Festival season 2026 is here!
From the Virginias and the Carolinas to Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, our annual compendium is the perfect travel companion. Inside, you’ll find gatherings celebrating food and drink, the arts, music, and more—all worth building a mountain road trip around. Pick your favorite festival theme and start planning!
By Karen Neathawk
Photo above: May 9. Cumberland Valley Cruise-In. Corbin, KY.
MAY
Thru May 2. New River Birding & Nature Festival. Fayette County, WV.
Thru May 3. Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend. Hendersonville, NC.
Thru May 3. Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. Winchester, VA.
Thru May 10. Hamilton Gardens Rhododendron Festival. Hiawassee, GA.
Thru May 21. Spring at Biltmore. Asheville, NC.
Thru June 7. Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival. Pigeon Forge, TN.
Thru Sept 7, 2027. Upcountry Road to Freedom: Upstate South Carolina During the American Revolution. Greenville, SC.
May 1-2. Clinch River Spring Antique Festival. Clinton, TN.
May 1-2. Community School’s Strawberry Festival. Roanoke, VA.
May 1-2. Fried Apple Pie Festival. Sparta, NC.
May 1-2. Knox Cheese Fest. Knoxville, TN.
May 1-2. Outlandish Adventure Festival. Knoxville, TN.
May 1-3. The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance. White Sulphur Springs, WV.
May 2. Airing of the Quilts. Dillsboro, NC.
May 2. Blowing Rock Trout Derby. Blowing Rock, NC.
May 2. Budbreak Wine and Craft Beer Festival. Mount Airy, NC.
May 2. Dolly Day & Dash. Ringgold, GA.
May 2. MayFaire Spring Crafts & Garden Festival. Clifton Forge, VA.
May 2. Mother’s Day Market. Strasburg, VA.
May 2. Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Festival. Townsend, TN.
May 2. Spring Flea Market. Hinton, WV.
May 2. Spring Water Festival. Williamston, SC.
May 2. Virginia Vintage Spring Outdoor Market. Christiansburg, VA.
May 2-3. Asheville BuskerFest. Asheville, NC.
May 2-3. Fort Ashby Days. Fort Ashby, WV.
May 2-31 (weekends only). Virginia Fantasy Festival. Madison, VA.
May 3. Strawberry Festival. Chattanooga, TN.
May 6-9. Dogwood Festival. Mullins, WV.
May 6-9. SpringSkunk Music Fest. Greer, SC.
May 6; July 4; Aug 1; Sept 5. Music on Main Street concerts. Sparta, NC.
May 7, 14, 21, 28. Acoustic Sunsets Spring Concert Series. Hiawassee, GA.
May 8-10. Artisphere. Greenville, SC.
May 8-10. Mayfest. Strasburg, VA.
May 9. Cumberland Valley Cruise-In. Corbin, KY.
May 9. Mother’s Day Gala. Collegedale, TN.
May 9. Of These Mountains Spring Marketplace. Clayton, GA.
May 9-10. Crozet Spring Arts & Crafts Festival. Crozet, VA.
May 9-10. Fiber Festival. Sautee Nacoochee, GA.
May 9-10. Lake Lure Spring Arts & Crafts Festival. Lake Lure, NC.
May 9-17. West Virginia Strawberry Festival. Buckhannon, WV.
May 13-16. Grottoes Bluegrass Festival. Grottoes, VA.
May 15-16. Blackey Day. Blackey, KY.
May 15-16. Bloomin’ BBQ Music & Food Festival. Sevierville, TN.
May 15-17. Appalachian Trail Days Festival. Damascus, VA.
May 15-17. Greek Festival. Greenville, SC.
May 15-24. The Fair at Heritage Park. Simpsonville, SC.
May 16. Art in the Park. Blowing Rock, NC.
May 16. Chautauqua’s Brews and Bands. Wytheville, VA.
May 16. Children’s Festival of Reading. Knoxville, TN.
May 16. Georgia Mountain Fire & Smoke Cooking Festival. Hiawassee, GA.
May 16. Hometown Market/Hometown Spirit. Fairmont, WV.
May 16. Jfest. Chattanooga, TN.
May 16. John Randolph Spring Arts Kickoff. Salem, WV.
May 16. Local Colors Festival. Roanoke, VA.
May 16. Mountain Laurel Festival. Wartburg, TN.
May 16. Music & Merchants. Pulaski, VA.
May 16. National Kids to Parks Day. Mouth of Wilson, VA.
May 16. SWVA Big Rig Showdown. Lebanon, VA.
May 16. Tunes in the Park. Greer, SC.
May 16. Virginia Wine & Craft Festival. Front Royal, VA.
May 16. Wayne Scott Strawberry Festival. Unicoi, TN.
May 16. Yadkin Valley Wine Festival. Elkin, NC.
May 16-17. Bringing in the May Faerie Festival. Berkeley Springs, WV.
May 16-17. Dahlonega Arts & Wine Festival. Dahlonega, GA.
May 16-17. Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games. Townsend, TN.
