SouthCoastUSA.com just might be the festival center of the United States. Interstate 10 connects all the 14 partner destinations, from Northwest Florida, through Alabama and Mississippi to Louisiana. making travel from one to another an easy festival road trip.

Grab your bags and let�s hit the festival road. Late summer and fall is an ideal time to visit SouthCoast and attend some of its special celebrations.

In Northwest Florida, the Beaches of South Walton�s 13 beach communities all band together for the Autumn Tides celebration. During each weekend September-November, the communities offer outdoor concerts, art shows and a variety of entertainment and activities.

This year, Autumn Tides includes the Southern Breeze Coastal Wine Tour in Rosemary Beach, October 22-24. The Tour features a Grand Wine Tasting, including more than 150 wines, gourmet Vintner Dinners and Brunch, a jazz concert and an opportunity to experience and learn about fine wine and cooking.

If food, art, and antiques are your interests, try Pensacola FL this fall. The Pensacola Seafood Festival and Fiesta Fall Antique Show runs September 24-26. The Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival, November 5-7,features more than 200 artists in beautiful downtown Seville Park. It is an event you won�t want to miss.

The Alabama Gulf Coast brings you The 33rd Annual National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores AL October 7-10. Paying homage to that succulent pink crustacean�the shrimp, the festival features lots of great shrimp to eat, art, music and other entertainment for the whole family.

And absolutely not to miss is the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival November 11-21. This event has venues throughout the area and features song writers and musicians from across the country.

Travel just a short distance to Mobile AL for the Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Jazz Festival August 5-8 or to BayFest October 1-3 for music extravaganzas. Don�t pass up the opportunity to see Bellingrath Gardens Magic Christmas in Lights November 26-December 31, where more than two million lights decorate the gardens and home.

Less than an hour away, you will reach the Mississippi Gulf Coast, home of the 9th Annual Cruisin� the Coast Festival. Cruisin� the Coast, October 3-10, is the biggest block party on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, featuring more than 5500 antique, classic and hot rod automobiles. The party stretches across 30 miles from Ocean Springs, Biloxi, D�Iberville, Gulfport, and Long Beach to Bay St. Louis.

The festivities include a kick off parade, swap meet, drag racing, auto auctions and oldies entertainment, including a real Sock Hop. Other Mississippi Gulf Coast festivals celebrating food, art and music include the Biloxi Seafood Festival, September 11-12, the Annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Blues Festival September 11, the Art in the Pass Arts Festival September 25-26.

Ocean Springs MS offers a variety of festivals this fall, including the 2004 Ocean Springs Film Festival September 18-19, the Great Oaks Storytelling Festival October 15-17 (The largest storytelling festival in the Gulf Coast region), and the 26th Annual Peter Anderson Memorial Arts, Crafts and Food Festival November 6-7. If you like arts festivals, you will love the Peter Anderson Memorial event.

Traveling into Louisiana, you will reach New Orleans North Shore, home of the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival October 16-17. This event features more than 100 classic wooden boats on the scenic Tchefuncte River.

The Covington Three Rivers Art Festival has more than 150 artists, as well as music and other entertainment. Mandeville is also a location for the Southern Breeze Coastal Wine Tour October 1-3.

New Orleans LA is a constant celebration. There is one festival, however, that we must present�The Tales of the Cocktail August 19-20. This festival celebrates the culture of dining and drinking in New Orleans and the history of the cocktail with dinners, seminars and of course cocktail parties!

Moving into Cajun country, you will arrive in Lafayette LA, where music, food and festivals are a way of life. Here is just a sampling: The Cajun French Music Festival, August 20-22, the Original Southwest LA Zydeco Music Festival September 4, the Mamou Cajun Music Festival September 4-5, the Lafayette Reggae and Cultural Festival September 9-10, the Festival Acadiens September 17-19 and the Accoulic Music Festival October 1-2. Recognized as a Top Southeast Event, The Festival Acadiens celebrates Cajun life and features food, dancing and traditional crafters.

The Louisiana Book Festival November 6 in Baton Rouge has evolved into one of the top literary festivals in the South, featuring more than 100 distinguished authors, poets, writers, storytellers and musicians.

Lake Charles LA holds about 75 festivals a year, celebrating everything from pirates to rabbits and alligators. One event not to miss is the International Music and Cultural Festival October 8-10.

As you can see, there is truly a festival for everyone in SouthCoastUSA.com. Experience them for yourself this fall.

SouthCoastUSA is a four state regional tourism marketing partnership comprised of 14 convention and visitors bureaus along Interstate 10, from the bayous of Louisiana to the white sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle. To plan your culinary trip now, visit www.southcoastusa.com.
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Media Contact:
Susan M. Storey
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