Events & Festivals
Show up for the festival. Stay for the weekend.
Music, food & wine, harvest bashes, and heritage parties worth pointing the car at.
80 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.
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.
Christmas / Theme Park
Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas
Pigeon Forge, TN
Holiday lights, shows, and rides at Dollywood — a major Smoky Mountain Christmas draw.
Holiday Lights / Winter
Pigeon Forge Winterfest
Pigeon Forge, TN
Regional winter lights celebration across Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville.
Automotive
Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run
Pigeon Forge, TN
Major automotive event and lodging-demand driver in Pigeon Forge.
Arts & Crafts / Fall
Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair – Fall
Gatlinburg, TN
Major fall craft fair during peak Smoky Mountain foliage season.
Oktoberfest / Fall
Ober Mountain Oktoberfest
Gatlinburg, TN
Fall Oktoberfest-style event at Ober Mountain with mountain views and seasonal activities.
Holiday / Food
Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff
Gatlinburg, TN
Holiday-light kickoff event with chili cookoff and seasonal downtown activity.
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.
Food / Harvest / Street Festival
North Carolina Apple Festival
Hendersonville, NC
Labor Day weekend apple festival in downtown Hendersonville with street fair and family activities.
Arts & Crafts / Fall
Lake Lure Fall Arts & Crafts Festival
Lake Lure, NC
Fall arts and crafts festival across from Lake Lure Beach during peak mountain travel season.
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
Shindig on the Green
Asheville, NC
Free summer mountain bluegrass and dance gathering at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville.
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.
Holiday Train / Family
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride – Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Bryson City, NC
Major holiday train ride experience departing from Bryson City.
Music / Bluegrass / Americana
Mountain Song Festival
Brevard, NC
Brevard-area music festival with bluegrass, Americana, and mountain-music appeal.
Wine / Food / Music
Chattanooga Wine Over Water
Chattanooga, TN
Wine tasting event with food and entertainment along the Tennessee River. 21+.
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.
Food / Culture
Asheville Greek Festival
Asheville, NC
Greek food, culture, music, and community festival.
Holiday / Lights
Christmas at Biltmore
Asheville, NC
Holiday estate experience with daytime celebration and Candlelight Christmas Evenings.
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 / Bluegrass
Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival
Maggie Valley, NC
Bluegrass festival with bands, vendors, raffles, art demos, food, and drinks.
Holiday / Rail
The Polar Express Train Ride
Bryson City, NC
Holiday train experience departing from Bryson City.
Culture / Heritage / Fair
Cherokee Indian Fair
Cherokee, NC
Annual Cherokee heritage fair; 2026 dates should be verified when official schedule posts.
Arts
Mountains and Main Franklin Plein Air Festival
Franklin, NC
Plein air arts festival in Franklin.
Arts / Crafts / Fall
ColorFest Arts and Crafts
Dillsboro, NC
Fall arts and crafts festival featuring regional artisans.
Fall / Arts / Crafts
Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival
Cashiers, NC
Fall leaf-season festival with artisan vendors, food, music, and family activities.
Arts / Crafts
Art in the Park - September
Blowing Rock, NC
Juried outdoor art show in downtown Blowing Rock.
Arts / Crafts
Art in the Park - October
Blowing Rock, NC
Juried outdoor art show in downtown Blowing Rock.
Arts / Crafts
Art on the Greene - Labor Day Weekend
Banner Elk, NC
Outdoor arts and crafts event on the green.
Fall / Arts / Crafts
Valle Country Fair
Valle Crucis, NC
One-day fall fair with juried crafts, food, music, and family activities.
Fall / Community
Woolly Worm Festival
Banner Elk, NC
Quirky fall festival with woolly worm races, vendors, food, live entertainment, and winter-weather folklore.
Music
The Mountain Music Festival
Gatlinburg, TN
Classic rock and heavy metal festival in Gatlinburg.
Arts / Crafts
Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair - Fall
Gatlinburg, TN
Fall crafts fair with artisans, handmade goods, demonstrations, and music.
Food / Holiday
Gatlinburg Winter Festival and Chili Cookoff
Gatlinburg, TN
Winter kickoff event with chili and seasonal downtown activity.
Fall / Theme Park
Dollywood Harvest Festival
Pigeon Forge, TN
Fall festival with seasonal decor, music, food, and Great Pumpkin LumiNights.
Holiday / Lights / Theme Park
Dollywood Smoky Mountain Christmas
Pigeon Forge, TN
Holiday festival with millions of lights, shows, rides, and Christmas atmosphere.
Car Show
Pigeon Forge Fall Rod Run
Pigeon Forge, TN
Large classic car event with swap meet, show cars, car corral, and awards.
Holiday / Lights
Smoky Mountain Winterfest
Pigeon Forge, TN
Regional winter light celebration spanning Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville.
Music / Bluegrass
Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival
Sevierville, TN
Annual bluegrass festival on the farm.
Holiday / Lights
Sevierville Winterfest
Sevierville, TN
Winter light season connected to the larger Smoky Mountain Winterfest corridor.
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.
Heritage / Food / Music
Sorghum in the Mountains Festival Weekend 1
Blairsville, GA
Union County heritage festival focused on sorghum, mountain culture, music, and tradition.
Heritage / Food / Music
Sorghum in the Mountains Festival Weekend 2
Blairsville, GA
Second weekend of the annual Sorghum in the Mountains Festival.
Food / Music
Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival
Blue Ridge, GA
Blues music, barbecue, vendors, and food market in downtown Blue Ridge.
Arts / Crafts
Fall Arts in the Park
Blue Ridge, GA
Fall juried arts and crafts festival in downtown Blue Ridge.
Home / Design / Architecture
Parade of Homes
Blue Ridge, GA
Tour-style event showcasing mountain homes in the Blue Ridge area.
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.
Fall / Arts / Crafts / Music
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival Weekend 1
Hiawassee, GA
Fall festival with arts, crafts, Pioneer Village, music, demonstrations, and seasonal attractions.
Fall / Arts / Crafts / Music
Georgia Mountain Fall Festival Weekend 2
Hiawassee, GA
Second weekend of the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival.
Oktoberfest / Food / Music
Helen Oktoberfest
Helen, GA
Official Helen Oktoberfest season at the Festhalle.
Food / Arts / Crafts
Georgia Apple Festival Weekend 1
Ellijay, GA
Apple-season festival with vendors, handmade crafts, demos, music, and food.
Food / Arts / Crafts
Georgia Apple Festival Weekend 2
Ellijay, GA
Second weekend of the Georgia Apple Festival.
Arts / Crafts / Food
Apple Arts Festival Weekend 1
Ellijay, GA
Sister festival to the Georgia Apple Festival in downtown Ellijay.
Arts / Crafts / Food
Apple Arts Festival Weekend 2
Ellijay, GA
Second weekend of the downtown Apple Arts Festival.
Heritage / Fall / Arts
Gold Rush Days Festival
Dahlonega, GA
Dahlonega's major fall festival celebrating gold rush history and autumn in the mountains.
Heritage / Arts / Crafts
Georgia Marble Festival
Jasper, GA
Festival celebrating Georgia marble with arts, crafts, music, performances, quarry tours, and demonstrations.
Heritage / Car Show
Mountain Moonshine Festival and Car Show
Dawsonville, GA
Moonshine heritage festival and car show benefiting Kare for Kids.
Dates vary by year. Always confirm details with the official event website before planning your trip.