Don’t Sunset Summer-Late Summer and Early Fall Events

With five weeks of summer still on the calendar, we’re not ready to let the season go. Late summer in East Tennessee brings hot days, cool evenings and plenty of reasons to get outside and enjoy the 9 Lakes of East Tennessee.

The water is still calling. Whitewater rafting trips are running through Labor Day weekend, while marinas are beginning to slow down—making this a great time to find a deal on a pontoon, jet ski or ski boat rental.

Seasonal restaurants may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of live music, great food, festivals and summer events happening around the region. Before the season’s last call, make plans to get out, play and soak up a few more summer sunsets.

Don’t sunset the season. Get out and play in the 9 Lakes of East Tennessee. Here are some of our favorite late-summer events and festivals happening across the region. Bring a chair, bring a blanket and enjoy the best of summer a little longer.

• Aug 15: East Tennessee History Fair- Knoxville- History Fair in Krutch Park- free
• Aug 15: Yacht Rock Concert- Farragut- Founders Park- free
• Aug 15: River Fest: Loudon – Legion Park- annual summer event for families.  Fireworks.
• Aug 15: Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon Festival- Townsend- Family friendly event, tethered rides, balloon glow
• Aug 21 Bluegrass at Big Ridge– Annual evening of live music at the park.
• Aug 29: Tour De Mater- Road cycling event through Grainger County.
• Aug 30:  Annual Asian Festival- Knoxville- Music, authentic Asian foods, and dance
• Sep 3: Music on the Town– Dandridge- Concert music series and runs through Oct 15.
• Sep 4: Concert on the Green and Night Market– Morristown- Music, food, craft beer, and shopping.
• Sep 5: Labor Day Celebration– Oneida- petting zoo, music, food trucks, fireworks- free
• Sept 5: Thunder in the Park– Maynardville- cruise in, music, food fireworks, free
• Sept 5-6: Monroe Life Balloon Festival– Vonore- festival of hot air balloons and music.
• Sep 6: Big Kahuna Wing Festival- Knoxville- A tasty day of wings, beer, and live music
• Sep 7: Hooray for Harriman– Harriman- 36^th Annual street festival in historic downtown.
• Sep 7: Rugby Rumble– Rugby-Annual motorcycle gathering at RM Brooks store for live music and food.
• Sep 11-20: Tennessee Valley Fair– Knoxville. One of the oldest running fairs in Tennessee.
• Sep 18-19: Overmountain Rally TN– Newport- National rally race event, include 2 Parc Expose
• Sep 18-20: Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival– Kodak- 25^rd annual event with live music, picking and jamming, food trucks.
• Sep 19: Sevier Days– Knoxville- frontier life history reenactments.
• Sep 19: Arts in the Park– Morristown- Annual art show, sales, demonstration, and food vendors. Moving to downtown this year.
• Sep 19: Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival– Oneida- Gather to spin a yarn, stroll, shop, and food.
• Sep 25-26: Townsend Fall Heritage Festival– Townsend- Two days of live music, demonstrations, and traditional foods.
• Sep 26: Louie Bluie Festival– Caryville- Annual Music and arts festival named after talented legend- Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong.
• Sep 26: Rugby Roundabout– Rugby- Cycling event with several routes, children’s event, live music, and food. The fall colors should be peeping through.