explores health & wellness, spirituality, beauty & style, food, community & culture, entertainment, entrepreneurship, and more within the African American community. What began in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate Essence Magazine’s 25th anniversary has blossomed into an annual festival, which has welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests to the Crescent City each year. Guest performers and speakers this year include Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Kevin Hart and others.

1-5 September, New Orleans, Louisiana: For over four decades, the Southern Decadence festival has taken over New Orleans with a host of parties, parades, brunches, and events in celebration of the city’s LGBTQ community. This French Quarter-wide fest is the perfect way to close out summertime in the Crescent City.

15-18 September, Greenville, South Carolina: Euphoria is an annual food, wine & music festival that highlights the best of Greenville’s culinary scene (from French restaurant Passerelle Bistro to dessert haven LaRue Fine Chocolate) along with celebrated guest chefs in the United States.

16-18 September, Bardstown, Kentucky: Known as the Bourbon Capital of the World, Bardstown, Kentucky is the home of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, a celebration of the storied history and art of distilling America’s homemade spirit. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival began in 1991 as a Bourbon tasting and dinner and. Today, it is one of the Commonwealth’s leading community festivals.