The month of July probably has more touristy things to do in it than any other month of the year. School’s out, nearly every town has some kind of big Fourth of July celebration and the beaches and camping areas are packed. 

The fact that there are so many things to do in July makes it that much more impressive that the Southeast Tourism Society named Chetola’s Symphony by the Lake one of its Top 20 events for July 2012. 

This year’s Symphony by the Lake is scheduled for July 27. It marks the 25th anniversary of the event and its silver anniversary will include a “silver” theme. 

For the third consecutive year, the Symphony of the Mountains, from Kingsport, Tenn., will perform. The 70-plus piece orchestra, led by conductor Cornelia Laemmli, usually performs a mix of classical favorites and more modern pieces from Broadway and film for the outdoor concert. 

Last year’s Symphony by the Lake at Chetola attracted more than 3,000 music lovers for an evening of food, fun, fireworks, balloon rides and music. 

“Getting listed on the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 events is a coup,” said Marcia Greene, director of marketing for Chetola Resort. “The society is very well-known in the travel industry. I know that Appalachian Summer has won this award, as has the Biltmore Estate Festival of Flowers, the Kentucky Derby, the Florida Strawberry Festival, Taste of Atlanta, A Country Christmas at Opryland Hotel, the Biloxi Seafood Festival and First Night Charlotte.”

The Southeast Tourism Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism throughout the Southeast. It was founded in 1983 with eight member states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Arkansas joined later. 

For more information on the STS, visit http://www.southeasttourism.net .