21 Southern Events & Happenings: April 2026
From can’t-miss festivals and marathons to live music and gardens in full bloom, these Southern events offer plenty of reasons to get out and celebrate the season. Image: Facebook / Texas SandFest
Spring has officially arrived in the South, and our calendars are in full bloom! From storied festivals and marathons to live music and garden tours, here are events worth planning a trip around this April.
April 8 – 12, 2026: North Carolina Azalea Festival — Wilmington, NC
First launched in 1948, the North Carolina Azalea Festival is a five-day celebration of gardens, arts, and coastal culture that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Wilmington each year. The event features more than 25 happenings across the city and nearby beaches, including a parade, a street fair, concerts with big-name headliners, garden tours, and fireworks. ncazaleafestival.org
April 9 – 11, 2026: Mule Day — Columbia, TN
Columbia, TN, proudly lives up to its title as the “Mule Capital of the World” during Mule Day, a three-day celebration that draws more than 200,000 visitors each year. Expect mule competitions, Appalachian eats, live music, and plenty of small-town charm. Fan-favorite events include the Mule Day Craft Fair and the Old-Fashioned Log Pulling competition. muleday.com
April 10 – 12, 2026: 79th Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival — Poteet, TX
The Poteet Strawberry Festival returns with a sweet lineup of Texas-sized fun, from live music and carnival rides to strawberry treats in just about every form imaginable. Favorites include the parade, rodeo events, the Taste of Texas Food Show, and the Strawberry Auction, where the state’s top growers compete for bragging rights. poteetstrawberryfestival.com
April 10 – 12, 2026: 90th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival — Atlanta, GA
The beloved Atlanta Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park returns for a weekend of art, music, and springtime revelry. The nationally recognized Artist Market hosts hundreds of creatives from across the country, while live performances, cultural programming, and family-friendly activities keep the energy high. Don’t miss the Mimosa 5K, Kids Village, and plenty of festival bites along the way. dogwood.org
April 11, 2026: Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival — Nashville, TN
Celebrate spring in full bloom at the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival, a family-friendly event at Nashville’s Public Square Park. Guests can explore Japanese food, music, dance, and martial arts demonstrations, along with a bustling marketplace filled with art and cultural goods. nashvillecherryblossomfestival.org
April 11, 2026: Mutt Strut — Birmingham, AL
The 16th Annual Mutt Strut at Homewood Central Park is going full ’90s with a Friends-inspired theme. Runners, walkers, kids, and leashed pups are invited to lace up for the 5K or 1-Mile Fun Run, complete with costumes, race awards, and plenty of wagging tails. The morning of fun benefits Hand in Paw’s life-changing Animal-Assisted Therapy programs. handinpaw.org
April 16 – 19, 2026: French Quarter Festival — New Orleans, LA
First started in 1984 and now known as the “largest free celebration of local music, food, and culture,” the French Quarter Festival fills New Orleans’s historic district with more than 20 stages of live music, including traditional jazz, brass, and zydeco bands, as well as dishes from over 60 Louisiana restaurants. frenchquarterfest.org
April 16 – 25, 2026: Come-See-Me Festival — Rock Hill, SC
Rock Hill’s Come-See-Me Festival returns with a full lineup of festivities, from the kickoff parade to events like the Beach Bash, Road Races, and Gourmet Gardens. Expect live music, food trucks, and plenty of community spirit along the way. The celebration wraps with a Tailgate Party and Fireworks Extravaganza worthy of the occasion. comeseeme.org
April 16 – May 10, 2026: 11th Annual Southeastern Designer Showhouse — Atlanta, GA
Step inside the Southeast’s latest dream home at the 2026 Southeastern Designer Showhouse, presented by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles in the Chastain Park neighborhood. The stunning 8,750-square-foot European transitional home showcases beautifully curated interiors from top designers — all while benefiting Solidarity Sandy Springs. Tour the six-bedroom showplace and discover the latest in luxury design, materials, and craftsmanship. southeasternshowhouse.com
April 17 & 18, 2026: 64th Annual Arkansas Folk Festival — Mountain View, AR
Step into the sounds of the Ozarks at the 64th Annual Arkansas Folk Festival, a spring tradition celebrating the region’s deep musical roots. Musicians and visitors gather around the courthouse square for days of fiddles, banjos, dulcimers, and storytelling through song. Expect performances on the main stage and plenty of spontaneous pickin’ sessions throughout town. mountainviewarkansas.com
April 17 – 19, 2026: Texas SandFest — Port Aransas, TX
The largest beach sand sculpture competition in the U.S., Texas SandFest returns to Port Aransas for a three-day celebration of creativity by the sea. Renowned sculptors transform ordinary sand into towering works of art while visitors enjoy live music, vendors, fair food, and family-friendly activities. Free demonstrations from professional sand artists offer a behind-the-scenes look at how the beachside masterpieces take shape. portaransas.org
