Road Trips — By Apryl Chapman Thomas on November 2, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Filed under: Attractions, Events, things to do in the South, Things to See in the South

It’s November in the South

Halloween is over, and so begins the unofficial (or perhaps official for some) countdown to the holidays. Soon it’ll be time for cups of warm apple cider, mulling spices, pumpkin pies and more. And this month, syrup; such as the Syrup Festival in Henderson, Texas (November 12-15) and Cane Syrup Makin’ Day in Beatrice, Ala., (November 7).

It’s November in the South

It’s time to get out and spend some time in various destinations such as Shreveport-Bossier City, La., Montgomery, Ala., or Knoxville, Tenn.
And that means it’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit with the Old Christmas Time at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo., (November 7 – December 30), Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas in Sevierville, Tenn., (November 7, 2009 – January 2, 2010), Smoky Mountain Winterfest (November 5, 2009 – February 28, 2010), Holiday Festival of Lights in Charleston, S.C., (November 13, 2009 – January 3, 2010), and Christmas at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. (November 6, 2009 – January 3, 2010).
Celebrate hometown greats around this region this month with Mark Twain’s Birthday in Florida, Mo., (November 30), Will Rogers Days in Claremore, Okla., (November 4-7), Johnny Mercer Centennial in Savannah, Ga., and 3rd annual Ava Gardner Independent Film Festival in Smithfield, N.C., (November 18-21).
Don’t forget about those only-in-the-South type celebrations in November like the 74th annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest & Wings Over the Prairie Festival in Stuttgart, Ark., (November 21-28), Rayne (La.) Frog Festival on November 12-14, and Carolina Moonshine Festival in Madison (November 21-22).
And of course, celebrating food and there’s plenty of it to be found this month in the South. To start, there’s the Giant Omelette Celebration in Abbeville, La., (November 7-8), Stew Stomp in Louisville, Miss., (November 7) and Vardaman (Miss.) Sweet Potato Festival through November 14. And is that isn’t enough, there’s the Alabama Pecan Festival in Mobile (November 6-8), Chitlin’ Strut in Salley, S.C., (November 26-28) and Maxton (N.C.) Collard Festival on November 14. Seafood lovers will rejoice with Oyster & Seafood Festival in Mobile, Ala., (November 14-15), Taste of THE Beach in Panama City Beach, Fla., (November 6), 46th annual Florida Seafood Festival in Apalachicola, Fla., (November 7), 21st annual Ruskin (Fla.) Seafood Festival (November 7-8), and Urbanna (Va.) Oyster Fest on November 6-7.