Attractions
Lakes, Beaches and Water Fun
Outdoor Adventure
Scenic Drives and Rides
Sports
Shopping & Antiquing
Spas & Well Being
Heritage, History, & Culture
Nature Activities
Arts & Entertainment
Markets & Fairs
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Dogwood Arts Festival
Established in 1955, the Dogwood Arts Festival has become one of our nation's most celebrated events. The festival is one of the largest and finest annual festivals in America and has been termed "The Best 17 Days of Spring in America" by the Southeast Tourism Society. The Dogwood Arts Festival manifests the very best of the nature and the people of East Tennessee.
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Grainger County Tomato Festival
The Grainger County Tomato Festival was organized in 1992 to promote Grainger County tomatoes. The festival promotes Grainger County agricultural products, specifically the Grainger County Tomato as well as many local artists and craftsmen in the area. The festival offers a number of special events, making it one of the largest free festivals in East Tennessee.
2201 Highway 11W South, Rutledge, TN 37861 • Map It • Website |
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Greekfest
Greekfest is an annual festival sponsored by Saint George Greek Orthodox Church. In the Greek tradition, members of the 250-family church make and serve exquisite 'old country' dishes. Greekfest offers fabulous food, delectable desserts, live Greek music and folk dancing, and shopping/imported gifts from Greece. The festival is held annually in October for two and a half days.
4070 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 • Map It • Website |
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Hola Festival
The Hola Festival is a day-long celebration of diversity and a cultural salute to the East Tennessee community. The festival, organized by HoLa Hora Latina, is part of the local celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. It is an invitation to the general public to learn and enjoy the best of our music, food, arts, crafts and more. The Hola Festival features Latino Countries Exhibits and the acclaimed Parade of Nations. The festival is a family event with free admission.
W. Depot Ave & N. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902 • Map It • Website |
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International Festival
Children's Museum of Oak Ridge hosts the popular International Festival annually. Experience culture, food, and entertainment from around the world. Two dozen countries are represented at the International Bazaar. Musicians and dancers thrill the crowd with traditional singing, dancing, instrumentals, and colorful costumes. Craft demonstrators add even more flavor to the event.
461 W. Outer Dr, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 • (865) 482-1074 • Map It • Website |
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Knox Asian Festival
The festival begins with a parade following by meditation chanting, dancing, instrumental performances, and more dancing. Culture songs, a kimono show, and another parade follow. Food vendors serve sushi, Malaysian food, Japanese, vegan, Philippines, Taiwanese, Indian, Laos, Vietnam, Japanese, Chinese, Thailand. Performing and martial arts. Each participating Asian country showcases the best of its rich traditions, crafts, arts, and textiles. Children’s Activities help to introduce children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to Asian cultures and history. The festival is held annually in August.
Market Square, Knoxville TN • (831) 241-1189 • Website |
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Kuumba Festival
People from the U.S. and Africa come together to demonstrate the shared heritage of the African, African American and African Appalachian communities in diaspora and to show how this heritage is an integral part of the culture of this region. The Kuumba Festival ("kuumba" means creativity in Swahili) showcases visual arts, folk arts, dance, theater, music, storytelling, games and foods.
Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902 • (865) 217-6786 • Map It • Website |
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Image courtesy of
Marty Carson. |
Mountain Makins'
This folk life festival celebrates the traditions of Appalachia, honoring the rich traditions of the past, and supports modern interpretations of those traditions. Over 50 juried crafters will showcase their work during the festival. You will have an opportunity to view and purchase fine art, folk art, pottery, baskets, photography, woodworking, bath products, jewelry, decorative painting, candles, and other hand-crafted items.
Visitors to this family-friendly event enjoy a variety of activities including two stages of mountain music, storytelling, prize-winning dancers, regional authors, children’s activities, and an abundance of good food.
The festival features a variety of mountain music including old time, bluegrass, Celtic, traditional gospel, dulcimer, and bagpipe. Prize-winning clogging teams, line dancers, and nationally recognized Tsoyaha Indian Dancers perform on Jackson Street.
A special feature is a live demonstration of traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, hide tanning, basket making, beekeeping, broom making, wood turning and and apple butter making. Sons of the Confederate Veterans form a Civil War display.
442 W. Second North St., Morristown, TN 37814 • (423) 581-4330 • Map It • Website |
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Ramsey House Country Market
The Country Market features some of the region's finest antiques, crafts, food and music. Featured are dried flowers, folk art and traditional crafts, antiques, collectibles, used books, plants, heirloom seeds, herbs, garden ornaments, homemade gourmet foods, historical demonstrators, House and Heritage Garden Tours, silent auction, live auction, door prizes, and carriage rides. Entertainment includes Celtic, traditional, bluegrass, gospel, Appalachian ballads, clogging and storytelling.
2614 Thorngrove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914 • 865-546-0745 • Map It • Website
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Rossini Festival
Knoxville Opera's Rossini Festival brings a taste of Europe to East TN and celebrates the color, fun and excitement of opera and Italian culture. The festival combines two opera productions, art exhibitions, wine tastings, and a wide variety of other community events with a vibrant Italian Street Fair in which Knoxville’s Gay Street is transformed from a busy downtown thoroughfare to a festive European festival with six stages featuring a range of entertainment options, an upscale Artisan’s Market, the smells and tastes of authentic Mediterranean foods and beverages, and a special children’s area with entertainment, fun and games.
S. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902 • (865) 524-0795 • Map It • Website |
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Shakespeare on the Square
Shakespeare on the Square is an entertaining evening of the various writings of the Bard, presented during the summer in Market Square. An old blanket or lawn chair is all you need to view the free performances under the stars. Donations of $10.00 are always welcome.
Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902 • (865) 546-4280 • Map It • Website |
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Symphony in the Park
Symphony in the Park is Ijams Nature Center's largest fundraiser of the year and the nature center's longest running special event. The Knoxville Chamber Orchestra performs in the twilight of a summer evening, against the backdrop of natural beauty at Ijams as attendees dine on elegant gourmet fare set at a table under the stars. All proceeds benefited Ijams' quality environmental education programs, 275-acre wildlife sanctuary and care of the non-releasable animals.
2915 Island Home, Knoxville, TN 37920 • (865) 577-4717 • Map It • Website |
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Tulip Time at Crescent Bend Festival
More than 30,000 tulips are in bloom during this annual springtime event at Crescent Bend. As an official activity of the Dogwood Arts Festival, the Historic House Museums of Knoxville conduct two 3-hour bus tours. The plethora of Pink tulips make for the perfect setting for the feature event called “Blooms for the Cure,” a fundraiser to benefit the Knoxville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in their continuing efforts to raise funds for breast cancer research and awareness education.
2829 Kingston Pk, Knoxville, TN 37919 • (865) 637-3163 • Map It • Website |
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