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.
SPBGMA Bluegrass Music National Convention, Nashville, early February
Ocoee Story Fest, Cleveland (Museum at 5Points), early February
International Festival, Oak Ridge (Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge), late February
East Tennessee Young Musicians Bluegrass Contest, Rogersville, late February
Breakin’ Up Winter, early March, Lebanon (Cedars of Lebanon State Park)
Stitches-in-Time Quilt Exhibit, Cleveland (Museum Center at 5ive Points), mid-March
A Mountain Quiltfest, Pigeon Forge, mid March
Overmountain Weavers Guild Fibers Show, Elizabethton (Sycamore Shoals State Park), mid March
Cousin Jake Memorial Bluegrass Festival, Etowah, mid March
State of Tennessee Old-Time Fiddlers’ Championships, Clarksville, late March
Historic Mansker’s Station Spring Encampment, Goodlettsville, late March
Thunder Road Bluegrass Festival, Rockwood, early April
Chattanooga Powwow (Native American Services), Chattanooga, early April
Lao New Year (Wat Lao Temple), Murfreesboro, mid April
La Pasion de Cristo, Mexican folk drama (Holy Ghost Catholic Church), Knoxville, mid April
Cannonsburgh Pioneer Days, Murfreesboro (Cannonsburgh Village), mid April
Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival, Memphis, mid April
West Tennessee Old-Time Bluegrass and Fiddler’s Jamboree, Holladay, mid April
Memphis In May International Festival, Memphis, early May
Boxcar Pinion Memorial Bluegrass Festival, Chattanooga, early May
Flag Pond Ramp Festival, Flag Pond, early May
Townsend Spring Festival & Old Timers Day, Townsend, early May
Old Timers Day, Dickson, early May
Days on the Farm, Smyrna, early May
Nine Mile Volunteer Fire Company Bluegrass Festival, Pikeville, early May
Corazon Latino Festival (ETSU), Johnson City, early May
Cinco de Mayo Festival and 5K Race (Latino Memphis), Memphis, early May
West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, Humboldt, early May
Poke Sallet Festival, Gainesboro, mid May
Cosby in the Park, Cosby, mid May
Bloomin’ Barbecue & Bluegrass Festival, Sevierville, mid May
Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games, Gatlinburg, mid May
Smoky Mountain Quilt Show, Knoxville (Pellissippi State Hardin Valley Campus), mid May
Annual Festival of British and Appalachian Culture, Rugby, mid May
Statehood Day Heritage Festival, Knoxville, late May
Uncle Jimmy Thompson Bluegrass Festival, Granville, late May
Memphis Italian Festival, Memphis, late May
Singing on the Farm (gospel), Cypress Inn, late May
Sycamore Shoals Native American Festival, Elizabethton (Sycamore Shoals State Park), late May
Tennessee Polk Salad Festival, Harriman, early June
Blue Plum Festival, Johnson City, early June
Madison Bluegrass Festival, Madison, early June
Blue Grass Festival at the Donoho Hotel, Red Boiling Springs, early June
Wartrace Music Fest, Wartrace, early June
Hillbilly Days, Lafayette, mid June
Diana Singing (gospel), Diana, mid June
International Folk Fest, Murfreesboro, mid June
Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamp, Maryville, mid to late June
Summertown Bluegrass Reunion, Summertown, mid June and early September
RC & Moon Pie Festival, Bell Buckle, late June
Juneteenth, Franklin (McLemore House Museum), late June
Edmons’ Music Park Bluegrass Festival, Pikeville, late June
Mountain Memories Quilt Show, Crossville, late June
Tamale Fest (Centro Cultural Latino de Memphis), Memphis, late June
Savannah Bluegrass Festival, Savannah, early July
Anvil Shoot and Celebration, Norris (Museum of Appalachia), early July
Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention, Nashville, early July
Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree & Crafts Festival, Smithville, early July
Hot Chicken Festival, Nashville, early July
Tennessee-Kentucky Thresherman’s Threshing Show, Adams, mid July
Uncle Dave Macon Days, Murfreesboro (Cannonsburgh Village), mid July
Quiltfest, Jonesborough, mid July
Scopes Trial Festival, Dayton, mid July
Folklife Festival, Kingsport (Warriors’ Path State Park), late July
Swiss Heritage Festival, Grueti-Laager (Stampfli Farm), late July
WEVL Radio Blues on the Bluff, Memphis, late July
Grainger County Tomato Festival, Rutledge, late July
Bluegrass Along the Harpeth Fiddlers Jamboree, Franklin, late July
Cherokee Heritage Festival, Cleveland (Red Clay State Historic Park), early August
Jamestown Jamboree, Jamestown, early August
Big Ridge State Park Bluegrass Festival, Maynardville, mid August
Stringtime in the Smokies, Pigeon Forge (Patriot Park), mid August
Yorkville’s International Washer Pitchin’ Contest, Yorkville, mid August, 731-445-3427
Williamson County Fair, Franklin, mid August
Appalachian Fair, Gray, late August
Annual Native American style PowWow, Cosby, late August
Wilson County Fair Bluegrass Competition, Lebanon, late August
Laurel Bloomery Fiddlers Convention, Laurel Bloomery (Johnson County), late August (423) 727-9595
Thomas Maupin Festival-Maupinfest, Unionville, late August
Summertown Bluegrass Reunion, Summertown, Labor Day weekend
H.O.L.A. International Food Festival (Rose Center), Morristown, late August
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
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
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
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
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
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
Christmas in the Smokies Bluegrass Festival, Pigeon Forge, mid December
La Pastorela Mexican Christmas play (Cazateatro), Evergreen Theater, Memphis, mid December
La Pastorela Mexican Christmas play (St Joseph’s School), Knoxville, mid December
Los Pastores Mexican Christmas procession (Hola Hora Latina), Knoxville, mid December