Harvesting the Summer Event Season

July and August are ripe with events that celebrate heritage, music, and history of the region.   From making Dutch oven blackberry cobbler to ascending into the clouds on a hot air balloon, the region is offering up a bountiful calendar of things to do and see.

Summer is made for great adventures.  Don’t go home without indulging in one of these local (and often) free events.

• Jul 12-24: Gatlinburg Craftsmen Fair- Gatlinburg- annual summer gathering of craftsman.
• Jul 13: Guided Kayak Tour of Cove Lake- Cove Lake State Park- paddle with a ranger $
• Jul 13-14: Hippy Dayz at Nightfall Acres- Philadelphia- Sunflower Festival
• Jul 19-20: Grainger County Tomato Festival– Rutledge- Opry on Friday night, Saturday-live music, vendors, and annual Tomato Wars Free.
• Jul 20: Tri-State Outdoor Fest- 10 am to 5 pm- Cumberland Gap- Workshops, hikes, vendors.
• Jul 21: Dutch Oven Blackberry Cobbler Demonstration– Jellico – July is blackberry season and Indian Mountain State Park will be cooking up cobbler.
• Jul 26: Kumba Festival– Knoxville- food, music, dance.
• Aug 4: Sequoyah Remembrance Day- Sequoyah Birthplace Museum- Vonore- Annual day for free admission to the museum.
• Aug 9: Sip of Summerfest– Clinton, TN
• Aug 10: Cars and Coffee- Charles Hall Museum, Tellico Plains- free
• Aug 10:  Folkfest- Cumberland Gap- A celebration of Appalachian folk art.
• Aug 10-11: Siege Garrison Weekend– Fort Loudoun State Park Reenactment
• Aug 13-15: Cocke County A&I Fair- Newport
• Aug 16: Bluegrass at Big Ridge– Maynardville- free- festival seating.
• Aug 17:  History Hootenanny- Knoxville- free
• Aug 17:  Riverfest- Legion Park- Loudoun- kayaking, music, fireworks.
• Aug 17: Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival Townsend.  Balloon glow and a Smoky Mountain backdrop- breathe taking.
• Aug 24 to Oct 10: Music on the Town– Thursdays in downtown Dandridge- Free!
• Aug 31: International Food Festival – Morristown
• Aug 31: Monroe Life Balloon Festival– Vonore- hot air balloons
• Aug 31: Rockin the Ramp: Tom Fuller Park in Rockwood live music, fireworks- Free
• Sep 1: Big Kahuna Wing Festival– Knoxville- beer and wings..what can be better?  Proceeds benefit local charities.
• Sep 2: Hooray for Harriman– Harriman Annual Labor Day street festival, car show, food vendors, music, and rides.
• Sep 7-8: Cherokee Fall Festival: Sequoyah Birthplace Museum Vonore.