As the songs of summer wane, it’s time to crank up the volume on fall adventures. Made in Tennessee.
On the Lake
With three swimming beaches, fishing for miles, a disc golf course, and approx. four miles of hiking trails, Pickwick Landing State Park is the destination to have one more big summer getaway. Take a few days to enjoy the natural offerings and even take a pontoon tour now through early September.
Named No.
4 in the nation to “Float Your Boat” by USA Today, Dale Hollow Lake is a fishing treasure trove. It’s rated as home to world-record sized smallmouth bass, according toBassmaster. Whether you’re dropping a line, sailing, or waterskiing, Dale Hollow Lake is the perfect end-of-summer waterscape.
Watauga Lake is 106 miles of beautiful shoreline in Northeast Tennessee. Majestic mountains are always in view whether visitors are boating, swimming or even standing on the shore to capture that perfect Instagram-worthy shot.
On the Stage
Some of the biggest country, gospel and bluegrass hits are on the docket for the upcoming Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival Aug. 24-28 in Gatlinburg. More than 130 acts of songwriters and musicians who have shaped the top Billboard charts perform for thousands of people. New to the festival is a concert featuring hits by Garth Brooks performed by writers Pat Alger, Tony Arata, Kent Blazy and Sylvia Aug. 27 and a concert series happening Aug. 26-28 at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort.
The soundtrack of Labor Day can be found at the three-day Muddy Roots Music Festival Sept. 2-5 in Cookeville. Named by Rolling Stone as one of the top festivals in 2016, enjoy music by The Del McCoury Band, The Monsters, The Melvins, Bonnie Prince Billy, and Delany Davidson among many others. While attendees sample music from legends and rising stars, the festival celebrates the appreciation of American roots music.
On the Field
Take yourself out to a ballgame a few more times before baseball season is over (usually the beginning of September). Tennessee’s nine minor league baseball teams are located throughout the state: Kingsport Mets, Johnson City Cardinals, Greeneville Astros, Elizabethton Twins, Tennessee Smokies, Chattanooga Lookouts, Nashville Sounds, Memphis Redbirds and the Jackson Generals. It’s a great way to celebrate America’s pastime and enjoy the beginning of cooler nights.
Bristol Motor Speedway hosts a history-in-the-making event, The Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol which will be college football’s biggest game ever Sept. 10. Get the party started with Honda Ridgeline Presents Bristol’s Tailgate Party starring Kenny Chesney with special guests The Band Perry and Old Dominion Friday, Sept. 9. The big game happens Saturday as the University of Tennessee Volunteers take on the Hokies of Virginia Tech. Visitors can extend their stay to also catch the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers take on West Carolina University Sept. 17.
West Tennessee will roar with football excitement as well when Tennessee State University goes up against Jackson State University during the Southern Heritage Classic Sept. 10. Celebrate a full week before-hand with concerts and the Classic Tailgate Sept. 9 which features food and fanfare at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The Classic Music Festival will have football and music fans dancing the night away.
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The mission of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is to motivate travel to and within Tennessee by inspiring enjoyment, creating memories, producing a desire to return, and establishing key long-term relationships that result in visitors becoming residents. The promise of Tennessee—the birthplace of the blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll—is to be the global music destination of choice. To deliver an unparalleled experience of beauty, history, and family adventure, infused with music that creates a vacation that is the “Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee.”
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