April 18, 2026: Bourbon & Bubbles Fest — Nashville, TN
Dress to impress and raise a glass at the Bourbon and Bubbles Fest, a spirited tasting party at Nashville’s Iroquois Steeplechase Grandstands. Guests can sip bourbon, bubbly, wine, and other pours while enjoying the Iroquois Steeplechase Fashion Show — so break out your favorite spring attire and statement hats. The 21+ event runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., with general admission and VIP tickets available. bourbonbubblesfest.com
April 18, 2026: Thunder Over Louisville — Louisville, KY
Kick off the Kentucky Derby Festival in dazzling fashion at Waterfront Park with Thunder Over Louisville, North America’s largest annual fireworks display. Bring the whole family, grab a spot along the riverfront, and watch the night sky light up to start Derby season in style. thunderoverlouisivlle.org
April 18 & 19, 2026: 42nd Annual Bloomin’ Festival — Cullman, AL
The Bloomin’ Festival Arts & Craft Fair returns to the picturesque campus of St. Bernard Abbey. More than 150 juried artists showcase handcrafted works against the stunning backdrop of Alabama’s only abbey, with the nearby Ave Maria Grotto offering reduced admission for festivalgoers. The event supports St. Bernard Prep and includes exciting prize giveaways throughout the weekend. bloominfestival.com
April 18 – 25, 2026: Historic Garden Week — Across Virginia
Each spring, Virginia’s Historic Garden Week opens the gates to more than 120 private homes and gardens across the state, with 29 regionally organized tours to choose from. Organized by the Garden Club of Virginia since 1927, the event also features more than 1,000 floral arrangements created by its members. Proceeds support the restoration of Virginia’s historic public gardens and graduate research fellowships. gcvirginia.org
April 19, 2026: 33rd Annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival — Memphis, TN
The Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival in downtown Memphis is a full day of music, family fun, and piles of Louisiana crawfish along Riverside Drive. Now the largest one-day crawfish festival outside of Louisiana, the free event draws thousands for live entertainment, food trucks, games, and a lively kids’ area. porterleath.org
April 23 – 26, 2026: Vidalia Onion Festival — Vidalia, GA
Celebrate Georgia’s most famous crop at the Vidalia Onion Festival, a four-day spring tradition honoring the state’s sweet onion. The lineup includes everything from a carnival and chalk walk to rodeo-style competitions, an air show, and the annual Onion Run. Come hungry — and stay for live performances from headliners like Ashley McBryde and The Castellows. vidaliaonionfestival.com
April 23 – May 3, 2026: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — New Orleans, LA
Since its debut in 1970, “Jazz Fest” has become one of the country’s most iconic music and cultural festivals, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to New Orleans each year. Held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, the event features more than a dozen stages with headlining performances spanning jazz, gospel, blues, Cajun, zydeco, rock, and more, along with local cuisine and artisan markets. nojazzfest.com
April 24 & 25, 2026: Double Decker Arts Festival — Oxford, MS
Oxford’s Double Decker Arts Festival returns for a two-day celebration of the arts, honoring the city’s longstanding creative spirit. The free event features art demonstrations and booths, local food vendors, and a full lineup of live music. This year’s performers include Wilco, Margo Price, and Shane Smith & the Saints. doubledeckerfestival.com
April 24 & 25, 2026: Brewgaloo Festival — Raleigh, NC
Brewgaloo in downtown Raleigh is a two-day celebration of North Carolina’s thriving craft beer scene, featuring more than 100 breweries from across the state. The weekend pairs local pours with food trucks, vendors, and live music along Fayetteville Street. Festivities kick off with a Friday night tasting event, followed by Saturday’s sprawling street festival. The event is free to attend, with tickets available for beer sampling. shoplocalraleigh.org
April 25 & 26, 2026: St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon — Nashville, TN
Lace up for Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville, a high-energy race weekend benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The lineup includes a full marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, one-mile fun run, kids’ race, and even a Doggie Dash — offering a distance for every pace. Registration starts at $36, or runners can participate for free by joining as a St. Jude Hero. runrocknroll.com
Here’s to a blooming April!
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To see more great Southern events, check out our Happenings calendar.
Anne Marie Hanna
An Ole Miss alum residing in Nashville, Anne Marie is passionate about telling the stories shaping the South. Outside of work, you’ll likely find her on a porch with a coffee and a good book, gardening, listening to music, or enjoying time with friends and family.