May 16-17. Strawberry Jam at Darnell Farms. Bryson City, NC.
May 16-Sept 27. Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: The Exhibit. Greenville, SC.
May 17. Concert in the Park: Alair Summer Concert Series. Blowing Rock, NC.
May 20-23. Dr. Ralph Stanley Hills of Home Festival. McClure, VA.
May 20-25. Webster County Woodchopping Festival. Webster Springs, WV.
May 21-23. Plum Hollow Alternative Bluegrass Festival. Campobello, SC.
May 21-24. Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. Pineville, KY.
May 21-24. Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival. Martinsville, VA.
May 22. Greer Alive. Greer, SC.
May 22. Memorial Day Car Show. Dawsonville, GA.
May 22-23. Fly Fishing & Outdoor Festival. Maggie Valley, NC.
May 22-23. Season Opening for KY Splash Waterpark. Williamsburg, KY.
May 22-23. The Great Scot! Parade and Scottish Games. Greenville, SC.
May 22-24. Festival in the Park. Roanoke, VA.
May 22-24. Memorial Day Gospel Music Weekend. Stuart, VA.
May 22-24. Vandalia Gathering. Charleston, WV.
May 22-24. WV Dandelion Festival. White Sulphur Springs, WV.
May 22-Sept 4 (Fridays). Concerts on the Creek. Sylva, NC.
May 23. BavarianFest. Helen, GA.
May 23. Dog Days at Breaux Vineyards. Purcellville, VA.
May 23. Gathering in the Gap. Big Stone Gap, VA.
May 23. Memorial Day Parade. Blairsville, GA.
May 23. Mile High Kite Festival. Beech Mountain, NC.
May 23. Plumb Alley Day. Abingdon, VA.
May 23. Strawberry Festival. Alderson, WV.
May 23. Tour de Madison. Madison, VA.
May 23. ValleyFest. Massanutten, VA.
May 23-24. Art on the Greene. Banner Elk, NC.
May 23-24. Arts, Crafts & Music Festival. Blairsville, GA.
May 23-24. Charlottesville Arts Festival. Charlottesville, VA.
May 23-24. Garden Jubilee. Hendersonville, NC.
May 23-24. Hiawassee Pro Rodeo. Hiawassee, GA.
May 23-24. Spring Arts in the Park. Blue Ridge, GA.
May 23-25. White Squirrel Weekend. Brevard, NC.
May 24. Street Food Festival. Chattanooga, TN.
May 27-30. Arts Plein Air and Market. Christiansburg, VA.
May 28-31. Graves Mountain Music Festival. Syria, VA.
May 29. Clinch River Days Festival. St. Paul, VA.
May 29-30. Mountain Made Makers Market. Mt. Nebo, WV.
May 29-30. Old Mill & Float the Fork Festival. West Milford, WV.
May 29-31. Smoky Mountain Fan Fest. Kingsport, TN.
May 30. Dogwood Masters Old Dog Classic Regatta. Oak Ridge, TN.
May 30. Garden Gala. Chattanooga, TN.
May 30. KnoxWalls Murals and Music Festival. Knoxville, TN.
May 30. R&R 5K Run. Williamsburg, KY.
May 30. Rodeo Night at Wind Vineyards. Moneta, VA.
May 30-31. Capitol Street Art Fair. Charleston, WV.
May 30-31. Sidewalk Art Show. Roanoke, VA.
JUNE
June 3-6. Calhoun County Wood Festival. Grantsville, WV.
June 4. Acoustic Sunsets Spring Concert Series. Hiawassee, GA.
June 4-6. Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race. Helen, GA.
June 4-6. Mine Made Adventure Park Bluegrass Festival. Leburn, KY.
June 4-6. Mountain Music Festival. Oak Hill, WV.
June 4-6. Old Fort Trails & Trains Festival. Old Fort, NC.
June 4-6. Poke Sallet Festival. Harlan, KY.
June 4-7. Charity Horse Show – Saddlebred. Blowing Rock, NC.
June 4-7. NC Trail Days. Elkin, NC.
June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31. Off the Rails Concert Series. Dalton, GA.
June 5-6. Blue Grass & Old-Time Fiddlers Convention. Mount Airy, NC.
June 5-6. Blue Ridge Fiber Fest. Sparta, NC.
June 5-6. Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival. Oak Ridge, TN.
June 5-6. NC Gold Festival. Marion, NC.
June 5-6. Rhinestone Fest, for the Love of Dolly. Knoxville, TN.
June 5-6. Riding the Rhododendrons on the Ridge. Troutdale, VA.
June 5-6. U.S. 25 Yard Sale. Grant County, KY.
June 5-7. Toe River Arts Tour. Mitchell and Yancey counties, NC.
June 6. BABA (Bands, Art, Bourbon & Ale) Festival. Wytheville, VA.
June 6. GardenFest. Middletown, VA.
June 6. Hop Blossom Craft Beer Festival. Winchester, VA.
June 6. Livermush Festival. Marion, NC.
