Cultural festivals and events bring an international flair and flavor to meetings
One of the wonderful aspects of the South is its makeup of various ethnicities and heritages; a true melting pot of culture. Cities across the South have discovered ways to celebrate cultural diversity with an array of international festivals and events.
Some celebrations are so woven into the fabric of a community, planners can use the theme anytime for their events. Such is the case with Fiesta San Antonio. Even though this annual celebration is in April, the Fiesta spirit is alive and well in San Antonio year-round. The theme can be infused by event planners into venues and menus through décor, cuisine, entertainment, and more.
“Meeting professionals are encouraged to work with their destinations management company or our Visit San Antonio experience team on how to ‘Fiesta’ their meeting or event,” says Stacey Carroll, marketing manager of meetings and conventions for Visit San Antonio.
Diversification is one of the key assets of Tangipahoa Parish in southeast Louisiana. Because its cultures are wide-ranging, the convention and visitors bureau is able to expand its reach to multiple markets.
The small town of Independence, La., for example, opens its doors to tens of thousands of visitors each March for its Sicilian Heritage Festival. “Most attendees feel a connection due to their ancestry,” says Emily McKneely Matise, director of sales for Tangipahoa Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “That translates into longer stays and return visits throughout the year,” she adds.
The Sicilian Heritage Festival board is always open to creative partnerships, Matise says, and ideas include private events at the Italian Cultural Museum and Italian cooking demonstrations and classes.
While most vendors at Charlotte Dragon Boat & Asian Festival in North Carolina are local, organizers are always happy to talk with planners who want to introduce another event or attraction. The same is true for the Bowling Green International Festival, where a film festival at the Capital Arts Center coincided with the event this year.
A brief snapshot of some of the South’s international festivals is a testament to the diversity of the region.
Mobile Greek Festival
Mobile, Ala.
Oct. 19-22, 2024
Since 1962, the Mobile community has celebrated its Greek community with the annual Mobile Greek Festival at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. The celebration features Greek folk dancing, music, and food. The festival’s Plaka shopping market offers olive oils, cheeses, spices, and other imported delicacies. Visitors can also take a guided tour of the church.
Originally a one-night event, Mobile Greek Festival morphed into a bazaar, then the current iteration of a four-day festival. Visitors stand in line for delicious menu items, including Greek meatballs, lamb shanks, dolmathes dinners, gyros, calamari, and more. Then, there are the bakery items: Greek cookies, including Baklava, Loukoumades (Greek beignets), traditional braided bread, and other delectable goodies.
The event allows the local Greek community to share its culture with the Mobile community and enables youngsters to learn about this unique heritage.
Mobile Greek Festival is so highly anticipated by Mobilians, when the menu drops on social media, notifications practically exclaim, “OPA!” Friends carefully comb through the menu to plan their meals for this Thursday through Sunday in October.
There is a trick to the menu planning, with “indoor” and “outdoor” dishes exclusive to their area of the festival. If you fill up on keftedes inside, you may be disappointed if you did not leave room for souvlaki outside.
Local Tip: Try the festival’s curb-side menu for lunch to sample whatever you missed for dinner. Last year, the festival went cashless, so bring a debit or credit card for transactions. Admission is free.
Sicilian Heritage Festival
Independence, La.
March 7-9, 2025
The three-day Sicilian Heritage Festival, held on the second weekend of March in Independence, La., features street dancing, music, a parade, a spaghetti cook-off,
a meatball toss, rides, a cultural museum,
and fantastic food.
“The Sicilian Festival is a homecoming of sorts, as well as a huge draw for people of Italian and Sicilian decent from all over the United States,” Matise says. “The local community considers the festival to be a huge family reunion.”
“The people make the festival special,” she says. “The music is outstanding, rides amusing, food fantastic; but the people truly make the experience.” Every board member volunteers, and locals run most food and vendor booths.
“The city literally rolls out the ‘gravy’ red carpet for guests and locals,” Matise says. “Those locals sure do love to tell stories about their ancestry. That is how you get the true Sicilian experience—by talking to the locals.”
Robin Abrams of the festival committee says the Sicilian cuisine is unbelievable. “That is what our town is known for.”
Italian families began arriving in the 1870s, bringing Old World traditions into Tangipahoa Parish, a melting pot of cultures. “Our Parish was literally built by the hands of Irish, English, African, French, Spanish, Native, and, of course, Italian Americans,” Matisse says. “The Italians and Sicilians settled mostly in Tickfaw and Independence, and quickly became major contributors to the agriculture industry in Tangipahoa Parish and Louisiana.”
Local Tip: “Gravy” is the term used for the local red-sauce marinara, made with a lot of sugar for a distinct flavor. Admission to the festival is free.
Savannah Irish Festival and St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Savannah, Ga.
March 17, 2025
When it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, perhaps no American city does it better than Savannah, Ga. The streets flow with green as far as one can see. About 300 units make up the parade, including bands, families, societies, military, and business floats.
