Events, Programs, and Festivals
Four seasons of celebrations await you in Townsend, Tennessee! Our festivals and special events showcase the natural and cultural heritage of this beautiful area. For more information, please call the Townsend Visitors Center, 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834.
We appreciate the many businesses and organizations who support our events:
Click here: Festival Sponsors
Coming up Next:
young Pickers Benefit Concert at The Palace Theater
Friday, March 9, Maryville
And click here for the 2012 Events Brochure: 
2012 Events Brochure
Year round: Great Music in Blount County!
- Rocky Branch Community Center jam sessions and
stage performances, in Walland
- Seasonal Concerts at The Pickin' Porch, Wood 'N Strings Dulcimer Shop, Townsend
- Concerts at The Palace Theater in Maryville
- Concerts, jams, and dancing at Music Row in Maryville
- Sunset Music and other concerts at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, in Townsend
- Concerts and Dances at Laurel Theater, Knoxville
- Concerts and other arts events at Clayton Center for the Arts, and
Blount County Library, Maryville, TN and Mary Tippitt Memorial Library in Townsend, TN.
- Traditional music and announcements of concerts on the radio: WDVX and WUOT.
- Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club: Meetings 4th Sundays at 2nd United Methodist Church, Knoxville.
- Brackins Blues Bar, in Maryville
2012 Festivals and Events:
Events are at the Townsend Visitors Center unless otherwise indicated.
(Scroll over titles and click on the links to go to specific webpages for more info and call 865-448-6134.)
2012 Calendar of Events:
January, February, March, 2012: Winter Workshops and Classes at the Visitors Center.
February 2-5, 2012: Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies. Presentations, music, crafts, hikes, exhibits and other activities in Townsend, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and nearby.
February 25, 2012: East Tennessee Young Musicians Bluegrass Contest, Rogersville, TN.
Friday, March 9, 2012: Benefit Concert at The Palace Theater for the Young Pickers Talent Contest. 7:00-9:00pm, Maryville, TN. Donation $10.
March 16-17, 2012: Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival. Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and Townsend Visitors Center.
Demonstrations at the Visitors Center of Border collie sheep-herding, sheep-shearing, weaving, spinning, and other fiber skills, plus classes and a Marketplace of Vendors at the Heritage Center.
March 22-24: ATBI Annual Conference about biodiversity in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Special guest renowned naturalist E.O. Wilson.
March 23-25, 2012: 32nd Annual Quilt Show, Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild. Cooper Athletic Center, Maryville College.
Saturday, April 7, 2012: Herb and Wildflower Day. Come to the Visitors Center for wildflower walks and talks by expert naturalists. Plus plant sales, pottery, and baked goods.
April-December: Arts and Crafts Demonstrations in the Visitor Center, and Calendar of other area activities.
May 4 and 5, 2012: Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timers Day. the 20th annual celebration of bluegrass music, arts and crafts, Appalachian demonstrations, BBQ, Young Pickers Talent Contest.
May 18-20, 2012: TroutFest. Fly fishing exposition and fund-raiser for fisheries programs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
May 18-20, 2012: Smoky Mountain Highland Games. Maryville College. A celebrations of Scottish heritage with traditional games, athletic contests, pipe bands, gathering of the clans.
Saturday, June 2, 2012: Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival. 30 booths of excellent professional studio potters, plus firings, demonstrations, and Children's Tent.
June 10-16 and June 17-23, 2012: Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamps and Concert Series
Steve Kaufman's workshops in flatpicking guitar, fingerpicking guitar,
mandolin, Old TIme Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Old TIme Fiddle, Bluegrass
Fiddle, dobro, Mountain dulcimer, Songwriting, Vocal class and Bass. At
Maryville College.
Fantastic concerts by the instructors each evening.
Call 800-FLATPIK or 865-982-3808 for information or go to http://www.flatpik.com/Steve-Kaufman-Acoustic-Kamp
September 28 and 29, 2012: Townsend Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day. 20th annual celebration of bluegrass music, Appalachian demonstrations, arts and crafts, BBQ. Part of "Townsend Days" events.
Plan ahead! Click here for the 2012 Calendar:
2012 Calendar of Events
Other Events and Places of Interest:
The Cades Cove Loop Road has new pavement and pulloffs. Enjoy the Cove, open from sunrise to sunset, and click here to explore many other interesting places nearby: Discover the Smokies Beyond Cades Cove.
Volunteer Opportunities: We rely upon the terrific talents of community volunteers to make our events successful. Join in the fun!
Many of our event photographs are taken by Mary Grace McCaffery, one of our Visitor Center volunteers.
Check out the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend for fascinating museum exhibits, outdoor displays, and a variety of events throughout the year!
Townsend Artisan Gallery:
Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 - 5, Sunday 1- 5. 7843 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882. Phone 865.448.8018
Many resources and programs are available at the Blount County Library, #865-982-0981.
Click here for their Calendar: PR December 2011 Calendar of Events - community - December 2011.doc
Are you a conservation-minded visitor? See the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau's special green website for low impact vacation ideas: http://www.lowimpactvacation.com/ and click here for a few eco-tips for your visit.
Traveling to other places in our beautiful state? See Tennessee's Sustainable Tourism website: www.tnsustainabletourism.com
Click here to view our Smoky Mountain Festivals website!
Interested in other community services, businesses, and organizations?
See the Blount County Chamber of Commerce.