Events
Make Memories, One Event at a Time in East Tennessee.
Here in East Tennessee, there are events worth celebrating all year long. That’s why our area-wide calendar is full of annual festivals, fairs, and dozens of special seasonal events. Celebrate our musical and cultural heritage, the changing of the seasons and the beauty of the great outdoors. Best of all, many of the festivals and events in East Tennessee are filled with old-fashioned entertainment that’s fun for the whole family and free!. Use the calendar search below to find unforgettable East Tennessee events for your vacation or getaway.
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May 11, 2026 – November 20, 2026
American Science and Energy Museum Bus Tours
115 Main St. Oak Ridge TN 37830
The Department of Energy (DOE) Public Bus Tour is a one-of-a-kind tour that visits the primary sites of the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, TN. Each tour includes two guides to help share the unique scientific history of the Secret City including The American Museum of Science and Energy, the Y-12 New Hope Center, Oak… -
May 16, 2026
The Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival
Courthouse Square, 399 North Kingston St., Wartburg, TN 37887
Celebrate spring in the mountains at the Tennessee Mountain Laurel Festival in the charming town of Wartburg. Held each May in the heart of Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, this beloved East Tennessee festival brings together live music, local artisans, mountain heritage, delicious food vendors, and family-friendly activities surrounded by the beauty of blooming mountain laurel. Visitors… -
June 5-6, 2026
Flatwater Tales Storytelling Annual Festival
969 Oak Ridge Turnpike #331, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival was inspired by the International Storytelling Center inJonesborough, Tenn to entertain audiences with the folk art of storytelling. This year’s event will bring three nationally known storytellers to Oak Ridge with performances at the Oak Ridge Public Library and the Oak Ridge Senior Center. -
June 6-7, 2026
Annual Lenoir City Arts & Crafts Festival
6707 City Park Drive, Lenoir City, TN 37772
Thousands of buyers from throughout the greater Knoxville area and beyond will come view the wares of more than 225 crafters. Items range from ceramics and glassware to metal work and jewelry, to baskets and much more! The quality of the event and superb reputation of the crafters have made this one of the area’s… -
June 6, 2026
Cherohala Challenge
225 Cherohala Skyway, Tellico Plains, TN 37385
Smoky Mountain Wheelman Club hosts the Cherohala Challenge each year the event offers four distinctive rides that almost anyone can find a ride that will fit their skill level. Rides of 35, 53, 62 and 115 miles, will be fully SAG supported with well-stocked rest stops. Information and Sign-Up -
June 19-20, 2026
Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee Annual Quilt Show & Competition
Knoxville Expo Center, 5441 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37912
About Date Times Friday, June 19, 2026, 9am-5pm; Saturday, June 20, 2026 9am-4pm Daily admission, $10; 2-day pass, $15; Children under 12, free Free parking. More than 200 regional and national quilts on display. Shop vendors and a boutique of unique items handcrafted by guild members. Scavenger hunts for the young ones. Friday only, we… -
June 20, 2026
The Annual Lavender Festival
Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
One of the region’s largest events, the Annual Lavender Festival celebrates health, herbs, and the environment. Enjoy live music, shopping with artisan vendors, a lively children’s tent, free cooking demonstrations, educational presentations throughout the day. The festival is free. Special rates in area hotels for festival goers at http://jacksonsquarelavenderfestival.orgFor more information about other events in… -
August 29-30, 2026
Knoxville Asian Festival
World’s Fair Park, 525 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902
This exciting outdoor event involves exhibits of culture, food, performances, and more from China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, and other countries. Admission is free. Enjoy authentic Asian cuisine from vendors throughout the day. 2026 is the 13th Annual Event. New this year: Main festival activities are moving INSIDE the air-conditioned Knoxville Convention Center!. The festival…
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