events in your region

Juicy slices of watermelon make refreshing treats during a summertime barbecue or music festival. You might even find an occasional seed-spitting contest too. To submit an event, send details to sl_events@timeinccom, or visit our Web site at southernliving.com/august2006 and fill out the submission form. Deadline for consideration is three months prior to the month in which the event occurs.

ALABAMA

Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Jazz Festival Mobile, Aug. 3-6 ([251] 473-5020; www.gceh jazzfest.com).

World's Longest Yard Sale Fort Payne, Gadsden, and Mentone, Lookout Mountain Parkway, Aug. 3-6 (1-888-805-4740; www.127sale.com).

Riverfest 2006 Wetumpka, Gold Star Park, Aug. 12 ([334] 567-4811; www.wetumpkachamber.com).

Watermelon Festival Russellville, Aug. 18-19 ([256] 332-1760; www.franklincountychamber.org).

Hot Air Balloon Festival Fyffe, town park, Aug. 25-26 ([256] 623-2222, ext. 3).

Stokin' the Fire BBQ Festival Birmingham, Sloss Furnaces, Aug. 25-26 ([205] 324-1911; www.slossfurnaces.com).

DELAWARE

Shakespeare Festival Performance Claymont, Rockwood Park, Much Ado About Nothing, July 28-30, Aug. 3-6,10-12 ([1302] 764-0113; www.delshakes.org).

Antiques Shows Rehoboth Beach, convention center, Aug. 2-5 ([302] 227-7202); Lewes, Historical Society Complex, Aug. 5 ([302] 645-7670; http://historiclewes.org).

Riverfront Blues Festival Wilmington, Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, Aug. 12-13 ([302] 576-2100; www.riverfront bluesfest.com).

FLORIDA

Evenings in Olde Seville Square Pensacola, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24 ([850] 438-6505).

Orchid Show Cocoa, Sports Center Arena, Aug. 18-20 ([321] 632-2847); www.platinumcoastorchid society.org).

Gem, Jewelry, and Bead Show Sarasota, municipal auditorium, Aug. 25-27 ([941] 954-4165; www.frankcoxproductions.com).

Festival Latino Fort Watlon Beach, Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island, Aug. 26 ([850] 837-8505).

GEORGIA

World's Longest Yard Sale Trenton, Lookout Mountain Parkway, Aug. 3-6 (toll-free 1-877-733-3233; www.127sale.com).

Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival Dillard, city hall grounds, Aug. 4-5 ([706] 782-4812; www. dillardbbq.org).

Festival of Arts Hiawassee, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Aug. 26-27 ([706] 896-9739; www.hiawasseefestivalofarts.org).

KENTUCKY

World's Longest Yard Sale Covington (U.S. 127 in MainStrasse Village; [859] 491-0458; www.127sale.com) and Frankfort (U.S. 127; 1-800-960-7200; www.127sale.com), Aug. 3-6.

Watermelon Bust Benton, Marshall County High School, Aug. 5 ([270] 527-6003).

Bluegrass in the Park Folk Life Festival Henderson, Audubon Mill Park, Aug. 10-12 (1-800-648-3128; www.hendersonky.org/bluegrass).

Kentucky State Fair Louisville, Kentucky Exposition Center, Aug. 17-27 ([502] 367-5180; www.kystatefair.org).

Concours d'Elegance Lexington, Keeneland Race Course, Aug. 26 ([859] 422-3329; www.keeneland concours.com).

MARYLAND

Midsummer Evening Concerts Hydes, Boordy Vineyards, Aug. 5, 12, 19, 26 ([410] 592-5015; www.boordy.com).

Peach Festival Westminster, agriculture center, Aug. 12 ([410] 848-7748).

Seafood Festivals Cambridge, Sailwinds Park, Aug. 12 ([410] 228-1211); Havre de Grace, Tydings Memorial Park, Aug. 12-13 ([410] 939-1525).

Maryland State Fair Timonium, Aug. 25-Sept. 4 ([410] 252-0200; www.marylandstatefair.com).

Augustoberfest Hagerstown, downtown, Aug. 26-27 ([301] 739-8577; www.august oberfest.org).

Renaissance Festival Annapolis, Aug. 26-27 (1-800-296-7304; www.rennfest.com).

MISSISSIPPI

Natchez Food & Wine Festival Natchez, Aug. 4-5 (1-800-647-6724; www.natchezfoodfest.com).

Watermelon Carnival Water Valley, city park, Aug. 4-5 ([662] 473-1122).

Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza Jackson, state fairgrounds, Aug. 4-6 ([601] 206-5703; www.mswildlife.org).

NORTH CAROLINA

Antiques Fair Asheville, civic center, Aug. 4-6 ([828] 299-7430).

NC Open Gold Panning Competition Midland, Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site, Aug. 12 ([704) 721-4653; www.reedmine.com).

Festival of the Native Peoples Cherokee, Aug. 25-26 (1-800-438-1601; www.cherokee-nc.com).

SOUTH CAROLINA

Dog Days of August Blues and Jazz Fest Little River, La Belle Amie Vineyard, Aug. 12 ([843] 399-9463; www.labelleamie.com).

Southeastern Toy Soldier Show Columbia, South Carolina State Museum, Aug. 12 ([803]-898-4921; www.museum.state.sc.us).

Summerfest York, Congress Street, Aug. 26 (1-800-866-5200; http://visityorkcounty.com).

TENNESSEE

Shakespeare in the Park Nashville, Centennial Park, Aug. 10-Sept. 10 ([615] 255-2273; www.nashvilleshakes.org).

Stringtime in the Smokies Pigeon Forge, Aug. 12-13 (1-800-251-9100; www.mypigeon forge.com).

American Quitter's Society Quilt Exposition Nashville, Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Aug. 23-26 ([270] 898-7903; www.american quilter.com).

Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Shelbyville, The Historic Celebration Grounds, Aug. 23-Sept. 2 ([931] 684-5915; www.twhnc.com).

VIRGINIA

Dog Days in August Middleburg, downtown, Aug. 5 ([540] 687-8727; www.middleburgonline.com).

Antiques Show Virginia Beach, convention center, Aug. 11-13 ([757] 417-7771; www.emgshows.com).