Events & Festivals
Show up for the festival. Stay for the weekend.
Music, food & wine, harvest bashes, and heritage parties worth pointing the car at.
58 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.
Holiday Lights / Family
Winterfest at The Island
Pigeon Forge, TN
Holiday lights and seasonal entertainment at The Island 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.
Christmas Parade
Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
Gatlinburg, TN
Popular Smoky Mountain Christmas parade through downtown Gatlinburg.
Holiday / Food
Gatlinburg Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff
Gatlinburg, TN
Holiday-light kickoff event with chili cookoff and seasonal downtown activity.
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.
Art / Night Experience / Estate
Luminere Immersive Nightscapes at Biltmore
Asheville, NC
After-dark immersive light and sound experience at Biltmore Estate.
Holiday Train / Family
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride – Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Bryson City, NC
Major holiday train ride experience departing from Bryson City.
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+.
Holiday / Lights
Christmas at Biltmore
Asheville, NC
Holiday estate experience with daytime celebration and Candlelight Christmas Evenings.
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.
Fall / Arts / Crafts
Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival
Cashiers, NC
Fall leaf-season festival with artisan vendors, food, music, and family activities.
Holiday / Lights
Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries
Dillsboro, NC
Holiday lights and luminaries event on the first two December weekends.
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.
Arts / Crafts
Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair - Fall
Gatlinburg, TN
Fall crafts fair with artisans, handmade goods, demonstrations, and music.
Music / Bluegrass
Christmas in the Smokies Bluegrass Festival
Gatlinburg, TN
Bluegrass festival held during the holiday season in Gatlinburg.
Food / Holiday
Gatlinburg Winter Festival and Chili Cookoff
Gatlinburg, TN
Winter kickoff event with chili and seasonal downtown activity.
Holiday / Parade
Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade
Gatlinburg, TN
Holiday parade and seasonal Gatlinburg event.
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.
Holiday / Lights
Smoky Mountain Winterfest
Pigeon Forge, TN
Regional winter light celebration spanning Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville.
Holiday / Lights
Sevierville Winterfest
Sevierville, TN
Winter light season connected to the larger Smoky Mountain Winterfest corridor.
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.
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.
Holiday / Community
Light Up Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge, GA
Holiday lighting and Christmas parade weekend in downtown Blue Ridge.
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.
Holiday / Lights
Mountain Country Christmas in Lights
Hiawassee, GA
Holiday walk-through and drive-through light show with crafts, food, entertainment, and Santa/Grinch appearances on select nights.
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 / 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.