Alabama vs. Georgia
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
When: October 10
Why it’s worth the trip: Fans were on the edge of their seats watching last year’s SEC Championship, when quarterback Gunner Stockton and the Bulldogs defeated the Crimson Tide. This October, with rivalry revenge on the line and the addition of fresh-faced Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, Bryant-Denny Stadium will be packed and loud. Enjoy plenty of homemade tailgate snacks, brisket nachos from concessions, and hopefully, a win.
International Gold Cup
Where: Great Meadow in the Plains, Virginia
When: October 24
Why it’s worth the trip: The Plains, Virginia, hosts thousands of spectators for steeplechase horse racing, tailgating contests, and deep history. A race tradition that started in 1922 has transformed into a popular family event. Be sure to dress to impress for the Hat Contest.
Formula 1 Grand Prix
Where: Austin, Texas
When: October 23–25
Why it’s worth the trip: Beyond Longhorns football, Formula 1 is one of Austin’s biggest sporting events of the fall. This year the three-day Circuit of the Americas includes not only the expected high-speed motorsport races, but also headliners Maroon 5 and Post Malone.
Key West Offshore World Championship Week for Race World Offshore
Where: Key West, Florida
When: November 1–8
Why it’s worth the trip: Launched in 1981 and now located at the Truman Waterfront, this offshore racing event invites visitors to watch multimillion-dollar power boats complete 4.48-mile loops that run through Key West Harbor, achieving speeds of 140-plus miles per hour. The week kicks off with a lively boat parade down Duvall Street.
Waterfowl Festival with Delmarva DockDogs
Where: Easton, Maryland
When: November 13–15
Why it’s worth the trip: Tucked in a small town on the Eastern Shore, the Delmarva DockDogs series includes the impressive (and often adorable) long jump and retrieval events plus the Waterfowl Festival—a weekend full of wildlife art, local music, goose and duck calling contests, and more. Outside of the festival, Easton is a quiet town, perfect for downtown strolls and Chesapeake views.
Clemson vs. South Carolina
Where: Clemson Memorial Stadium
When: November 28
Why it’s worth the trip: The South Carolina teams go head-to-head Thanksgiving week in the annual Palmetto series showdown. Whether you’re repping garnet and black or you bleed orange and purple, Clemson will have an unmatched football environment.
The WNBA playoffs
Both the Atlanta Dream (led by Gamecocks Allisha Gray and Te-Hina Paopao) and Dallas wings (led by Paige Bueckers) could make a run and bring high-stakes women’s basketball games to the South. The Finals are scheduled for October 17 to 31.
Anna Williams, a 2026 intern at Garden & Gun, grew up in Pittsville, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Georgia, where she studied journalism and sports media.