June 6. Mineral County Strawberry Festival. Keyser, WV.
June 6. Not Your Average Festival. Roanoke, VA.
June 6. Troutacular! Spruce Pine. Spruce Pine, NC.
June 6. Twilight Firefly Market. Chattanooga, TN.
June 6. Virginia Black Bear Festival. Stanardsville, VA.
June 6-7. Georgia Mountain Scottish Festival & Highland Games. Hiawassee, GA.
June 6-7. Pulaski County Spring Flea Market. Dublin, VA.
June 7. The Walnut Street Bridge Festival. Chattanooga, TN.
June 8-11. A Mountain Quiltfest. Pigeon Forge, TN.
June 8-14. Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. Harrisonburg, VA.
June 10-12. Children’s BUG CAMP. Oak Ridge, TN.
June 10-14. High Country Jazz Festival. Boone and Blowing Rock, NC.
June 11-13. Beach Music Festival. Stuart, VA.
June 11-13. Blazin’ Bluegrass Spring Festival. Whitley City, KY.
June 11-13. Laurel Cove Music Festival. Pineville, KY.
June 11-14. Canaan Mountain Bike Festival. Davis, WV.
June 12-13. Greenville Jazz Fest. Greenville, SC.
June 12-13. Ronceverte River Festival. Ronceverte, WV.
June 12-13. Yadkin Valley Carnival. Elkin, NC.
June 12-14; Nov 6-8. Northeast Georgia Arts Tour. Clayton, GA.
June 12-15, 18-21. Day Out With Thomas at Tweetsie Railroad. Blowing Rock, NC.
June 12-23. Chautauqua History Comes Alive Festival. Greenville, Mauldin, and Spartanburg, SC; Brevard, NC.
June 13. Art in the Park. Blowing Rock, NC.
June 13. Best.Weekend.Ever. Harrisonburg, VA.
June 13. BOCO WILD. Buchanan, VA.
June 13. Country Meets City. Williamsburg, KY.
June 13. Cumberland Valley Cruise-In. Corbin, KY.
June 13. Hops in the Hills Craft Beer Festival. Maryville, TN.
June 13. Knoxville Water Lantern Festival. Knoxville, TN.
June 13. North Carolina Ground Steak Festival. Dobson, NC.
June 13. Rockbridge Outdoors Fest. Buena Vista, VA.
June 13. Spruce Pine Alien Festival. Spruce Pine, NC.
June 14. Concert in the Park: Alair Summer Concert Series. Blowing Rock, NC.
June 15-Aug 2. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration. Pigeon Forge, TN.
June 18-20. Almost Heaven BBQ Bash. Buckhannon, WV.
June 18-20. Hiawassee Rod Run. Hiawassee, GA.
June 18-20. Wild Trails Festival. Lewisburg, WV.
June 19-20. Fiddlers’ Convention. Abingdon, VA.
June 19-20. Maury River Fiddlers’ Convention. Buena Vista, VA.
June 19-20. Mountain Fling Arts & Crafts Show. Blairsville, GA.
June 19-20. NC Rhododendron Festival. Bakersville, NC.
June 19-20. Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee 44th Annual Quilt Show. Knoxville, TN.
June 19-21. Boonerang Music & Arts Festival. Boone, NC.
June 19-21. Red Wing Roots Music Festival. Mount Solon, VA.
June 20. Brewfest. Knoxville, TN.
June 20. CommUNITY BBQ Bash Art and Farmers Market. Chattanooga, TN.
June 20. Flame Azalea Festival. Robbinsville, NC.
June 20. Georgia State Fiddlers Convention. Blairsville, GA.
June 20. High Knob Music Festival. Norton, VA.
June 20. Hometown Market/Pride Block Party. Fairmont, WV.
June 20. Jackson Square Lavender Festival. Oak Ridge, TN.
June 20. Taste of the Valley Wine, Beer, and Spirits Festival. Luray, VA.
June 20. Tunes in the Park. Greer, SC.
June 20-21. Rhododendron Festival. Roan Mountain, TN.
June 20-27. Chautauqua Festival. Wytheville, VA.
June 21. Father’s Day Blues & Brews. Chattanooga, TN.
June 23-27. Boyd County Fair. Ashland, KY.
June 24-28. West Virginia Freedom Festival. Logan, WV.
June 25-27. Doc McCabe Bluegrass Festival. Big Island, VA.
June 27. Freedom Blast. Greer, SC.
June 27. Heritage Day and Wood Kiln Opening. Lenoir, NC.
June 27. Star City Motor Madness. Roanoke, VA.
June 27-Jan 24. Picturing America’s Pasttime: A Snapshot of the Photo Collection at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Greenville, SC.
Discover More Great Mountain Festivals & Events:
- Spring 2026 Festivals & Events Guide
- Summer 2026 Festivals & Events Guide
- Fall 2026 Festivals & Events Guide
- Holiday / Winter 2026Â Festivals & Events Guide
The story above first appeared in our May / June 2025 issue.
