Events & Festivals
Plan a trip around the festival.
Annual events worth the drive — music, food & wine, harvest festivals, and heritage celebrations.
64 events
Festival
Georgia Apple Festival
Ellijay, GA
Two-weekend harvest festival celebrating Ellijay's apple country.
Cultural Festival
Helen Oktoberfest
Helen, GA
The longest-running Oktoberfest in the South.
Music Festival
Moon River Festival
Chattanooga, TN
Drew & Ellie Holcomb's intimate riverfront music festival.
Festival
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival
Hiawassee, GA
Mountain music, crafts, and a historic Pioneer Village on Lake Chatuge.
Heritage Event
Dahlonega Gold Rush Days
Dahlonega, GA
A weekend that turns Dahlonega's square back to 1828.
Music Festival
LEAF Festival
Black Mountain, NC
Lake Eden Arts Festival — global music on a lakefront campus.
Seasonal Celebration
Woolly Worm Festival
Banner Elk, NC
Caterpillar races that predict the High Country winter.
Music Festival
Riverbend Festival
Chattanooga, TN
Three days of music on the Tennessee Riverfront.
Food Festival
Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival
Tryon, NC
Sanctioned BBQ competition with live mountain music.
Outdoor Festival
Appalachian Trail Days
Damascus, NC
The largest annual gathering of AT thru-hikers.
Hot Air Balloon Event
Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race
Helen, GA
America's only long-distance hot air balloon race.
Craft Festival
John C. Campbell Fall Festival
Brasstown, NC
Folk school crafts, contra dancing, and Appalachian music.
Summer / Theme Park
Dollywood Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration
Pigeon Forge, TN
Summer festival at Dollywood with family entertainment, shows, and seasonal experiences.
Fall / Theme Park / Halloween
Dollywood Harvest Festival & Great Pumpkin LumiNights
Pigeon Forge, TN
Major fall theme-park festival with pumpkins, music, food, and evening light displays.
Automotive / Outdoor Lifestyle
Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion
Pigeon Forge, TN
Large Jeep expo and gathering at LeConte Center drawing off-road travelers.
Automotive
Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run
Pigeon Forge, TN
Major automotive event and lodging-demand driver in Pigeon Forge.
Arts & Crafts
Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair – Summer
Gatlinburg, TN
Major craft fair with artisans, demonstrations, shopping, and live music in Gatlinburg.
Music
Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival
Gatlinburg, TN
Songwriter-focused music event celebrating Appalachian and country music culture.
Arts & Crafts
Spring & Summer Art in the Park – Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock, NC
Juried art shows on select Saturdays along Park Avenue in downtown Blowing Rock.
Arts / Painting
Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival
Blowing Rock, NC
Outdoor painting festival with artists capturing Blowing Rock's mountain scenery.
Heritage / Scottish / Sports
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games
Linville, NC
Large Scottish heritage gathering with music, athletics, dancing, clans, and mountain setting.
Food / Harvest / Street Festival
North Carolina Apple Festival
Hendersonville, NC
Labor Day weekend apple festival in downtown Hendersonville with street fair and family activities.
Local Heritage / Lake
100th Anniversary of Lake Lure Dam
Lake Lure, NC
Centennial recognition of the Lake Lure Dam, with possible boat parade and special programming.
Music / Folk / Appalachian Heritage
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
Asheville, NC
One of the nation's longest-running folk festivals — Appalachian music, dance, ballads, and storytelling.
Music / Folk / Appalachian Heritage
Shindig on the Green
Asheville, NC
Free summer mountain bluegrass and dance gathering at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville.
Music / Food / Beer
Downtown After Five Asheville
Asheville, NC
Monthly outdoor concert series in downtown Asheville with music, food, and local beverages.
Culture / Music / Food
Goombay Festival Asheville
Asheville, NC
Festival celebrating Black culture, art, food, music, and community in Asheville.
Art / Night Experience / Estate
Luminere Immersive Nightscapes at Biltmore
Asheville, NC
After-dark immersive light and sound experience at Biltmore Estate.
Music / Bluegrass / Americana
Earl Scruggs Music Festival
Mill Spring, NC
Major roots music festival with national acts at Tryon International Equestrian Center.
Arts & Crafts
Sapphire Valley Arts & Crafts Show
Sapphire, NC
Seasonal handmade-craft show series with regional artisans on the Highlands–Cashiers Plateau.
Music / Outdoor Concert
Groovin on the Green
Cashiers, NC
Outdoor concert series on The Village Green in Cashiers.
Music / Outdoor Concert
Concerts on the Creek
Sylva, NC
Free outdoor Friday concert series at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.
