BLOOMIN’ BARBEQUE & BLUEGRASS
Downtown Sevierville, Tennessee
Third Weekend in May 1-888-738-4378
Mouthwatering barbecue, live mountain music, crafts and a variety of children’s activities are on the agenda for the Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass festival in downtown Sevierville. In addition to the Tennessee State Championship Barbeque Cook-Off and Mountain Soul Vocal Competition, the event draws world-class bluegrass bands such as The Del McCoury Band and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. Admission is free.
CHEROKEE VISITOR APPRECIATION DAY
Cherokee Welcome Center, Cherokee, North Carolina
Mid-May Enjoy a day of live music, arts and crafts, and concessions during Cherokee Visitor Appreciation Day, which takes place during National Tourism Week.
DOLLYWOOD'S FESTIVAL OF NATIONS
Dollywood, 1020 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Early April to Mid-May
1-800-DOLLYWOOD An international celebration, Festival of National features live entertainment, culture exhibits and great food. Other annual events held at Dollywood include the Dolly Parade in April, KidsFest in the summer, Harvest Celebration in September and Smoky Mountain Christmas starting in November.
GATLINBURG FINE ARTS FESTIVAL
Downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Third Weekend in May
865-436-0500
The Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival features the talents of regional and national artists, as well as live entertainment and food.
GATLINBURG FLOWER FEST Downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee Late April through Late June 865-436-0500
View the gorgeous flowers that fill the streets of Gatlinburg, check out the displayed work of local artists and craftspeople, and listen to live entertainment at the Gatlinburg Flower Fest.
GATLINBURG SCOTTISH FESTIVAL & GAMES Mills Park, Gatlinburg, Tennessee Mid-May 800-343-1475 Enjoy pipe and drum bands, professional and amateur Highland athletics and dancing, bagpipe playing, border collie demonstrations, live entertainment and much more during the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games, a fun-filled gathering of the Scottish clans.
MEMORIAL DAY POWWOW
Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds, Cherokee, North Carolina
Late May
Live music, arts and crafts, traditional dance, singing can be experienced at the Memorial Day Powwow, which takes place at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds.
SOUTHEASTERN TRIBES CULTURAL ARTS CELEBRATION
Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds, Cherokee, North Carolina
Mid-May Traditional tribal dance, craft demonstrations, games, traditional foods, storytelling and more take place at the Southeastern Tribes Cultural Arts Celebration, which includes representatives from the Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, Creek and Chickasaw tribes.
SPRINGFEST Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville, Tennessee Early March to Early June 865-436-0500, 865-453-8574
A countywide, three-month festival that welcomes the arrival of spring, this popular event includes a craft show and other special events throughout Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.
TENNESSEE SMOKIES BASEBALL
Smokies Stadium, 3540 Line Drive, Kodak, TN
Early April to Early September 865-286-2300 For a night of fun, affordable family entertainment, Tennessee Smokies baseball can’t be beat! A Class AA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Tennessee Smokies compete in the Southern League of Professional Baseball against the likes of the Chattanooga Lookouts, Greenville Braves, Carolina Mudcats and Jacksonville Suns. The state-of-the-art Tennessee Smokies Stadium, which opened in 2000, features 6,000 seats, a grass berm around most of the outfield and a full-service restaurant called the Double Play Café. The Tennessee Smokies play their home games in Kodak, which lies just Northwest of Sevierville (Exit 407 off of Interstate 40).
