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.
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
2013 Festivals and Events:
Events are at the Smoky Mountain Visitors Center in Townsend unless otherwise indicated.
(Scroll over titles and click on the links to go to specific webpages for more info and call 865-448-6134.)
2013 Calendar of Events:
Check out the 2013 Exhibitors at the Smoky Mountain Visitors Center.
Jan. 31-Feb. 2:
Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies. Presentations, music, crafts, hikes, exhibits and other activities in Townsend, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and nearby.
Feb. & April: Basket Making with Karen Kenst. Join Karen as she instructs on the fine art of basket making. Check out the schedule and register.
March 1-16: Foothills Quilters Guild Showcase
March 19-23: Local Woodcarver's Showcase and Demonstrations
April 6: Wildflower Festival hosted by The Lily Barn
April 6: WILD by Design
April 12: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Special Concert: Acoustic Eidolon.
April 13: WILD by Design
April 19: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Music of the Mountains Concert: Four Leaf Peat.
April 19-20: Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival. Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and Smoky Mountain Visitors Center in Townsend. Classes and registration forms are now open.
April 25: Cades Cove Full Moon Walk
April 27: Let's Go Birding
April 27: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Girl Scout Day: A celebration of scouting in a day-long, mixed program.
April 27-28: Blacksmith Demonstration
May 3-4: Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timers Day. Come to the 21st annual celebration of bluegrass music, arts and crafts, Appalachian demonstrations and BBQ.
May 3: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Spring Concert Series: Pistol Creek Catch of the Day.
May 4: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Quilters Road Show: Presented by Smoky Mountain Quilters.
May 10: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Spring Concert Series: Bill Mize.
May 17-19: Smoky Mountain Highland Games. Maryville College. A celebrations of Scottish heritage with traditional games, athletic contests, pipe bands, gathering of the clans.
May 18: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Guild Annual Gala: "Heartbeat of the Mountains"
May 23: Cades Cove Full Moon Walk
May 25-26: Blacksmith Demonstration
May 28-June 2: H.O.G. Rally
June 3-30: Smoky Mountain Photographer's Showcase
June 6-8: Renaissance of North American Flute Gathering at the Heritage Center
June 9-15; 16-22: 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.
June 21-22: Antique Tractor Show at Visitor's Center
July 12-14: Smoky Mountain Classic slow pitch softball tournament
Sept. 20: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Storytelling Event.
Sept. 27-28: Townsend Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day. 21st annual celebration of bluegrass music, Appalachian demonstrations, arts and crafts, BBQ. Part of "Townsend Days" events.
Sept. 28: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Blue Ribbon Country Fair.
Oct. 5-6: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Smoky Mountain Woodcarving Festival.
Oct. 11-13: Foothills Fall Festival
Nov. 4-5: BTA Class (Information coming soon)
Dec. 6: Smoky Mountain Visitors Center Holiday Open House
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!
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, events and programs are available at the Blount County Library, #865-982-0981.
Are you a conservation-minded visitor? See the Smoky Mountain Tourism Development Authority'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.