September: Gulf Coast Shrimp Tasting Festival, Biloxi, Mississippi
With beaches white and soft as caster sugar and rows of seafront restaurants, Biloxi is something of a find. One of the best times to experience it is in autumn, when the heat has eased a little and visitors can feast on seafood even more than usual. During Gulf Coast Shrimp Tasting Festival, on 18 September, restaurants and street-food stalls serve dishes made with local seafood including hot and spicy boiled shrimp. There’s also live music and entertainment and people selling arts and crafts.