Art and music across the South rule during the month of May, along with food fests celebrating the cuisines of Alabama and Louisiana.

From a Mississippi Chili Festival to those celebrating flowers, film, onions and art, April events across the South offer a great excuse to head outdoors and enjoy the beautiful spring weather.

Featuring grand floral displays and life-sized gardens, the Festival of Flowers in Mobile, Alabama, is the largest in the Southeast. Taking place during what is perhaps Mobile’s prettiest month, the outdoor festival takes place under tents on the campus of Providence Hospital. Over 300,000 square feet of exhibits enchant visitors with life-sized floral couture (pictured), cuisine seminars, a featured artist, …

Tracing the history of New York’s legendary Apollo Theater from its origins as a segregated burlesque hall to its starring role at the epicenter of African American entertainment and American popular culture, Atlanta History Center’s February exhibit is a great way to recognize Black History Month. One of a kind artifacts include James Brown’s cape and jumpsuit, Michael Jackson’s fedora, The Supremes’ dresses, Sammy Davis’ childhood tap shoes, Ella Fitzgerald’s dress, LL Cool J’s jacket and Ray Charles’ music bag.

In other parts of the country, people celebrate New Year’s Eve by drinking champagne, singing “Auld Lang Syne” and popping fireworks. Here in the South, we’ve been known to do some drinking, singing and popping, but only if it’s while also dropping something. New Year’s Eve drops seem to be the norm at celebrations in this region. Some are just …