Southern Living magazine named two Chattanooga music festivals in the top 10 of the South's Best Music Festivals You Should Attend.
The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival was picked as the second best behind Austin City Limits in Texas, while Moon River was fifth and Riverbend was 10th.
The Riverbend Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is one of the oldest music festivals, while Moon River is relatively new. It started in 2014 in Memphis and moved to Chattanooga in 2018. Bonnaroo began in 2002 and is one of the largest festivals in the nation, drawing as many as 80,000 patrons to the nearly 700-acre farm in Middle Tennessee.
In the write-up, Southern Living assistant editor Cameron Beall called Bonnaroo one of the South's best-known festivals, citing its variety of artists and history of pulling big names. Bonnaroo will take place June 14-18.
Moon River, which is sold out, is described as a "family-friendly festival that highlights the culture of the region with local food." Moon River, which has a capacity of about 12,000, will take place Sept. 9-10 at Coolidge Park.
Ted Heinig, president of AC Entertainment in Knoxville, said in an email that the city has helped make Moon River a success.
"What we've been able to create with the city of Chattanooga and Drew Holcomb in the past five years is very special," he said. "This distinction is a testament to the community we've built around Moon River and the genuine excitement from our incredible fans." 
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Mat Kearney performs on the Poplar stage on the first day of the Moon River music festival on Sept. 10 at Coolidge Park.
Riverbend is capped at 15,000 people, June 2-3 at Ross's Landing. Friends of the Festival Executive Director Mickey McCamish said by email that the listing is a reflection of his team's willingness to adapt.
"This is great news that points to the fact that the changes we've made over the past year have been well-received," he said. "This is a great honor for our team and a board that chose to take a bold stance to make changes to position the festival for the present as well as the future." 
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Festivalgoers hang out on the steps to watch Rick Rushing performs at Riverbend on June 3.
Southern Living's Top 10 music festivals in the South:
1. Austin City Limits, Austin, Texas.
2. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, Tennessee.
3. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
4. Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, Franklin, Tennessee.
5. Moon River Music Festival, Chattanooga.
6. Shaky Knees Music Festival, Atlanta.
7. Bourbon & Beyond, Louisville, Kentucky.
8. High Water Festival, Charleston, South Carolina.
9. Bear Shadow, Highlands, North Carolina.
10. Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.
Staff photo by Olivia Ross / Kristyn Williams and Angela Sarrell dance as Rick Rushing performs at Riverbend on June 3.