Warm sunny weather has arrived in East Tennessee AND there are plenty of fun family festivals to look forward to this spring, summer, and fall!
Dogwood Arts Festival
World’s Fair Park
525 Henley Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Friday, 4/24/26 & Saturday, 4/25/26 10:00AM-7:00PM & Sunday, 4/26/26 10:00AM-5:00PM
Cost: FREE
The Dogwood Arts Festival is one of the most celebrated cultural events in Knoxville! It will feature over 100 art vendors, live music, food trucks and entertainment for the entire family!
Mayapple Marketplace
Ijams Nature Center
2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37920
Sunday, 4/19/26 10:00AM-3:00PM
Cost: FREE
This outdoor spring celebration features nurseries, gardening vendors, local handmade wares from artists and crafters, food trucks and more!
Children’s Festival of Reading
World’s Fair Park
Knoxville, TN 37902
Saturday, 5/16/26 10:00AM-3:00PM
Cost: FREE
Get in the groove for summer library club, bust a move with much-loved storybook characters, and meet favorite authors and illustrators! You’re invited to the celebration of books and imagination, music, storytelling, arts and crafts, food, live music, science and discovery, children’s performances, toddler town and more!
Rossini Festival International Street Fair
Downtown Knoxville & Market Square
Saturday, 4/18/26 10:00AM-10:00PM & Sunday, 4/19/26 10:00AM-6:00PM
Cost: FREE
The Rossini Festival is Knoxville Opera’s perennial celebration of the performing arts. The public is treated to non-stop entertainment on five outdoor stages showcasing everything from opera, classical, jazz, gospel and dance. It’s fun and family oriented!
Strawberry Festival at Narramore Farms
199 Laurel Bluff Road, Kingston, TN 37763
Saturday, 5/2/26 11:00AM-4:00PM
Cost: $10.00 (Over Age 2)
Make plans to attend this “berry sweet” family time on the farm! There will be fresh strawberries, local vendors, delicious strawberry treats, food trucks and farm fun activities. You will also be able to pick your own fresh strawberries! A gallon of fresh strawberries is $22.00.
Vestival at Candoro Marble
681 Maryville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37920
Saturday, 5/9/26 11:00AM-5:00PM
Cost: Free
This annual arts and music festival is held on the historic Candoro Marble Company grounds. Enjoy music, art, food and more!
Lenoir City’s Rockin’ the Docks
199 Laurel Bluff Road, Kingston, TN 37763
Friday, 7/4/26 1:00PM-10:30PM
Cost: Free
This all-day festival takes place each year on Fort Loudon Lake. Thousands of people gather to enjoy live bands, food, fireworks and much more! There is also a children’s play area. Follow Lenoir City Parks & Recreation on Facebook for the latest information.
Rhinestone Fest
Old City Knoxville
Friday, 6/6/26 1:00pm-8:00pm
Cost: Free
Rhinestone Fest includes a Dolly-themed Artist Market. Enjoy a curated collection of handmade, fabulous finds, all inspired by the glitz, glamour, and unmistakable charm of the Queen of Country!
KnoxWalls Murals & Music Festival {***Replacing Southern Skies Festival***}
Emory Place
23 Emory Place
Knoxville, TN 37917
Saturday, 5/30/26 10:00AM-8:00PM
Cost: FREE
Get ready for a day bursting with color, creativity, and community as Dogwood Arts transforms Emory Place into an open-air art and music experience. Ten talented muralists will go head-to-head in a live painting competition, creating murals in real time while festival-goers watch the art unfold, enjoy performances by local & regional musicians, and explore the vibrant personalities of the businesses in and around Emory Place. Once the murals are complete, the public will vote online to select the 1st & 2nd place winners, who will each receive permanent mural commissions at sites around Knoxville. The temporary 8’x8’ murals will then be auctioned online, with proceeds shared between the artists and Dogwood Arts’ Mural Program, fueling even more public art projects across the city.
Splash Pad Opening Day
Knox County Splash Pads
Opening Date Friday 5/15/26
Cost: Free
Head out to one of your favorite splash pads as they open for the summer season! Need help finding one? Check out our past post with a list of them here!
Scottish Festival & Games
Townsend Visitor Center
7906 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882
Saturday, 5/16/26 8:00AM-10:00PM & Sunday, 5/17/26 8:00AM-5:00PM
Cost: $30.00 Two Day Pass, $20.00 All Day Saturday, $15 Sunday Only, Children 15 & under free both days.
You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy this festival! Experience all Scottish heritage has to offer including games, performers, vendors, food and more. There will also be cultural and education presentations. There is also an impressive list of children’s activities here.
Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Festival
Townsend Visitor Center
7906 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882
Saturday, 5/2/26 10:00am-4:00pm
Cost: $16.46 General Admission, Children 10 & Under Free, $26.90 Prepaid Festival Parking
Bigfoot sightings, guest speakers, live music, 75+ vendors, and 30+ food trucks! You can also participate in the 5K race. For more information on the 5K, click here.
Outlandish Adventure Festival
Ijams Nature Center
Knoxville, TN
Friday, 5/1/26 6:00PM-10:30PM; Saturday, 5/2/26 8:30AM-10:30PM
Cost: FREE
Celebration of trails, rocks, rivers, and community spirit with live music, spectacle events, film, and fun activities for all ages. For more information, visit the Outlandish Festival website.
Lavender Festival
Historic Jackson Square
Oak Ridge, TN
Saturday, 6/20/26 8:00AM-4:00PM
Cost: FREE
This year marks 26 years of this popular festival! The Lavender Festival features 130 artisans, food trucks and children’s activities.