Music / Bluegrass / Americana
Mountain Song Festival
Brevard, NC
Brevard-area music festival with bluegrass, Americana, and mountain-music appeal.
Automotive / Festival
Chattanooga Motorcar Festival
Chattanooga, TN
Luxury, classic, and performance automotive festival in downtown Chattanooga.
Whiskey / Food / Music
Tennessee Whiskey Festival – Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
Whiskey-focused tasting event drawing culinary and adult-getaway travelers. 21+.
Outdoor Concert Series
Nightfall Chattanooga Concert Series
Chattanooga, TN
Free weekly outdoor concert series at Miller Plaza in downtown Chattanooga.
Music / Heritage
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
Asheville, NC
Long-running Southern Appalachian folk music and dance festival.
Food / Culture
Asheville Greek Festival
Asheville, NC
Greek food, culture, music, and community festival.
Food / Arts / Crafts
Sourwood Festival
Black Mountain, NC
Street festival celebrating sourwood honey, Appalachian craft, food, music, and community.
Music
Black Mountain Blues Festival
Black Mountain, NC
Three-day blues festival in the mountain town of Black Mountain.
Food / Fall / Heritage
North Carolina Apple Festival
Hendersonville, NC
Labor Day weekend apple festival celebrating Henderson County's apple season.
Music / Car Show / Crafts
HillBilly Jam
Maggie Valley, NC
Music festival with crafts, food vendors, car and bike show, and Appalachian character.
Culture / Theater
Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama
Cherokee, NC
Seasonal outdoor drama telling Cherokee history, running Monday through Saturday.
Arts / Music / Culture
An Appalachian Summer Festival
Boone, NC
Major summer multi-arts festival with music, dance, theater, film, and visual arts.
Arts / Crafts
Art in the Park - July
Blowing Rock, NC
Juried outdoor art show in downtown Blowing Rock.
Arts / Crafts
Art in the Park - August
Blowing Rock, NC
Juried outdoor art show in downtown Blowing Rock.
Arts / Crafts
Art in the Park - September
Blowing Rock, NC
Juried outdoor art show in downtown Blowing Rock.
Arts / Crafts
Art on the Greene - August
Banner Elk, NC
Outdoor arts and crafts event on the green.
Arts / Crafts
Art on the Greene - Labor Day Weekend
Banner Elk, NC
Outdoor arts and crafts event on the green.
Arts / Crafts
Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair - Summer
Gatlinburg, TN
Major indoor crafts fair with artisans, handmade goods, demonstrations, and music.
Music
The Mountain Music Festival
Gatlinburg, TN
Classic rock and heavy metal festival in Gatlinburg.
Summer / Theme Park
Dollywood Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration
Pigeon Forge, TN
Summer festival with extended days, colorful installations, entertainment, and family activities.
Fall / Theme Park
Dollywood Harvest Festival
Pigeon Forge, TN
Fall festival with seasonal decor, music, food, and Great Pumpkin LumiNights.
Car Show
Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run
Pigeon Forge, TN
Large classic car event with swap meet, show cars, car corral, and awards.
Music / Bluegrass
Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival
Sevierville, TN
Annual bluegrass festival on the farm.
Heritage / Bluegrass / Crafts
Townsend Fall Heritage and Bluegrass Festival
Townsend, TN
Fall heritage festival with bluegrass, crafts, demonstrations, food, and Appalachian traditions.
Fair / Music / Family
Tennessee Valley Fair
Knoxville, TN
Regional fair with rides, food, concerts, exhibits, and family events.
Arts / Crafts
Butternut Creek Festival
Blairsville, GA
Juried arts show featuring roughly 90-100 artists, live entertainment, and food.
Food / Community
Green Bean Festival
Blairsville, GA
Small-town summer festival celebrating green beans with crafts, music, contests, and family activities.
Food / Music
Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival
Blue Ridge, GA
Blues music, barbecue, vendors, and food market in downtown Blue Ridge.
Fair / Arts / Music
Georgia Mountain Fair
Hiawassee, GA
Major North Georgia fair with concerts, arts and crafts, rides, fair food, and Pioneer Village.
Rodeo / Family
Hiawassee Pro Rodeo
Hiawassee, GA
Labor Day weekend rodeo with bucking horses, bulls, contestants, and specialty acts.
Music Festival
The Dailey and Vincent Music Fest
Hiawassee, GA
Multi-day music festival with camping-friendly programming.
Oktoberfest / Food / Music
Helen Oktoberfest
Helen, GA
Official Helen Oktoberfest season at the Festhalle.
Dates vary by year. Always confirm details with the official event website before planning your trip.