When Tennessee transitions from summer to fall, with its numerous trees showing off a kaleidoscope of warm colors, festivals of all sorts occur in the small towns and big cities. From the nation’s largest music and folk festival, globally-known food festivals and millions of twinkling lights for the holidays, there are ample reasons why travelers make Tennessee their top fall destination. For a full list of events, visit tnvacation.com.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 6-7 – A Milky Way Farm September Celebration, Pulaski – Hayrides, a petting zoo, tours of The Manor House and more will be conducted 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 6 and noon to 4 p.m. Sept. 7 at Milky Way Farms. milkywayfarm.org, 615-297-0773
Sept. 7 – Grinders Switch Music & Arts Festival, Centerville – 11 musical acts perform 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the midst of arts and crafts vendors, Gameland Alley, a kid’s zone and more. 931-729-5774
Sept. 13 – International Cowpea Festival & Cookoff, Charleston – A cook-off focusing on cowpea recipes, a marketplace, pageant, entertainment and a heritage area are included. cowpeafestival.com
Sept. 14 – Casey Jones Village Old-Time Music Festival, Jackson – Outdoor music festival dedicated to preserving old-time string, bluegrass and gospel music. 800-748-9588, caseyjones.com
Sept. 19-21 – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Bristol – Brings quality national, regional and local music to Bristol, the “Birthplace of Country Music,” in honor of its musical heritage and culture. 423-573-4898, bristolrhythm.com
Sept. 25-28 – Jammin’ at Hippie Jacks Americana Music Festival, Crawford – Americana music over a 3-day stint with camping, food and more. jamminathippiejacks.com, 931-445-2072
Sept. 26-28 – Eye Full of Paris Weekend, Paris – Celebrations include visual and performing arts. 731-653-7274, visitdowntownparis.com
Sept. 26-27 – Tina Turner Celebration, Brownsville – Tina Turner is honored through music, tours of Tina’s childhood school, Flagg Grove School and Nutbush, her childhood small town community. 731-779-9000
Sept. 27-28 – Southern Fried Festival, Columbia – Music by Shenandoah, 2Steel Girls, and Elijah Smith & the Wildhearts with food, vendors and more. southernfriedfest.com, 931-381-7176
OCTOBER
Oct. 3-4 – Unicoi County Apple Festival, Erwin – Vendors, crafts, a children’s area and entertainment. 423-743-3000, unicoicounty.org
Oct. 3-5 – National Storytelling Festival, Jonesborough – This three-day event features compelling performances by internationally-known professional tellers. 800-952-8392, storytellingcenter.net
Oct. 3-5 – Reelfoot Arts & Crafts Festival, Tiptonville – Features more than 300 exhibitors including artists, potters, carvers, jewelry makers, music, delicious barbecue, fried pies, ice cream and more. 731-885-7295, reelfootartsandcrafts.com
Oct. 4 – 15th Annual Liberty Square Celebration & Lester Flatt Memorial Bluegrass Day, Sparta – Features a full day of music, crafts, food, games, truck and car show and much more. Visitors from across the country come to pay tribute to bluegrass legend Lester. 931-836-3248, sparta-chamber.net
Oct.4-5 – National Banana Pudding Festival, Centerville – This event will include, in addition to a national cook-off for the best banana pudding in America, two entertainment stages, a children’s area, craft booths, lots of pudding samples and more. 931-994-6273, bananapuddinfest.org
Oct. 5 – Culture Fest, Chattanooga – Celebrate diversity through performances, children’s events food and art. artsedcouncil.org
Oct. 10-12 – Tennessee Fall Homecoming, Norris – The most extensive and authentic gathering of old-time musicians and pioneer-type craftspeople in the country, the Homecoming is one of the nation’s largest music and folk festivals. museumofappalachia.org, 865-494-7680
Oct. 17-19 & Oct. 24-26 – Zoo Boo, Memphis – The Zoo’s most spooktacular event returns with more activities like the Costume Contest and Dracula's Disco. Take on the Rock Walland get ready for the best Halloween event of the year. 901-333-6500, memphiszoo.org
Oct 18-19 – Ketner's Mill Country Arts Fair, Whitwell – Visitors can watch the operation of a sorghum mill and purchase pure molasses. Stone ground corn meal and flour are also available for purchase. Buy quality crafts, paddle a canoe, enjoy good country cooking, and listen to a good variety of music. 423-267-5702, ketnersmill.org
Oct. 24-26 – 39th Annual Mountain Makins Festival, Morristown – The historic 1892 Rose Center is filled with juried fine arts and crafts, plus enjoy live music, dancing, storytelling, children’s activities, food and expert demonstrations of time-honored traditions. Named a Top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society. 423-581-4330, rosecenter.org
Oct. 25 – Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue, Lynchburg – This event has been called the most prestigious barbecue competition in the world. 931-759-6332, jackdaniels.com
NOVEMBER
November - February – Smoky Mountain Winterfest, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville – The gateway towns to the Smokies turn into a winter wonderland with more than 5 million light displays and special events. 800-568-4748, gatlinburg.com; 800-251-9100, mypigeonforge.com; 888-766-5948, visitsevierville.com
November – January – Speedway in Lights, Bristol – Tour this stunning display of more than 1 million lights and hundreds of displays by car. Or make a reservation to bring your group through by bus. 423-989-6933, bristolmotorspeedway.com
Nov. 8 - Jan. 3 – Annual Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas, Pigeon Forge – The Smoky Mountains’ family Christmas destination features more than four million lights, fun rides and tractions, plus award-winning holiday shows. 800-DOLLYWOOD, dollywood.com
Nov. 13-14 – 2014 Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event, Franklin – Join us as presenters discuss the battles, events and stories of the Civil War. The Symposium will be sponsored by the Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, and Tennessee Historical Society. Patricia.Grey@tn.gov, tncivilwar150.com
Nov.14 - Jan. 3 – Christmas at Graceland, Memphis – See traditional lights and decorations, a life-size Nativity scene, Santa and much more originally displayed by Elvis. 800-238-2000, elvis.com
Nov. 14 – Jan. 3 – Gaylord Opryland’s “A Country Christmas”, Nashville – Sensational decorations, entertainment and some of the most delectable food anywhere. Features the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, ICE!, and more. 888-OPRY-872, gaylordopryland.com
Nov. 28 - Dec. 28 – Ruby Red Christmas, Chattanooga – Celebrate the holidays 1,120 feet underground at Ruby Falls with holiday music, a light show and more festivities. 423-821-2544, rubyfalls.com
DECEMBER
Dec. 13 – Christmas at Historic Rugby, Rugby – Visit beautifully decorated historic homes to bring an old-fashioned Christmas holiday season to life. 888-214-3400, historicrugby.org
Dec. 13-14 – Dickens of a Christmas, Franklin – A Victorian-themed Christmas with more than 200 costumed characters reenacting the work of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” 615-591-8500, historicfranklin.com