With five weeks of summer left on the calendar, we are not ready to give up on summer 2024.  Hot days and cool evenings lend to ideal weather for playing on the lakes and enjoying the remaining days of summer sunshine and activities.

The whitewater rafting season is still running trips, but sunsets on Labor Day weekend.

The marinas have slowed down, so you can find a great rate for renting a pontoon, jet ski or ski boat.

Seasonal restaurants are also winding down, but the music and food have not. Visit before the season’s last call.

Don’t sunset the season. Get out and play in the 9 Lakes.  Here are some of our favorite events and festivals happening in the region- Bring a chair, bring a blanket, and enjoy.

• Aug 16: Bluegrass at Big Ridge– Maynardville- free event with pickin and playin’
• Aug 16-17: Pro Wakeboard Tour– Lenoir City- Competition of the best wakeboarders.
• Aug 17: History Hootenanny- Knoxville- History Fair in Krutch Park- free
• Aug 17: Lawn Chair Concert Series– Farragut- Founders Park- free
• Aug 17: Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival- Townsend- Family friendly event, tethered rides, balloon glow
• Aug 24: Concert at Museum of Appalachia- Norris- Free event, bring a chair.
• Aug 29-Sep 2: Toyota Roundup at Windrock– Oliver Springs- If you have the truck, we have the trails. Largest gathering on the East Coast
• Aug 31: Monroe Life Balloon Festival– Vonore- festival of hot air balloons and music.
• Aug 31: Music on the Town– Dandridge- Concert music series and runs through Oct 12.
• Sep 1: Big Kahuna Wing Festival- Knoxville- 11^th year of wings, beer, and live music
• Sep 2: Hooray for Harriman– Harriman- 36^th Annual street festival in historic downtown.
• Sep 6: Concert on the Green and Night Market– Morristown- Music, food, craft beer, and shopping.
• Sep 6-15: Tennessee Valley Fair– Knoxville. One of the oldest running fairs in Tennessee.
• Sep 7:  11th annual Asian Festival- Knoxville- Music, authentic Asian foods, and dance
• Sep 7: Rugby Rumble– Rugby-Annual motorcycle gathering at RM Brooks store for live music and food.
• Sep 7: Lonesome River Band at Union County Opry– Maynardville- Live performance.
• Sep 14: Overmountain Rally TN– Newport- National rally race event, include 2 Parc Expose
• Sep 19-21st: Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival– Kodak- 24^rd annual event with live music, picking and jamming, food trucks.
• Sep 20: Sevier Days– Knoxville- frontier life history reenactments.
• Sep 21: Arts in the Park– Morristown- Annual art show, sales, demonstration, and food vendors. Moving to downtown this year.
• Sep 21: Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival– Oneida- Gather to spin a yarn, stroll, shop, and food.
• Sep 21: HoLa Festival– Knoxville- a colorful celebration of Latin food, dance, music, and art.
• Sep 21: Throwdown-N Motown Jeep Festival– Morristown- In its 4^th year, show-n-shine awards, food, and Jeep fun.
• Sep 27-28: Townsend Fall Heritage Festival– Townsend- Two days of live music, demonstrations, and traditional foods.
• Sep 28: Louie Bluie Festival– Caryville- Annual Music and arts festival named after talented legend- Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong.
• Sep 28: Rugby Roundabout– Rugby- Cycling event with several routes, children’s event, live music, and food. The fall colors should be peeping through.