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Summertime in the Southeast means it’s time to take advantage of the region's many seasonal festivals and outdoor events. Whether you enjoy music festivals, browsing craft and artisan fairs, or just want to consume as much BBQ as your stomach will allow, the following round-ups offer many delightful options, and some great gambling action nearby!
SUNSET FESTIVAL
ORANGE BEACH, AL Every Thursday thru August 27 Facebook.com/ SunsetFestivalOrangeBeach
Head to this weekly celebration by the beach and feel your blood pressure drop. If Ebeneezer Scrooge were at to Sunset Festival, even he’d enjoy himself--it’s impossible not to! Every Thursday, downtown Orange Beach transforms into a street festival, complete with live music, lawn games, and lots of local, mouthwatering food. Not sure where to take your date? Looking for a place to go on a family outing? In addition to quality entertainment, Sunset Festival presents a joyous and communityoriented atmosphere, which makes it the perfect destination for either. This is a real local gem! 12 |
SOUTHERNGAMING.COM
ERICA BLOCK
Gambling Options: Only 40 minutes to the Pensacola Greyhound Track and Poker Room, 1 hour and 40 minutes to Wind Creek Casino in Atmore, Alabama, and 2 hours to Biloxi, Mississippi.
BACON, BOURBON AND BREW FESTIVAL
GRASSROOTS BLUES FESTIVAL
The holy trifecta: Bacon, Bourbon and Brews. Held along the riverfront of Levee’s Festival Park, this four-day celebration of the area’s Bourbon distilling and pork industries is an opportunity to really shine. Top-notch food vendors will be on hand, ready to make you salivate, and The Bourbon Society of Greater Cincinnati will hold tastings and discussions with the area's top mixologists. This is but one of many cultural events set to take place in the Greater Cincinnati area during the weekend of Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, which take place on July 13th and 14th at the Great American Ball Park, home to the Cincinnati Reds.
DUCK HILL, MS
July 10 - 11 | grassrootsblues.com
Now in its thirteenth year, The Grassroots Blues Festival celebrates the rich heritage and cultural importance of blues music. Grassroots exists thanks to Project CAM (cultural arts and multimedia), an organization dedicated to preserving and nourishing the blues as an art form. This festival attracts those who truly appreciate the blues and are eager to listen to artists who have shown a mastery of the discipline. Rumor has it that this year’s festival will feature some sort of tribute to the late B.B. King, a blues great who is sorely missed. Gambling Options: Duck Hill is just under 2 hours from Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia, Mississippi and Tunica, Mississippi.
Newport, KY
July 10 - 14 | facebook.com/ baconbourbonandbrewfestival
Gambling Options: There are several great gambling options nearby, all under an hour drive. Rising Star Casino Resort (Rising Star, Indiana); Belterra Casino Resort (Vevay, Indiana); Hollywood Casino (Lawrenceburg, Indiana). These are all premium