Festival season in the South skips summer and opts for spring and fall instead, bypassing the unbearable summer heat. Put on your boots and beads to attend these five unique festivals in the American South.

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#1- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

New Orleans, Louisiana – April/May

The Jazz and Heritage Festival brings together the best of jazz and world music in City Park, New Orleans. The festival includes headliners from other music genres, from Aerosmith to Sting and Stevie Wonder. But the main Acura Stage isn’t where the magic happens. Head to the Blues and Gospel tent or the Jazz & Heritage stage for a truly intimate Jazz fest experience.

New Orleans heritage is as much about food as it is about music. Cajun specialties like crawfish beignets, fried oyster po’boys and jambalaya make up your not-so-average festival grub. There is even a Food and Heritage Stage, where local chefs prepare signature Cajun dishes.

#2- Houston Rodeo & Livestock Show

Houston, Texas – March

At the start of spring, Houstonians dress up in their best cowboy gear to attend the world’s biggest rodeo and livestock show. The official sport of Texas draws more than two million visitors to Houston’s NRG stadium. Every day for three weeks straight, a rodeo performance is followed by a concert. Expect the biggest names in country music, but also the occasional Billboard Hot 100 artist.

No Texas festival would be complete without an abundance of food and drink options. The NRG stadium is surrounded by a village of food and drink stands. For the best cowboy-watching, grab a seat in the Champion Wine Garden.

#3- Austin City Limits

Austin, Texas – October

At the end of the Texas summer, music lovers flock to Austin for one of the most renowned music festivals in the US. Austin City Limits runs two consecutive festival weekends with a nearly identical lineup, hosting the biggest pop, rock and indie artists. Urban oasis Zilker Park is the stage for ACL, with eight stages set against the backdrop of the Austin skyline. Austin is said to harbor the most music venues per capita in the world, earning it the nickname Live Music Capital of the World.

#4- Mardi Gras

New Orleans, Louisiana – February/March

Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is the grand finale of the most famous carnival celebration in the US. Parades roll through the streets of New Orleans for several weeks, but the weekend prior to Fat Tuesday is commonly referred to as Mardi Gras. Apart from drinking on the streets all day and night, the signature feature of Mardi Gras are beads. Parade krewes throw beads and other gadgets at the crowd, causing an occasional black eye. 

The secret to Mardi Gras is a fish bowl of hurricane from Fais Deaux Deaux on Bourbon Street. No need to leave your perfect parade watching spot for at least three hours – unless for a bathroom break. Make sure to try a piece of King Cake during Mardi Gras, which is only sold in the carnival season. This colorful cake holds even more calories than a fish bowl of hurricane.

#5- State Fair of Texas

Dallas, Texas – September

The slogan “Everything is bigger in Texas” definitely applies to the State Fair of Texas, held late summer in Dallas. Big Tex welcomes more than two million visitors each year, making it the biggest state fair in the US. Besides the attractions, shows and concerts, the fair is really just about one thing: food. Indispensable on the fair food menu are corn dogs, funnel cake and foot-long turkey legs.

In addition to the classic fair food, the Texas State Fair is known for its innovative take on deep fried food. From deep fried meatball spaghetti to fried oreo and deep fried butter, there is no limit on fried food creativity in Texas.

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