Events

The following annual events in Tennessee are of interest for traditional music, crafts, food, or other folklife content. A list of traditional music competitions and contests of all sorts, with categories including fiddle and other instruments, bands, singing, and dancing, can be found here. For more information on the history of traditional music contests in the state read Fiddle and Old Time Music Contests in Tennessee. For exact dates, locations, and details, consult website or phone numbers provided. If you would like to register changes or suggest an event to be added to this list, please contact the Folklife Program staff. 

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September

Grand Master Fiddler Championship, Nashville, early September

Summertown Bluegrass Reunion, Summertown, early September 

Latin Food Fest (Rose Center), Morristown, late August to early September

Old Timers Day, Jamestown (Pickett State Park), early September

Smoky Mountain Fiddler’s Convention & Crafts Fair, Loudon (discontinued in 2015)

Mountaineer Folk Festival, Pikeville (Fall Creek Falls State Park), early September

28th Annual Cherokee Fall Festival (formerly known as Great Island Festival), Vonore (Sequoyah Birthplace Museum), early September

Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival, Pigeon Forge (Dollywood), early to mid September

Upper Cumberland Quilt Festival, Algood, mid September

Fiestas Patrias, Plaza Mariachi, Nashville, mid September

East Tennessee Celtic Festival, Johnson City, mid September

White Oak Craft Fair, Woodbury (Arts Center of Cannon County), mid September

Marbles Festival & National Rolley Hole Championships, Hilham (Standing Stone State Park), mid September

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion, Bristol, mid September 

Pioneer Day on the Mountain, Crossville, mid September (discontinued)

HoLa Festival (Hola Hora Latina), Knoxville (Market Square), mid September

Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival, Kodak, mid September

19th Century Trades Festival, Nashville (Travelers Rest Historic House Museum), mid September

Nine Mile Bluegrass Festival, Pikeville, mid September

Broomcorn Festival, Selmer, mid September

Archeofest, Pinson (Pinson Mounds State Archeological Park), late September

Townsend Heritage Festival & Old Timers Day, Townsend, late September

Memphis Dulcimer Gathering & Folk Festival, Memphis, late September

Wears Valley Convention-Old Harp Singings, Sevier County, late September

Fall Folk Arts Festival, Kingsport (Exchange Place), late September

Mt. Juliet Pow Wow, Mt. Juliet (Charlie Daniels Park), late September

Toby Show (City of Parsons/Rivertime Players), Parsons, late September & early October

October

Culture Fest, Chattanooga, early October

Hickman County Quilt Show (Grinder’s Switch Foundation), Centerville, early October

Toby Show (City of Parsons/Rivertime Players) Parsons, late September & early October

Cumberland County Hispanic Festival (Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition), Cumberland County Playhouse, Crossville, early October (discontinued)

Louie Bluie Music & Arts Festival, Caryville (Cove Lake State Park), early October

Bell Witch Fall Festival, Adams, early October 

Smoky Mountain Woodcarving Festival, Townsend, late September to early October

Reelfoot Arts & Crafts Festival, Tiptonville, early October

Apple Butter Festival, White Bluff, early October

Spring Hill Country Ham Fest, Spring Hill, early October 

Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival,  Centennial Park, early October

Granville Fall Festival, Granville, early October

Germantown Oktoberfest, Nashville, early October

Harvest Moon Festival, White House, early October

Clarksville Edelweiss Oktoberfest, Clarksville, early October 

Unicoi County Apple Festival, Erwin, early October

Quilt Show of Hickman County, Centerville, early October

Sumnar Harvest: Music & Heritage Festival, Rock Castle (Sumner County), early October

Oktoberfest, Crossville, early October

National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough, early October

Davy Crockett Days, Rutherford, early October

Sycamore Shoals Quilt Show, Elizabethton (Sycamore Shoals State Park), early October

Racoon Valley Bluegrass Festival, Powell, early October

18th Century Trade Faire, Vonore (Fort Loudoun State Historic Area), mid October

Tennessee Fall Homecoming, Norris (Museum of Appalachia), early to mid October

Heritage Days, Rogersville, mid October

Celebration of Nations (Sister Cities), Franklin, mid October

Fiesta de Otono (Volunteer State College), Gallatin, mid October

Music & Molasses Arts & Crafts Festival, Nashville (Tennessee Agricultural Museum), mid October 

Ketner’s Mill Country Arts Fair, Whitwell, mid October

Heritage Pride Days, Bean Station, mid October

Southeastern Indian Heritage Festival, Memphis, mid October

Tennessee State Sacred Harp Convention, Five Points (Lawrence County, Second Creek Church), mid October 

Fall Folklore Jamboree, Milan (West Tennessee Agricultural Museum), mid October

NAIA Fall Pow Wow and Festival, Long Hunter State Park, Nashville, mid October

Ames Plantation Heritage Day, Grand Junction, mid October

Mountain Makins’ Festival, Morristown (Rose Center), late October

Cheekwood Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos, Nashville, late October

Day of the Dead Bilingual Play (Cazateatro), Evergreen Theater, Memphis, late October

Spirit: the Authentic Bell Witch Experience, Adams, late October

November
December