Here is a list from the Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association, of July and August events that will be happening throughout Southeast Tennessee:
July events
· 3rd: Pops on the River (Coolidge Park, Chattanooga)
o A free patriotic concert by the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Orchestra followed by a spectacular fireworks show over the Tennessee River.
· 4th: Soddy-Daisy Fire Department 2014 Firefighter Muster (Soddy-Daisy City Park across from Soddy Lake)
o This fun event features a competition between local fire departments in different activities such as the tanker pull, three man ladder, and the battle of the barrel.
· 4th: Etowah’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July (L&N Depot in downtown Etowah)
o Starting with a pancake breakfast provided by a boy scout troop and a 5K road race sponsored by First Baptist Church, festivities during this fourth of July celebration include a beauty pageant, family games, and live music and dance performances. Fireworks will wrap up this night of fun in Etowah.
· 3rd-4th: Sewanee’s “Razzle Dazzle Fourth of July” (Sewanee Market)
o Events begin on the 3rd with street dancing in Sewanee Market and a performance by Stagger Moon Band. Events continue on the 4th with a raising of the flag in Abbo’s Alley at 8 a.m. and a day full activities with a firework finale at the end over Lake Cheston.
· 4th-5th: Monteagle “Hats off to America” parade and festival (Parade on Main Street, festivities at Monteagle Ball Park)
o A parade down Main Street will kick off the day at 10 a.m. and a fireworks show will occur that night at the ball park. Saturday will begin with a dedication of the National Trail of Tears sign at 1 p.m. followed by fun activities at Harton Park.
· 4th: Fall Creek Falls State Park Fourth of July Celebration (Fall Creek Falls State Park, Pikeville)
o Decorated your car, bike, or self for a patriotic parade that will end in the Fall Creek Falls campground. This will be followed by traditional games such as a sack race, egg toss, and tug-o-war.
· 4th-5th: Miner’s Homecoming (Ducktown Basin Museum, Ducktown)
o This two-day festival will include music, food, a patriotic walking parade, and free admission to the museum all day Saturday. Fireworks will close the festivities.
· 16th-19th: Blue Springs Annual Singing (Singing Echoes Park, Cleveland)
o This four-day gospel music festival is hosted by the Singing Echoes every year and includes morning devotionals and many great live music performances.
· 18th-19th: Scopes Festival (Main Street, Dayton)
o In honor of the 1925 Scopes Trial, the city of Dayton puts on the Scopes Festival every summer. The festival includes a tour of the courthouse, a car show, and a reenactment of the trial.
· 25th-26th: Foothills Country Fair (Tri-State Exhibition Center, McDonald)
o This fair features live performances from local entertainment groups as well as a variety of booths ranging from educational to produce.
· 26th: The Pat and Preston Laymon Memorial Charity Ride (starts at Bimbo’s Restaurant, Dayton)
o A portion of all proceeds from this ride will go toward Toys for Tots to buy Christmas presents for children. The ride will start at Bimbo’s Restaurant in Dayton.
· 26th: Swiss Heritage Festival (Stocker-Stampfli Farm Museum, Gruetli-Laager)
o The Swiss Heritage Festival is hosted each year in honor of the Swiss settlers that first arrived in Gruetli-Laager, Tenn. The festival offers music, home-cooked food, hayrides, and farming demonstrations with antique farm equipment.
· 26th-27th: 55th Annual Mountain Market for Arts and Crafts (Hannah Pickett Park, Monteagle)
o Featuring over 100 artisans, the arts and crafts fair showcases a variety of art, including folk art, fine and primitive furniture, and cigar box art. There will also be a children’s area and lots of food to choose from.
August:
· 2nd-3rd: Cherokee Heritage Festival (Red Clay State Park, Cleveland)
o This year Red Clay State Park will bring in Michelle Hicks from the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation to speak as a guest at the Cherokee Heritage Festival. The festival is in hosted each year to honor and celebrate Cherokee culture and customs.
· 7th-10th: World’s Longest Yard Sale (along US 127)
o This yard sale travels over more than 450 miles from Gadsden, Alabama, to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Vendors will be lined up along US-127 with everything from collectibles to antiques for sale.
· 8th-9th: Edmon’s Family Farm Bluegrass Festival (Edmon’s Family Farm, Nine Mile)
o Local and regional bluegrass bands come together during this festival to play and pick. Home-cooked meals are prepared every night and guests can usually bring their instruments for impromptu jamming sessions with the musicians.
· 16th: Ride for the Cumberland Trail (Cove Lake State Park, Caryville)
o This motorcycle ride will cover 166 miles through scenic Tennessee, stopping at parks and historic sites along the way. Bikers will be given the choice of a catered lunch and dinner and will receive discounted rates for overnight stay. All proceeds will go toward the Cumberland Trail.
· 23rd-24th: Beersheba Springs Arts & Crafts Fair (Beersheba Inn United Methodist Assembly Grounds, Beersheba Springs)
o The arts and crafts fair in Beersheba Springs features 150 local artisans and craft vendors. In addition to these vendors, home-cooked meals will be prepared in the hotel’s historic dining hall. Other food vendors will be on site as well. Proceeds will be split between many needy Beersheba community organizations.
· 24th: Historic Beth Salem Church Homecoming (Beth Salem Church, Athens)
In celebration of the first African American church in McMinn, Meigs, and Polk counties, Beth Salem hosts a day of preaching and singing with a potluck dinner