Lenoir City Arts & Crafts Festival
Lenoir City Park
City Park Drive, Lenoir City, TN 37772
Saturday, 6/6/26 9:00AM-5:00PM and Sunday, 6/7/26 10:00AM-4:00PM
Cost: $3.00 donation
Come out to enjoy the outdoors with over 200 crafters, home baked goods, and more!
Safety City Knoxville
165 S. Concord Street, Knoxville, TN 37919
(865) 215-7103
Dates TBA Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9:00am-2:00pm. Closed July 4th.
Cost: FREE
Bring your bikes with helmets, battery-powered cars, non-motorized scooters (no skateboards), doll buggies, or walking shoes for open riding and play through the miniature Knoxville cityscape. There are also two playgrounds and picnic areas to enjoy!
Knoxville Brewfest
Area around the fountains and lake at the base of the Sunsphere and Tennessee Amphitheater, Knoxville, TN
Saturday, 6/20/26 4:30pm-8:30pm
Cost: $25.00-$60.00
Breweries, beer and enthusiasts from all over will gather for a summer afternoon sampling fresh beers of all colors, styles and flavors, all to benefit CureDuchenne. Please note this event is for ages 21 and up.
Grooves in the Garden
2743 Wimpole Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37914
Saturday, 7/18/26 5:00pm-10:00pm
Cost: $55 Early Bird, $65 At the Door
This annual outdoor festival features a DJ and live jazz, R&B and soul. Food and retail vendors will be on hand as well as a cash bar. Adults only please.
Grainger County Tomato Festival
7480 Rutledge Pike, Rutledge, TN 37861
Friday, 7/17/26 12:00pm-6:00pm & Saturday, 7/18/26 9:00AM-4:00PM
Cost: FREE
Parade Magazine has named the Grainger County Tomato Festival one of the top 10 festivals in the United States! Come celebrate the delicious, juicy tomatoes we all know and love! This is a family event with plenty to do for kids of all ages.
International Food Festival
World’s Fair Park
Downtown Knoxville, TN 37901
TBA
Cost: Free Entry, 50 Food Tickets $50.00, 100 Food Tickets $100.00
The International Food Festival is an event that brings together 35,000 people from different backgrounds to celebrate food, culture, and community. Over 25 countries will be represented by food vendors. There will also be performances on stage, bounce houses,
face painting, balloon animals, crafts, henna artists and more!
Knox Asian Festival
World’s Fair Park
Downtown Knoxville, TN 37901
Saturday, 8/29/26 6:00pm-8:00pm & Sunday, 8/30/26 10:30am-6:30pm
Cost: FREE
The festival brings together people from various cultural backgrounds, to promote peace, harmony, unity and a healthy lifestyle. Each participating country will showcase its unique music, dance, food, fashion, handicrafts and other products. See website for more details.
Big Kahuna Wing Festival
World’s Fair Park
525 Henley Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
Sunday, 9/6/26 3:00pm-10:00pm
Cost: $20.00 Advance Tickets, $30.00 At the Gate, Children under 8 are free.
Come out to sample 8,000 pounds of wings while enjoying the outdoors, live music and fireworks.
Greek Fest
St. George Greek Orthodox Church
4070 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919
Friday, 9/26/26 11:00am-10:00pm; Saturday, 9/27/26 11:00am-10:00pm; Sunday, 9/28/26 11:00am-5:00pm
Cost: $2.00 Adults, $3.00 Weekend Passes, Children under 12 are free.
A celebration of Greek culture, food, singing, dancing and more! Opa!
Mosaic Arts Festival
Downtown Clinton
Saturday, 4/18/26 9:00am-4:00pm
Cost: Free
In partnerships with the Clinton City Schools Art show, Historic Downtown Clinton brings you the 5th Annual Mosaic Arts Festival! Kick off the day with a color run and stick around for all things art inspired as we celebrate Art Around the World! Come see why this event was named Best Event by the Mid-East TN Tourism Council in 2024!
Clinch River Antique Festival
Downtown Clinton
Friday, 5/1/26 12:00pm-7:00pm & Saturday, 5/2/26 9:00am-5:00pm
Cost: Free
Discover antiques, vintage finds, artisan treasures and live music in Historic Downtown Clinton. For more information, click here.
Water Lantern Festival
Chilhowee Park
3301 East Magnolia Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37914
Saturday, 6/13/26 6:00pm-10:00pm
Cost: $30.99 & Up, Free admission for children under eight.
The Water Lantern Festival is an amazing experience where you’ll witness the magic of lanterns light up the water!
HoLa Festival
Market Square
Downtown Knoxville, TN 37901
Saturday, 10/10/26 4:00pm-10:00pm & Sunday, 10/11/26 11:00am-6:00pm
Cost: FREE
Come out to enjoy music, dance, food, arts, crafts, heritage tables, a Parade of Nations, and children’s activities in celebration of Hispanic culture.
Monroe Life Balloon Festival
Monroe County Airport
350 Airport Road, Madisonville, TN 37354
Saturday, 9/5/26 4:00PM-10:00PM & Sunday, 9/6/26 4:00PM-8:00PM
Cost: $10.00 Admission, Kids 4 & Under Free & Tethered Rides $20.00
A Labor Day weekend event full of larger-than-life hot air balloons, fair-style foods, live music, a dedicated Kids Fun Zone, and tethered balloon rides. Each night ends with a coordinated Balloon Glow where pilots light their balloons to the rhythm of the music on stage.