“It is just a great time of the year,” says Joseph Marinelli, president and CEO of Visit Savannah. “The azaleas are blooming, the weather is perfect.”
Visitors should expect high occupancy in hotels, but that should not keep people from coming. There is always space available outside the historic district. Round-trip shuttles run from Tanger Outlets in Pooler to downtown, and Midtown and Tybee Island to downtown. Savannah Belles Ferry also offers transportation from Savannah Convention Center and Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa.
St. Patrick’s Day observances here trace their roots back to 1824, making for a 200-year celebration. Events start a week prior with Greening the Fountain at Forsyth Park. A Mass celebrating St. Patrick is held at 8:00 a.m. on March 17 at the Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Local Tip: St. Patrick’s Day parade long-timers get decked out in crazy costumes, bright wigs, and face and body paint. First-timers should dress for comfort, preferably in green, and bring plenty of water and snacks, as the parade lasts almost four hours. Arrive early to set up a tent and chairs in one of the city’s green spaces.
Fiesta
San Antonio
April 24-May 4, 2025
First launched in 1891 as a way to honor Texas heroes, Fiesta has transformed into an 11-day citywide party celebrating the region’s history, culture, music, and food.
An estimated three million people attend Fiesta, which is made up of more than 100 events (many free), including parades, exhibits, observances, and culinary pop-ups.
Fiesta contributes approximately
$340.1 million in sales to the local economy and supports approximately 3,400 full-time-equivalent jobs.
Some of the time-honored traditions include colorful decorations adorning the city, “Show Me Your Shoes,” during the Battle of Flowers Parade, and Fiesta medals donned by attendees. Local businesses and organizations release new medal designs each year, enticing collectors to grow their collections with the latest designs.
An idea for event professionals is to have medals made for their own meetings and events, which attendees can wear and share, Carroll says.
The Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square is a culturally rich celebration featuring daily and nightly live performances, a wide variety of cuisine, and family-friendly events.
Other popular events are NIOSA (A Night in Old San Antonio), Ford Mariachi Festival and Taste of the Republic, Fiesta Carnival at the Alamodome Parking Lot C, Texas Cavaliers River Parade, and Fiesta Flambeau Parade.
Local Tip: Spectators at Texas Cavaliers River Parade on San Antonio Riverwalk are allowed to walk around with alcoholic beverages in hand. As for where to park, VIA Park & Ride is an inexpensive way to get to popular events.
Charlotte Dragon Boat Race & Asian Festival
Charlotte, N.C.
May 17, 2025
Charlotte Dragon Boat Race & Asian Festival is a two-in-one colorful celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures.
Approximately 6,000 to 8,000 attend the event, organized by the local community each May to coincide with Asian Heritage Month, says festival chair John Chen. “We have 23 different ethnicities, so participation is pretty broad.”
First held in 2002, Asian Festival highlights the diverse cultures, history, and food.
“The theme is very Asian-centric,” Chen says. “It was named a top festival for May by Southeast Tourism Society in 2018 and 2019, and we are very proud of that.”
The “land” festival has evolved over the years with high-caliber performances, including a talent competition. Visitors enjoy interactive attractions, the Parade of Nations, a martial-arts street show, and 45 to 50 vendors.
The Dragon Boat Race, added in 2006, draws more than 50 teams and approximately 1,400 participants from neighboring states and Canada.
“Every year, it has grown. Dragon boat racing turns out to be one of the most popular flat-water sports in the world,” Chen says. “We are one of the larger races in the Southeast, which makes it really appealing and attractive. What makes this one unique is the ‘land’ festival and all it includes: culture, exhibits, stage performances, and food.”
Local Tip: The entire event, held at Ramsey Creek Park, is free, but there is no onsite parking. Free parking is available offsite, with a complimentary shuttle running from the offsite parking lot to the venue.
Bowling Green International Festival
Bowling Green, Ky.
Sept. 27, 2025
On the last Saturday of each September, Circus Square Park transforms when nationalities come together for Bowling Green International Festival. The event honors the region’s heritage and diversity through music, dance, demonstrations, authentic foods, educational activities, and a bazaar.
“Bowling Green is an extremely diverse city in part due to its international center,” says Kim Mason, executive director of the festival.
Cultures represented include African, Middle Eastern, South Pacific, Latin, Native American, Asian, and more. Participants share their heritage with neighbors, while learning about other traditions. Visitors immerse themselves into a variety of international experiences.
“We offer a wide range of food, merchandise, and entertainment not available at other area public events,” Mason says.
Music and dance are presented by regional professionals, as well as amateurs. “While most performances are traditional, it also includes new types of unique music that evolved when musicians of different cultural heritages began playing together and exposing each other to new sounds and instruments,” Mason adds.
First held in 1989, the festival now draws approximately 15,000 visitors. More than half of online ticket sales last year came from outside Bowling Green, with the majority purchased by people from Louisville, Ky., Charlotte, N.C., Indianapolis, and Nashville, Tenn.
